377

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Article Comments posted by 377

  1. "...there are patents on 200+ MPG carberators" Patents are public documents, with full text and drawings freely available on the Internet. There are only so many BTUs in a gallon of fuel. No fuel metering or combustion enhancement system can change that number. I don't like limits, but they exist nevertheless.

  2. Well written, thoughtful, hard data, zero self-serving rationalization. I am giving up bottled water to help compensate for my skydiving. I had no idea bottled water took so much oil. Tap H2O in my area is actually just fine. I am addicted to skydiving and can't quit, but I can quit bottled water. Can we do better? How about a big tethered balloon with a pulley attached? A ground mounted solar powered winch can take us up. ;)

  3. Great job Bryan, clear explanations. I wish every jumpship had a GPS GROUND SPEED readout right next to the door. Doesn't solve all the horizontal flight issues raised in your article but would generally make safe exit spacing a lot easier. Actually not that hard to do but I have yet to see one. I put an old Garmin Summit on a wrist mount and it got a solid ground speed reading right next to King Air and Twin Otter doors. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to write this. You give a lot to skydiving safety and I deeply appreciate it.

  4. Great article. Congratulations!
    I own some "C list" rigs and it really hasn't been much of a problem. I have 3 rigs and all of them are orphans:
    Reflex
    Eclipse
    NARO
    You can get airworthy spare parts if needed, just takes some searching. The only hassle I had was when I had to do a cutaway from my Eclipse and lost the freebag. Took a little searching but I found a good one at a fair price, Turns out that a Vector bag would have been legal too.
    I wouldn't trade my Eclipse (with hip rings) for any other. It is hands down the most comfortable rig I've ever jumped and I've tried many.
    The best advice to a gear hungry newby is WAIT. Rent or borrow for a while. It's too easy to buy the wrong thing when you are green and dying to own your own rig. Also you may be hustled by sellers who will prey on your lack of knowledge and push really janky overpriced outdated stuff. Wait, cool down, get advice from trusted colleagues and riggers who aren't trying to sell you anything.
    377

  5. Great article Bill. Thanks for writing it.
    Sad that in most cases the safer gear choice is the less "cool" one.
    Smaller usually means less safe, with the notable exception of SLINKS.
    I still see people skydiving without helmets. How is that ever a good idea?
    Highly loaded reserves carry a huge risk if you are unconscious or unable to work the toggles. But you wont look cool with a bulky rig, so many jumpers choose postage stamp reserves.
    The list is endless.
    Our sport attracts risk takers. Always has. Guess it's no surprise that they push the edge on gear choices.
    377
    First jump 1968, still jumping
    2 reserve rides: 1st 26 ft Navy Surplus Conical, 2nd PD 190R

  6. Another legend gone.
    Dan contributed hugely to the chronicling of now vintage parachute equipment. He also wrote extensively about small market publishing and undoubtedly helped many aspiring authors successfully navigate that minefield.
    When I decided to learn paragliding I went to Dan's book which was a huge help.
    Nice guy too. When I met him he was super helpful with questions about old military gear. He showed a phenomenal memory for obscure details.
    Skydiving is better for having had Dan Poynter in its ranks. May he rest in peace.

  7. Great article Bill. If you can convince even one non RSL equipped jumper to add an RSL ya done good.
    The myths against RSLs are so pervasive. You presented a logical refutation of the big ones.
    I've had two cutaways in over 850 jumps. One on surplus gear in the early 70s and one in 2005 at WFFC with modern RSL equipped gear. My 2005 cutaway was done plenty high. I did my very best to beat the RSL using my reserve ripcord but didn't even come close. RSL was faster than I could ever be. RSLs are cheap and add a lot of safety margin for the buck IMO.
    Nice job.
    377

  11. Great article. Wish someone could take your article and make some demonstrative computer animations to illustrate the issues you raised. It's hard for newer jumpers to visualize the dangers by just reading about them.