SEREJumper

I agree with Steve1 about the military style of the Jumpmaster Personnel Inspection (JMPI) each and every jumper receives prior to boarding the plane as well as some in the aircraft checks. It is easy for the military to do inspections because everyone (usually) has the same rig on for static line and freefall, as well as set inspection procedures. I think a big issue with the sport is that on any given load, their could be 10 different styles of rigs on board, which the jumper checking you might not know how to close/inspect properly. It is also an activity you are paying for (usually), not getting paid to do and thus other than the BSR's you can choose to do whatever you want to do. I agree though, a buddy check prior to boarding and prior to exit is never a bad idea. The US Army Freefall school for 2007 did just over 31,000 jumps with only 11 minor injuries, pretty good safety record.

President-elect Obama thinks that another round of stimulus checks will help this failing economy. If you got a check last time, lets just say it was the same amount. If you didn't lets say no more than $1200.

So what would you do with it?

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Ok, but a usual worker is also doing something for his country... (I have nothing against military and I respect them) but I do not understand.

Location....France Ok, enough joking. I like France.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_RYPx4iNUg

Check out :11 second mark. Interesting footage.

I thought I would post a few pics of a couple of old school rigs I just picked up. These were made by Pioneer for the U.S. Army parachute team. Looks like a green mini-system.

Poynter's Manual has some good info on the different types. The rig on the left seems to be an earlier model container (no markings), but and has a one piece saddle harness, 3-pin ripcord and retrofit for the belly reserve to be anchored higher under the capwells. Has the name "MCNATT" on the left capwell, this came from around the Ft. Bragg area (Home of the Golden Knights). Inside is a single MA-1 and an MC-3 in a POD.

The rig on the right is a APT-5 3-pin container, same one piece harness. Interesting to find out that the cloth on the bottom of this container has an asbestos lining to help prevent the smoke grenade on the feet from burning the parachute. Talk about hazardous packing! Different type of retrofit for the reserve, this one has an MA-1 PC and the MC-3 is in a sleeve.

Both systems are in excellent condition for their age. Just thought I would share with you all some history.

http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/Gearpics/Vintage%20Military/

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We're celebrating tonight with some pan-fried squash, beautiful new york steaks smothered with shrooms & blue cheese, and much better than average wine.

Dave, sounds like you are doing just a little to good for yourself. That's not fair, everyone should be able to eat steak! Let's redistribute!

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Highest voter turnout in a long time

Sure, anything for a handout

I will just comment on the second part. I talked to IBA about 6 months ago and they said that their instructor training is not accredited, thus not eligible for the GI Bill. The guy I spoke to did sound interested in the notion though, but if you have ever looked into what it takes to be accredited, it doesn't look like fun.

To use the GI Bill I believe the training has to be Nationally Accredited, check out http://www.acics.org/ for a glimps at what it takes.

The entire process takes at least a year as well.

These definetly came from Ft. Bragg, NC.

Ok, my collection of vintage skydiving stuff is growing. My recent purchase was a few vintage military systems (I'll post on those later). The lot also included a few odd ball items I was wondering about, maybe some older military jumpers could help me answer.

The first is an interesting harness, capwells dated 1964. Has lateral and front adjustments as well as a one piece saddle, which Poynters manual on page 236 says that it would probably be an Army Parachute Team (APT) APT-4 harness. Anyone know for sure?

The second is pretty interesting. It looks to be a container, but it looks to be to small to fit a traditional canopy at the time (MC-3). Looks more like the size of a 24-26 foot reserve. Has a velcro flap for storage of pull up cords which protects the containers single closing loop. Has tubular nylon shroud with some old tacking at the end and a standard metal cable housing fits in there. Has the four normal closing flaps, plus 2 extra inside flaps, 2 "D" rings for anchoring the belly reserve, and a length of thick bungy cord on the bottom of the container. The 1 1/2 webbing on the top of the container had an X box stitch that was removed.

Here are the pics:

http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/Gearpics/Vintage%20Military/

When I bought a new main, a new reserve and a new old stock reserve last year, he had the cheapest prices after calling around. I would do business with him again. I've never had a problem with contacting him, maybe I am just lucky he has always been there.

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would generally be said to not be freefly friendly

Since when is a 1997 Javelin not freefly friendly?

