TMPattersonJr

For a rigger that has taken the time to reach out to a manufacturer and get the tips about packing, bulk distribution, and closing. Any rig is easy to pack. Disclaimer: I currently work for Parachute Labs Any rigger worth their salt will understand and seek help if needed before packing any rig. I pack probably 65-70% Racers and do cuss occasionally when I have to pull out my positive leverage closing device for other rigs, but that's normally because of overstuffing a container more than a "hard close." Each rig has its challenges and once you understand them all every rig can be an easy pack. To the OP, PM sent. Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

If you can put it into the bag it's going to come out. This is just from personal experience and I've packed some stupidly tight ones and they've worked just fine. Again I'm not suggesting this combo by any means and there is a possibility of complications of you overstuff a container. The biggest complication I see is trying to pack this combo to begin with. Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

I worked for Mirage previously and currently for Parachute Labs. The 182 packs about as big as most 190's so if a 170 is going to be snug a 190 is going to be a brick. I will not be unsafe by any means because if you can close it, it'll come out. It may just not look really pretty when closed. If you cannot come up with a larger container and cannot downsize the main you would probably be fine with this combo but it just would not be ideal. Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

Well I do Tandems. Mr. Wright used to do Tandems. And as a manufacturer representative for Tandem Parachuting here is the official stand on the rules for doing tandems that have been agreed to by ALL the Tandem Manufacturers at the 2011 Symposium, reinforced at the 2013 Symposium and because of crap like this will probably have to be reinforced once again in 2015... Notice Number 11 & 12... 19 Commandments of Tandem Parachute Operations 1. No jumper may be under the age of legal majority. 2. Waivers are a must. 3. A tandem student’s harness should be in a jumpable configuration before boarding the aircraft. 4. The minimum exit altitude is 7,500 feet AGL during normal (non-emergency) tandem operations. 5. The drogue must be deployed within three to five seconds of exiting. 6. On each jump, instructors must make three handle checks (before boarding, in the aircraft before exit and after tossing the drogue) in the order they would use them. 7. Relative work must cease by 6,500 feet AGL. All jumpers must attend a briefing, including the student. USPA currently recommends breaking off at 1,000 feet before the planned deployment altitude, which translates to a minimum of 5,500 feet AGL. 8. The tandem instructor must pull the drogue release by 5,500 feet AGL. USPA’s Basic Safety Requirements currently stipulate 4,500 feet AGL. 9. The tandem pair must be under a fully inflated main canopy by 4,000 feet AGL. 10. Tandems must maintain adequate separation (at least 100 feet) from other jumpers under canopy. 11. No hook turns. (No turns greater than 90 degrees under 500 feet AGL.) 12. The tandem canopy must be stabilized (flying straight and level) by 100 feet AGL when on final approach. There is no reason that it shouldn’t be. 13. The instructor must report any cutaway or equipment failure that may have resulted in a cutaway (even if it did not) whether or not there was an injury. The instructor must also report any injury. These reports must be sent to the manufacturer and USPA. 14. Outside videographers must have a minimum of: 500 relative work jumps, 100 camera jumps and have made at least 100 jumps in the previous year OR 300 jumps and have passed the air skills portion of a USPA Coach Course. USPA currently recommends 300 group freefall skydives, 50 camera jumps and does not have any Coach training requirements. 15. Instructors must have 100 tandem jumps (plus additional requirements for training and preparation) before using a handcam. USPA currently recommends 200 tandem jumps. 16. Instructors, regardless of the type of equipment they jump, must abide by the currency requirements (see chart). 17. Rig owners must adhere to the manufacturer’s maintenance and packing instructions. 18. Before boarding the aircraft, there must be a minimum passenger briefing, according to Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 105.45. 19. All tandem instructors will be required to participate in the Continuing Education Module. The test will be available online. The format will be three-answer multiple-choice questions. Have a nice day.

Yes it can. I believe Suzie replied to your e-mail just a bit ago. Thanks!! Mikey P. Parachute Labs Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

I work for the company and some might call me biased but yea you pretty much summed it up for me. 1300 jumps on snap toggles and not a brake fire on my Racer Tandem or sport rigs.

Another point is that most are burning to DVD which will take some advantage of the better footage. But you're still down converting from HD - SD so the benefit gained is usually lost in translation so why go through the extra expense. Now if they were making HD blu-rays then you might (only with a trained eye) notice the difference. Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

Yea, this guy... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKVAtjfGjp0 Glad he was heads up enough to pull out his freebag. I get ribbed all the time for my ugly Racers. But you know what, my equipment while pretty to me is not going to be a factor in my passing if ever the situation arises. You can give me all the crap you want about my rigs, you're not going to prove to me that pretty=safe... EVER Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

What size canopies you looking to put into it? Are you just looking at low weight? what about the profile on your back? long, short, wide, narrow, thick, thin? Like a few have said before, going with fixed leg straps and a standard harness instead of ringed to get rid of as much hardware as possible will be your biggest weight savings. I work for Parachute Labs so my obvious answer is going to be the Racer. But I have jumped many other rigs out there and so far none have come close on weight. I worked previously for Mirage and the 2 rigs I had there are as comfortable as my Racers but with chest rings and hip rings and all the extra padding to make it comfortable, you're adding weight. So Take a look around and see what you think of each rig, put each one on your back with similar sized canopies to what you are going to jump and feel the actual difference and make your decision from that.

