dorbie

In fairness to the DZ, they told them to take a hike until they offered them a LOAD of cash. Did anyone see the million dollar basketball shot prank. The guy was fair game. Fake ripcord for the win. I don't think he held onto it.

Just ignore him if you're that cynical about what HE does about HIS safety.

But those BASE jumpers are much worse than us skydivers!

Irrelevant, these systems use static line deployment. There is a chance they will kill you or not be operated correctly, so the key is to resort to it only in situations where it improves your overall chance of survival. Not everyone is itching to hurl themselves out of a 60th storey window and people who want to take responsibility for saving themselves in a desperate situation of last resort should have the option.

There is only one drawback; using it when you don't really have to. The other objections are bullshit, the failure modes are irrelevant, taking your chances would still be a better option than dying. As it stands survival rates would be reasonable IMHO. Intentionally jumping from a plane with only one parachute is a BAD idea and dangerous, AND illegal, we all know this. However ALL emergency chutes have only one round parachute in them and the pilot typically has no skydiving experience. Why? Because it's better than riding a burning plane into the ground. Most of these parachutes are never used. So the key issue for this system is can people be taught to use this as a very last resort and be rational enough to make the determination in an emergency? In any case should they not have the freedom to take their chances with it? http://escapeline.com/index.htm I don't think the average person is as keen to jump from a building with one of these things on as the average BASE jumper supposes. It may take some extreme conditions to force them.

Ahh, I jumped the gun; you've seen it (or the USPA proposal lifted from it), so your call for rules is merely to compel you to stay within recommendations you're not adhering to now. You have the table and are free to comply with its recommendations whenever you see fit.

LOL why regulate when the advice is available from experts and you have the freedom to make the right informed choice? Your statement is a bit like a guy playing Russian roulette and just before he pulls the trigger saying maybe there should be a law against this to stop me, as if it's someone else's responsibility. Sorry mate, no rules are required and your statement indicates you're going into this eyes wide open. http://www.bigairsportz.com/pdf/bas-sizingchart.pdf Be sure to factor in density altitude. That's a set of rules for you drawn up by some of the best, feel free to apply them to your own ass if you really want rules. It always seemed a bit on the conservative side to me but it is the best advice out there with a lot of support. This thread keeps on giving.

The issue is not you bumming yourself up, it's what is implied in the statements you make. I don't think your early canopy 'experimentation' was at all incredible, most people do something like that during their early jumps once they learn to flare and when they're trying to pick a first canopy. It's a silly distraction. However what you think you've learned from this is subject to ridicule when you make definitive statements. Most students are asking for advice on canopies, not giving it. Maybe you're staying safe, making statements like that around here just off student status is like a red flag to a bull and conjures up images of others who have gone before, perhaps with more radical downsizing some not, and who have hurt themselves after ignoring advice.

Simply astonishing. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. There's a big difference between surviving decades in skydiving and expecting to. The decisions you make on the ground are a part of that. Alas the odds and attitude suggest he's not going to be in a nursing home when you bounce. These guy's are not attacking you personally (well maybe now after your latest assinine post it'll get 'colorful') they're trying to help you. Step back and recognize that. Best of luck.

Every manufacturer says this about their canopies. That's a great canopy and was top of my list until I learned first hand that it can snivel quite bit especially if the lines have some wear. You might find that desirable. Every canopy has strengths & weaknesses. Find one you like, don't judge by the marketing on a web site. I don't think you're gonna change your canopy now, but stay safe and take a canopy control course, it is money well spent, and you will get more enjoyment out of your wing.

Tie your shoe laces and learn to track.

Given the age of the canopy I don't think you were screwed, even the original jumper apparently jumped it without concern and may have been oblivious. An inspection isn't going to catch everything, they're obviously going to check a used main for porosity, wear and trim. Icarus could and should have at least offered you a dealer's price on a new main, but you weren't screwed. I am impressed with the story about PD posted by another here. That's nice customer service and I'll remember it the next time I buy a canopy.

alternative

Are there any other photos showing this develop?

Your private life is not on display. You can share messages you choose to share with friends you allow to see those messages. It's a service. As for the money, they serve ads, it seems to be how they make their money, kinda like dropzone.com only without Subaru slinging mud in your face.

Sorry you missed the point and humor. But you're right, the D-bag stays with the rig. Always been so and always will be. How else could I get everything from a 98 to a 150 in the same rig? Well one guy I know uses an empty coke bottle. It hits him on the head occasionally during deployment. He really should provide a supply of them when he sells that rig.

But you sold it to him!!

The jumper said he could not reach his pilot chute, he was getting low and went for his reserve. He said he'd jumped with that gear before. Two adjacent central ribs were torn from the bottom skin if not all the way back then VERY deep. The jumper had a bloody lip and developing bruise on his neck from the deployment.

So how long did you leave your rig with the rigger before you made your initial attempt to collect your repack? I'm just curious.

No, stealing your rig was a bit off.

I rode the plane back down from 2000 ft when we couldn't get more, most others got out. I'd get out today.

This could only seem like a great online ad campaign to a roomfull of idiots who's internet experience is restricted to surfing dodgy porn sites with constant popups and security exploits. Fascinating, like a train wreck.

I'm not at all surprised by that part of your response, I kinda expected it, hence my comment about overcoming your inhibitions. It's one of those situations where social stigma / conformance / manners can get you injured. Not wanting to make a fuss on a load etc. when its your life at stake, it's bizarre with hindsight but in the moment there's a barrier to overcome. We humans are strange animals. I'm glad you were OK.

I wasn't trying to be critical, as I said "note to self". I could easily have done the same thing as you did in the video if you hadn't shared so thanks for sharing. It wasn't even on my radar as an issue. No disrespect or discredit to you for saving your life.