Vectracide

Hey. My personal experience with a main size that doesn't match the container is limited...but what I can tell you is this. The one and only time I put my main in anothers container that wasn't sized right, my freefly pud came loose and I had a head down premature deployment at 170mph. No fun and potentially deadly depending on what main you are flying and wether or not you have someone directly above you. In my case it was a long sniveler main and no one directly above me. (5-way) If you want video..let me know. So, you can see the potential problems here that can have disastrous results. If its that loose....don't even think about it. That experience scared the shit outta me. Just imagine having to float back from 6-7k wondering the whole time if you have a internal injury that will leave you unconscious before you get to the ground. Not a nice thought huh. ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

Hahahah.....yeah, it sounds crazy eh? There's no way I would put it on my helmet if it was mine.....unless the pic was going to be a one in a lifetime shot opportunity. ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

Is this someone's name that uses this set up? ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

I shoot ariel photography for a guy that shoots stock photo stuff and he uses a Nikon 2DX. We have had no luck wiring up a mouth switch to the Nikon plug. It either fires constantly by itself, or doesn't work at all. We had a guy that said he knew how to do it, so he sent it to him. This guy wired it up and tested it on a Nikon 2D and it worked great. Unfortunately, the same wiring doesn't work with the. A big thanks to the guy that helped us out and did that work for free...you rock. Now when we pulled apart the wired hand remote, there were 2 small mini-switches that utilized only 3 wires, one being shared between the 2 switches. This tells me that any of the conceptus switches will not work as they are a single pole system, and that I need a double pole system. Know of one that will do this? Anyone shoot this camera with a mouth switch? ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

Rob hit this one right on the head. The manufacturing process and reliability of todays modern canopies are damn near totally equivalent. The main factor in peoples attitude toward different gear in my opinion is how much exposure they get. You have to remember that all gear is subjected to the same testing process in order to get the TSO rating. Aerodyne has great products....so does PD.....so does Sunrise....and on and on and on..... ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

Well...no one is making you read posts here. Secondly, you only assume I know nothing about what I am talking about, but in the process, you only further proved my point that a ring is the weakest part of a system. Thirdly, the Wings with 2 hip rings fits and articulates just as good, if not better than the Odessy and G4's I have jumped. Both rigs were for guys my exact size and weight. So...I do not see the need for the extra rings, unless the system NEEDS them to do the job that other containers accomplish with just 2 rings. But then again, these are just my OPINIONS, and you can twist them however you want, but dont expect a reply.....I'm done with this thread as it has become a pissing match. Hey....there's a surprise....a DZ.com thread becoming railroaded...who'd a thought. Out. ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

I did not say that I "disliked" stitching. My stance on the matter, is if there is a weak point in a system, then try to limit how many there are. IE: If a piece of webbing has only 1 stitching point, then there is only one weak point if not done correctly. But if the system is designed with more than one piece of webbing and several stich joints, then there are several potential "weak" points. Not that the joint is weak per say, but it does not bear the same level of strength as a contiguous piece of webbing. As Mojo stated, add a ring in there and then you have an even weaker part of the whole mix. ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

I'm so glad that I could make you laugh...... No disrespect intended...but your condescending attitude is appaling. You can quote all the facts, pounds per sqaure inch, blah blah blah......you only further made my point by stating that the ring is almost always the weak link...... What will never change is....shit happens, and when I make my decisions, they are MY decisions, you don't necessarily have to agree with them. The proof is in the pics.......webbing can tear....stitching can blow..... http://www.skycentre.net/index.php?showtopic=2060 ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

I couldn't agree more. The 4 ring system is just a gimmick. Another way to charge more for something that doesn't add anything to comfort or performance of the harness. On top of doing nothing, its another spot of wear that you have to worry about. Another place the harness could possibly fail on a devastating opening. Just look at what happened to the harness on the fatality in the Ukraine. Not that these containers are similar in any way, but the stitching blew apart none the less. The less stitching to my main lift web, the better..... ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

To each thier own is what it really comes down to. As for myself....I will probably jump Wings forever. The fit is exceptional. Comfort is better than the Mirage G4, but equivalent to the Jav. Odessy. The Wings containers have exceptional pin protections, as a cordura BOC that solves the problems of worn out spandex pouches that lead to prematures. Don't look to others to convince you on what container is the best though. Do take riggers advice on which ones are freefly friendly. Wear as many different kinds as you can from people that are your size and make up your own mind. ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

