matthewcline

When I bought a new cypress I looked at is as a 12 year investment. To me, throwing away a device that is good for 4 more years is not economical.

If I threw some thing away at 8 years with 1/3 its life still left then every 16 years I would through 1 whole device away.

An easier way for me was to look at the device lasting 12 years, that is 2 in 24 years. But if i through it away after 8 years that is 3 in 24 years and that is a $1000.00 expendature I do not have.

Just an opinion of a "frugal" skydiver.

Matt

Paul and Betty have been partnersfor a while now and you can expect nothing buut greatness from the Florida Skydiving Center in the future.

Matt

I went back and looked at the older waiver tape (#5 i think) and it does have a "aff" style exit in it I do not have new waiver tape to compare right now.

My examinor didn't metin any thing there during the Instructor course (july '99) additionally 2 years ago when I went through the RWS examinor course I do not remember being told not to do that but do remember handle checks being stressed a lot. but it is probably my fualt as and don't remeber as I was told I was heading over seas during the class and was trying to "multi taks" and do more than 1 thing at a time.

Matt

Dave,

Is this some thing new? The waiver tape used to show Bill doing that exact exit (unless I am not correct in the exut being discussed)

Matt

I have jumped both and would go with the wings.

It may be a bit more expensive but it sounds "newer" and could last longer if it is.

Maybe you could get to a few of the boogies around that have demo rigs and try out the various ones on the market.

I personnally jump a wings and thus a bit partial.
Matt

OK here goes, "size doesn't matter" (that will start a debate i am sure in the wrong direction).

But in my opinion; confidence, capability and experience matters.

At 5'8" 180lbs I have jumped a varied size range in the 600 tandems i have done.

Matt

on T-10's there are no such lower vents nor 4 line releases. Not that that actually applies to the explanation.

the maker said to me (during a few test jumps to work on replacing the current round design for the military) while i was an instructor for the airborne school in Ft. Benning, His explanation was that if the canopy had a solid design (no apex vent) the canpopy would act like a cup full of air, eventually the canopy would have to tilt to relase air as it would start to ride a "bubble" and begin to wobble which would lead to oscilations.

It made sense to me at the time as i had 140 + round jumps and had made 5 during the test to that point.

But maybe my experience that the maker's explanation only applied to that type of round.

The MC-1 (stearable round) has an apex and the rear ports for control. But the apex design is a bit different as it has a skirt that helps to make it smaller.

just my experience is all. I am not a maker nor master rigger who has actually studied it in design nor aplication, just a joe who has jumped a few.

Blue ones!
Matt

Yes it is to avoid oscilations wich whe nyou land in one hurts like hell!
Matt

I know a team from Ft. Campbell that would use it every other month (as long aswe are not "out of town")

And a bunch of others who would make the road trip too!
Matt

I agree with chuck and aggie dave.

Any canopy can do what your's did in turbulance.

My opinion is that the flatter faster gliding canpies will be effected by turbulance at or neer the same flight level as a canopy to its front where in the old days we would usually onloy have that problem slightly above and to the rear.

I have a few jumps on the Rage (a 130 loaded at 1.46) and have flown behind , above and in front of several other models trying to get film, I have only had 1 complaint, it opens pretty slow. But at my age a slow soft openning may be good for the old back.

Matt

In the FAR's, (para phrased) you may use your reserve as a Main once, then placed back as a reserve (for a test jump to ensure brake setting and to have experience under the parachute). Any jump (other than as a reserve ride) beyond 1 makes the reserve a main only canopy.

Matt

GQ,

Thank You for the support.

Matt

I jump Michigan suits and have done so for 8 years. I put 500 (+ or-) jumps a year on mine and like them a lot.

Matt

This is what I did; I got the Type 8 with large rings, I can always put a mini riser demo canopy on and switch to a large ring demo if I jump one, but I could not put a large ring type 8 riser on a mini ring type rig. I have several riser set ups and the large ring allows me to switch through all of them.

Matt

I havejumped them all (18 years active duty and still going).

A funny moment was watching to fellows jumping out of a C-17 who planned on a CRW jump. They each stood at the opasite corner of the ramp and poised out together. The plan was hit the wind and base would then deploy as the bag cleared the pin would deploy. WHAT HAPPENED WAS, as they exited the slip stream sent them across the ramp into each other at 135kts! They actually pulled a pretty sweet verticle move and deployed as planned only reversed from the original plan.

My frist freefall was as a Tendem Student out of a C-141, 14,000" over Fryar Field in Alabama (yep the Ft. Benning GA DZ is actually over the border in Alabama. Now I have done the same as a Tandem Examinor!

Matt

If you think that was bad you should have heard the Rap artist called Orion! Not only can he not sing his own songs but he really embarassed himself!

Billy,

You did the right thing!

Matt

I don't get paid to teach a FJC. I do not get paid to JM or Coach, i get the jump for free. I do get paid for tandems ($25 normally). I am not in it for the money. Maybe once Iretire I will try to get a DZ job where I can make a few bucks to keep up in the sport.

Matt

For those interested, Omniskore.com has some streaming video of the 4 and 8-way rounds 916 way may have afew rounds later too), you can really see the speeed, power and finese that all the compitors have.

I am biased and give congrats to the Knights for thier 2 Silvers thus far!

Matt

Awesome Demo!

Nice pics and Vids.

Matt

OH my a cop who drinks Beer!

Hmm you do have point though!

Matt

1405 - a tesnion knot I couldn't claer and couldn't land with.

1440 - hourse shoe with a smoke bracket.

Both my fualt bad packing and bad body position, in that order.

Matt

I personnally preferthe Michigan suits. They start at around 185 (basic RW) and go up with options.

IF 250 isn't to much get the Michigan Comp suit. It is ultra strong and the suit I put on my new jumpers I run an 8 man demo team that trains them from 0 to 800 jumps in lessthan 24 months) and it lasts 2 years and 800+ jumps before needing minor repairs.

I have nylon Comp suit from '98 that is in great shape and I still use on the fast falling RW loads.

I have purchased 6 michigan suits and like them all.
Matt

I made a lot of jumps in Monroe and Thomaston. But now choose Monroe as the DZ of my choice for GA. (But I will admit I haven't been in a while, work you know)

Matt

I will tell ya in 24 months whe nI hit the BIG 20 and do the bigger "R"!

Matt