councilman24

Relax your grip a little. If toggles hurt your hands you got bigger problems. And yes there are some toggles designed to be easier on the hands. Used by CReW dogs opening at 12000'. Or you could always go back to the toggle that caused toggles to be called toggles. Pieces of wooden dowel rod with a hole drilled through them and the line tied on. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

You WON'T like jumping the Falcon if you been jumping Navigators and Sabres. Do not buy the Falcon unless you jump it, and walk away. If you think you need a sabre 210 then you need a 250 something Falcon. You haven't had an opportunity to see many people landing F-111 canopies. It itsn't always pretty. After I had a badly broken leg I was jumping a Manta (288 F-111) for awhile. Then, finally I could take a running step again, so I bought a Sabre 190. When I wanted a soft landing, I jumped the Sabre. Run, run away. Far and Fast. Let them stick some other newbie with the Falcon. And if you do buy a F-111 canopy, make it bigger. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I think thats a little small for a F-111 nine cell for a new jumper your size, especially if it has a lot of jumps. Also you will probably get bored with this as you watch other people. Also, F-111 canopies are getting much harder to resell, even to newbies like you. You may very well be stuck with this if you buy it. I don't like it and I agree that F-111 canopies are perfectly fine parachutes. But the reality is its hard to recommend a F-111 canopy as a first rig these days. I'd look for a ZP in the 210 range. More appropriate size/performance and much more resaleable. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

This text is physics over my head (three semesters of physics). Was a required text for AIAA decelerator conference. Parachutes, not skydiving. From ParaPublishing web site. The Parachute Recovery Systems Design Manual by T.W. Knacke provides the tools to evaluate, select, design, test, manufacture, and operate parachute recovery systems. These systems range from simple, one-parachute assemblies to multiple-parachute systems, and include equipment for impact attenuation, flotation, location, retrieval, and disposition. All system aspects are discussed, including the selection of the most suitable recovery system concept, a computerized approach to parachute performance, force and stress analysis, geometric gore design, component layout, material selection, system design, manufacturing, and in-service maintenance. This is the last word in technical design manuals for recovery systems. Theo Knacke is the parachute engineer's engineer. He is the ultimate authority on escape systems, landing deceleration canopies, aerial delivery clusters, personnel parachutes and spacecraft recovery systems. The manual was written for the US Navy and is published by Para Publishing under contract. Knacke manual. Softcover 8.5 x 11 Kivar cover, 512 pages, 280 illustration, 78 tables. ISBN 0-915516-85-3. $49.95 I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Three is just a bad job of two. And most bags are dimensioned for 2. But none of these are the problem method of grommet in the bottom. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Dan T. has made a couple of Softie pilot rigs like that over the years for display. Think I say the first one about 1993, and I think it was older than that. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Most rigs have or have had box type lower corners and many even have corners wraping up and around to form a three sided corner. These can hold a bag if pulled from the bottom of the rig, inside the corners. Pulled from the top of the main container, where most flaps are wide open, gives an easier extraction. PC's in tow have occured from packing lines down. I can invision packing lines down in modern containers actually being worse in a birdman suit. The PC would be trying to pull the bag through the bottom/side flap corners instead of rotating it up and over. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I'm an inch shorter after 2500 jumps. Of course the metal in my leg (along with middle age spread) means I'm heavier. One of these days I need to organize an all metal load. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

The other question is have you had a PC in tow and did it change your procedures. I had one, did not cutaway first (my procedure was not to cutaway from a PC in tow), would have died if I had cutaway, and my procedures haven't changed. I also have had 3 cutaways, all 1986 or earlier. No change. VHS video of round reserve (Phantom 24) available. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I presented a talk at the 2003 PIA symposium entitled "First Aid for the Dropzone." Subtitled "What NOT to do when someone get hurts." This was a general presentation and needs some refinements, but I'll be glad to email the Powerpoint presentation to anybody who wants it. PM me if you would like it. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I have trouble believing a kid is going to find a data card. Most skydivers can't. And that it would coincide with him bringing to a rigger he doesn't know out of state? If not stolen he may have been forging signatures or jumping out of date. I've had people pull data cards and seals for both reasons. I had a lot of trouble with guys forging my name for several years. We had an outlaw psychotic jumper who bragged he could sign my name better than me and did it for several of his friends. Remember, you don't have to pack any rig. I have several EX customers I know have forged my name. I don't care if some one pencil packs, I'm not the FAA. But when they forge my name I get pretty upset. Any way, my cynical mind would be very suspicious. But, maybe he has very curious kids. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I made two or three people replace reserve bridles that had been written on. They used a marker of some sort, in 2 inch letters, for 2 or three feet. The ink bled all over and there is data that almost any ink weakens the fabric. Now do I really think the bridle was going to break? No, probably not. But the running ink sure was making a mess. I have people write in ball point on the line pouch. Non load bearing, non canopy contact, and already has info printed on it. Or, as suggested, write on another piece of material and sew it on. Tyvek works well and part of a data card can be used. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Double Bonus days! 1981 1400' reserve total. Pulled at 1700' after cutaway. Opened at 300' at terminal. Second bonus. Reserve still inflating as I went into the top of the trees. My ankle reminds me of bonus days every day. Not even a malfunction since 1987. Hmmm, the gear must be too good. No, regular malfunctions don't count in my book. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

