sldiveout

I'm looking at a swift plus reserve and just wanted some more info on the reinforcing, in the gear review it states "lots of kevlar reinforcing" the para-flite website doesn't seem to be much help Anybody got a picture of the reinforcing they could post?

Nice pic Steve- Just for reference I estimate that the pond is just shy of 400 feet from shore to shore (bottom to top)- its like 550 from corner to corner. I was looking at lawn seed last night to manicure our landing zone

I found the openings slightly different also, I thought that the slider stayed up a little longer, but the openings were fine. I put about 8 practice jumps on a system, then had part of it fail and completely detach during round 1 of a pst comp- lost a pilot chute and d-bag. I recommend folks carry a spare d-bag/ pc. The best systems I've seen are the team Xaos and PD systems where the slider comes completely off.

yes

when I'm helping someone with their control lines I'll tie the overhand knot first so the person can adjust the toggle setting, then once the have it where they want it I'll fingertrap it in. I don't generally sew it because they may want to adjust it later as they fly the canopy more, or if the brake lines shrink they may want to let them out.

Sorry, I'm gonna be at K-pow. Be back by Saturday morning. You gotta come to lost Prarie or the Freefall conventinon, dude. Find and friend for the canopy thing and we can do it before I have to leave for Lost Prarie Maybee.

Take a look at the max suspended weight category listed on a PD reserve- almost all of them (including the 126), are listed at 254 lbs. I'd be less than thrilled at having to land it unconscious. This reserve may not be "justified" but it's not going to blow up if I deploy it at terminal velocity, and I could certainly land it without incident. As a manufacturer, why even hint at such a high number for such a small canopy? Because people will use it at these loading so it better handle them. I would say once you've got 1000 jumps and maybe a reserve ride or two, making the choice to downsize your reserve can be done as safely as downsizing your main.

Real life tempo stories: My ride from on a 170- I weigh 254lbs out the door. Perfect opening CRW cutaway and plenty of flare after a straight in approach. Stood it up in no wind -800 jumps at the time. Local DZO on a 120- exit weight no less than 225 (yes really). Hard opening after a lost handle-fully terminal. Flew and landed "just fine" WITH THE BRAKES STOWED. PLF, the guy has over 5000 jumps and is always very current. A rental 150 flown and landed 3 times at 1.4, 1.6, and 1.8. By jumpers with 200, 350, and 1600 jumps. No problems whatever. I have only good things to say about tempo reserves. I'd love to have a PD reserve, but I don't. Vladi Pesa actually flies a PD 113 at 240 something out the door. He recommended a 143 for me, based on my swoopy canopy experience, but added that I should have no problem with a 126 if I ever found myself under one.

Javelin & Mirage -tied for the best. I'm only half way done with my rigger's studying and re-packing but I think the reflex is a weird design. Any design where an exposed pilot chute cap can start to come loose and needs re-tightening is questionable. People have had reserve rides from full altitude with all handles in place snagging the top on a 182 door. They're no good for Crew (think lines wrapping around pop-top) and I've seen several with main riser covers that won't stay shut (they're tiny).

I had a very frustrating thing happen to me at the DZ today. A pretty heads up newbie with 100 jumps is doing some mild 90-ish degree turns to final on a sabre-135 loaded at about 1.4- Fine He comes to me with "this canopy won't swoop" so we find video of his landing and talk about how he could be more efficient, better at judging altitude (more jumps), learning how to max out the performance from say a 45 to 90 degree turn with front risers. If you saw the video you would think he was coming straight in with no front riser input. 10 minutes later he is assembling a stiletto 120 on his main risers. Even after I dug through my video to show him my teammate swooping his old sabre 135 for 175 feet. Hold on to your seat_ These canopies are both loaners because he found someone (don't know who, not at our DZ) to buy a VELOCITY 96 on his behalf. Apparently he plans on shelving it until he's ready. He asks all the right questions, and is very willing to listen to advice, but doesn't seem to act on it too much. -The ground is hard, trust me I know, I checked-

I got a screamin' deal on a time out evo 2000, if it works when I put new batteries in. No obligation. How do I work this thing?

