BrianM

Our ratings are not so linear. Check out the graph here. It is possible to have as many as four of your ratings where none are higher than the others. JM/GCI/SSI/C2 is one combination, PFFI/GCI/SSI/C2 is the other; there are other combinations with fewer than four. There is no CSPA tandem rating, just the manufacturer rating, so I suppose we could call it five. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I wouldn't have a problem with it, but I suspect my DZO might! "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I had the opposite experience. I had a minor issue with the first suit I ordered (the RW suit). Rather than fix the suit, Vlady made me a completely new one. He seemed very concerned that I be happy with the suit. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I have a Vertical Suits freefly suit (also one of their RW suits). They are great suits, really well built. Customer service is excellent. If I needed another suit, I would get another Vertical Suits - but I think the ones I have will last forever! http://verticalsuits.com/ "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Nice picture! It sounds like quite a few people are using that strobe (L1456). I Haven't heard from anyone using the Lightman strobe (L1465). I'm kind of leaning that way, though I'm curious how bright it is compared to the L1456, and how visible it is from the sides. Anyone used one? "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Technically FAR 105.19 requires strobes to be visible for 3 statute miles under canopy. Technically, the FARs don't apply in Finland, where those jumps took place. They don't apply here either (I'm the OP). The law only requires "a steady or flashing light visible through 360 degrees" (no mention of freefall vs canopy, and no mention of distance), and even that is only for jumps "in or into Controlled Airspace or an Air Route", and for jumps "over or into a Built-up Area or Open-air Assembly of Persons" . My primary concern is being visible enough, from far enough away, to prevent canopy collisions. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Note that I wasn't planning on hanging anything below me. The option I am considering is having the strobe strapped to my ankle, pointing down. I figure this will give me 360 degree visibility, and I can trail that leg back to help keep the light out of my eyes. I'm just not sure whether this, or a helmet mounted strobe pointing up at the canopy, would provide better visibility. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Thanks Scott. I was thinking of sewing a strap that would go through the pin clip, and velcro around my ankle. Not sure how strong that clip is though... I guess that would work well on the back of the helmet, pointing up at the canopy. I hadn't considered that. Too bad it is so much more expensive than the other two... What are your thoughs on ankle mounting vs helmet pointing at the canopy? "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I'm looking at strobe lights for doing night jumps. I'm looking at a couple models that ParaGear sells: L1456, which looks like it would work well for attaching to an ankle, pointing down. Keeping my foot behind me a bit should keep it out of my eyes. This should make it visible through 360 degrees. L1465, which looks like it could work well to mount on top of my helmet so it flashes up at the canopy. Not sure how visible this one is from the sides, but if it illuminates the canopy well enough it should work. Anyone have either of these? Any recommendations on which would work better? "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Also different types of fabric to go faster or slower. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

If that is exactly what he said, it seems a bit fishy to me. He saw one of the jumpers well enough to know it wasn't his friend. How does he know it wasn't the person jumping with his friend, and the other jumper he didn't see well was his friend? I would also think that if he saw a jumper well enough to tell it wasn't his friend, then he probably had a good enough look to figure out who it was - he only has 5 other rigs/jumpsuits to choose from. The possibilities as I see them: - It could have been you. - If the uppers were strong enough, it could have been one of the groups after you. - If he was falling faster than the freefly group that exited before him, he could have passed them in freefall. If one or both groups were sliding, the earlier group could have ended up right on top of him, without much vertical separation. Especially possible if the previous group are not skilled freefliers - they would be more likely to be falling slower (due to corking) and sliding. Depending on the wind speed, 5 seconds may not have been enough regardless of exit order. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I almost always wear both a wrist mount and a chest mount, for a few reasons: In RW, the wrist mount is for me, the chest mount is for you (I remember when everyone used to do this, sadly it seems to just be me now). Depending on what type of jump I am doing and what body position I am in, one may be easier or quicker to look at than the other. I have had an altimeter malfunction in the plane - no problem, I just use the other one. I have several times loaned one of my dials to another jumper who either forgot theirs, or had theirs malfunction in the plane. I just ask if they prefer a chest or wrist mount, then hand them a dial. This always makes them very happy! I can't count the number of times I've had to explain why I have two dials to jumpers with thousands of jumps but not many years in the sport. They seem to think it's odd. I've never been asked this by someone who's been in the sport longer, even if they don't have lots of jumps. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

