BrianM

That's not the setup we are using. We have a SOS handle on the left, and a plain old cutaway handle on the right. There are 3 cables to the left handle (ripcord and 2 cutaway), and 2 cables (cutaway only, no ripcord) to the right handle. The only extra compllication this entails is to have two cutaway cables to each riser, with two grommets through the riser, and a loop that is not sewn to the riser but that goes through both grommets and has a cutaway cable through each end. Seems simple enough to me. Having a ripcord going to the right handle also does seem like it would be more complicated depending on how it was set up, but I think it could be done fairly simply. In any case the RSL provides the same functionality in most cases, and the AAD should cover most of the other cases. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

At -20 C, I can't say I felt proud - I just felt pain for a while after the jump... "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

21 F is not exactly cold... I've jumped when it was -20 C on the ground (that's -4 F). Went to altitude too. I know lots of people who've jumped in colder weather. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Our DZ (just across the pond from you actually) has student rigs with a red cutaway pillow on the right, and a silver SOS handle on the left. Students are trained as if it were a normal TAS. This means no retraining, but is much more forgiving of incorrect EPs. With the RSL, pulling only one handle - either one - will cutaway and deploy the reserve (except for a total or PCIT), and pulling handles out of order doesn't matter. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

You mean when it's in a downplane? He doesn't. He starts off very close, is flying a small canopy, and spirals hard. It still gets away from him, but not before he gets some decent pictures. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Now I wonder how you figured that out??? "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

They look close enough to each other to be using just leglocks. Very difficult to do. Pretty cool being able to pull it off! Here's a few closeup crops of the same formation done the same way, both before and after downplaning it. I've included a few uncropped shots too. I'm the middle person in all of these. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

No. The CYPRES wasn't available until 1991. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Thanks everyone for the comments. It looks like I'm not the only one who dislikes the spectra/dacron mix for CRW. I had assumed that any canopy intended for CRW, even casual CRW, would be all-dacron. I had no idea the hybrid was normally sold (or even available) that way. Anyway, the person who told me about this had two hybrid Tri's for sale, he said they both had the spectra/dacron mix, which I wasn't too keen on. Today he took a look and discovered that one of them was actually all dacron, so I bought that one this afternoon. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Hello, I've got a couple hundred CRW jumps on a hybrid Triathlon that had all dacron lines - as did the hybrid tri's of the other people I was jumping with (they were team canopies, so naturally they were all the same). Today I was told by someone that hybrid tri's normally have spectra lines with the exception of the centre and outside A and B lines which are dacron. Two questions: 1. Is this true? 2. What do people think about the spectra/dacron mix for CRW? Personally I'd prefer all dacron lines for CRW, and was surprised to learn that the hybrid tri isn't all dacron. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Really??? Wow! I guess there's only one thing to do: sleep until noon every day! "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I use and like SmugMug. It has unlimited storage, and I can upload full size images. It has lots of neat features and is easy to use. It has different levels of accounts (standard, power user, professional) so you can choose what level of price/features you want. Best of all, they do a great job of looking after their customers You can save $5 by using this link: http://www.smugmug.com/?referrer=ZdWDiuogLllGM "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Exactly what I meant - I should have been more clear in my original post. The only reference I have been able to find is on FXC's Astra page, where it says: "The smooth rounded corners on the space saving low volume battery pack prevent wear spots in the reserve container and permit mounting in the main container." I assume it would be up to the container manufacturer? "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Someone at the DZ today told me that some people have had their Astra AAD's installed in the main tray instead of the reserve tray so that the batteries can be replaced without opening the reserve. Does anyone know anything about this? What is involved in the mod? "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I also seem to have lost my Vector II manual - I'm sure I had a PDF of it, but I can't find it anywhere. Can someone send me a copy? "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

We have a 6 month cycle in Canada. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Except if I am not mistaken, you can shoot only video or only stills, and not both at the same time... "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

There, I fixed it for you. Needless to say I didn't tell them that I was a skydiving coach, instructor and rigger until after said graduation jump. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

http://www.deet.com/ Yes, it can be found in some (not all) bug spray. That would be the stuff I mentioned that melted the nosepieces on my glasses and stripped the varnish off a friend's guitar. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I'm not so sure. I've used bug spray that didn't melt my skin, but did melt the rubber nose pieces on my glasses. I've also seen it take the varnish off a guitar, but not melt skin. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

How about this one: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=9525439 "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I would say shame on you and remind you that skydiving is a dangerous activity that is not for everyone. I was merely pointing out that a two out caused by a CYPRES fire after a low pull will not necessarily occur at 1050 feet. That would be the case if the CYRPES fires near the end of the main deployment, and it is the best case scenario. I presented the other extreme for completeness. It could also be anywhere in between. You were suggesting that there would be more time available than tdog claimed. I'm pointing out that there might very well be less. I think it is usually wise to consider the worst case, not the best case, when deciding on what emergency procedures are best for any given scenario. Shame on me! "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Your "sniveling your main" will stand you up in a feet to earth position. In this position the Cypres will fire at some where around 1050 to 1100 feet. Now you have to go back to the start and do you calculation all over again. But in a belly to earth position it will fire at about 750 feet. So let's say I throw out my main at around 750, the CYPRES fires at about the same time, it takes about 300 feet for my reserve to open and about 500 feet for my main to open. I now have two out at 450 feet or lower. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

The only issue I can think of is those plastic clips found on many flightsuits to hold paper/notepads to your leg. It would present a snag hazard. They should be easy enough to remove. You could also try coveralls (the type mechanics wear), they should be cheap enough. Some DZ's use them for students. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

If the loop fingertrapped into the end of the line is large enough to go over the barrel on the link, perhaps either the outside A line or the centre B line went over the barrel and all the way around to the other side? If so you can just flip it back around. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg