WingFlyer

Tube exit is definitely fun as hell. We did a 5 way tube out of a caravan recently. It was so awesome. I think we were too set on holding on tight though because the tube didn't really open up well. We eneded up letting go because it wasnt opening up. I guess we need to not stay balled up after exit? We were holding on by leg straps, not ankles.

Aha! that's precisely what I was thinking. We did a bunch today using the leg straps but I was wondering if ankles would work. seems like it would make the wheel open up better.

Hi Ward, I would love to get packing tips from you and watch you pack a rig - absolutely. Skydive Snohomish in WA is my home DZ. When will you be over here? I am indeed concerned about the cordura setting with wrinkles. I had called Mirage today and was totally impressed with the customer service. Connie is having me send in the rig for an inspection and repack. They will also fix the reserve setup since the cypres loop is probably too long now (The reserve flap protrudes way too much.) Thanks again and I definitely hope you can make it out here to skydive snohomish. I defintely wouldn't miss it. We have lots of folks who ordered mirage rigs recently and I'm seeing a lot of newbies with wrinkled rigs :) I'm one of the picker ones who minds more than others I guess :) I think your help would be very valuable.

Packing is most certainly a factor, I'm new at packing. My rigger gave it to me like this though which is a concern. Also look how far out the reserve flap protrudes. This is a safety issue. Could be the closing loop on the reserve being too long. http://cid-1331f9c408f687c9.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Mirage/MirageG4%20013.jpg http://cid-1331f9c408f687c9.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Mirage/MirageG4%20016.jpg

Yea...I'm no rigger, but that looks like shi*t. Looks like a car ran over it. Seem like theres too much material. Plus the big wrinkles stay in the same place even when the rig is not packed. Something's not right...very shitty. Check this crap out... http://cid-1331f9c408f687c9.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Mirage/MirageG4%20013.jpg

OK folks. Here are the pictures. See if you can spot some wrinkles...you'll have to look very hard... http://cid-1331f9c408f687c9.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Mirage/MirageG4%20013.jpg http://cid-1331f9c408f687c9.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Mirage/MirageG4%20014.jpg http://cid-1331f9c408f687c9.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Mirage/MirageG4%20009.jpg Interesting to note that the wrinkles seem to be there in the sample place when the container is not packed... Here's one of a side flap with the container not packed http://cid-1331f9c408f687c9.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Mirage/MirageG4%20011.jpg You can see more here: http://cid-1331f9c408f687c9.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Mirage

I did stagger the risers unfortunately. The wrinkles are lower down on the container. The container looked like this when it was given to me by the rigger who set it up and packed everything. My pack jobs don't look any worse. It was bad right from the start. I'll have to post some pictures so you can see what we're talking about. I understand it's hard without the pictures for you to look at. The closing look length was set by the rigger. How can I double check that it's the best length for this container? It's not that I dont trust the rigger, I do; I would just like to be able to check this in future when I switch loops. PS - I really like your site Mike, I read the articles there often.

No, but straight lines in the middle with fabric outside, slider up top,steering lines in the back etc. make a big difference in my newbie mind. It's also pretty evident to me that a stray steering line leaning too far back near the nose can cause a linover if the fabric gets under there and inflaters when that 100mph wad of stuff hits air.

I'm talking about wrinkles to either side of the main pack tray, along the seams. Looks like your descriptions are mostly around wrinkles in the reserve area, or am I misreading your post? I'll need to post some pictures of the rig...

Hi there, I've got a new mirage G4.1 M5 with a PD 190 Sabre 2 and a PDR 176. The sides of the container look really wrinkly. I'm talking about the main seams on the left and right of the container. The wrinkles were also there when the rigger packed it.... I read some other posts here about wrinkles on the Mirage reserve closing flaps, but this is worse than that (esthetically at least.) Any ideas how to get rid of them? I hope I'm not packing in an optimal way (although I'm not so sure since the riggers pack job made the container look the same.) It would suck if this is how a brand new top of the line rig is designed....

So this whole lap the stabilizers into the middle after you've flaked them business doesn't work to help keep lines in the center when you've got the cocoon down on the ground and making the cigar shape from the triangle?

Thanks for all the responses. I'll push my luck and ask two follow ups: 1. Does folding stabilizers in towards the center of the canopy overlapping each other help keep the lines in the center when cocooning or is this voodoo stuff? 2. How far around can a steering line wrap before theres a lineover? I'm asking because when lifting the tail up after cocooning to dissect a pack job, I see the steering line ends (attachment points) moved to the side of the canopy, but the lines are still in the middle of the canopy at the warning label. Would a line over only happen if the lines wrapped around lower down near the label?