A used reserve would be fine. But usually reserve stay with the rig for just the reason you have. So finding what you want may or may not be easy. No body can give you a hard rule as to how old is too old. Be aware the some Precision reserves have a service bulletin on them. Most should be taken care of but check their web site for the canopies effected. PD says they want to inspect reserve that have been packed 40 times or use 25 times. The 25 seems a little high to me. If a reserve is of a modern design, doesn't have more than a few openings (preferably none) it should be fine. But reserves will wear out just from packing. So I wouldn't buy one more than a few years old to go with a new rig. I wouldn't chose to buy a 13 year old cricket. But..... If your going to have new gear, might as well have NEW gear. Of course saving a couple of hundred dollars means more jumps. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

After about 8 years of rigging I had one really screwed up knee. After 10 years of always wearing knee pads, its finally healed itself. The first thing I do when I start working on a rig is to put on my knee pads. So yes you can screw up knees packing. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

The cruiselight was nicknamed the cruisefright. It was a good canopy but had more forward speed than we were used to then, with out the flare power (swoop) of current canopies. At your size it would be ok. It will be plenty responsive, compared to your student canopies. Even compare to a Sabre it won't be that bad, just little flare. About not learning much about flying. You won't learn a whole lot about flying modern nine cell ZP's, but they will seem a dream if you jump the cruiselite some. You'll learn plenty. Make sure the harness isn't too big. Shifting rigs in freefall can be annoying and dangerous if it moves you deployment device out of reach. Also a harness can be so big the either the chest strap hits your chin or you can reach the toggles. An Invader 58 is listed in the riggers packing checklist for a cypres. If this is what your rig is then yes it can be added. Depending on the rate in your area it would be $60 to $100 dollars to add the pocket etc. for the cypres. Also I doubt that this rig was a BOC originally. Double check that it has been converted. But you better find out what the reserve is. If it isn't a ROUND it's likely to be an older Paraflite reserve. May be ok but I chose not to pack original Swift, Orion, or Cirrus Cloud reserves. These designs are old enough the I'd rather a customer find a reserve from the next generation. Probably wouldn't want something any bigger than a 190 9 cell zp as a replacement. Depending on your skill maybe a 170. The lift and flare of a 9cell zp versus the cruiselite are worlds apart. Anyway, be careful about harness size, reserve, and deployment system. And someone remind what an Invader Harness is? Only altavista hit is the cypres riggers checklist. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I use a smaller version anemometer similar to this. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&classNum=1&subdeptNum=&storeNum=&productId=49922 I measured the air speed of both a 190 Sabre and 190 Triathlon. Both were 30 mph with about 230 lbs suspended. Any calculation would only be available based on fitting an equation to emperical data. In other words, measure speed at two or three weights (the more the better) and fit an equation to the points. And do you really want air speed or glide ratio? Or only the horizontal vector of the canopy speed, which includes a vertical vector. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

The current text specifically states "... USPA Instructor, Instructor/Examiner....." These are two of the three instructional ratings. So, I would conclude that a coach rating wasn't sufficient for skill requirements. Call up USPA and ask if you want the real answer. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

It actually describes George Galloway pretty well! But probably to late to change the name. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Open your Para-Gear catalog. Flight Concepts Clipper 195. 9-cell F-111 type canopy still available new. List price $1159. A friend had one. Not a bad non ZP 9 cell. http://www.flightconcepts.com/9cell.html I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

3. Jumps to meet skill requirements must be signed by a USPA Instructor, Instructor Examiner, Safety & Training Advisor, or a member of the USPA Board of Directors. From SIM 3-1-C-3 http://www.uspa.org/Publications/SIM/SIMtext/Skydivers_Information_Manual_2003.htm I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

In my case yes. I have seen batteries not last 2 years OR 500 jumps. There was a batch of batteries a few years ago that were substandard. Airtec recognized it and provided prorated replacements if they died substantially early. The French company that made the batteries never admitted they were bad. I've also seen other batteries, not in the time frame of the bad batteries, die early. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

If you have a fat head, like me, the Z1 won't fit. Parasport admitted to me at the symposium they still haven't made a helmet for bigger sizes. The shell is one size with different liners. So, make sure you try one on before you order. I wear somewhere between 7 1/4 and 7 1/2 depending on the hat and I can't even get a Z-1 on. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Pilot chutes can bunch up and be a no pull in spandex also. There is heavy elastic in the mouth of the pocket and if it can't stretch enough it won't come out. This is all dependent on PC packing. I just don't want you to think you don't have to worry about it because you might have a spandex pouch. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

It should be fine. I'd probably do a few pull tests on it. But more for show than expecting to find anything. Best test? Go jump it. You've got a reserve. Your question reminded me that I know where there is a Maverick reserve about 10 years old still in the bag on a guy's shelf. Hmmmm, may have to give him a call. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE