jheadley

Maybe you're not doing the packing right Remember that guy who asked how to get spermicidal jelly off of his parachute?

ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD http://r33b.net/

While on the subject of Mirages, does anyone have tips on how to make the "bump" in it smaller? I've used chuting star's methods and I can get them to look pretty good, but there is always more of a gap between the lower of the 2 side flaps, and the top flap than I like. Does it have anything to do with how the grommets should be stacked up?

I don't think I'd ever give anyone shit for losing a handle. If anything, I would prefer people who use a "two hands on each handle" method to throw the cutaway at least.

I might go but I will have to make a new pelt. I had to skin my old one for bridge day.

Ambien is freaky stuff, I used to take it for sleep but would wake up the next day and find things around my apartment out of place or missing. Turns out it gives you anterograde amnesia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterograde_amnesia)

When a jumper with 30 jumps showed up at the dz early this year with a Cobalt 170, I told him I'd take it and find someone to trade with for a more suitable parachute for him. It ended up being a real PITA but I'm still glad I did it.

It's actually a clever question... I haven't heard that one yet. When skydivers talk about altitude, they always talk about altitude above the ground, (AGL), not over sea level. Say a dz that is at sea level advertises 13,500 foot jumps, well they'll actually go to 13,500 feet above sea level. A dropzone at 2000 feet above sea level that advertises 13,500 foot jumps would actually go to 15,500 feet above sea level.

A dolphin is a great first container. It's basically the same as a Javelin, without all the bells and whistles. It's simple, not too pretty, and doesn't have all the fancy stuff on it like other rigs, but it's cheap, and it works. After a few hundred jumps or so when you have a better idea what you want in a container, you can then get one of the expensive fancy ones custon built to you, but for just starting out a used dolphin would suit you very well.

Tip : You can notice that only one brake is stowed when flaking the canopy. You should realize something's up when you see the steering lines on side are a lot longer than on the other side.

In my experience I've found Javelins have a huge size range of main canopies that can fit in the container. With my own, a J4k, it's made for a 190 but I've put everything from a 135 (on the loose side) to a Raven IV 282 in it. My usual canopy is a 150 and I've used it in that configuration for 500 jumps.

"The fabric you're referring to is Gelvenor LCN 0286, which was made from a polymer based yarn that is no longer available. The more common "slippery" zp fabric is treated with a silicon process. The advantages of the silicon treatment are that the tear strength is much higher. The disadvantage, other than the difference in packing, is that the silicon process is much more expensive. We just got slammed with about a 15% price increase in cloth price when our only choice for fabric became the silicon zp cloth. When you ask why "Gelvenor" fabric is no longer available, you're in fact referring to a type of cloth woven by Gelvenor Textiles, but Gelvenor is the textile mill, not a specific type of fabric. My company's canopies will still be made from Gelvenor fabric. ... This is only RUMOR, so take that for what it's worth. Someone suggested to me that it MIGHT have something to do with emissions or air polution from the manufacturing process, and that to comply with new standards would be cost prohibitive. Again, I DID NOT hear this from Gelvenor, so it may be complete b.s. " - Beezy Shaw

I packed a brand new Nitro with Gelvenor fabric and it was easier than my 600 jump Sabre 2. They no longer make that particular fabric though so if you want it you have to buy a used canopy.

The different fabric is made by Gelvenor Textiles in South Africa. It is much less slippery than normal ZP, more of a waxy feel to it. It is much easier to pack. I think the pack volume is typically larger than regular ZP though. As far as I know, there is no significant difference in lifespan.

If you like your packers, get vector.

12 4 AFF's 1 Hop n Pop (first time going through a swoop course ) 1 4-way Freefly (my 800th) 2 4-way RW 1 5-way RW 2 3-way RW 1 9-way RW Not a bad weekend.

That's a great saying! So true.

I've seen two pilot chutes where it appears it was designed with the apex slightly below the skirt. This was on a Wings and a Voodoo IIRC but I don't know if the PC's were orginal or correctly made. What I look for is to cock the PC then hold it upside down by the bridle and look at the center and kill lines. If the Center line tapes are taught and the KL has slack, the KL is an ok length. If the KL is taught and the CL is slack, the KL is too short, meaning it's partially collapsed even when fully cocked.

I am learning how to swoop on a Sabre 2 at 1.4, and I love it. It seems like the perfect amount of dive and speed for someone learning to swoop. Last weekend I was able to take it through a 150 foot course with a 90. I've demoed a lot of canopies, Katana, Crossfire, Cobalt, Samurai, Stiletto, etc. and my next canopy will most likely be another Sabre 2.

You're right, I think tiny reserves are a dumb idea for anyone.

So what happens when you're unconscious and have a cypres fire, and you land downwind, with no flare?

I bought a used Javelin Odyssey at 80 jumps and it's still my only container. The canopies I've had are Sabre 2 170 (Jump #80-250), and Sabre 2 150 (#250-).

They are, the industry standard is 4 inches.

playing minesweeper?