Beatnik

This really does suck. The magazine was awesome. I have boxes of the magazine right from the second issue to a couple of months ago and now it is over. I hope they bring it back or something similar comes about.

Does it look like this one?

Not PI stuff but Paragear catalogues yes.

I got a little over 200 lbs of old skydiving magazines and have two more boxes on the way. Bring on the ads

This is a Merry Widow PC. I apologize if this is someone's picture. I got in a long time ago off the net and can't remember where now.

I have the ads these pics came from so I will leave it alone for a while. But I do know what they are.

I believe a black widow pattern has black and red alternating gores. I could be wrong though.

This is not a n Aztec pattern. I have an Aztec PC that is used for parts it has more yellow and black than red. More of a stripe pattern. I might have a picture of one somewhere.

https://www.mightymendit.com/flare/next?videoID=ai201&bufferTime=5 Found the commercial on the website. It gave me a good laugh.

Every pack job I have done on every parachute the idea is for the lines in the middle and fabric on the outside. Keep that wind channel clear and it should be pretty good. The only exception to this rule is on triangle parachutes. Then this is somewhat out the window. But most people don't have to worry about that.

I am certified on all seven types and I use my chest rating quite often. I usually do about 40 chest packs a year or more. It's these 1-pin containers I don't see much of. I think I packed a Javelin two years ago. Then again I am doing more and vintage and specialty stuff. I let most sport jumpers find someone else, I don't have time for them.

The Neptune gives you the descent rate under canopy. I am not sure about the viso. I have used it on many static line jumps and parachutes of all shapes and sizes. What type of data do you want? There are other devices that measure descent rates as well.

The CSPA rigger system is quite different than the FAA system. Each has there perks sort of. That is why I am going for FAA as well when I get a chance. The rating system with CSPA works like this. There are two ratings round and ramair. Then there are endorsements under those two ratings for the type of container and deployment. It is a little more complicated but it seems to work. Some of the endorsements can be hard to get if you don't have the gear around.

I might be in your neck of the woods shortly on a trip and next year I should be a lot closer. If I can make it out to your dz even for a short while I will let you know. I am bringing a couple of sets of gear with me, so if nothing else I can put on a show.

I have had conversations with a few manufacturers about this very topic. I won't get into who as they were private conversations. But the thing that popped up from them was a concern about safety from old ratty gear that wasn't maintained. I am sure there is also another point from a business perspective, but if it is maintained it can last for a long time. I have a canopy with a DOM of 1953 and I still jump it. There is nothing wrong with it.

LOL! Believe me that wasn't the plan at all in this jump or anything like it. That Delta II is in the worst shape from the ones I have. That is relatively speaking. It isn't in bad shape overall compared to some of the vintage gear I have seen and the many I have saved from going to the landfill. It is unfortunate that this happened because it really is making me think about letting others jump my vintage gear. There was no reason for this to happen and it comes down to someone losing situational awareness. That is lucky that was the only thing lost.

The Delta II has a little bit of damage but nothing bad. Three 2" patches and it will be back in the air. The PZ-81 is fine.

One was a 26' Guardian and the other was a 26' LoPo

Good to hear from you my friend. The rig was a Irvin container. It had R3s and a chest mount reserve. The altitude was around 1000 ft. Here is a link to the video. I just wish the camera man could spell the canopy's names right. http://youtube.com/watch?v=S8wET-7GmHc

Fun was had, even if it wasn't expected. After almost 870 jumps, I got to use a reserve for the first time. (I know beer) Wasn't quite expecting it, but I guess that is what happens when someone turns into you and doesn't watch where they are going. LOL. Just so everyone, who wasn't there, knows happened. We tried to get a triple shot of a Delta II, Paradactyl and PZ-81 in the air at the same time. I was jumping the Delta II (red/white and blue) and a friend was jumping the PZ-81. The paradactyl was the low man and we tried to get down. I was watching him turn and then he stopped, then I went. I was almost at the Paradactyl level and stopped and was looking for the PZ-81. Then I found it as it went crashing through my lines. End result was both cutting away and landing under reserves. The old gear still worked fine and gave no trouble in the whole process. However, I could have lived without landing on the down oscillation of the reserve. Extra altitude is nice when it isn't from you bouncing back in the air after landing. I will post the videos when I get them.

The parachute doesn't have rear risers and the manual said not to flare it. I personally never gave it a try, I know what the other parawings I have jumped did when that was tried. Overall the landings really aren't that bad at all. Unfortunately, I can't give you descent rates, I broken my neptune and haven't got it back yet. I am going to get some video of this parachute in a stall this weekend. Should be good fun if it is anything like the Paradactyl.

I wish I could make it there. Unfortunately, I had to turn down the invite. My work schedule isn't going to allow much traveling this year that they haven't scheduled for. Plus, I don't even want to think about the costs for shipping some of the gear would be. I really wish I could be there. Maybe next year, if it is going to happen then.

I use the Thunderbow manual when packing the chute. I have too many parachutes that I jump at this point to just go off of mental checklists. It is too easy to forget something on a particular parachute. Even though it is a main, being a rigger, I think it would be bad practice in this case where the parachute is a little more unique not to have a manual beside me. Most of the jumpers from back in the day that I have talked have confirmed the same thing I experienced. However, it could be something physically wrong. For instance, if the PDA lines are out of trim, it could seriously affect the opening of the parachute. Luckily, I have access to a friends that I can compare it with. Memories fade and aren't always the most reliable source of information. I have been directed down the wrong path more than once because of that. One problem, without going into a psychology lecture, is people's views are relative to what they were jumping and are subject to their particular stats under that parachute. One person jumping one parachute is not exactly the same as another person jumping it. In addition, each parachute has its own opening characteristics but loading does come into play with the opening forces. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to talk to too many jumpers from back in the day that were in the 250 lbs range jumping these parachutes. I have been knocked out several times now under parachute and for a while, I was comparing openings to that. If I wasn't knocked out, it fell into the soft category. But that isn't exactly a fair comparison because it is not in the norm. Comparing it to another canopy isn't the best way of doing it at all. There are too many variables that can affect the opening of a parachute. That is why I am working on getting some hardware so I can actually get some real data and analyze the openings of these parachutes.

Been there, done that. Once is enough for me also.

The pilot chute that is now attached to the canopy is actually larger than the one that it came with. It has been my experience with these parawings that they tend to open harder than most canopies. If you look at the parachute itself it has a low profile and holds a relatively low volume of air, it inflates pretty quick. This parachute opens particularly fast regardless of which pilotchute combination I have used with it. I have a 282 foil with spider slider reefing and it doesn't even come close to comparing, even on a bad day to this parachute.