likestojump

look on the V-tape on the end cell. The DOM and the SN are ink-stamped on there and don't wear off nowhere near as fast as the stuff on the orange tail label.

Assumption is a mother of fuckups, let's hear what the OP means. (i.e. if he means the yoke, then it's not really a feasible option to resize it)

Which part of the rig are you calling shoulders traps ?

Two pictures attached. One is a J1KS, the other one is a J2 (not a J2K. can you tell the difference ?

My understanding is that the reason behind PD's reluctanse to provide pack volumes is that those values are not absolute from canopy to canopy. At times, the mill manufactured the fabric that packs thicker (Triathlons had that problem). The only true way to provide exact pack volume is if all the canopies were compressed using the same method, using the same atmospheric conditions, and you were guaranteed that they will always be built using the same construction techniques and same materials. And that, as well all know, will never happen. The PIA chart from awhile back (The TS-104.16 PIA canopy volume study) shows the Raven4 DOM 12/1986 having a pack volume of 570 cubic inches, while the same canopy, with the same type of lines DOM 03/1985 has a volume of 506 cubic inches. If you want to be 100% certain - get both canopies, and attempt to pack both in the same size dbag. And if that's too much work, then don't complain on the internet about the manufacturer unwilling to do it for you.

Firstly, PD does have a relative answer, right on their website here : http://www.performancedesigns.com/packingchart.aspx secondly, it's not only the material that changes the overall bulk (i.e. volume). There's also the lines. There's a noticeable difference in bulk between dacron and spectra linesset for a 260 sq ft canopy. good luck !

It's really situation dependent. For example, if I one flies a 107 main and a 126 reserve, they have about a .85 relation. If one has a biplane, then one canopy will be more dominant. If one is towing a two-out streamer, then their relation is irrelevant.

Every servo motor that I have seen had speed control. Which begs the question : Why does the pulley size matter ???

1991ish to 2001ish

I believe his design is based on the Cazer, but I'm unsure of what their agreement is. Either way Chernis PCs are Grade A.

Please define what you mean by decent price.

................................................ I stand corrected. National: retire after 20 years. May I disagree ? This is from the 2011 manual that I have : "The Parachute Industry Association (PIA) has visited this issue without conclusion to date. Until the PIA specifies otherwise, it is the recomendation of National Parachute that the maximum service life is 20 years from date of manufacture (this includes the harness, container and pilot chute)." This does not sound legally binding. _____________________________________ For example, the Softie manual change from 2009 states : "Independent testing of aged nylon materials has proven that its strength degrades over time, therefore, Para-Phernalia, Inc. and Free Flight Enterprises have established a 20-year service life from the date of component manufacture for the Softie Pilot Emergency System and the Preserve line of emergency parachutes." And that definitely sounds legally binding, but only for products manufactured since the manual change (as the FAA opinion letter posted above states). And I agree with Don Mayer 100%. But, I also do happen to have a bias, and have just recently packed a mint Security rig.

PD's recert is not for 40 repacks/25 rides. Its for 25/15 or 20/12 depending on when you got it recertified. I believe the next recert is an even shorter cycle. Or they may tell you it's too porous and mark it Unairworthy. pictures attached. Anyone else care to provide facts as opposed to pulling statements out of their ass ? :)

Traditionally in North America, the data card went with the reserve canopy. That way you would have a record of service bulletins compliance, modifications, strength testing and such. These are all no longer much of a factor, and most people will leave the card with the container if they are separated. (Data cards are supplied with new containers, and containers are now far more likely to need compliance with SBs.) Some countries require separate cards for container, reserve, and AAD. Meaning there is no clear answer to your question. Sorry. It's a packing data card. Even if it says "mirage, Wings, etc", unless you think that closing flaps is packing, leave the card with whatever it is that you are packing - which is always the reserve.

Yes on both counts. Of course depending on what you are getting, it may not be a fiscally smart decision, as converting a Vector1 into an AAD fitted freefly friendly rig is very much like making a Yugo into a rally car, or simply polishing a turd. Also I want to compliment you on a very thoughtful ands descriptive thread title.

Yup- i though it will help but it just makes it so much more prone to sliding off b/c of the aweigh What's your height/weight ? What's the sizing printed on the reserve riser ?

And for fucks sake people - be diligent about : * taking pictures of your gear and it's serial numbers * posting all the details and pics in the DB (link http://www.dropzone.com/stolen/ ) A week ago a got a deal that was too good to be true. The gear was not registered as stoeln anywhere I looked. I did the due diligence by tracking the rigger from the reserve seal, got a hold of the original owner who did in fact have it stolen, but only reported it stolen to the local PD and did not even have the serial numbers. It would have been totally reasonable for someone who is not familiar with the gear to buy it and in very good faith think they got a great deal. Posting a few blurry pictures of Facebook and asking people to share is useless unless the gear is discovered within a few days. DON'T BE LAZY ! (and yet I am certain I am pissing against the wind :()

I had a Singer 401 as my first machine. I believe quality-wise it's a similar machine. It was a great starter piece and it's now in the hands of a another freshly minted rigger who says the same thing. How much are you getting it for ?

You are a bit confused about FAA's role in all this. FAA merely certified that the manufacturer passed TSO 23d approval for those slinks. And since the reserves are a certificated piece of gear, they would have to be attached using a type of link that they were certificated with (in case of PD reserves I believe it's Mallion #4, #5 or #6 and the more recently certified SR-1 Slinks). FAA made no recommendations in this case and they really don't care how you hook up your reserve, as long as you do so "in accordance with manufacturer instructions". If PD wanted to bare the cost of TSO 23d cert for the main Slinks, they could, but I am guessing it makes no sense from fiscal and marketing perspective. To keep it short and sweet, nobody will fault you for paying $5 more and sporting the beefy and uber-cool yellow tabbed Reserve Slinks on your main. If that makes you feel safer - go for it, there's no detriment.

a) why are you only soliciting opinions from Master Riggers ? b) ....i) what's the breaking strength of the main slink ? ....ii) what's the breaking strength of the reserve ....iii) can a human body survive opening forces needed to break a main slink ? If not, then what's the point of having even beefier reserve slink ? think of this as putting 100mph+ rated tires on a car that never goes over 60. Doable, but achieves zero benefit, and costs moer money. Pointless.

Let me re-echo what Lee said and add this : For maintenance purposes, picking out 308 is an absolute pain in the ass.

Bartacker can be used for more than just lines. pretty much anyplace that needs to be reinforced a bartacker will do the job better - clamp, hit the pedal - voila ! If you don't do a lot of linework, maybe a cheaper mechanical cam driven end stop tacker is your answer. Those sell for $300-$1000 (Pfaff 3334, Juki LK series, Singer (2)69W series seem to be popular) Personally, I don't do a lot of line work, but I LOVE my Juki 1900.

which container size ? which main and reserve do you have in it ? how old is everything in terms of jumps ? which harness size ? how tall are you and how much do you weigh, and are you proportional ? There are quite a few things that may make the rig feel tight : * bad fit (duh !) * new stiff rig * new stiff rig packed with the largest possible canopies * any rig packed with the largest possible canopies * overstuffed "ears" on the reserve (more prominent in vector style freebags, but can still happen in a Javelin) The list can be longer, but those are the most common things I've seen. Give us the data. Post pictures. We, the internet experts, would love to solve this for you.

Before you go that way, see how comfortable you are when you unbuckle the chinstrap, leave the skirt as tight as you usually have it and have a buddy yank the helmet off your head FAST.

That answers one of my many, many questions. I have a 1982 Para-Innovators round with a 1994 Butler diaper.