Skydog0223

I bought a Mamba and jumped it for the first time about a month ago. I'm not altogether happy with the way the chin piece is constructed. There is a separate thin plastic piece wrapping around the chin which is shaped to follow the helmut and a small notch to act as a vent. It's held on with 2 screws and the padding attaches to this with velcro, I find it a bit flimsy considering the price of the helmut. I also don't like the way the drawstring attaching to the strap around your neck is finished. You have to knot it or it slips loose. Nice paint job though!! "Know your own limits"

I've seen this type of handle a couple of times, I've not examined one close up. After only 5 jumps on my new freefly handle I like it. It's easier to grip in freefall than one would expect after trying it on the ground! "Know your own limits"

That was always the downside, the pad getting dislodged and out of reach "Know your own limits"

I'll be looking to buy a new rig in 2009 I'm considering now changing to a Pullout style pilot chute, I jumped one years ago and you pull the pin which is connected to the base of the pilot chute as well as the small lanyard attaching the handle to the pin. THe pin is also straight, the piot chute is packed in the container on top of the bag, does anybody have experience with this type?? "Know your own limits"

The PVC handle has been around ever since throwaway pilot chutes were invented, I used to have an orange one, cheap & simple but not as cool looking as a hackysack! that's why every man & his dog got em as soon as they got popular I've attached 2 pics of my new pad & the old hacky for ref! "Know your own limits"

I never hold onto the handle when I deploy the pilot chute, but you are right about the weight of the Hacky, also being spherical makes it aerodynamic and will have less wind resistance than a pad which could weight the pilot down until it inflates. "Know your own limits"

Thanx Actually I have to be honest about the signature line, I believe it was thought up by a jump pilot/jumper called Chris Benyon who actually was the pilot on my first ever jump. There was a label on the C185 dashboard with it written on, I'll never forget it! "Know your own limits"

I've been packing my pilot chute the same way for the last 1600 jumps without any problems. The method I was using was shown to me by a an instructor to prevent horseshoes. Change is good however, I asked my rigger how he packs his and I've changed to what he said is the PD suggested method which is slightly different to the way I was packing mine. "Know your own limits"

As I was pulling the cutaway I knew the bag was somewhere behind and above me, I just prayed that the reserve would open before the main had any sort of chance of coming out of the bag, that's your biggest fear 2 canopies out and a resulting entanglement "Know your own limits"

Talk about skydivers being black deathy, try this for "Black Humour" In case of emergency I would just list a good undertaker!! If I didn't have anybody!! and also pay upfront as well!! "Know your own limits"

It all depends if the malfunction resulted in a reserve ride. I've known people ride partial mals down when I would've chopped it! "Know your own limits"

Actually back in 1994 I had a similar incident with a partially inflated pilot chute when the bridle had knotted itself around the pilot chute, luckily the drag was sufficient to deploy the main in that incident. It felt just like a hesitation. "Know your own limits"

The bridle is 92" long, I just checked it "Know your own limits"

I had a reserve ride 2 weeks ago caused by a malfunctioned pilot chute. The bridlecord was knotted around the hackysack about 6 inches from the base. I could not have tied a better knot. I had tracked of from an RW dive and pulled at 2500' initially I thought it was a hesitation but then I felt the bag bouncing around on my legs. After kicking it a couple of times to no avail I checked my alti (1700') and decided to cutaway and deploy the reserve. Everything was fine from the thereon. The guys at the DZ (Voltige 2001 in Quebec) recovered my main & freebag. The lines on the bag were 2/3 deployed. Unfortunately the opening shock caused me to drop my reserve handle. I've jumped a hackysack since 1991, probably around 1900 jumps with no problems until now. The rigger at my local DZ fitted a freefly pad which I think is way better in any case. I've done 5 jumps withe new handle and would recommend this fix to anybody using a hackysack. This was my 2nd malfunction in 2200 jumps. The reserve was a PD126 which has now saved my life twice. Many thanks to my rigger friend who packed it for me, I think I was his 23rd save

I did my first jump on the 16th April 1983. I did a static line course in the UK and it cost £40. After that I vaguely remember student jumps being £8 each. Once qualified it was £3.50 from 3500' and £8 from 10000' "Know your own limits"

Oh it is!!! In the UK it was $42 USD 2 years ago at my home DZ, in Germany I paid $25 Euro's a jump in 2006. We moved from Snohomish, WA in Feb this year and it's about $26 USD a lob. In fact I'm working in Montreal right now and the local DZ's charge $35 CDN = $35 USD at the moment. I was down at the ranch last weekend, great DZ and "ONLY" $23 a lob "Know your own limits"