------------------------------------------------------------ Another great reason to leave the door closed till atleast 1,000ft agl !!! All seatbelts off prior to opening the door. Do you really think that this has anything to do with when the door is opened or not? What about the other 11.5k+ feet? Dont think it could happen then too? This has nothing to do with a door SOP's people....it has everything to do with a device that has up to now, failed in many ways that Cypres's do not. There is no need to purchase this device when there is the Cypres 2 out there. Most peoples motivations for purchasing a Vigil, is quite simply cost. In this sport, saving a buck is everyone's motivation.......mine too. But when it comes to the "right" and "safe" gear.....I will not pinch pennies. I will reconsider the purchase of a Vigil if the take them off the market....fix the problems, and do not re-release them until they meet up to, or exceed the current Cypress 2 standards. I'm sure there are many out there that think that I am being dramatic about my stance in this matter......and it's not like what I believe matters anyways....I'm just a schmo jumper. I'm sure that some will say....well.....the issues with Vigils haven't put people in danger..... As far as I know, there was only one premature fire that involved a tandem, with no inflation of the reserve. That one incident was enough for me, just like Adrian Nichols incident was enough for me to turn off my cypress 1 when swooping. What people have to realize is that besides the known...there are the unknown factors to consider, just like surprise we all got when Adrian died at the hands of a Cypress1 fire. Up until that point, we were all satified at the Cypress, as it worked great for many many years. Well, I cannot say the same for Vigils. They have obviously not taken the R&D from Airtec into consideration as much as they should have, and released a product way to early. We all know of the issues that Vigils have up to date...some fixed, some not. What about the ones that we are not aware of yet? ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

Good job Sebastian 5.......word. ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

Hahahah....fucking priceless.... Hey JJ, did you guys get put anything together at the AOTA Boogie bigger than our 9-way? Also, were going to set the Wash. record next.....you boys need to take a trip up here (Shelton or somethin) at be a part of it. Evan can stay home unless he mans up for the USPA........ ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

Why? Because he asked.....pretty simple. If he gets aggravated by me calling his instructors "fucking idiots", that's his problem. Its not his fault he was given such poor safety techinques, but at least now he knows to question peoples advice, or instruction. Anyones. If it doesn't seem right......question it. Some people don't even know that they don't even know. Well...now he does. Sorry if it doesn't meet your description of constructive criticism, I'm a little rough around the edges when it comes to stupid people teaching. More and more, it seems that the stupid, arrogant, and digit's seem to be the ones giving the most advice. Usually totally wrong. As far as me knowing so much more than he does....well yes, I do. And there are many many many more than probably forgotton more than I know. Its goes on and on. Its a tiered system of learning in this sport.....each time you get to another level...you realize that you don't know shit.... ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

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All these vigil misfires......on the ground, in the air, in the plane, during tandem decents... Makes you wonder when the first person is going to die at the hands of this device. Or worse yet, a plane load of people when the PC gets sucked out the door and rips the tail off..... I'd rather have nothing in my rig as compared to this little jewel. ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

Not to undermine anyone that told you that about double locking your locking stows, but that is not a good idea. This can end up in a bag lock situation. What would you prefer.....nice openings with potential of back lock..... or a quicker opening with less chance of a high speed mal? ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

Joe, I have thought on many occasion on how to say to you how thankful I am for all that you do. If it wasn't for you, I don't imagine I would be a skydiver today. You see, by brother started jumping and when he came out to visit me, he brought along the DVD "Good Stuff". We didn't watch it until we got home after he did some jumps as a local DZ. I went with, but wasn't all that impresses. How could I, I was on the ground. Well, what you did for me, was show me what it was like in the air. I couldn't have imagined in any way that it was possible to capture the feeling like you do in your videos. To be specific, in Good Stuff, there is a BASE shot of the Kjerag of a guy snowboarding off the edge. It was so peaceful, so beautiful....... That exact point in your video, all of the hair on the back of my neck stood on end and I have a feeling like no other. I looked at my bro and said....I have to do this. Lets go tomorrow. So just like that, I was at a local DZ going thru my AFF the next day. That was 2001, and now 750 jumps later, I recall that specific moment in time very often, the moment that I became a skydiver and hadn't really felt the peacefulness of a 4-way flower that leaves the plane without movement...or a connection with another jumper that is so strong that you know exactly what they are going to do in the sky.... In part, I owe this to you and your ability thru art to allow at viewer to share in the experience that so very few of us are privileged to be a part of. That is truly special. I hope to meet you someday and buy you a beer, or share the sky with you. You and my brother are the reason I am here. Thank you.

