hajnalka

I'm getting scared. Plus, I don't feel well. I'll see you all in a few weeks - have fun

If it's serious enough: I contact the manufacturer, the owner, and the previous rigger. In that order. -D

I'm not Terry or Tom , but - #1 - According to Tom, they're adding a kicker flap. #2 - It seems to me that a graduated springs (with coils starting out small and increasing in diameter, like a Jav) give good launches with all the fabric and mesh out. The non-graduated, non-'tapered' springs scare me re: spring lock, esp. if the PC material is not stuffed between the coils. You have to get them to "stack" so that the lower coils don't want to spring up over higher coils, thus trapping them. Talk about "slippage!" Whereas with a graduated spring, the coils sit neatly inside each other. This is all assuming the system has the closing loop going thru the center of the PC of course. Hope this makes sense.

PC's non-tapered; all spring coils the same diameter. Also the coils are relatively loose and the PC very "tall." We used to have a Strong-sponsored freefly team with Quasar IIs. One of the jumpers had a 60-something ft2 main, and a ?106 (if I remember right) reserve, and at the time it was the smallest Quasar ever made. The reserve tray was almost as wide as the pilot chute, and it was a challenge to close the reserve container while keeping the spring coils properly stacked .... no matter how short of a closing loop we used. We would always pull-test, check the launch, etc. (We've seen several reserve rides on these rigs, without any deployment issues at all.) But, this is why I was happy to hear they're changing the PCs, instead of just seeing this as a PRO-system or 'flinger' issue with the steel in the flaps. They've obviously really researched this in the short time since they got Terry's video. I believe the original Quasars used the Lil' Grabber PC, which would explain them not being affected by the SB.

Kevin - Know of any masochistic, $-hungry riggers who might want to cover the CSS loft that weekend so that both Lyman and I can come? We just heard today about the concurrent 4-way CSL meet. Seriously, I'm wracking my brains and working the phones up here - sounds too awesome to miss! Hope to see you there, man.

.... and it was soooo much fun to see him pull into the parking lot, run out, and say "Hurry, Yevgeniy!! We're on a 5-minute call!" But then I decided that was kind of mean, so I stopped doing it .... -D

I'll do the same for free for similar reasons. Its a great thing to do for young skydivers once they've been in the sport for a bit and have a few jumps under their belts to where they can appreciate and undertand what's going on. ... if they want to help pack their own reserve rather then just watch... it costs extra... Amen, brother - or else they have to do hours of stitch-picking. Thanks for your excellent descriptive post that helped our guy disassemble his stuff .... and congratulations, Jarrod, for doing this yourself. While it's not hard, it's easy to get things to the point (loose links, no daisy chain and tangled lines) where life is difficult for the next rigger to get things straightened out & assembled again . Oh, and Ziggy: thanks for the help you've given us via e-mail over the years - I'll never forget how quickly you identified that old, obscure main brought to me with no ID markings that some old Air Force or Navy rigger had built in his garage or basement back in the day - and you did it just by some of the construction techniques. Like my rigger daddy DDW says, you are "Da Man." Hell, maybe I should send you some Yeungling . Are you wanting lager or black & tans? Best, Dawn at CSS

Tom - Hello from CSS, and thanks very much for your personal call to John Lyman today - it was much appreciated. We're both very pleased with how you're handling this situation, as we'd been rather uneasy about some Quasar II launches over the years as well (as we'd discussed with you.) Kudos for your quick, thorough response to Terry's involvement of the issue. Per his post, it sounds like you're going to a graduated res. PC spring?? If so, excellent . I really hope all riggers and Quasar II owners take this seriously, and check out the video if this SB involves you. Once again, thanks Tom. Dawn, "the other CSS rigger."

I really liked these words, because we have this same guy at our DZ. He's called Eric. All of our instructors loved him from day 1, and that didn't change when he started doing video or coaching after a few months. He was a college student who basically lived at the DZ and jumped his ass off. He got a bit uppity at one point when he was downsizing every two weeks. We talked to him, and ... he listened! He's never had an injury or caused an unsafe situation, as far as I know. From a very early age he was filling in for video at RW meets, and many teams have tried to snag him. Got started with BASE, took a Tom Aiello course, and took a few months off for a X-country BASE jaunt, starting at Moab, going up to Twin Falls, visiting/jumping in numerous cities, ending up at Bridge Day. Along the way, graduated to a very small JVX and is now one of the best canopy pilots at our DZ. He hangs out in the rigging loft with us and helps us out; packs his own reserves under my supervision. He got his tandem rating about two months ago and is now part of our regular full-time instructor rotation. Quite simply, he's a very talented natural. Your guy may be, as well. So, how do the senior, trusted jumpers and instructional staff at your DZ react to this guy? This is what I think's important. Has anyone complained about him? Is he causing controversy? Eric caused mild controversy at our DZ, which was quickly resolved (all you had to do was see video of him flying, or watch him land a few times, or hear him work with students

