lilchief

Just remember to ask before touching the rig, so the jumpers is aware of what you're doing. I won't let anyone I don't trust near my reerveflap since V3 can easily be tucked wrong. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

Disclaimer: This post is long, but it’s a matter I’m burning for, and it takes a long time explaining it. They are doing it because they get scared and pissed of your "recklessness", but also many have seen people go in, and it freaks us out. I don't blame them.. BUT(!) I'm one of those rapid downsizeing persons my self, and that's just who I am. I've done almost 400 jumps in the two last seasons, and went down from a Pilot 210(160-ish jumps) to a Stiletto 170(140-is jumps, 122 in two weeks) to a Stiletto 135 (70 jumps) to a Samurai 136(15 jumps) in two years. I’ve made a total of 400 hookturns out of 448 jumps, from cautious double at high altitude to 360’s. There have been 4 times where I've come low on a hook turn. The first one happened when I was experimenting with 270’s after some 300 180's on the pilot and stiletto 170. The three other came rather rapidly after each other on the stiletto 135. The first two I was not aware of that harness input was more noticeable during a hookturn then under normal flight. The last one was my own fault, because I was to excited after getting my new Ouragan suit. The only reason I didn't dig in was because I've watched numerous hookturns gone bad on Skydyvingmovies. When I started getting low, I recalled the image from all of those movies, stayed calm, dug out and it worked for me. That plus Brian Germains Canopy course on an early stage (150 jumps). If you start your opinion with something like: “why are you downsizeing, you don’t have the jump numbers”, you’re already on the wrong track and he/she will less likely listen to you. If you don’t understand their question, let others answer it. I know that there are a lot of people here on DZ.com that ALWAYS tell you: “don’t downsize until you can land on the dime while spiraling down from 2000f crosswinds in a hurricane under your canopy”. To me that's all wrong! As a general precaution, YES, but don't go slamming it on everyone that posts here. There are S&T's, DZO, instructors, friends, family and bypassers at the DZ where the skydiver jumps. They know the person, they've seen his/hers skills. Don't you think that they will stop him/her, or restrict him/her if he/her goes out of line? And if he/she goes out of line, sit down and talked WITH him, don’t just blur your hysteria to him. Make him/her tell you his version of the error, explain him yours and support him/her to make the right call the next lading. If it’s really bad, help him/her with video and feedback. In the end, WE as a community will benefit of it, so please don’t just cut him/her off with yelling. And yes, there are those who shouldn’t be skydivers, but at least try getting on his/hers level and talk to the person before sending him/her off. Then at least you’ve tried. When posting here the person seeks answers to HIS question, not to get hammered down buy the regular stone of fear that you've heard some experienced skydiver tell people on your DZ. What worked for you is not likely what helps mr/ms Curious. In some cases it doesn't matter what kind of canopy you've got over you, it may still kill you, or seriously hurt you. So big isn’t the one-answer-fits-all. But I’m a big fan of encouraging them to keep their current canopy for as long as possible and inspire them to really try it out. Just don’t “command” them. When it comes to swooping, the only way to learn is trial and error. Either you get through your first 1000 landings fine, or you don’t. Even the cautious skydiver gets hurt or killed, we all know that. That takes the air out of the everlasting argument of “don’t do swooping until you get x-hundred skydives”. I don’t need to use me as an example, because there are many others out there that have done it and don’t have any titanium. Numbers alone here on dz.com count for nothing, peoples skills does. And we can’t see them here can we? Now, if you want to fly the super-duper hardcore swoopingmachine are you really prepared to take the risk? No-one may stop you from secretly install a smaller faster canopy and then jump it. You may even get some 20 jumps before someone notices it. You may even get to brag to your other dumass friends that thinks this shit is cool. But what happens when you get linetwist because of poor bodyposition? All of a sudden you realize how fast 2-3000f may disappear and mother earth is coming after you. Or you may not see it at all until your too low.. how about it? Are you prepared to hang under a canopy that behaves so radically that you’re shivering from fear and hope that this trip is over soon, but still you’re too scared to land. Do want to be out of the sport for a year in shame for not paying proper attention while recovering from your multiple injury? Don’t think that my path is our path. You’ll have to find your own, take the risk, face the consequences both physically and socially and see what happens. But don’t think we’ll wipe your tears if you cross us. Why do you want to downsize? You alone know the answer to it and do the following action, not us. But we will still be there to pick you up when you dig in and hold your hand until you get picked up by med’s or your life fades away. But it’s not worth it. edit: Skybytch is actually trying to reach out to you it seems. Don't cut her off, se leves you good guidelines. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

isn't there the danger of you stealing the air from the tandem, makeing them crash down on you? "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

DOH! Sorry andy... "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

OK

During a training camp in Deland this easter, I did 122 jumps in 15 days, and day nr 5 we got weathered out. I did 24 1-1 jumps an the rest mostly single. My recipe: - Buy block deals( I got down to $18 a jump) - Get packer to pack for you 2-4 times a day so you may rest and eat properly during the day - Have oatmeal/granola bars and Salt potatochips accessible during the day. Salt potato chips provides you with salt and fat, which is to essential parts to keep you going through a hot active day. - Buy several 0.5L bottles and keep them beside your snack station. - Get on every load you get! Between each load I'd recommend you to drink one bottle of water, a fist full of chips and a granolabar. Especially if you pack for your self! You'll be burning calories and water at a pace you've only experienced in the army during hell week =P But I'd recommend you to get a couple of 1-1 with a coach. And if the clouds are low, get canopy coaching. There's always something to practice on ;) But don't just jump to jump, have something to train for and get coaching. edit: I did between 8-11jumps a day except the two first where I only did 3 and 5 due to jetlag "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

