bmarkworth

SP, I have a J-3 with a PD176R and a Safire 169 and CYPRES. Everything fits fine and looks great, not bulky, so you will be fine on the reserve. I have never packed up a similar sized air-locked canopy, so maybe someone else can help you there. Bryan

I have about 50 FF jumps in one of the new racers (tuck tab risers) and besides being a bitch to pack, I had no complaints. The main flap tucked in so tightly that I never worried about bridle exposure. The tuck tabs are kinda a pain in the ass to close, but once you get the hang of them they stay shut. I did not like the fact that the risers had a trough that was closed by velcro, as it too was a pain to close. All in all, it took a lot of effort to pack it, but once it was done, I had no worries about jumping it in any orientation. Bryan

A few practical notes... Do this dive in an old t-shirt and shorts (Mr. Bill is notorious for ripping clothing on opening). If possible, an exit altitude of 7 or 8k is ideal. Mr. Bill needs to jump off by 5500 or so, and if he falls off on the first opening, Socko won't be stuck at 13500 all alone. It goes by quickly, but Socko will be ready to get rid of Mr. Bill after 3 grand of piggy backing anyhow. I have done all my Mr. Bill dives from an Otter, most under a Sabre. The other posters have given some good options for how to hold on. I would highly recommend that you check with your S&TA for tips on how to pull this off safely. He or she will almost certainly have some useful input and things to avoid. Show him/ her how you plan to hold on. Walk through an exit at the mockup. I have been static lined on a few of my Mr. Bills. If you have someone you trust to do it for you (preferably an instructor) it is a good idea and will get you under a canopy with the softest opening. I recommend tying a line with some slack between Socko's leg straps to be used as a foot hold for Mr. Bill AFTER THE OPENING. This makes it easier for Mr. Bill to climb up to your shoulders. Thats about it, plan carefully and be safe. Oh yeah, enjoy the second freefall!! Bryan

Justin, Since you just had this done, check to see if the line has flipped over inside the window. It is possible that you rigger only marked one side and it is facing the wrong way. Just a thought Bryan

I can certainly vouch for Emily's customer service. She made me an awesome Zebra stripped suit that got lost in the mail. After a few phone calls, she had another one ready and in my hands in a week. It did take a while to get the original made, but no other suit manufacturer could even come near her price on a custom design like mine, and like other have said, the quality is top notch. Bryan

Just some food for thought. While leaving the brakes stowed may in fact lead to a slightly better forward drive, it can lead to other possible problems. One of my good jump buddies was employing this technique on a moderately loaded (1.55 ish) Stiletto 135. He made it back to the DZ with enough height left to do a turn on to final and land, but when he unstowed his toggles only one released and canopy started a fast and nasty spin. He was able to unstow the second toggle (basically at flare altitude) and got a sweet surf off of the unintentional 720 toggle hook. Needless to say he was scared shitless by the experience and it was enough to convince me that unstowing the breaks and maybe not making it back is a better solution. bryan

Hey folks, I was wondering if any of you riggers out there has packed this combo in the past and how "tight" it was. Sun path's website lists it as being a "tight" pack. I emailed their rigging department and got a prompt response that it would be easy to pack and would not look bulky. I guess I am just looking for more verification. Any input would be much appreciated. be safe, -b-