We can work with you to get the bag the same size as what your current bag is. I will say is will accomplish the same goal as if it were in a Racer, Mirage, Vector or any other rig out there. Yes is is a bit of a pain to pack when you first start working with it and I know you use a packer, but like anything new to them they will adapt and learn tricks that will cut down on their time. I pack almost exclusively Racers except for the occasional rig that comes through the shop, and I can lace up a speed bag as quickly as I can "free stow" the the lines in the pouch. Both instances my stows are neat and don't look like a rats nest. It just takes the time to make the pouch stows look nice and even as it does for me to lace up and stow the speed bag. When it comes down to a standard main deployment bag v/s the speed bag the standard will always be quicker but if you have the question about line dump the speed bag wins hands down. I'd be glad to give you more info but done want to sound like I'm advertising in here, so send me an e-mail if you'd like more!! [email protected] Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

I'm not doing many jumps these days shooting tandems as I'm usually the one chucking the drogue and getting my picture for a change

The humidity plays a part in it and the air pressure plays a part in it also. I cannot tell you exactly why, but if you have a bag of potatoe chips at sea level, take them up in a plane, the sealed bag will expand as you climb. I cannot explain much more than that. Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

To all, Mirage had discontinued the split bag when I had worked there ('08-'09) the were no requests for it and had more time building it. They do have 2 "styles" of bag; One for the G3 which is a standard rectangle, and one for the G4 which is teardrop shape. I do believe they do sell the semi-stowless bag or get them made by UPT but it should remain the same shape or it will not fill your container correctly and you'll have areas that are either too loose, too tight or both. My recommendation is to adjust your packing. Your cocoon should be about 1-2" wider than the opening of the bag before you start your "s" folds. Most people try and make it really skinny and you're just making more work for yourself and making the rig harder to close considering you've put all the bulk in the middle of the bag and now all the flaps have to stretch to get over that bulk for it to close. I know it seems tight to get in there but the biggest thing is to keep control of the fabric and slowly work it into the bag until you get comfortable doing it. Hope this helps

And also take into account that we are at sea level in Florida, if you have any kind of elevation that will also add to your pack volume. Most of the manufacturers are located here so if they say it'll be tight, if you ever took it to Colorado you'd need a vacuum bag to get it closed!!! Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

We have heard the people and I am working on a more functional website as we speak. With any luck (and lack of sleep on my part) it should be operational in the next 2-3 weeks,

Yes, I have sent an e-mail to William and am awaiting his reply.

I work for the manufacturer and we received a canopy on it's second line set in for it's third so it had around 1500-2000 jumps, as expected the ZP fabric was not holding air like new but still had some life left in it. I did a test jump on it and at around 2-1 it flew great and still had a lot of flair left in it. Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

Answers in the quote below. Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

Update!!! There will be a helicopter for both Saturday and Sunday from 8 am until noon both days. The jumps will be $60 each from 4,000 feet. If you were debating on coming here's one more reason to be here!!! Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

^this. It's the Sunman approach to swooping. Extra points in freestyle if you glisten What if you sparkle?!? Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

Yea, but it was still only loaded right around 2/1 Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

...and to add to that you can also check out Parachute Labs www.jumpshack.com Parachute Labs has the Racer Harness and Container, AngelFire reserve, and also the FireBolt Main. My best advice for you is look around and try out everything you can. Most manufacturers have a demo program so you can "try it before you buy it" If you are insistent on purchasing new gear, get something that is going to last you awhile, i.e. a container that will fit a size smaller main canopy than what you're intending on purchasing. Most containers will comfortably fit a size above and below what they were sized for. So if you start with a container that is a size smaller it should be good for two downsizes. Consult with your local DZ staff or the manufacturers directly about this. Second biggest advice I can give you is look for used!!!! You will have several chances to downsize and if you purchase new every time, it will get really expensive. Look around here and if you do want to purchase make sure you use a middle man (normally a dz or gear shop) to assist with the transaction and have a rigger you trust go through the equipment. There are several canopies and containers out there and they all have +'s and -'s best thing to do is try it out for yourself. You are the one who will be jumping it. If you rely on the opinions of everyone else you may get something that you may not like!!! Again demo everything before trying to make a decision on one set system. Also if you do decide to go new, also take into account price, delivery times, and customer reviews of customer service and the products. Well that's all I have for you now. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask!!!

Can you post a link? http://www.jumpshack.com/default.asp?CategoryID=Video_Gallery Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws

I could sell you a new one for $450 from Jump Shack, and it'll be legal to use Blue SkiesBlack DeathFacebook www.PLabsInc.com www.SkydiveDeLand.com www.FlyteSkool.ws