dpreguy

Members
  • Content

    901
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Feedback

    0%

Everything posted by dpreguy

  1. dpreguy

    Soft Link

    I believe it is actually Aerodyne's first version of their soft link. I have a set in my loft and can't remember where I got them. Aerodyne has gone thru different owners, (seems like I remember PISA, etc in their history) and my guess it was offered well before the guy who owns it now. It is not the Precision WrapIt, as it is not long enough to go around three times. Aerodyne's are now made of Spectra, and simply use the metal ring instead of PD's bartacked little square gizmo. Also, I think the present Aerodyne metal rings are smaller than the big brass ones in the picture. I am kinda guessing here, so maybe query Aerodyne tomorow and find out if I am right. I have not actually seen a Precision WrapIt in my hands, but pictures of it are available. The line part is really long - obviously - as it has to go around three times instead of twice. (I have never heard of the idea that a soft link would be for mains only, but I guess it could be. After all, PD has two versions)
  2. Lou D Thanks. Actually, when the slider does come over the stop, and I pull the slider back up, it becomes inverted anyway. Same diff. I actually solved the problem on my second rig, demo jump rig, a Vector II with wide risers. I put them on the wide risers, (they don't fit for shit), and they just make a kind of black wrinkled bundle, and they work fine. Slider never goes over that. I just wondered if there was a better performing commercial/ manufactured mfg product for the modern type 17 risers. Like all riggers, I can invent stuff, but rather buy something better if it is out there and someone else has put it thru testing by use.
  3. Wide risers. I already said that was an option.
  4. The "pilgrim's hats/witche's hats" slider stops that come with the PD Slinks don't always stop the slider from coming down over the softlink. Does anyone have a idea or know of a product which is commercially availablle that would stop the slider every time? Esp on rear risers? (I guess I could get the oversized silicone rubber or plastic tube ones, and hand tack, or something like that... I've never seen that tried w soft links - just musing here. Or may just go to wide risers - more musing) Rather than trying to be creative - I'd rather buy a product that is commercially available and stops that slider every time. I have a stiletto with standard(pretty big) slider grommets. Nothing unusual
  5. This is an obvious display of disrespect and poor judgement, if it really happened that way "skydivers laughed at me..... etc" Yes another farmer Mcnasty is created. In general though: Ever notice that if a plane runs out of fuel or has another emergency, and crashes or off field lands his airplane, none of the landowners even think about charging the airplane pilot with trespassing. Why? I think the landower realizes the situation is not within the control of the airplane pilot. Trespassing is not a "strict liability" offense. It takes some kind of volitional act. Upon that theory, 15 yrs ago I defended a young student jumper who landed in a horse pasture. No damage or injury to any horses or anything. The farmer had not had any previous incidents with skydivers, as he was a long long long way form the airport.(yes the spot was that bad) the student only had about 3 or 4 jumps and had no option but to find an open field and land in it. I defended this kid on the theory that he had little or no control of where he could land. Trees, etc were the only other option. Only 3 jumps...etc. He was put into a situation by circumstances beyond his control. In short, it was an accident, not an intentional trespass on the farmer's field. Trial to the court; as I felt a jury would just side with the farmer, and only a judge would understand the legal difference. Nonetheless, the judge found him guilty. I argued that a crash landing airplane pilot would not be considered to be trespassing for the reason stated above- 'where he crash lands is mostly out of his control'. The judge actually said that she could not envision ANY case whre a crash landing airplane pilot could be guilty of trespassing, but a sky diver can, because, after all, they chjose to jump from the plane. Interesting reasoning. Only a misdemeanor, but realize skydivers have public opinion against them from all angles. Not taking care of your landowners that are within landing distance of a dropzone is a plan that has consequences, seemingly forever. For a guy who threatens to set loose a pitbull dog and get out his firearm, - well that may just be an angry statement, but it is obvious, if these facts are true, that the landowner was treated with disrepct. What follows is a years long - maybe dcades long landowner/skydiver fued that probaly could have been avoided by figuring out the right apology/ approach/ or policy to calm the waters. It is not a level playing field for us skydivers.
  6. Thee are several models (cams = stictch length, etc)of the 69-8's but if it is the right one (correct cam) I may know someone who wiould buy your 69-8.
  7. leapdog I would not recomend anything that hangs down for you. If you haven't done this stuff before - start small and safe. There are some small, (size of a big cigar) devices, known by their nickname as "gerbs". You can hold your hand in the shower of sparks if you arent't too close. They are very bright and simulate magnesium flares. OK not even close to those big 3600 farenheight (sp) monsters but still they are good for effect. Can buy w/o license. Must buy electric "matches"to set them off. They do not burn hot. They are made of heavy cardboard. Burn on the ground to familiarize yourself. Some $$ money involved to buy enough of them to train with. Must have suitable foot bracket, leg protection, method of jesttison of bracket= well designed(not something you invent in your garage)and all of the other danger tips in the previous posts. Electrical system. Practice jumps, pro rating, aircraft contingency plans if they go off in the plane..etc etc etc. My advice is to go to Houston and train with Twardo for a jump or two. I can put you in touch with a local company in Denver here that will sell the "gerbs" at the point wher yu are competent to use them. Brackets are available that are proven by multi years of use. So, in short, you ought to invest a whole training plan to get to be able to do this stuff with a minimization of risk; and even minimized is still risky. Contact me if you want to proceed and how to get the "gerbs".