Sweet! I'll be in Eloy from the 30th of Dec to the 6th of January. It sounds sounds like a blast. I'll probably be making jump #1000 while I'm down there. I'm 6'6" and 210 lbs, Do you think they'll have a Demo suit for someone my size?

If you are ending up on your back you are probably NOT sticking your chest out too much. That you puts you chest to earth (make sense?). The freefliers at your DZ need help -one of them has to be nice enough to give you some free ground instruction. Try flattery -it works on me. Ever heard of Max Cohn? He recommends (I think rightly) that you learn x-man/froggy style first. That way you won't favor one leg forward. Also, if your leg position needs help you usually can fix problems with both legs at the same time since people fly symmetrically as a tendency. Daffy IS more stable, but there is a lot of stuff for a beginner to get right. Don't be afraid to get some official (paid) coaching from someone who is really good -1000 freefly jumps or better -they should be really good with their camera as well. just my $.02 -Diveout

Hey, Thanks much to grasshopper and Riggerbob. I think my rig is going to be much less annoying to fly this weekend. Not that it's too unsafe, I just don't like the idea of attaching or velcro-ing anything to my container or jumpsuit. Simple mods to risers like the blocks grasshopper has on his risers or the ones Riggerbob describes are the way to go. -Diveout

Any riggers out there modified the risers on a High Performance canopy set up to keep the slider down behind the pilot's head? I'd like to have this done on my rig. My rigger has been making phone calls and such trying figure out the proper, safe way to do this- what do you think?

Any riggers out there modified the risers on a High Performance canopy set up to keep the slider down behind the pilot's head? I'd like to have this done on my rig. My rigger has been making phone calls and such trying figure out the proper, safe way to do this- what do you think?

I had one that was all goofed up. It would "Peg" at 12,500ft and it was inaccurate above 2000ft or so. I sent it away (NY or NJ?)and it was repaired free of charge -New velcro also. It is now right on the money (I've never had it above 15000)

I just went to a Xaos at 2.0 from a Stiletto at 1.6something. I think once you are pulling 270's or 360's and carving 45 or more degrees- You might be ready to downsize. Also- be comfortable downwind and landing at church functions, barbeques, and high school football games. -Diveout

Well, You didn't mention how many jumps you had when you bought that 120. I also think jump numbers don't account for much but let's face it- It's a good place to start. Many of my friends are what I would call "natural fliers" they have outstanding canopy skills and pick up on things quickly. The key is to STUDY- and be humble about your skills. No one on the planet wants to know about how good a canopy pilot you are. You learn by watching, listening and reading (of course jumping & being current). The bottom line is this -THE GROUND DOES NOT CARE HOW MANY JUMPS YOU HAVE, OR HOW GOOD YOUR LAST SWOOP WAS. If you taunt the earth by making violent or hook turns toward it -it will maim or kill you. The earth is unforgiving, that's why we invented the swoop pond (Well, OK it's fun and it looks way cool) But ponds -especially larger ones- allow people to try things they would never try over solid, hard earth. I like what you said about S&TA's. At Mollala (Skydive Oregon) you have be cleared through observation to land in the high-performance area, so no boneheads just show up and start hooking it into the pond. Also, all of the studying and careful practice and currency in the world cannot prevent accidental injury due to a simple, momentary lapse in judgment or miscalculation (low turns). Making approaches smoothly will make it easier for people flare for their lives if they have to. However, even people with thousands of jumps die each year from low turns on small elipticals. Many more break legs -and not because they are hotshots or uncurrent or not qualified for their canopies, just because they made one mistake -ONE. Sucks huh? -Dan

Yup, I do -also in Creswell. Do I know you?

I just ordered a 125 today, it was only $25 extra for a custom size. Totally sweet. I've been jumping a stiletto 150 for my last 300, so I can't wait for my new mistress. They told I'd love it compared to the Velocity and FX that I jumped (120, 115). I'll be loading it at 2.0?- so not all that high for an extreme elliptical these days. It was just too good an offer to pass up. I did my homework on it, too. The reviews so far are outstanding according to a couple of good sources in the industry. Any thoughts? -Dan