Was doing some random browsing, and I LOVED your post. I grew up in WI, my first DZ was Skydive IA. I vividly recall learning how to drive/operate the Bobcat to clear the runway of snow so we could jump one day of a Feb. 'false spring,' and how cool it would be when the season really began. This will be my 7th year working at a DZ in NC. I still miss the snow .... but NOT the cold . Hope you have a great season in Fargo, and your new (to you) gear serves you well. If anyone up there remembers Brandon Vigesaa, tell them that he's down here with us. And we try to keep him out of trouble ..... Best, D

Well, Casey, we must have missed you a lot, because everyone was commenting on how much fun last night was. I mean, even Lyman hung out! People were saying we haven't had that much fun at CSS since .... well, we couldn't remember when. Thanks to Matt ('Thud" - we're going to have to start giving out Matt #s) and Melissa M, for organizing things. Melissa - you rock! And, to Michelle et al. for preparing and hoisting that alcohol with pulp - um, I mean pineapple on us. In fact I laughed so much and so hard, I changed my sig. Enjoy it for a limited time . Welcome home, Tess. -D

Anne: It was wonderful to have you back! ..... just bring better weather down South with you next time . Seriously, it's always good to see your beautiful, happy face at CSS .... and hopefully we'll see you at some CASL meets? Take care + be well, and give my love to Sirio

Tess - VERY cool tribute to Steve. That was awesome, and heartfelt, and one of the best posts I've seen on here in a long time. Thing is, every beautiful sunset we have at CSS has a part of him in there, and very occasionally starts us all talking about him. (I have to say: other sunsets just don't count. I've tried to find him on Oahu, in Colorado, on the Outer Banks, in Northern WI, etc. Never works.) I'm sure that soon after you get home, there will be an awesome sunset at CSS; we can toast Steve together! Love you, Tess. Will see you Sat. Take care, Best, Dawn

Bolas and Beav 2 ... ... you guys need to meet. I hope I'm there for that

Give the non-flavored stuff to Lyman. Please - seriously - any hardcore coffee should go directly to Lyman. Not kidding. Thanks , -D

I am sooooo excited about this!! Let me just say that I have the Consular office set up in the loft, for those that need temporary visitor's visas to: "The Villiage." I have a few who should be coming up next weekend. (Yep, be very afraid, Whitney - but don't worry, I'll have a 3-room tent.) We'll still have some kinks to work out with The Villiage next weekend, and I still need to learn all the rules/by-laws, but as soon as possible I think we should have the by-laws for outsiders posted on this thread . If anyone wants to PM me any rules, by-laws, covenants, etc. that'd be cool. Whit - I do like the idea of a padlocked outer-storage bin, very much. We just upgraded our grill, so I can bring our old one. We'll have to think of cooler storage as well. Everyone keep brainstorming! This is going to be a kickass, awesome summer! Suggestions? PM me. Love, Dawn

So Dawn... What are you up to Friday night? Could I bring you to the dz? Awwwww ... Yes, you can bring me to the dz. Just remember, though, I prefer "dipping into your cheese." Can we play Twister? I think you should bring Twister. I'll try to remember to bring MST3K: The Skydivers in case Cutaway doesn't entertain us for long enough. Boy, I wish you all luck on the plane Saturday with Eric after a night of chili and beer.

Not to beat this into the ground, but I vote for pronouncing his name the same; but spelling it 'Toni.' It's a continuity thing .... I plan to keep treating him like the girl he always has been. Bolas: Yes, Eric is almost a TM (may be by the time you read this.) He's doing great, of course. It's soooo cute watching him walk to the plane with the rig reaching down below his knees . Miss you - come see us! -D

Interested in being the designated outside stills photog? David did a great job last time, but maybe you could outdo him ... instead of sitting there reading the paper . HA - love you, Eric. -D

YOU saying I'M sexy?? When you stopped jumping, the CSS sexiness factor went down into negative digits . No one left for Jacki and me to fight over!

Excellent

Well .... aren't YOU all mysterious! We're holding our breath here . Seriously, we miss you man. It would be great to see you again. Congratulations, Majeronis! You guys will both make awesome coaches. I'm really excited about this. Marion: Go for it with the jeans. Wish I could join you but all of my jeans are about as un-sexy as Casey's granny pants (well, I mean as un-sexy as they would be if they were on someone besides Casey of course. The granny pants.) Whitney! Could you please be my sexy jeans guru? I need help here. Ahhhhh, tramp night.

TESS! Love you + miss you; I think of you often. It was fun closing down the Christmas party with you. Congratulations on your graduation! Now I hope things will be a little more 'fun' + interesting and less boring and regimented??? -Alex Now, Beav. The 'not so eager one' ... WHATEVER! This time next year you'll probably be a regular in the video/coach rotation, have your riggers ticket and be looking at taking over the loft and the store . I love it.

*WHEW* ... E, that was good. I'm practically wiping tears of laughter from my eyes here. -D p.s. S&TAs and 'safety meetings' aside - Everyone: stay safe out there, seriously. Make sure your slink tabs are tacked inside your risers! I know it's cool with the big guys to let them hang and have them 'take a set,' but check out the incident at Perris recently. Come see me and I'll tack them for free. And please PM me if any ?s.

You will pay for that.