matt002

Sounds like you're describing turns using both front risers

I use a lookMa RDS on my standard velo 96, its slightly smaller so the openings are faster. Less shaking in the early stages than the stock slider openings are more on heading. Can be quite hard at terminal tho. The RDS on the comp velo 96 opens pretty much the same sub terminal, I haven't tried a terminal opening with that canopy tho.

Not at all, its great that you take a proactive approach to your own safety, If your already doing that then an AAD does not give you significantly much more protection, especially if you only do the odd jump without one. Its a risk sport and if I had as many peoples future dependant on me as you do I would probably not jump at all, AAD or not.

for the sake of this post, I would say dude, man up! Your fear is in control of you and you are making excuses for it.

looks like your forcing the recovery a bit much on that jump having to be early and heavy on the rears, my velo will tail flutter the same way if I abuse the rears.

I like to wear a seat belt when driving, but if it broke, I wouldn't stop and get a Taxi to come and pick me up.

Why can't Jumper B be someone who understands the risk but have chosen to not take the risk of jumping without an AAD? . Just an example, you and your 4way team go away to train for a week and half way through, for what ever reason you normal rig becomes unavailable, maybe lost the main after a chop. Your team mate offers you his spare rig only it has no AAD. Do you refuse to jump. Is that the end of your teams training camp, fly home early better luck next year? That is called device dependancy and that person is exactly 100% device dependant, no AAD no jump. That is not making a choice, that is fear making the choice for the person. Whats wrong with making a risk assessment of the type of jump you're planning on doing, look at the skill level of the other participants in that dive, is it well planned, dirt dived, creeped, can everyone on this dive track well? If the answer is no then perhaps you should not be on that jump regardless of whether or not you have and AAD. Im not against AADs I have one, I use it when I'm not swooping. I trust my ability to asses risk and act in the correct way to save my life when required more that a device with no real intelligence.

There is a difference between jumper A not wanting to jump without an AAD but probably would if required, and jumper B who would never jump without one. Jumper A understands the risk and makes a choice. Jumper B is usually some one who has not seen and accepted that skydiving is risk sport that requires participants to be continually responsible for their own survival. I believe it important students realise this from day one, telling them they may be saved if they do nothing sets them up to become like jumper B from above. Not good IMO.

I dont think students should be told they even have an AAD or what it does until they qualify. I hear too many people say they have never and would never jump without an AAD, wrong sport if thats the case.

I have perceived less lift while landing downwind, it tends to be when the wind is quite strong and gusting. On a recent down winder tho, my wing seemed to plane out to level flight not quite as strong as on a stilletto, but definitely level flight with no pilot input, I was confused as I know from experience that my canopy does not plane out to completely level flight without gentle input no matter how high I throw it. Wind gradient would seem to explain this as the wind was strong but not gusting, just didn't think the effect of it would be noticeable.

Lookma make a great RDS. They have done a lot of testing on slider size in relation to opening characteristic on the velo. The release is a very simple single handle that makes removal and refit faster than other designs I have seen. Check out www.lookma.de

I think its awesome that PD have opened this opportunity up to non team members, hope it runs yearly as I wouldn't qualify yet, cant wait to see the write up. Experience requirement seems fair enough.

I wouldn't take wraps in your brake lines, especially if you are trying to stall you canopy as that can lead to an 'unrecoverable situation' if the stall is held for a while. You should be able to release your toggles easily to cutaway from your main should you need to. There should be some slack in your brake lines with arms up, thats normal. Slow flight will feel mushey as you describe. You have now learnt where your 100% flare is so try to make sure you fly you canopy all the way to this point and your landings will improve especially on nil wind days.

Dude you have been way too honest about this. You acted in good faith throughout. Looks like the gear seller fucked up here, and to threaten you with the FBI four years later for his mistake is disgraceful, especially as four year old gear is worth nothing to him and everything to you. I would be tempted to name the dealer, if he stands by his actions he should not mind. Some times in business you make a mistake and get stung for it, its happened to me but you have to make allowances for this and learn to be careful in who you give credit to and to follow procedure. I hope you get back in the air soon bro