matthewcline

I do a simular thing with my legs to not only keep the flag and I on the same page but keep my nuts happy with me too.

Do You use a tandem set up for your large stuff?

Matt

A few definitions, applications and then my experience (or $.02).

Drop Flag = flag flown under the jumper usually weighted so it has a nice tight leading edge. Weight methods vary.

Canopy Flag = flag mounted and flown under the canopy from a specially built bag mounted on the bottom skin of the canopy and attached to a rear riser using a pulley type system to deploy it. Most Mil teams have these, as they are the best for their line of work.

Body flag = flag stuffed in a jump suit and clipped to a riser and harness or body part of the jumper after opening. This is typical of a Demo jump where the jumper does not derive a large portion of income or jumps from Demonstrations.

Pro of the canopy mounted system is that it is not an extra appurtenance to deal with until the canopy is deployed and your done with the controllability check (yep you still do em even at this level) and no new EP procedure is needed. There is no weight and the flag leaves the field after landing with the jumper, plus it is easier to recover (for the ground crew only ones catcher is needed) and it looks good as the canopy is keeping the leading edge straight.

Con of the canopy mounted system is the size of the flag is limited by the flag bag, d-bag and container size, if the flag is to big for the flag bag it will deploy it self during the canopy deployment, that can cause issues (we call them “nuisances”) that have to be resolved prior to flying the canopy to the target.

Pro of the drop flags, you can get BIG. The largest flown flags are drop flags. You can have flags as large as 7800 square feet (and some may go larger I am sure). They look impressive.

Con of the drop flag is a lot of training is needed. Not every one does this and thinks a brief and a off the cuff plan will work, people die or get really hurt with these flags, even the most experienced have been hurt. They can be heavy and bulky; they need a recovery system for cutting them away, and for recovering them when all goes well. They are harder to get into a stadium, or similar type place, as you have to fly your self for the weight at the bottom, not your feet (where we normally fly make sense?).

Pro of a body flag is they are easy to train, not very expensive to rig, don’t need weight and are only limited by the jumpers height (if a jumper is 6 foot he can jump a 8 foot leading edge flag using the top of a rear riser as the attachment point and a foot loop).

Con of the body flag is the rigging of it under canopy, it would suck to drop it or have it fly in your face under a loaded canopy.

A few points of interest; Canopies with canopy flags fly pretty close to the trim setting, only a little slower due to drag. Canopies with a body flag fly pretty close as well again a little slower due to drag. Canopies with drop flags tend to down plane a bit and it gets more prominent as the footage gets larger. You can see this countered by looking at the Fastrax jump with Gene Newsome and the 3500 square foot flag over Lady Liberty. Gene is in the brakes, slowing the canopy and bringing the flag under him better. This supports the slower is better theory for drop flags.

Some think loading the jumper with weight helps, I disagree I think the loading of the jumper only increases the speed of the canopy and distorts the flag more meaning the jumper has to work harder to keep the flag flying “flat”.

Spotting = be real damn good at it, if your a GPS spotter and know not how to spot by your own two eyes young grass hopper, learn and be damn good at it before you do the demo. No matter the canopy or flag set up you use you will not get the same amount of performance from your canopy due to the drag, which means less room for error.

Hope some of this helps.

Matt

I can ask Jim C at USPA but have not yet so here goes; Does the "conversion" T-I course need to be a registered course like the "initial" T-I courses have been?

I have run all Initial courses thus far.

Matt

Some of the SIGMA student harness I use have them placed in the hook knife pocket with just enough exposed to grab with a pair of Nuemanns on.

To the OP KNOW YOUR LIMITS and build on them slowly, no need to rush and maybe hurt your self or your student.

Matt

Count me in on the loads!

I will wheel up to the CASA and have my Nurse put the wheel chair and ox tank in the landing area for my old ass to swoop too! (I'll take that up too just to fit in with the youngsters)

Matt

I finally got my chance at this marvel and WOW is right!

I was there for a related business trip and the Producer and Director asked if we could get in too. I drug along my helmet and RW suit just in case (OK I was going even if I had to walk back to the hotel afterwards).

I have a little time in 4 other tunnles (35~ hours) and must say XP is #1 and well worth it!

Thanks Kirk, Andy and the whole staff!
(Sorry I don't recall all your names! I turned 40 the day I was there and I think I got the memory desease thingy, what is it called? crap I forget)
Matt

I think the Team may rent it but I also think they may want to ensure the Individual is Trained Properly. I know I would!

Matt

OSU is doing another one right now. It is part of the annual OSU project at startskydiving.com.

120~ students last weekend and they either had the heart rate monitor with GPS or had questions to answer as part of it. Part two is next weekend the 17th and 18th with a few more students 130~.

You can probably get the DZ to let you know who to contact for the info.

It was cool seeing the spikes for the students, next weekend I think I will wear one too just to see how my students and I do.

I am even willing to bet my heart rate would be higher than them on average.

His former Manifester said that the DZ was closed.

Matt

Don't forget the sub leased offices.
Private practice care, in a mall/fast food life style environment.

Matt

I have used a Hurricane, then an aviator when some one used my 'cane for a wheel chock and soon will have a HR2.

Matt

Orange.

My main is solid Orange and I have not had an issue being seen, or seeing when another jumper may use it. (It had been jumped at DZ's in Arizona-Eloy, Ohio- Start and Greene County, Alabama-Skydive Alabama and Opelika, Georgia-Skydive Atlanta, California-Perris, Kentucky-Ft. Campbell and Tennessee-Skydive Paris and Outlaw CKV as part of the FCSPA)

As Eric said the PD canopies is what we use at Startskydiving.com and the students are easy to see all year long.

He will be a good fit. His PHD is in the theater of operations and of course he did write the book as you stated.

This will be his last in uniform job, unless he is nominated for the Chairman's position but the timing and politics will not be right for that.

If your talking about a flag rigged like to the left, it is stored in a bag sewn to the bottom skin of the canopy and a line runs through two rings, one on a rear riser and one on the canopy. The line is pulled down (it is rigged as a loop) on one side as the loop feeds itself up and the flag is deployed. It is a little more complicated than that but not much.

Flight Concepts build them standard on the Demonstrator, Star Trac and Sharp Chuter Series canopies. I have also seen Spectre's that have had bags installed after market.

Matt

Try Robin she is on Fastrax's Demo Team and on Staff at www.startskydiving.com

Matt

Oh boy I do hope you have the fire suit ready!

Matt

They need to be open Tuesday the 13th of May, just "cause I am gonna be there.

Matt

For me " FUCKING STONE AGE ASSHOLE" is what they call me behind my back.

Matt

No a "traditionalist" is what I was called the other day for having the same frame of mind.

Matt

But is it truly a "canopy design flaw" or a packing style flaw? or lack of packer attention?

I don't know, all I know is what I posted.

Matt

For the last two days I have been going back through my log books and see I have over 600 Sigma jumps (combo of 340, 370 and 395).

I have never had a tension knot.
With the others (Precision, Rage, HOP etc) only the EZ-384 (not mine but the DZ's) got chopped for issues (line over I could not clear with the toggles, it was a steering line, poor packing was the cause).

Most of the pack jobs are PRO but a few are stacked as well.

I think this particular canopy is out of trim, but I am not a rigger, just a UPT I/E.

Matt

Oh Cadet your funny!

But yeah it could be Joe.

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3140496;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

This thread seems to apply to your question about Tandem Ratings for USPA.

, 8, 0

You can bunk in the hanger (bring a sleeping bag) and shower at the FBO (bring soap on a rope).

Be prepared to have fun!