mmclaughlin84

I thought i would dig up this old thread as i have searched and can't find another that covers it. After my last reserve repack, 9 times out of ten i land to find the bottom flap of the reserve flap has popped out. I occasionally had this before, maybe once every dozen jumps, but now it's happening almost every jump without exception. The only thing i can see that is different, is that the reserve pack job is very neat and there doesn't appear to be as much pressure on the reserve flap as there was before. I make sure that the flap is securely tucked under and not half tucked. Then i put the rig on and when i'm being checked people are having to push it back in the full way as it's wiggled it's way partially out. Once i was getting up in the plane and actually HEARD it pop out (and before anyone says, i didn't bump it off anything). So it's not a case that it opens as it's partially out and the wind catches it, the movement of my shoulders in the rig is able to pull the bottom flap out. Never had this problem until the last reserve repack, was wondering if there was a remedy to it?

We have had times when we are trying to do an 8way and have 6 mid range fallers, 1 floater and one sinker. The floater puts on 8 lb, thats not a problem, he understands thats what he has to do to keep up with the majority of the people he jumps with. If he works on his flying he may get to the point where he can do with less weight/no weight. For the sinker, you have 7 people who all have to find weight to compensate for 1 person. I hope you don't come out with the line "Why fight gravity, go with it" as someone (or a large group) trying to accommodate you and only you, isn't going to like the argument "I fall fast, learn to live with it." Their reply will be, "We ALL fall slower than you, why can't you learn to live with us?" It depends on your body type, if your just a big guy with a big frame, maybe it's not an option, but if you are simply overweight with it all at the waist, losing some pounds would be a good idea. It'll make a big difference to yourself, never mind others. It's good you've already lost some, even if people still have to put on lead to jump with you now, it'll make a big difference for them to see your meeting them half way. For the record, i used to be a very floaty 145lb and had to wear weight to keep up with even mid range jumpers. I went to the gym and put on 15-20lb. Not entirely, but in part for skydiving reasons. Now I only wear weight when i jump with very big guys. If me and others are prepared to do that to conform to the norm, to make it easier for both me and everyone i jump with, then is it too much to expect that from the other end of the spectrum. What is normal? Depends who your jumping with. Either you change your fall rate or you change who you jump with, depends how much you like them

Second that, I have jumped a sony .6 on a 109 for a while now. A lot cheaper than a super low profile lens (liquid, etc) and it's not that much bigger. If you want to video tandems then wide angle helps for in the plane/the door on exit.