heavydude

At Perris the limit at time I went was 235, rig used was an MC-4 with Nav 280.

Most of the big outfits like Perris have rigs that will handle you weight. Loose weight if you can but dont let that stop you. Skydiving will be a big motivating factor to loose as it was for me. In my case it wasnt just chewing cheeseburgers but a 20 yr background of bodybuilding/powerlifting.
Skateboarding falls are way worse than skydiving landings !

I had excellant service from Bodysport, got my custom suit from them in 4 weeks, should have ordered from them again instead of wasting time on EG.

I got hosed also, in process of doing Fraud submittal. 6 weeks and no suit of any kind, ordered a stock suit !

Thats great ! Reminds me of that feeling when I am the only funjumper on some of those all Tandem Otter loads.

On a serious medical note have you ever tried testosterone cream particularly the Androgel type, relating to the combat injuries. The stuff works great.
Good luck !

By the way I dont mean to be a downer but protect your gear when you travel here (CA). Hide all valuable stuff like skydiving gear away from sight and remember that almost all beach areas are prime targets for breakins to your car. I have lived here for 20+ years never had a problem, but never leave anything of value in my car. Iwould even take my rig with me into a resteraunt rather than the car.

Thanks ! I looked up some old threads on Skydiving vs. Base gear that was informative also.

I know this is probably a Basejumper.com issue but there are probably more gear people here: Base rigs obviously are not FAA rated gear w/ max weight/deployment speed ratings . So the way I see it anybody could make a Base container, no FAA regs involved in jumping it since no aircraft are involved ?

Interestingly enough at my local Apt in San Diego Brown Field there was a DC-3 doing charters to Baja also in years past. I would be working at the hanger and they would fly in regularly. I dont know if they are still in business but that was also a cool way to travel !

Interestingly enough I learned from watching cable TV that fishing is way more dangerous....
anybody see that show on the most dangerous sports ?

I get that problem using wrenches if I am working on real tough high torque connections. I think what happens is that you break blood vessels in fingers and they swell. A plastic coffe can with ice cubes/water is best thing for all swelling injuries. For prevention it would help to use a powertool on loop. My two cents.

Thanks ! forgot about Eloy, I will look out for a boogie there when they are flying DC-3s. Not that bad a drive from San Diego.

So I was watching N. Kents Freak Bros video and got to thinking, any DZs offer DC-3 jumps ? I seem to recall Perris may have several years back ?

Read a book called "Picking up the pieces" which deals with aircraft salvage and restoring planes in the bush for ferry flights in the Yukon. Most planes were primarily DH Beavers retrived in the bush. Really good book if you are into airplanes. Author recovers and Ferrys back all kinds of seaplanes that have sunk, flipped etc. I ran across it on a link to Amazon after researching some Grumman Widgeon stuff.

I havnt done this to a sewing machine but on similar mechanical devices with old grease/lube mineral spirits or regular home depot paint thinner works good. It takes off the grease fast and wont harm most paints. Some A&Ps I know use large pressurized sprayers to clean greasy parts. Also the same solvent is great for bearings etc. Note that in all cases you clean the parts clean and then re-lube as you are washing the lube away. I have an old Consew I bought from work that has been used forever and will sew through anything. Somebody mentioned an aircompressor , you can also get an suction sprayer and spray the solvent also. Harbor freight has all that stuff real cheap including reusable spray cans you fill with your own solvents.
Good Luck ! Also you can get a small parts washer and fill with your solvent of choice, it has a pump that recirculates the fluid. Sounds exotic but readily availible at H.F. for cheap, this will be less messy than spraying.

I guess I am an exception but I have bought 2 complete rigs and misc other items on DZ.com with no problems. Just sent a check and it came as promised. All of this stuff was big canopy stuff so was not real "hot" mainstream stuff though. I havnt run across any real scammers yet !

Reno, uggh... thats the only place my company ever sends me for trade shows. On second thought I will go to Deland for the Expo next time !

Thanks for the informative posts on what not to do !
I feel really bad for Dan and the rest of you for the awful injuries. Like the rest of the riggers I have Dans Parachute manuals and also Skydiving books.

Any chance of having a similar event here on West Coast ?
Seems Perris would be great location for this ...

My 2 cents worth: I bought a slightly used Javelin w/ reserve during about jump #15, it was nice having the same rig and chute which was large student canopy. Total I spent about 3K for the rig, jumped that rig for about 150 jumps, just upgraded main to new Triathlon. I wouldnt get a new container as beginner because it can get messy from less than graceful landings. However with used stuff you will spend money on cypress check, batt replacement and shorter useful cypress life.

I think the swoop pond is Perris, I was on some loads one week where they were filming w/ red bull. They were first out of course, probably about 2008-09 period.

I am not a rigger(yet, working on it) but I jumped an MC4 at Perris with Navigator 280 in it as student.
Worked OK to me.

started at 46, how can youngins afford this sport !

Boats and that shit are funny they really grow on you. Commercial Diver in Gulf and some Navy career later... I watch the show and think to myself I am sure glad I aint there in those nasty conditions.
That show sure is fun, its great watching other people being wet and miserable, thinking what you would be doing in their spots being wet and miserable. I (and my wife + 2 Kids) love the show, cant wait for the new season.