You're a rigger and you packed the reserve to a skydiver who gets a reserve malfunction and dies. Are you legally responsible for the skydivers death and then could be jailed for murder? I got the question from a non rigger, and it got me thinking. I'm just a trainee and couldn't give him a reasonable answer. I'd like to hear opinions from riggers and DZO's mainly. I'd like to ask those who are not riggers, DZO or have first hand info to not post your opinions to shorten the thread and make it more solid. If there's been some real cases where riggers have been investigated, I'd be happy to hear what happened in that case. Thanks. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

Nope! I'm serious. If I only lived near some test facility or somehow got recruited, I'd most likely do it. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

According to a guy in my club who participated at a canopy course with a testjumper, the testjumper said the following: "We jump all kinds of canopies in all kinds of places" ..Where do I sign up? =D But seriously, it would(in my mind) have been great to become a testjumper, just to see and FEEL how the different designs work and behave. And then to participate on the development of our sport.

If I'm not mistaken, russians have a rule: "If you want to start with hookturns, do so during the winter" harr-harr I'll apply for the flying polar bear this winter! =D "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

According to brian himself, the Sensei will never be released. The Sensei is a ongoing test project, that's why he told me. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

I just want to add my thoughts here: PD has in m mind ben the best at canopy deigns for some time now, and the Velo has been regarded to be the fastest swooping canopy for over 10 years(correct me if I'm wrong). What have PD been doing the last 10 year you think? If the JVX or some other canopy challenges the velo significantly, the I can't wait for what kind of response PD launches. I'm absolutely certain that they have one or more aces up their sleeves and damn their going to be radical I hope "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

To give you a short boering advice from me: Get a Alti III and a Prodytter/Solo and use the rest on jumps. But what bothers me is that you're _required_ to use an audible while still beeing a student. my advice to people ho ask, is to do approx 100 jumps after getting your A before getting an audible. The reason is that you get used to check your altimiter insted on relying on an audible. Audibles are great but makes you lazy, and that could put in some dangerous situasions. Those are my 2 cents on that issue. I'm interrested on what others have to say on this. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

haha Thanks guys! I got was I was after. I allways check the visual, and that has helped me a lot. It's just spooky when the alti says 500' and I go: "..umm..hell NO!" "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

Have anyone noticed difference between a digital and analog altimiter while setting up, causing you to loose you're setup? I felt that the altimiter I used last weekend was so slow(or inaccurate) that I almost dug my self in. The altimiter said 500, but it didn't match what my eyes said. I ended up doing a low toggle turn to land.. when i looked at it on the ground it said 0' My altitrack got stolen, but I had no problems with setting up with it. Would you say that a digital(neptune, GFX, Altitrack or viso) is better then analog models regarding consistency? One more thing: the mudflap altimiter mount from Bonhead, does it cover your mudflap, so the embroidery won't show off? "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

when I ordered in june, the deliverytime was 16 weeks, and it took 16 weeks But that's history now, and I don't care, cause I've got the rig See if you could borrow a rig meanwhile to start learning your canopy. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

Since two people here at DZ.com posted their rigs, I'd like to share my photos as well(mostly just to brag ) Vector3M - "All options" + embroideries. Samurai 136 main(black - white - red), Smart 150 reserve. Took the rig for 5 jumps this weekend, and it was extremely comfortable under canopy...sweet. 3D spacer foam is recommended, no matter who you order it from. Yes the design on the rig and suit costed a bunch, but it's worth it. i hate to make compromises when I'm investing. edit: subject had a spelling eror =P "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

hehe, thanks man =D "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

Any news or updates on the Aviator regarding quality, comfort and fit? I'm looking to buy one instead of the hurricane from skysystems. Could you compare them? "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

This is incorrect. I searched my gmail and found out that I didn't send two emails. That was all in my head Sorry PD.. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

well, there I got my answers. But I must say that I'm dissapointed. I thought I'd found a "new" canopy and that I could change my lines to get a new sensations of flying and kind of "testing" a different canopy. well, well.. that's life

I've sent 2 e-mails to PD regarding this, but now replies have been sent. So this time, I'm asking the crowd. The linetrim that was used on stilettos before 1996 was more aggressive then after. I was told by a Senior rigger that they did it because people kept digging them selves in. They were simply not used to HP canopies. At the same time they installed spanwise reinforcements to prevent chordwise fractures in the ZP fabric. My question is: compared to todays canopies, like katana, samurai, crossfire2 etc, how would a stiletto today with the old linetrim perform? better, worse or no difference? Also, had the linetrim something to do with opening characteristics?

I wouldn't call it a rip-off. But I wouldn't recomend a Sabre these days. There are better canopies out there at the same price. The base comment was me just being sarcastic. =) But do you know what size of canopies the container is seized for? If it's made for one size less then what's in it know, i'd say it's good deal. cause then you may downsize twio sizes if you want to. and normally people tend to downsize the first time 2 sizes the first time. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

first; at what price? I'd say get it, but get a different canopy. I don't like SA1 because of less performance on the wing, and hard openings(which is good if you want to get into BASE, but thats completly different) 2 cents comming at you "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

windstopper fleece is one rock solid alternative. worked at -10 degrees celcius just a tip from norway... peace "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no