DougH

I finally decided I had enough of the radio, and now I can actually fly a pattern.

The moment I was off the radio I landed my own pattern 3 feet from the peas.

I just didn't find it to be helpful and it made the landing experince much more stressful on the first three jumps I did on radio, for myself, and the poor guy on the other end of the radio.

Are front flips and front loops the same manuever...?

I wasn't sure so I thought I would ask.

Lets all get together on a group buy, maybe we can save shipping that way. Sid sent me a RW suit that is too tight, but I definetly want to get a suit or two from these guys. The suit Sid sent me was very well built.

The general consensus was that if I was going to get something that was f111, I should get something bigger.

I am going to be keeping my eye out for rigs with mains in the 190-210 range, but something that is ZP and a little newer.

I decided to pass on the deal but it sounds like Roy will have no problem selling it to some one else. Who ever gets it from him will be lucky, he is awesome person to deal with!!

Thanks for all the advice!!!

When I talked to PD about a rig I was interested in buying they said that they could test the porosity of the fabric and determine if it is safe to jump.

Maybe you can send it away to them, and have them reline it if they determine it is still ok.

Really!!?? I love the hornet in the student gear that I am flying. Too bad I started jumping three years too late.

Hey every one. I am the student in question.

I weigh more around 170.

I have been flying a hornet 210 and consistently. I can flat turn, and I have started learning how the flare turn as well.

My major concern was this being an f111 canopy of older vintage. Most of its life was spent indoors and properly stored, not being jumped. It has very low, although unknown number of jumps >200.

I know it is going to fly differently than my student gear. I know it is going to flare differently. My only concern is that ***IF*** I flew it right I could get a flare out of it that is good enough to safely land. I want something that can land safely if I fly it right. Obviously I can take that hornet 210 and femur in, being zp isn't going to save my life, using my brain and flying properly is what is going to save me.

I called PD and they were awesome about talking to me but didn't really confirm or deny and of my thoughts.

They told me at the time the canopy was made it was considered a high performance canopy. I am sure that if my current hornet was around back then it would have been considered high performance too, and I would have been given something bigger than 210.

They told me a pd260 or a pd300 was given to students back then. I understand why, but today that just doesn't sound right to me lol.

I have half the people at my DZ telling me that f111 isn't worth my trouble, and the other half saying the jumped f111 for the longest time. (they have however switched over to zp).

Sure thing... I am going to hop out at 700 and track for the nearest pond!!!

No, I keep my hand on the strap, god forbid, so I can free myself from the burning wreckage once we meet mother earth.

I take the belt off at around 1500 feet.

We are all belted in when we take off in the 206 in my dz. I do keep my hads on the strap though so I can find the buckle release if the shit goes down.

You must have a bunch of big boned boys in your 206.

Could you please provide contact info from them. I need to get a RW suit that doesn't break my student bank, and I can skid into earth on and not cry when I stain it all up!!!

I have been planning to get one, not to do any mid air rigging, but just for the freak accident where my reserve deploys right before exit and I find myself with it wrapped around tail of the jump plane. (yes I get about 5 pin checks per jump but shit happens).

Otherwise I agree I don't have the experince to use one.

This was mentioned before... but this helped me so much that I will mention it again.

I had to do my level 2 three times before my brain connected to my legs the way I needed to.

I was pulling my legs in above my ass and was flying like crap because of it. The next time I practiced my arch in the debriefing room my instructor stuck his hands under my feet and shins and told me to push against them.

"here feel that pressure, feel that on your legs when you flying"

After that I have been flying great and passing all my levels. I have to do my Level 7 and then my hop and pop and then I can start getting real serious about getting my A license!!

Talk to your instructor, I might as well be a whuffo as far as experience goes, but I just wanted to share what broke me out my leg rut.

You will get it. I know repeating levels is expensive, but at least you are still in the air!!!

Cheers,
DougH