Perhaps you meant that for someone other than Ian... ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

Thank you Jim. That was a very nice tribute to her. ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

No it hasn't. Not only should you have proven something to yourself, but you've proved something else to all those nay sayers (myself included) who said you couldn't win without a cross-braced canopy. I understand your beef. But the CPC is ever changing and ever evolving. Thank you Steve. But proving my abilities to myself and others doesn't do shit for me when the event standards have changed enitirely. Yes, the CPC is ever changing, and I have been a strong supporter of the changes that were made at the BEGINNING of this season. I however am not supportive of drastic course changes just weeks before the championship. ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

I would like to say a few things on the speed course. I am with raymod2 on this one. I have spend quite some time and a considerable amount of money praticing this course in order to produce some competitive times, being that I do not fly a heavily loaded X-braced canopy. The kind of canopy piloting that was designed to be flown within the confines of the CPC. The CPC was designed to assist up and coming pilots learn the skill sets needed to become a competitive swooper, and perhaps someday, become a PST swooper. With that all said, I am dumbfounded by the straight speed course at the championships. Several reasons. First and foremost, why the hell would you change the damn design of the course after a whole season of practicing a COMPLETLY different course? I cannot tell you how DAMN irritating this is. Secondly, you have taken the 2nd most difficuly part of the event and changed it into a "how much lead can I put on in order to win" event. Being this is the CPC, that is a stupid and dangerous road to take.....and some no doubt will be heading down it.....starting at this event. LAME! I cannot believe that this will be the new course when the whole CPC idealism was to teach safe swooping. Now instead of having that are praticed and competent on a specific course, some might be changing thier tactics at the last second to be competitive. This is not a good example to be set. Thirdly, the success I have been having in my swooping that the CPC events have been pretty much reduced to a mere waste of time. If I wanted to become competitive in a straight event, I would have comtemplated wearing lead for this event. As a new competive pilot, I did not want to put on lead on top of focusing on gates. I would have started adding lead halfway thru the season if I would have known this was going to be the case, but I was doing well in the speed event without having to wear lead. All of my clean flying in the speed course that helped me get the scores I received is a moot point now. Thanks. I really don't understand the way you set up the rules Jim, but for the love of god......is it so much to ask that we know what we will be up against at the beginning of the season....and NOT JUST WEEKS BEFORE? ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

$300 a month. All year long. Sometimes it collects into a large amount, allowing me to afford plane tix to other events in the country and sometimes, it gets spent all, every month. If is all gone....no jumpin until the beginning of the next month. The trick is to never let it get that low. If you don't budget your skydiving cash....you will more than likely be spending more that you can afford to, and not know it until it is too late. ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

Dude, that is the worst way to spend your money in skydiving. First, stop putting it on credit. You are likely getting a 3% charge by using it. Secondly, stop renting and buy yourself a rig. If you really have a nest egg, use it to by your gear NOW. If you don't, you will find yourself with alot of jumps, no cash left and no rig. Then your double screwed. Buy a rig and budget. ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....

You have a very good position for any sit, let alone only 55 jumps. From watching the video, it seemed like the videographer had some difficulty staying with your, what seems like a slower fallrate. If he was a coach, it is up to him to stay with you, and not make you chase him. But if it was just a buddy filming you, might have to adjust your fallrate some. Your position is very stable, as in all your drag surfaces are hitting the relative wind head on. This will provide the slowest speed for that position (a true sit) What you might have to start working on, is your fallrate now. You can increase your rate by spilling some of the air off your legs by pressing your heels down and squeezing your buttcheeks. You are basically trying to straighten your legs somewhat, making them a higher degree of angle over the conventional 90 degree that most are taught as beginners. You have to remember to keep your legs spread well apart when increasing your fall rate, as this will allow you increased upper mobility for hand use (docks). I know this in not in the near future, but it is a good plan to start now,with what you will need later on. Good Job. ------------------------------ Controlled and Deliberate.....