If you look at the link provided, it doesn't look like this '97 has the reserve flap tuck tab and I was thinking it wouldn't have the bridle protection either. No, I agree with the statement that not all freefly friendly gear has to be new. I will also say that most people when they say the rig is freefly friendly means that there is some kind of bridle protection and both the main and reserve flaps stay secure in non-belly to earth positions. This jumper also has 35 jumps and may not know about some the the post-freefly additions (Definetely '98 javs and later).

$50 for the RSL from Sunpath (ask if the main risers have the ring for the RSL as well)
$160 for Cypres 4- year maint.
$85 for Battery
$210 for a reline + The cost to have a rigger/ manuf. put it on (varies).
$ Shipping to/from on cypres + canopy
= $505 + any shipping costs
Total $ 1850 + 505ish = $2355(+ shipping rig from sunshine factory)

http://www.sunpath.com/
http://www.cypres-usa.com/cypres08.pdf
http://www.flyaerodyne.com/fly/accessories.asp

Overall, it's an older system, and would generally be said to not be freefly friendly if you were looking into doing that. The reserve is almost 19 years old, which some would say is geting to be the end of it's life (20 yrs, but that is only some jumpers opinions). Never flown a triatholon, so could not comment on that.

Good deal? You are approaching the $2500 mark after shipping, and in my opinion can get a better rig than that.

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Works fine for me under MacOS and Linux. Not being smug, just saying the site seems OK

Running MacOS and Linux here as well, good to go.

I did a search and didn't find anything. Original Javelin owners manual has nothing as well.

Saw a 1990 javelin container that stated the H/C is only rated for 185lb gross exit weight. What TSO were the early javelin's under (TSO-C23b)?

Sounds like that is pretty light, even for the average size jumper.

Grab a soda, some popcorn and start reading. Search function is awesome! Welcome to the sport!

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=search_results&search_forum=all&search_string=quality%20gear&sb=score&mh=25

They gotta keep this show interesting, so even though 4-way is very challenging in it's own right, it's not as "extreme" as b.a.s.e or wing suit flying. Overall good show.

BIGUN- I called the guy back today (we exchanged numbers in the event he found anymore of his dads skydiving items...he hasn't). Anyways his dad's name was Joseph "Joe" Kesecker and lived in and around Montgomery, Indiana. There is also the name "Brooks" written on the container.

Nearest dropzone's to that city are:

Indiana Skydiving Academy - Goshen - 82 miles
Jerry's Skydiving Circus - Franklin - 96 miles
Skydive Greensburg - Greensburg - 115 miles
Jump Indy Skydiving Center - Lebanon - 116 miles

Not sure if any of those were around in his time, but it is worth a shot right

Jerry,

Thanks for the info. I'm wondering if anyone else has seen this mod done on a T-10 or C-9. Yes, I believe the D-rings are installed properly, but I would be jumping this harness/container. There are to many surplus H/C in better condition out there (although I'm sure this one would work in a pinch, just that I'm not in one :) Thanks for the info!

Ok, I took a few more pics tonight.

http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/Gearpics/Vintage%20Chute/

- The sleeve has the faint symbol of a parachute inside a circle with the possibility of wings on the parachute (not certain). It also has printing that says "35ft. Launching Sleeve No guarantee on sleeve when long or short sleeve to canopy retainer lines are used", also is Serial #592. Anyone know the maker of this sleeve?

- I included a few pics of the repairs, the larger radial seam repair was near the apex and looks very well done.

- I wanted to show the "hustler" mod so I took a pic of one of them. and some detail of the sewing job, looks really good. The large mod is about 7 ft tall and the small one is about 4 ft tall. This is a different hustler mod then what Thom has documented, but I'm sure there were wide variations in design, hopefully this one worked :)

- A photo of the hand tacked "V" ring on the wing flap and a home done cone repair on the closing flap.

- The harness was made in what looks to be 1951 (althought the "1" could be a 4 of 7). It is on the seat and is very faded.

- Interesting note, you can see on the legs straps were the previous owner marked in red pen how tight to make the leg straps! It's a surplus harness, mark away

I don't have pics of that at the moment, but they are hand tacked on the wing flaps with thread the side of suspension line inner core. It makes sense that these were just to help keep the belly wart tight and not have any load bearing properties.

