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This is a classic scam. Don't ever pay by Western Union. More imoportantly though, with 47 jumps do you intend to jump a fully elliptical canopy?

A trick Brian Germain taught me: Try about 3 feet of free line between the last stow and the risers. This worked for me. He says it gives the bag a chance to get out of the container before the forces of the lines unstowing affect the position of the bag. Also, when packing, make sure when you are done stowing the lines and move the d-bag you don't put a twist in the lines in the movement. In other words when you move the d-bag from above the container to below the container pick it straight up, move it straight down and set it straight on the floor. There was a girl at my dropzone that had line twist on every opening. I notice when she moved the d-bag she put a twist in the lines. Since that correction her opening have been great.

Richard has been talking about shutting down for awhile. However, I just spoke with him and he said he's still in business and his website will be back up within a day or so.

Brian Germain's "Vertical Journey 2" is an excellent learning video as well.

I personally enjoy landing in no wind conditions. The reason I often sit them out though is because of the different directions each jumper chooses to land even though there is a designated default landing pattern.....go figure.

I have two neptunes and I've never experienced any of the alleged idiosyncrosies. I keep one on my wrist and the other on my helmet for an audible. It is very easy to use and set up. The VISO on the other hand seems abit more complicated to use. This could , however, be attibuted to me being familiar with the neptune. Don't let the nay sayers steer you from the neptune. My guess is 95% of the issues with the Neptune are operator error.

Sry dude, it's probably my inexperience talking here, but I can't see how I could get a malfunction under a perfectly inflated canopy? Ummmmm.......lots of ways. How about bumping into another canopy for one? So that's something to consider. I doubt you'll have time to tighten your chest strap if you decide you have to cut away. Brian Germain says to not worry about it, you're not going to fall out of the harness with a loose chest strap.

Brian Germain suggests this in his canopy course to everybody including newly licensed skydivers. It really makes a big difference even in a larger canopy. Turns are snappier and the flare is better too.

Maestro? Oh...thank you. That being said and me being the maestro that I am I think that question should be left to YOU. Well maybe not you specifically CrazyL but YOU the jumper with a billion jumps. Let's face it, what do I know? I only have 300 jumps and ya'll are not going to listen to me anyway. Without a doubt at the dropzone and even here on dz.com high jumps rule........ I guarantee you if the high jump skydivers set the trend the others are sure to follow. Training the new jumpers is easy. The real question is how do you train the experienced jumpers?

A guy at the DZ today told me that he's heard the S&TA at another (turbine) DZ telling beginners to use this "rule" just last week! Last March during safety day our S&TA explained in detail the 45 degree rule and how it works! When questioned about it he said "it just works, it always has before so why not now. Plus, any other way is too hard to figure out." I also hear very "high jump" skydivers instructing less experienced jumpers to use the 45 degree rule on a regular basis. How does a guy like me (low jump numbers) tell these people they don't have a clue?

I had a similar heckling myself. I had a reserve ride on AFF level 4. After that i took several 'sightseeing' flights before i was comfortable actually exiting the aircraft. It just takes time. EVERYBODY was scared when they first started and you should be. It's possible that the feeling may never go away. You will however, learn to deal with it. Stick with it but don't worry about being a wuss. It takes a stronger person to ride the plane down then it takes to jump out the door.

Another good one for a girl skydiver on video is "butterfly" on donovan frankenreiter's self titled cd.

Jack Johnson's "Upside Down" on the Curious George soundtrack.

i'll agree with you on that JP!

hmmmmmmm...makes ya think.

I think this is the main problem. Your tandems should be establishing and flying their pattern. Where does this opinion of their's end? Can they land opposite to the traffic pattern into an oncoming crowd of upjumpers? If they're spiraling down into the pattern then it's not just a TM vs fun jumper issue, they could be screwing each other also. Growing up a sailor, I always put issues of right-of-way things into terms of the nautical rules of the road; the oldest and most internationally consistent form of right-of-way and is what aeronautical right-of-way is based upon. The least maneuverable vessel gets the right of way but it is their responsibility to maintain course and speed. Your TM's should quit with their antics and establish their pattern well before the time that their actions push someone away from their chosen landing spot. there ya go....well said.

Almost until the Sun comes up. Is that all you got? Almost???? it seems like she is quite a legend.......er..i mean person.

QuoteThis year I bought a new Stiletto as I already have one in my other rig and I still love to jump it after all these years. Funnily enough I got a question back from PD: "Why not go for a Katana?" so they seem to try to push the Katana instead of the Stiletto (which is a pretty old design I guess). Anyway, both Stilettos fly the same (the old one is from '98) and IMHO it still is a great canopy. On a different note, the idea of going to an oversized high performance canopy when you have little experience strikes me as odd. Wouldn't it make more sense to select a canopy type based on your experience level and then go for an appropriate size or would that be totally uncool?Quote Hey...thanks for your reply. I don't quite understand your comment on type, size and coolness. I've considered type and size as you suggest would make sense. And for being 'cool'? I'm 43 years old, I haven't worried about being 'cool' for over 20 years.

Check this out: http://www.aerostore.com/Shopping/ShowItem.asp?ItemID=A02475CT It should work on any helmet even with just a chin strap. I put one on a Nvertigo X with a chin cup. I tested it in the packing room and it seems to work pretty good.

I don't think too many people on land, air or water would argue this. I am for this type of rule 100%. And anybody who's not should reconsider jumping from a plane. However, nowhere is this a written FAR pertaining specifically to parachute canopy flight. It's just common sense.

My answer was to save his life. He started out correctly by asking the manufacturer. When he didn't get the answer he wanted, he started fishing here in this Forum for someone to tell him it was okay. He's not looking for help - he's looking for someone to validate his bad idea. That's entirely possible. So why not tell him that in the first place?

What's wrong with an answer like this posted by darkwing on a different thread: Re: [pre7117] MIRAGEG3 & SPECTRE 170 - NEW [In reply to] Quote | Reply -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I expect it will go in easily, but not dangerously so. Note though that even different canopies of the SAME model and size can have several percent variation in pack volume. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sure, go ahead and ignore the manufacturer's recommendation. Why do you "high time" skydivers leave such antagonistic remarks? Give the guy some slack man. The guy is asking for some help. Your comment ripcord4 clearly was meant to antagonize or at the very least was a belittlement. Why?

I hear your point. It is exactly the point I'm trying to make. You can't possibly have enough information to pass judgement by jump numbers alone. Why continue to bully? This thread has become nothing more than a pissing match of which I'll have no more part of. It also is no place to discuss my flight experience. This is a skydiving forum.

I don't see where this fits in to my original post????? I know somebody who had 800 jumps with about 100 on a new Safire 2 209. He was killed.......by a swooper with 4500 jumps who had "experience". Do you really think I'm going to listen to you on a forum instead of the instructors at MY dropzone? I have one simple question. Is the stiletto the same now as it was in 1993? And are there any idiosyncrosies one should be aware of? (if the canopy has been changed) Thanks to those who reponded appropriatlely. If you have any more comments pertaining to my question I welcome them. To the rest of you...please keep your comments amongst yourselves. I appreciate your concern but I'm not interested in what my abilities are or are not as far as this forum goes. I have instuctors and a S&TA that has far more experience and many more jumps than any one of you. (if that's the marker you're going to use) They are also very conservative with allowing their sport jumpers downsizing canopies therefore I am very comfortable with there suggestions. I'm covered in that department without your unsolicited advice. Thank you.