MB38

Bugger... one jump off!!! I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Brilliant! I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Two words: ZOMG antigravity. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Heh, don't worry, it sounds like you made the right decision this time. And always be sure to note my signature when taking any of my posts seriously... I'm just as much of a newbie as you - and you've successfully handled a mal. I randomly feel like saying that I had a fantastic opening on the paid packjob I got at Perris today [I thought I had 5 minutes to assemble/pack the rig before my call... turns out I had 90 minutes. Dammit!]... hooray packers. Though I guess you pay for a packjob, not an opening. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

jerk I really don't know what I'm talking about.

This mentality has killed people. While I personally don't have the experience to comment on the ins/outs of getting a reserve out right away vs. waiting to get stable, a quick search will find a handful of Bill Booth posts on the subject. That said, I'm glad it worked out for you. :beer: I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I was

Well test monkey, any pictures yet? I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Sunday!!! I'm in NC right now and something tells me CSS and Raeford don't have a DC-9 I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Damn... I'm on a jet on the 30th, just not one I can jump from. I'm SOL on the 31st, eh? I really don't know what I'm talking about.

[shrug] haven't seen it. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I just got their newsletter... it sounds like they might only be jumping it on the 30th. Time for a phone call. [edit: no answer at any of their phone numbers] I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Who did the jump for the film? I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I'll be there on the 31st to make a jet jump.

I have a lot to [re]think about. Thanks to all. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Oh, don't worry, I knew you were merely asking questions. A reread of my post tells me it was a little defensive... I blame the internet. I have read Bill's article on downsizing - I have been through the checklist on every canopy I've jumped [with the exception of anything involving front risers. I also didn't dare land on rears when I was just starting]. Don't worry, I know you weren't head-hunting or trying to freak me out. I'd just rather put a fleshed-out response out there right off the bat rather than a "nuh-uh! I can fly my canopy fine!" Except when it cuts into into my work and life on the ground. Eeegh, this is the same quote I've seen posted to pacify some posters who stop their feet with "you don't know me!" declarations. I hope I didn't come across as such... there's only so much that can be learned in 103 jumps. This is the key. Is that a "go for it, maybe you'll make it!" or a "go for it, it's not that big of a deal"? I like my femurs. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

It's interesting... I do ask myself those questions, I do talk with instructors, I do observe other jumpers and I spend more time reading and learning than I probably should. Every time I do this I find myself being described as the conservative one. Out of everybody I've talked to [again, ranging from instructors to coaches to fellow jumpers], the only people who tell me to upsize are those on the internet. It's years [years] of reading, learning and discussion that has actually led me to the plan I'm on. I always find myself in the exact opposite situation of this one: declining to start high-performance approaches, defending my "huge" canopy, asking friends to talk to an instructor about their canopy choice, telling people that I'd rather learn the right way than the hard way. The whole time I don't give advice because I simply don't know enough to. A 100-jump friend can go on for a half hour about how "easy" and "fun" his 90s are on that hot new 120 and I'll just nod silently. I don't know. I have no desire to ever get into small canopies. I do not want to take up swooping in the least. It puts me in an awkward position... I'm doing what I've been told in person is a safe, reasonable canopy progression and I'm being told online that I'm a 100-jump wonder flying a napkin who's going to hook it in. Who do I trust? The people who I can sit down with, talk with and jump with, or the people who I can type questions to online? So this is me a little unnerved now. I have canopy progression chats almost every time I'm at the dropzone. I've been trying from day one to do this "right". I don't want to be that 100-jump wonder, I don't want to be that hot-shot who thinks he can out fly anybody... and in my mind I'm not! I'm not putting you on here, I'm being serious. I want to be as humble as humanly possible. It would seem that those chats I have are due for a slight perspective change next week... regardless of the result. The "think about it, ask yourself questions, talk to instructors, etc." post is one I've read a hundred times to a hundred different jumpers. Just not to me. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

WL of 1.4 on a Sabre2 with 100 jumps seems a bit aggressive. - I often consider the same point. I think my exit weight in my profile is wrong... I just calculated my main wl to 1.32. That number obviously fluctuates. I don't have much to say to justify my WL. I started jumping on a 230 solo, 220 nav, 230 tri, 210 spectre, 210 pilot, 188 pilot, 169 sabre... next is a 149 sabre that I will likely purchase. I've also demoed the PDR. I've been renting gear from Sqare One this whole time. Beyond that, what's there to say? My progress has been watched by those at Square One in the same way that they watch any other jumper. I have no formal canopy training because I do not yet own my own gear. I take it straight in, high performance approaches give me the willies [I've witnessed 2 fatalities and seen many a femur over the last 8 years or so] and I've read The Parachute and Its Pilot twice. I must be a great canopy pilot! Better than all those other 100-jump wonders. I don't know. I'm comfortable with it, those that jump with me are comfortable with it, those that rent me the gear are comfortable with it. I like to think I can handle it, but everybody thinks that right up until they break their legs. I may be the pot calling the kettle black here, it's tough to say. I despeartely hope I don't come across that way. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I jump a Sabre 2 at about 1.3-1.4, for comparison's sake. On the day I got my 100th jump under a 170 at 1.2, a fellow jumper at Perris did the same... He has the same exit weight as me but he was jumping a 119 Safire 2 at 1.6+. He'll probably read this post. But hey, I guess he's a really good skydiver. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I didn't actually remember I was jumping my own packjob until after deployment. I had a nice on-heading opening, went to collapse my slider and thought "oh... yeah... nice job me!" I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I figured that question would come up. I'm perfectly comfortable with the 150/143 and I feel that I could land it in any conditions. Downwind on a windy day after a cutaway? Yeah, I'm comfortable with it. I would not have made this canopy/container choice if I had any doubt in my mind. That said, why would I turn down more fabric in the same container? I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I guess we'll just have to prepare ourselves for January 2007. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I see that the thread is slowly heading in a different direction, but here's my predictable answer for the first question. My soon-to-be container is cut for a 150/143 combo. If I could suddenly get a 160 of the new material into the space of an old 143, I'd do it in a second... pending funds. Screw being cool, I like my femurs. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I've always been told the same. That said, there are people here who are better qualified to answer that question... I could be wrong. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I am still using regular DV tapes in my HC-1 What is the benefit of using the HD tapes? It tops off your lens fluid for you. I really don't know what I'm talking about.