Strat- I hear what you are saying, I'm sure it is easy, just need some hands on with it. Vintage switlik...nice!

Yeah, NOT using this harness! It has seen better days, you only thing good is the chute and sleeve. I'll see about those guys mentioned.

Strat- I need to find someone to school me on packing this thing for jumping. There are a lot more land jumps than water jumps going on, so I'm sure it will be tested over land.

He was asking $150 and I talked him down to $100 for it. He didn't want me to pop it, but I did see the sleeve inside that gave it away as a civilian style, but I didn't know what condition the chute was in, I was hoping better than the container was (which it was).

I stand corrected, I got them mixed up

From PPM:

Capewells are a type of canopy release with a cover, then a release mechanism inside. With a 2 shot, the cover is opened, then two buttons are depressed simultaneously to release the riser. With a shot and a half, a short cable loop replaces the buttons. The cover is opened, then you put a thumb through the loop and pull, releasing the riser. With a single shot, all you have to do is pull the cover open. PPM says "the button style Capewell release is often difficult to operate as both sides have to be depressed simultaneously. The cable conversion is simpler." He goes on to explain that Capewells were originally designed only for releasing canopies on the ground (with rounds, you wouldn't break away before deploying the reserve). The shot and a half and one shot were modifications to make cutaways in the air easier.

Just a couple things. Don't say you ONLY have 17 jumps. That is saying that those 17 are not good enough, be proud of your 17! How many people in the world can say they have done 17 jumps, not that many.

I wear contacts all the time as well, I usually wear a full face (bonehead Mamba), but when I wear an open face, I wear Wiley X SG-1's:

http://www.wileyx.com/EcommSuite/ProductDetail.aspx?ActivityCode=TACTICAL&SeriesCode=175&ProductLine=200,SG1&ItemCode=71

You can find them on Ebay pretty cheap and the lenses are interchangeable. They can double as sun glasses if the arms come with them. Make sure you get the strap for skydiving. They fit really well and have padding that touches your face (which doesn't leave a black mark) with good ventilation.

It will take time to dial in your canopy skills, if you are renting different size/make of canopy everytime, it will make it tough to determine just how that particular canopy will react. It took me about 40-50 jumps to really dial in my accuracy. With 17 jumps, you are doing pretty good right now.

Well, I was out and about and decided to stop at a garage sale in town the other day. They had the usual stuff, but in the corner on the garage I saw something interesting. It was an old looking emergency back parachute with shot and a half capwells. It was all packed up and I asked the guy if he was selling it. He said yes and that it used to be his fathers back in the 1960's. His father had died and he came in from out of state to sell off some of the estate and get the house ready to put on the market. I took a chance and bought it. I thought some of you old time jumpers would find this interesting.

Not knowing if this was going to be a real emergency chute or a civilian chute inside, I pulled out my camera and I pulled the ripcord! Out popped a MA-1 pilot chute dated SEP 1958, it had a home sewn repair on the fabric, but otherwise good condition. The pilot chute was attached to a blue and red sleeve. I pulled the sleeve out and started to unstow the lines, only two rubber bands broke, the rest were really strong and flexible, but you could tell they had been packed up for a long time. Now for the real suprise, what was inside? Paracommander, C-9, T-10? I pulled up the skirt to reveal a solid green T-10 parachute. I pulled the sleeve off and started inspecting the canopy and for it's age looked really good. The canopy was dated 1963. It had a few minor rigger patches, but everything looked good. I also found that this canopy had been modified to become steerable and after some searching found out this pattern was called the "Hustler" modification. Basically one large and one small hole in the back and to both sides of the jumper. The Hustler modification and steering toggle installation were very well done and it looked like a lot of care was taken to do it.

The container had some interesting modifications on it, like some added "V" rings that were hand tacked (possibly for the chest mount reserve?) which I thought was interesting. I think this was a very early rig and can appreciate the daring of the pioneers of this sport.

Now after I get the canopy checked out, change out the risers and get a different container, lets see how this thing flys :) Well maybe for a water jump!

I thought this was a very neat piece of skydiving history, so enjoy.

I've posted some photos of the rig here:

http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/Gearpics/Vintage%20Chute/