Hey there. I'm always worried that I'm rolling the steering lines around to the nose of the canopy after the canopy is on the ground in a triangle and I'm making it the width of the D-bag. I've been taught to be careful not to roll them around, but I can't see them so how do I know... When I dissect my pack job, I see the steering lines have moved out more to the sides. They have not wrapped around, but I don't know how far to the side is bad. I do not fold the stabilizers into the middle of the pack jobs in laps. I read about that here and that sounds like it might help contain the lines. It just seems like this rolling the tail around the back to get the cocoon shape thats the width of the dbag is risky business. The Wolmari pack looks like it avoids the risks here, but I'm not willing to try something like that which I haven't been taught at the DZ..at least not yet. I would want to clear this with folks at the DZ first.

I'm in Seattle. Want to go get some full altitude jumps in Jan/Feb when it's cold, wet and 2k ceiling around here. Where should I go that's a good deal and close? Don't want to spend more airfare and travel time than I need to. Would Perris fit the bill? What's that place like overall. I've heard a ton of it, but don't know how the weather is at that time of year for jumping. Also would like to hear what that place is like to go to from out of state.

I would tend to agree in my very limited experience. The reserve may be worse. Sure, it's a small risk, but it's there. Lets say you can't land that well with rear risers. That may be better than bouncing with a worse problem on the reserve. Yea, trust your rigger and all that, but bottom line, taking another unecessary risk with you life as opposed to a rough landing? Why?

Agreed. That's my sentiment. Some people feel ok going to reserve even when they don't *have* to. Busted brake lines and having to do a rear riser landing in my mind is not worth the risk of chopping and having a worse reserve. Furthermore, the reserve is smaller than the main. I've never landed it. I've practiced rear riser flares on the main. I'm used to it. Never near the ground, but I'll PLF and not flare too high/aggressivlely. Looks like opinion is divided here. It's good to see the different perspectives. They match what I hear from the varying instructors at my DZ. Thanks for the input.

"The Tri220 I used to have (and the 210 I still have) will turn with risers, but its not exactly a speedster in doing it. And when it came time to do some intentional stalls, it took time and considerable force to make it happen. " Am I missing something? Are there canopies that can't be turn with rear risers? I could make a 290 bank hella hard with rear riser input. Same for flaring it. I weigh 200lbs.

I thought about then, but them I'm like...we'll if I'm going to risk it, I can risk it when I need to. If I bust myself trying it the first time, it might as well be to prevent the risk of deploying and landing a reserve. Again, differences here....I was told a 190 main by almost everyone, and that for that I need a 176 reserve because I can't fit a 190 reserve in there too without it being too tight. Going one size up in container makes the 190 kinda loosy goosy in there which they don't recommend. They also said the PD reserve flies really well, more like a 190 and its a 7 cell. Still apprehensive about it.

It seems the responses here reflect those of my instructors - varying stances on reserve pulling. Some instructors have said, unless you pass a controlability check (including flaring), cutaway and go for reserve. Others think it's best not to risk your life on a last resort that may be worse than what you have over your head...a fully inflated, steerable and somewhat flareable canopy (which with enough skill can be landed softly.) I'll take busted legs over dead anyday....but then again, the reserve *probably* will open fine, and you'll save yourself some potential injury....or will you? Here's what makes it even more tricky. I've never landed something the size of my reserve. ANd I *have* very frequently (almost every other jump) practiced rear risers flares. It's still not clear to me because I never wanted to risk using the rear risers for an actual landing...I didn't need to risk it. I dont know how well I would do with the timing near the ground. Probably do ok. My main is a sabre 2 190 and the reserve is a PD reserve 176. 190 is the smallest I've jumped...so I think I'm leaning towards practicing more on the 190 rear risers, and not going reserve unless I really have to. Come to think of it...whenever I get a lot more experience, I should probably borrow/rent a 170 7 cell so I can get used to what I would face with a reserve ride. It seems odd that the standard is to have a reserve smaller than your main...a size which most students/newbies have never flown. I'm I worrying too much here?

This was particularly what I was most interested - the assymetrical aspect here. *one*line busted. Presumable I should unstow the one that's not busted to level out, then I guess I don't need to cut it and can land on rears.

If a brake line breaks during flight, and I'm way more than high enough to pull reserve. What should I do? I'm thinking this is defintely not serious enough to risk going to reserve. I would pop out the hook knife, and cut the other brake line then land on rear risers. Is this a good course of action? Is there a better one?

Could you post the pics please? I read in the manual to pull the quartered slider halfway towards the nose between the A lines on the center cell. Is this what you do?

190 s.f.

Yep, I do have a visual and use it of course. I'm running a 1.21 wing loading, and though that may not sound like much to people with more experience, it's plenty to keep me in check, so the beeping for final helps.

>>Why a hell do you want lower alarms? Why? Becasue I turn for final at 200feet that's why.