koppel

Interested to hear from people who have jumped the Thunderbow or similar. Do people know of other canopies that have similar characteristics etc. Also anyone got one I can get my hands on please. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Now here's a thought... Are there any people out there who, as a matter of course, set their AAD higher than its normal operational settings? Answers on a postcard please... I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

A student is also taught never to abandon EP's, nor to rely on an AAD. The standard is the same. In the event of a failure of the skydiver to turn themselves into a parachutist the AAD will hopefully acheive this for them. We do not rely on them for ourselves or our students. However chasing your student and not opening your parachute may turn the instructor into a Rorsch Blob leaving the lesson stated but not explained. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Give or take last weeks jumps 350 in 14 months and am I pissed. wouldn't turn on this weekend. One set I installed for someone got 35 jumps and six months. I have noticed a trend for C1 batteries not to last as long recently (read last 18 months or so I guess) or maybe its just me. Anyone? Edit to add: wish I had one in my other rig though, even one with batteries that didnt last I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I read a story in Readers Digest very similar to that you mention last year. I was very angry to hear that he was posthumously awarded something for bravery. The signal he sent was that he did not trust his students equipment to work. We must trust our equipment, but only after we have checked it

Yes it would. http://www.cypres.cc/Sites/englisch/Download_Users_Guides.htm Please read Section 12 : Technical Data Specifically regarding activation heights of Expert and Student models. I am a Non-Parent. However when I have children they will if they choose jump. I hope that I can educate them to RTFM and not rely on myth and hearsay for information in this sport. Koppel I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Just wondering if anyone knows the exchange rate of ratings APF to USPA. I have and APF rating Packer A allowing me to pack reserves but not to do rigging. What is the equivilant in USPA terms and could someone explain the privilages of the various USPA Rigger Ratings. Thanks Koppel I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Not much in it, but so far Racer seems to have the edge, but only just. Jav/Wings/Vector all only a little way behind. And there are more Racers on my home DZ than anything else. Makes you wonder...... I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

that looks better than half the ones I jump did one at the weekend, put a beta 150 in a Jav 120 bag. No sub-terminal pitches on that one I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I have my clients pull silver whenever possible if they bring it to me and I always measure the distance the P/C goes. I keep a record for personal interest of the distance and am collecting these for future reference. I have found that those I have repacked are fairly consistant to within 25 cm's. Those where I have not been the last packer vary by anything upto two meters , ie comparing Javelin to Javelin, Vector to Vector etc Anyone else keep records like this or am I just anal I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

[and I hope he doesn't use BOC to deploy his reserve] Obviously never saw an old style Woomera. Australian Rig that utilised a pull-out / throw-away on the reserve. Apparently favoured by old CReW Dogs due to being able to place your reserve pilot chute outside of any wrap you may find yourself in. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

[Totally Unavoidable????? ] Surely you mean Totally Avoidable. I know that when we get a new packer (regardless of experience) I tend to be real cautious with gear checks and opening heights for the first 20 jumps or so. hey, I mean they may be rated but it could be different gear to that which they learnt on or just about anyone of a hundred small things that makes it different for them and more dangerous for us. Always buy your packer a beer at the end of a good day I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

could you let me know why you prefer the second exit. It seems more awkward to me and I figured with a taller student with longer legs it could be difficult. cheers koppel I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I've done plenty of jumps without goggles/sunnies doing camera. Used to film a TM who would forget passenger goggles about once a week. No real problem if your looking up doing RW etc. It sounds like your allowed to go straight onto sunnies as soon as you get your license there. Here in OZ its at least 100 jumps before your allowed to discard the clear goggles for tinted or sunnies. Makes sense to be very familiar with your gear and landing etc before you start to reduce your vision. I had a frap at around 800 jumps caused in part by new goggle type sunnies that restricted some of my periphial vision. I should have checked them out more rather than just thinking how cool I looked. oops I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

