indyz

It looks like a psycho pack without the flip/un-flip steps. Psycho packing used to be really popular, so I don't see why this wouldn't work.

It's possible to put a binder on just about anything. I did binding on a Singer 20U by just taping a straight binder to the throat plate. It worked ok for basic stuff. Binding on a walking foot is a little tough. Professionally made binding setups use custom feet and feed dogs so that binder is placed very close to the needles. The movement of the walking foot limits how close you can get.

Any decent supplier will send you small samples for free or a small fee.

This guy home-built a CNC cutter for hot air balloon parts for about $3k: https://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=2088

I have a customer with a V348 built in '96 that has those stiffeners. Only one I've ever seen. I used to own a V344 from around the same and it didn't have them.

I've chased another jumper's baglocked Lightning before. Even with spiraling until I was making myself sick, it landed when I was at ~4000 feet. For most of its descent I could only see it because it had a white pilotchute that stayed inflated the entire time. If the PC hadn't stayed inflated it would have made it to the ground even faster.

I edited my post. I totally spaced on the webbing size even though I've made plenty of toggles. I should be 1".

Edit: Disregard the dimension in the rest of this post. Even though I've made dozens of pairs of toggles I totally spaced on the webbing size. Usually 1/2" square weave, E thread, and #0 grommets. 5/8" will probably work fine if that is all you have, but if the eye on the brake line is already small you slightly increase the risk of it jamming. Check this out: http://paraloft.com/rt_velcro_toggles.html

My team uses G9Xs to train for 2-way canopy formation. They work great.

If you are going to go with the Hybrid Triathlon, make sure it is made with all dacron lines. The standard hybrid setup only has dacron center lines and microline everywhere else. The standard setup is more comfortable on the ankles if everything goes to plan, but is completely useless in a wrap where it matters.

Personal opinion, but I don't like walking foot machines for canopy work. If I could only have one machine, I would keep my Bernina 217N. It's what a 20U wants to be when it grows up.

psycho pack comes form "cycle pack" and is specifically talking about the narrowing technique, cycling from front to back, the back to front. I hate to pull the old guy skydiver card, but no. You are wrong. http://parachutistonline.com/safety_training/ask_a_rigger/psycho-pack

You've got it backwards. The real difference between a psycho pack and a pro pack is rolling vs s-folding. The actual technique used to narrow the canopy isn't important to the final result, as long as the lines are maintained in the center of the pack job. The narrowing technique that a lot of people use for the psycho pack is just more convenient because you put the canopy on the ground "upside down".

I have a long torso and a V309 and I wish I had gone with the longer container.

How do you reconcile that with AC105-E? (I know, I know, an Advisory Circular isn't the reg. But if you can't rely on an AC to help interpret the regulations, you might as well not read them and the FAA might as well not publish them).

I packed a VR360 that ended up several inches out of trim laterally after it was deployed in a terminal side spin.

I use a 3/8" hole, which I believe is a #3 punch.

I went and took at look at this machine last year, the last time it came up for sale on Craigslist. It is missing a bunch of parts. My opinion was that it wasn't worth repairing or using as a parts machine, at least at the price he was asking at the time. The guy selling it also isn't very knowledgeable about sewing machines, I don't think he even realized any parts were missing until I started pointed stuff out.

Which FAR is that? Definitely not the one that you quoted. The FAA medical is a USPA and manufacturer requirement, the FAA has never required any medical at all.

I'm not sure I understand the question. USPA membership already isn't mandatory.

You don't really need a tail pocket unless you are competing. I used one for both competition and recreational CRW for a long time. Last season I finally switched to a deployment bag for recreational CRW and I don't miss the tail pocket one bit. The openings are quite a bit smoother (not necessarily soft), especially when you get a pilot who insists on flying a fast jumprun. The mesh slider, however, is basically required. A sail slider will cost a surprising amount of performance relative to the formation, and the noise of it flapping can make it tough to hear commands.

When I did AFF video out of a 182 I would go from the rear of the door with the toe of my right foot on the step. Climb out with your right hand on the strut, left hand on the upper part of the rear of the door frame, and left foot trailing. Lean back, stretch out your right leg, and when you can't hold on to the strut any more with your right hand switch it from the strut to the rear of the door frame. You end up with both hands on the rear of the door frame, your left leg trailing, and your toe on the step. You can also put your toe on the wheel if the pilot holds the brakes. Give it a shot some time, it's a lot easier than my description makes it sound. For AFF I would usually climb out after the first instructor and never had any trouble holding on until exit, even with some students who really took their time getting in position.

I got the list by contacting AFS-760 (Airman Certification Branch) and asking nicely. Like pchapman said, it was missing some data but was good enough for my purposes.

I used some scrap wood to make a really basic adjustable circle-cutting jig for my band saw. I used that to cut patterns out of 1/8" hardboard in 2" increments from 24"-32". The hardboard was about $15, and making the jig and cutting the patterns only took a couple hours of my time.

I would recommend something that comfortably fits a microline 190. Even then a Lightning 176 might be snug depending on the fit of the container.