  8. Talked to Roy Fox today, cool guy.
  9. Record? Nah; 50 in one day becaue I have been skydiving for 50 yrs. First jump Aug 1961. Derry slots, -'turn for better view'. No training at all. Jumped off a 55 gallon barrel once or twice, the plane started up, a C 170B, Put rig on me while engine was running and any instructing was in the plane. I have no idea what I was told on the ride up - probably "pull the handle "or something. That was it. And, I was good with that. No complaints. Landed in some mud.
  10. I am thinking of doing a few jumps in a day myself, and in the Feb Parachutist, (in Pat Moorehead's article) the name of Roy Fox was mentioned as having 10 rigs he loaned. I googled Roy Fox, got plaenty of info, but no way to find him. Can anyone put me in contact with Roy Fox?
  11. Although this is not on the topic of AAD Investigation, but also a 'what to do after....'. I remember a very good article, published as a USPA document by Howard White, on suggestions for what to do following a fatality. I haven't looked at it for a long time. It was a very good guide, and coveed the players: media, police, etc I'll see if I can find it.
  12. There is alway Jack Mehoff. We went on bike rides across Iowa, and someone ( I wonder who?) would always slip the campground announcer this one,. The clueless announcer would ditifully announce 'There is a message for' "Jack Mehoff" or "Doctor Hugh G. Rection" and few others until someone finally clued him in. There were dozens more. I'll have to think what they were. There were a lot that started with "Shirly....." I'm sure "Richard Cranium" was in there somewhere.
  13. OK back to the top again: BSBD I have some Norman Kent sunglasses with the full wording on the lens, which can be read by the person looking at the wearer. They even have a skull and crossbones in the center of the wording..They are precious and treasured, but...I will sell them for a million billion trillion dollars. Free shipping. Oh wait, you can't advertise stuff for sale here.
  14. Oh yeah, forgot one. While getting the tandam leg straps done up on a guy: "Gotta get these leg straps adjusted properly, or you'll be like that Chinaman - 'One Hung Low'."
  15. Calculus warning: "Don't drink and derive"
  16. All the time in our airborne jumps , "What'sa matter. You want to live forever?" Tandem stuff: When you jump out ot the plane, there's a planet aimed right at you. So unless you think you can miss it, you gotta pull the ripcord when I tell you. When we are at 12,000 feet, and the door is open, what's the worst thing that could happen to us? Fall out of the door. What's the best thing that could happen to us? Fall out the door. Well, when the worst thing that could happen is the same as the best thing - it's a perfect world! I feel the need! The need for speed!
  17. The picture covers it. I absolutely rememer him in some kind of van or pickup camper, and yes this looks like what I remember him to look like. (OK I don't use proper grammar) I remember us guys talking to him and he was indeed a "cocky and prideful chap" who spun his self-created legend with style. Thanks for the photo
  18. The "gold standard" of determining if your PC is fully cocked, is to put your foot on the bag, pull tension on the bridle, and simultaneously hold the canopy part of the PC up to the light and be sure the litttle tapes that hold the center down is taught and the kill line itself is slack. I think I just saw a picture of that in Parachutist Magazine. The next task (of a continuing nature), is to make sure, during packing that the kill line doesn't inadvertantly retract. Or , if you already have the canopy in the bag, to do the same thing. If the tapes that hold the center of the PC canopy are loose, and the kill line is tight, then it is NOT cocked. Having it catch air and stuff is not fool proof. Neither is a mark on the kill line completely fool proof, as the kill line, being made of Spectra, can shrink a little bit with heat=repeated use. If the colored mark is in the right spot, and if you occasionally check to make sure the mark showing results in the kill line being loose, you are good to go. I use the mark and check it occ to make sure it indicates what it is supposed to indicate. Your bridle apparently doesn't have a window, so you'll have to rely on the "tapes are tight and killl line is loose" check. If you have one of those "wrinkle" bridles: (my term), that wrinkles the lower part of the bridle- the part still in the bag, then it is really difficult to make sure that during the packing it doesn't "unwrinkle", thereby producing a partial uncocking; but, gotta do that, or you will be partially uncocked, every time.. OK I just grabbed the December Parachutiist. Look at the photo on page 72. They call the little tapes "limiter tapes" See how they are tight, and the kill line is loose? That's the gold standard. Without a window, on your bridle, you'll have to use this picture as a guide. It only takes a second to do this on each pack job. If you don't, you won't be sure. I use the mark and check it occ to make sure it indicates what it is supposed to indicate, but then, I have a window on my bridle.
  19. Does anyone remember a guy named "Smitty the Jumper?" Midwest, as I recall. Bragged he never had paid for a jump. Quite a character. I saw him a couple of times, but never saw him actually jump. I think one time he said he had fifty jumps or so.
  20. You want it 1. fast, 2. cheap and of 3. high quality. Pick two
  21. The Times Call newspaer article, dated Dec 11th said the issue would b e taken up at a city meeting on Tuesday. that would have been the 13th of December. It is now the 18th Dec. Did anyone find out what happened at the city meeting? Any "result" or actions or pronouncementsat or following the meeting? Was theFAA in attendence? Short versions of who said what? Maybe I need to google Lonmont Times Call newspper to see if there was a follow up article that summarized what happened. If anything.
  22. Didn't see any reason to be Chatty Kathy, as I agree with the other general advice,"pick a rig that fits" etc. Just my opinion of starting advice. If you 180 my wording, maybe it will be more clear.
  23. If you are "fairly new" as a jumper, then you should consider ony a rig with a workable-reliable RSL. Start from there.