it only cheapens it when the idea is not coming from the client. If that is what the client wants, well it's their dollar and their day. Let them have it any way they want. We have had a fair few pass through our way that would like to do that. FJC included (S/L,AFF) as often as tandem. And as many fellas as chicks. We do have a rule however that if its a chick their is a chaperone at all times during harness fitting and until they are in the aircraft as well as provide them with a means of providing enough cover until the jumprun itself. Remember its for their pleasure not yours. Thas 'nuff preachin' 4 now I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I jump one nearly everyday but an important question is are you jumping a rear door or not? The C206 I jump from is a standard forward door (swing up variety). Climb out is a bugger at times. There are two schools around here for climbout and exit, the first which we use is gearup etc is done kneeling facing forwards. After usual checks get your student to lift their feet forward and have them sit on your knees. They can walk their feet forward and around, place them on the step easily. Drawback is you need to get forward and turn the rig past the pilot seat. Brief them not to push up on exit or you will wear the door The other option (personally I don't like it for front door 206) is to sit facing the rear with your student between your legs, gear up and slide backwards until your rig is almost pushing the controls then have your student swing their legs out onto the step. Exit is the same after that. I believe that the rear door would be the same as a Caravan or similar exit but have not had the pleasure yet hope this helps Koppel edit for camera - front door 206, have your camera hang from the rearof the door for a great closeup on exit, if you don't like your camera that close then place them out on the strut for a geat climbout shot. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

We are just a small DZ in QLD Australia, doing maybe 10-20 tandems on the Weekend and upto 20 during the week in the peak season. We have most people arrive around 8.30am and show them all movies etc then. Those that are not able to do a tandem (weight, ability to lift legs etc) but are fit enough to do a solo are given the option of a Static Line jump (hence the early starts). I also believe that our Manifest asks their weight when the booking is made. TM's decision is FINAL. No If's or But's.

Mine held for 21 jumps until the lines started to pop out of the fingertrapping on opening. None of the rear lines had been stitched at the riser end and none of the brake lines had been stiched at the canopy end!!! Very lucky that it happened high! I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

you are of course correct regards PD not supplying bands with their reserves. I use those supplied with the canopy by the dealer who is a dealer for Jump Shack and PD and is also holds a current Australian Riggers Rating. He assures me that the bands that he supplies with them comply with Mil-Spec R1832. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Bands used are those supplied by PD with their reserves. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Just a suggestion but if you trusted your instructors to look after you through your course you may like to trust them now that you are loking for gear. They will know better than most what would be good for you now. If you are worried about biased advis from them you can always post their suggestions and get feedback from people that way. Good luck and welcome to the rest of your life K I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Wondering if anyone else has had any issues with the new speedbag from Jump Shack. I work on a small DZ with a larger number of Racers than other rigs and the last two 2K3's I have repacked have had the lines come out of the stows freely but the stowbands have not easily come out of the top flap. The first released on one side only the second held shut on both sides and needed considerable force for the top flap to release. The first was also used in a low speed cut-away a couple of weeks after the repack and when the freebag was retreived the stowbands were still holding half the bag shut. The canopy had cleared the bag and deployed cleanly however. I spoke to Jump Shack and they said they were not able to duplicate this effet when they designed the speedbag even when they tried to apparantly. Has anyone else come across this issue? I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I work on one of the few DZ in OZ that does mostly S/L and Tandem with some AFF thrown in. Having been in the sport for just over 2 years I was given what appears to be good advice when I showed an interest in working f/t. Vary your disciplines! None of the instructors at our DZ are jaded and we are all muti-rated. Try everything. Have fun. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I had my first (BEER) cutaway a few weeks ago. WL 1.85 on a 117sqf eliptical. Major linetwists that weren't coming out when I tried to kick out. On my back spinning up real fast and decided 'Ah well here we go'. The next thing I know is my right hand at full extension and the feeling of dropping away from my main. Arch and Pull with the Left. I also have hard casing riser inserts which I believe are vital on smaller canopies. Also I must admit that I didn't look but my EP's took over and my hands knew where to go. I do Tandems as well as instruct S/L. I practice my EP's on the ground before I get in the plane and two or three times on the way to height. When was the last time that you practiced yours???? I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Rushing for a load to do a B-rel with a Student I did the normal 'Shake and Bake', clear stabalisers and wrap in the tail. Over 400 jumps on my Vision 117 with this pack. Canopy opened turning violently to the right.....linetwists and....cutaway. Look up, a beautiful white canopy. Quickly release brakes, find the stall point and try the handling of my first reserve ride. WOW! Great flare and turns were very responsive. Nothing like what other people describe under their reserves. Flew well in deep brakes as well as having great drive. No sluggishness here. My WL is about 1.59. Got me back to the DZ no worries, landing on the disc!! Highly recommend this canopy. (I also packed the reserve!!!)