mattjw916

The information is out there, but the odds of encountering "bizarre scenario X" and happening to have the exact gear combination that thwarts it is extremely improbable. Doing stupid shit and making bad decisions kills a lot more skydivers than anything else by a mile. Even if you do everything right, you can still go in... there will always be variables that you can't control or plan for. A lot of people who nit-pick over gear just use it as a way to rationalize the danger away, i.e. "I'll be 'safe' if I have a Cypres 2 with the latest code revision and the activation altitude cranked up, a Skyhook, and the same PD main/reserve combo jumped by Airspeed thousands of times per year" or something else along those lines... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

Um, what's to learn? Sport rigs are fairly standard now and all come with 3 handles, 2 of which deploy a parachute. Handle types vary a bit but are always in the same place when you need them and you should be looking for them before you pull on them anyway. Really who cares who "owns" the rig? Generally speaking I'd feel safer jumping a friend's rig than rental gear from a typical DZ. Plus if you're a student, all gear is borrowed gear... it's not like they are doing any special checks on it... it gets repacked as fast as humanly possible and thrown on the rack for the next person typically. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

wrong agency NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

Seconded NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

I will happily drink brony and socialist tears... let them flow... [inline 1370026863206.jpg] NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

Damn, I was totally going to post that until I scrolled to the bottom! I still need to scrub in the tires on my old Ducati... no free time... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

There's nothing wrong with making a buck in skydiving... the DZOs do it, instructors do it, gear shops do it, vidiots do it, pilots do it, but if someone sells something they don't need/want you get your panties in a wad? Get over it. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

that's generally true but remember you quite possibly will need to land that thing downwind, on a hot day, off the DZ, and surrounded by hazards... and all that on your first time flying it... plan accordingly NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

I agree completely. It was really just a way to potentially make a few bucks for very little effort off of the typically impatient newly minted jumper. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

People can "pay it forward" any number of ways if they feel the need... (free coach jumps, packing help, video debriefs, jump with the "dangerous" newbs, etc) money doesn't have to be involved to give back to the sport. It's a personal choice. Not everyone can afford to "give away" hundreds of dollars or has a closet full of gear. I always find it laughable at the ease with which some people want to give away other people's money. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

you forgot Mirage Anyway, when you're new and flat flying, just concentrate on finding one that fits and is properly sized for the main/reserve combo you need. Don't buy ragged out gutter gear just because it's cheap and you're impatient. Almost everything made in the last 10 years is freefly friendly or can be updated/repaired/freshened up accordingly. If it doesn't have an RSL, add one. Most, if not all of the options like mag riser covers are just extra bells and whistles you don't need. I'd focus more on making sure all the components are in good working condition: tuck tabs that tuck, pilot chute/mesh in good repair, same goes for bridle/kill line, d-bag not falling apart, deployment handles of a type you are comfortable with, velcro on handles airworthy, etc, etc... Check out the manufacturer's websites and the gear section here to read reviews for a starting point. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

I'd probably just use a discount coupon for a container brand I didn't want to build an "average joe" sized rig, in black, sized for 190ish canopies and then sell it at a modest profit... Stuff like that flies off the shelf in the classifieds. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

The fashion-police want to confiscate your ninja boots and leather trench-coat though. It's for your own good I'm afraid. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

Skip the old Ravens... they were replaced by the R-Max which is much more modern, built like a tank, and won't snap you in half. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

I'd ask your local wingsuit flyers for their input too... they seem to chop a lot of canopies... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

According to PD's pack volume chart a Spectre 190 and a Pulse 210 are roughly the same size, so I would say you're good to go. http://www.performancedesigns.com/packingchart.asp D-bags don't stretch, they just get haggard and fall apart with age. I'm sure most 170s will fit just fine down the road. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

Jeb's been out at Perris a couple times lately with a bunch of wingsuit flyers... there were probably 3 times as many GoPros as there were parachutes on those loads... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

Why would you push the nose in on a Katana anyway? They already have quite a long snivel. I have never had good results from pushing the nose in on any elliptical canopy. As a result I pack every canopy the same now, leave nose alone and wrap the tail securely. I would concentrate on keeping yourself square in the harness and having hands on the risers ready to chase it if and when it takes off into a spin or dive, as the KT is prone to do according to the laundry list of people I know who jump them. Your Katana will never open as nice as your Crossfire though, just get used to it. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

not really, if you're cost-conscious skip it looks cool, won't rust/tarnish, that's about it... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

I vote we bring back drogueless tandems, sliderless squares and/or sketchy reefing systems, low-pull competitions, and shelve AADs completely while we're at it! Get those Lodestalls and Beech-18s flying again! Let's put the "black death" back into skydiving! NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

My old Mirage G3 handled those sizes just fine. Bought it used, went through several mains, and sold it for basically what I paid for it... A new G4 in an M4 size would fit the bill quite well if you decide to go with the Pulse. Remember that a Pulse packs up very small, more than one size smaller, than a typical 9 cell full ZP main. I really doubt by the time you get down to a 150 at 1.3 you will still find it particularly fun though. It's really a beginner's/casual jumper's canopy although it would be great for a wingsuit rig too IMO. For reference, in my M5 sized Mirage G3 I went through the following: Safire1 189 (175 using PD measuring method), Nitron 170, Jedei 150 (airlocked, packs big), Nitro 150 (Gelvenor fabric, packs big), and Nitron 150 with some other demo stuff mixed in. Age of canopy, climate, fabric type, design, etc all affect pack volume so plan accordingly. When in doubt, ask a rigger or local canopy guru. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

that's not going to work out the way you hope NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fml NSCR-2376, SCR-15080