A hook knife will definitely cut a finger if the opening is big enough to get it in there. Don't think it will cut right through the finger, though! Agreed; besides, cut fingers will heal. I'm not too worried about cutting a finger while using a hook knife to save my life - I was just pointing out a difference between the two knives in question. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Looks like the business end has a wider opening than the Jack The Ripper. Looks big enough to get a finger in, which I can't do on a Jack. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

There are some pics at scottyburns.com. Scott, Justin, and Scotty all did a great job both organizing and coaching. I know I learned lots and improved a lot, and I'm sure everyone else did too. Thanks guys! "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

There's your answer. I suppose you could wait and see if it powers off after 14 hours, or you could remove and reinstall the battery, and it might start working properly - but wouldn't you rather have an AAD that you know works properly, than one that might have problems? I would recommend not jumping the rig at all with this AAD in it until it has been checked out by the manufacturer. You could call them before sending it, they may have some suggestions to try first. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

The data from the sensor is not examined to ensure that it makes sense? How can I possibly be sitting on the ground, and a fraction of a second later be descending at 78 mph or greater? Such a sudden spike in pressure cannot possibly represent a takeoff, nor can it represent an acceleration due to gravity (it is too high an acceleration). It obviously either represents some type of pressurization event, or is erroneous data. Either way it should be easily filtered out. I can understand this behaviour from an FXC 12000, but I expect more from a modern digital AAD. This has never made sense to me. How does measuring time to firing help? Time remaining will equal 0 at exactly the same time as current altitude equals firing altitude. It seems to me that it is checking exactly the same thing, it is just doing extra calculations to do it. Expressed mathematically: time_remaining = (current_alt - firing_alt) * sample_interval / (previous_alt - current_alt) which will equal 0 when (and only when): current_alt = firing_alt so why not just do that? What did you hear? "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Andre, I agree with you about the Vigil features and the sturdiness of it's case and cables. A couple things, however, seem not quite right to me: I would have to be driving at 654 mph (1053 km/h) down a 12% grade to reach the 78 mph descent rate required for the Vigil to fire. At 100 mph (still very fast!) on that same grade, the descent rate would be just under 12 mph. Obviously no one is descending fast enough while driving to get even close to the firing parameters of the Vigil. Why are Vigils prone to firing when driving down hills? When a trunk or car door is slammed, or when an aircraft is pressurized on the ground, the Vigil is still in standby mode - in other words, it knows perfectly well that it is sitting safely on the ground - yet it can still fire. Why would an AAD fire when it knows it is sitting on the ground? It is not the features or construction quality of the Vigil that I doubt, it is the firing logic. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Try this. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

This could be interesting to play with under canopy, too. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

http://www.mentalgear.com/ They have helmet covers, too. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I'm not blowing anything out of proportion. What makes you say that? Yes, and those are the manufacturer's numbers, not PIA's. 1. He was asking about a Raven 2 which is neither 266 nor 282. 2. That depends on how you define a size. Most canopies have 10% to 15% difference between sizes. 282 to 266 is about 5%, which would be a half or third of a size. Given his stated weight, it would change his wing loading by 0.05 lb/ft^2. The difference between 211 and 218 would change his wing loading by 0.03 lb/ft^2. I don't see that as a very big difference. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Yes, I'm aware of the PIA measurements, thanks. It is common practice to refer to canopy sizes as labelled by the manufacturer. I notice both of you (likestojump and stitch) use the manufacturer numbers in your profiles, for instance. PIA measurements may be useful for comparison between different manufacturers, but the differences generally aren't all that significant - about 3% in this case. The PIA data is probably most useful for the volume numbers (for container sizing). Also, the PIA data is incomplete (some canopies are missing data, others are not on the chart at all), which limits its usefulness. Likestojump, go look up your Heatwave 135 - you won't find it. There are also errors in the PIA data. For example, stitch, the Super-Raven 249 reserve you list in your profile is listed by PIA as having an area of 474 square feet - I don't think so! They measured a Raven 3 that apparently came in at a whopping 2485 square feet! While it's obvious that these are errors, how many non-obvious errors are there? "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

218, actually. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I'm posting an update for the benefit of anyone doing a search in the future. I decided to send the suit back. They built a whole new suit from scratch instead of changing the first one, in order to not weaken the suit by resewing the fabric. The new suit is exactly as I wanted, and it fits perfectly. The construction quality is impressive. Customer service was also great - Vlady was pleasant, responsive to my concerns, and always quick to return phone calls and emails. He wasn't happy until I was happy (and I am happy!). I will definitely buy from Vertical Suits again. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg