fcajump

Its the only disadvantage to having hard riser inserts... without them its easy to know exactly how much is above the white loop. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Talked to the DZ... they said that they got it... here (DZ.com)... So with a quick search I found the following: Down at the bottom of http://indra.net/~bdaniels/ftw/index.html is an article called "Dealing with Uppers" that has some ground speed vs seconds numbers plus a discussion of where they came from. http://indra.net/~bdaniels/ftw/sg_crt_spreadsheet.xls is the URL. *** The chart looks VERY similar to what we have (I'll compare it this weekend.) The chart can be easily expanded to include any speed(s) you want to allow for faster planes and/or downwind runs. Have fun, JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

I believe that's what used to be called "spotting for the reserve" Nice job!! If you've ever jumped at the (now quiet) Hartwood, you LEARNED TO SPOT (see photo). They started with rounds, and when I started there, we still jumped w/ round reserves. As you see, you either landed in or out... there was little in-between. Saw an AFF level 1 have a bag lock. The reserve side aided in getting the SOS pulled and left him under a Strong 26' lopo. The still bagged main landed 100 yards straight out from manifest on the grass run-way and the student (w/ radio assist) centered it in the peas. We understood what a WDI was and why the "spotter" stuck his head out before exit. (I called for a correction on a jumprun a while back and although the pilot was cool with it, most of the jumpers had never heard of such a thing...) Blue ones, JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Each rig, seporate case... (and yes, I am conservative to boot) V1 - 2nd hand rig, MLW too short, adding 4 rings to MLW for special cut-away system design. Rather than mod the old, we redesigned and built the changes in. V2 - 1st hand rig, unusual hardware wear on leg straps, wanted to perform same mods as on V1 (V1 being retired for issues on the main container that would not be happy being fixed again... though there were other reasons too.) Jav - broken selvedge thread at leg strap friction adapter and (almost) broken stiches at hip junction, along with other general wear. With this rig, it is a couple specific spots combined with overall condition. From what I have seen, I would not say that 1-2000 jumps is necessarily ragged out. I do think that use, age, original fabric coatings, washing, user care, hardware, and environmental exposure (sun, salt, chemicals, sand) all play into the condition of the system. Didn't mean to imply that 500 was any kind of limit on the harness. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Put >1000 on a Vector I - finally retired due to main container corner seporating for the second time. (too large a main for too long). Note: reharnessed at ~500 Put >800 on a Vector II - currently in use. Note: reharnessed at ~500 Stopped servicing a Jav (1989) that has ~1100. One reason that will not service is the condition of the harness. A friend/rigger has his Sweethog with ~1000 jumps on the original container/harness. TO AN EXTENT, as long as the container still... "contains"... and is in reasonable condition, I'm OK with it. (It must also fit the canopies and intended use... i.e. see discussions about freefly with old Vectors) But I am VERY picky about issues with the harness. It seems to me that the failure modes of the container are not likely to be airborn. HOWEVER, the failure of a harness is not something I am willing to chance. Just my $.02 JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

That is a brilliant idea. I have never heard of it before but I am going to try and sell it at our dz. Thanks I will try to get a copy of the one we have in our Otter and post it here. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

I see your point but you didn't really understand what I was saying. As a videographer, I often get out on iffy spots, secure that the tandem will be fine and knowing I should make it back okay. As an AFF instructor I have very little hesitation about calling a go around. Everyone may not be happy about it but I have never really been fussed at over this. Now let someone with 100 jumps try to justify 15 seconds from an Otter with 20 knot uppers and 4 tandems with video behind him.... This is not exactly the same thing. What I said was to seek out an instructor or S&TA and take the opportunity to learn how these things are decided. I also said not to stop talking to people until he understands or the people yelling understand what the seperation would have been. There was mention of not enough seperation on a previous jump. We don't know how much the jumper drifted or even tracked to get too close to another group. There are too many variables here for me to say who was right. I wasn't there. Just be careful of the choice to pi$# where you eat. Another possible side to this while talking about it. Otter, light uppers 7 second seperation is working well. That means 7 seconds from one group leaving the plane until the next group leaves. Don't rush the 7 second count but don't count 7, then climb out, then relax and breathe and then ready, set, go. That can easily result in 14 seconds and 1 of our new friends with 30 jumps faced with landing off. They should be fine, but I wouldn't like to be the reason someone gets hurt if it is this easy to avoid the situation in the first place. Flame away but nothing fits in every situation. There are always variables and we all make mistakes. Never stop learning. Most of the variables on timing can be solved with a simple speed/time chart at the door. AFTER turning on jumprun and triming the plane for jump, the pilot calls the GROUNDSPEED to us. The jumper closest to the chart looks up the speed and calls to everyone what the delay between groups is to be. As we are talking groundspeed, the upper winds are already figured in and everyone knows what the appropriate delay should be. Size/number of groups may be figured in, but does not change things much. Just one solution, JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

#1 (jump ~23) - hard pull (Cordura ROL) to Fury220 #2 (jump ~850) - PIT -> hard open -> two out... released main to a different Fury220 As to intentionals: ~5 from Cruislite XL's (packed in old chest rig) ~20 from NavAir 24 (packed in old chest rig) 2 from Strong LoPo (packed in Strong Starmaker Chest Reserve container) Tip: opening a round/chest by choice is an action best left to the sub-terminal speeds JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Your Rigger, with the aide of the line spec sheets available from PD's web site, should be able to assist you with measuring the lines to determine how far "out" they are. As to condition, (s)he will be able to tell that from a fairly quick inspection. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

HUH?!? Pardon my French, but WTF did you do exactly? I am envisioning a hook-knife (or scissors) and a pissed-off woman costing someone a reharness job. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

I won't speak for GG, but I SUSPECT that when she (and others) speak of "silver" for the reserve handle, they are refering to a metal handle, not a fabric pad/pub/pillow/etc... (just for clarity). JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Recommend a color that contrasts with your harnes AND jumpsuit colors... Beyond that, I don't see that it matters much (including one handle vs the other). HOWEVER, I would do a search on this site for B.Booth's commentary on handle type selection. He's got a fairly complete commentary on the use of: hard handle for reserve and soft handle for cut-a-way systems. There is a reason for each based on function/use. You may or may not agree, but I figure his opinion is one to be considered (at least until I have jumped and invented/tested more stuff than he has ). JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Phreezone is correct in approach. For me, I consider a Cypres fire anywhere under 1200' to be MY fault. Between exit alt, deployment altitude, and EP deck... if it fires below 1200', I considered that I messed up somewhere. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

The only time it seems to me to make sense is if you have a rig in hand with small base ring and do NOT want mini risers due to weight issues. However for what its worth, I have been jumping the redesigned Type-17 for several years with no issue (exit weight is... lets just say 254-lbs... ;-) JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

know anybody that jumps a javelin? all javelins come standard with f-111 pilot chutes only. wings and rws upt give you a choice. Taken from the current Sunpath order form: Surprise to me though... it seems to me that most are using ZP... but I have not specifically polled them. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

I have long heard of the skydivers that call themselves the "crash test dummies" and I wish to seek them out. If you are one, or know one, please drop me a line... Thanks, JW

Spoons example shows that the R/L and RSL checks are not enough. They do not alert you to a full 360 (or multiples) of an individual riser. Considering the audience of the thread, I would strongly suggest that a full line check be done after any disconnect/reconnect. (Sundevil - PM sent) JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

I do not KNOW how this individual situation occured, but this is ONE way that it CAN happen... In changing out a main canopy for another (both with risers, DBag and PC attached), the packed main is removed from the container. The replacement is connected and packed/jumped. When the jumper is done with the replacement, it is disconnected. The original canopy is then reconnected while still in its D-Bag and lines still stowed. The D-Bag put back into the container and closed. Notice that as the original canopy was never pulled out of its D-Bag, it never got a line check. During this, it is easy to induce a twist in the lines of one or both risers (or even a riser flipped through itself.) DO NOT DO THIS!!! If/when you are in the position to change out canopies, COMPLETELY check the hookup and line continuity. Taking shortcuts can be VERY hazardous to ones health. This is even MORE the case when dealing with high performance canopies... A cargo-chute (like I jump) will give one more time to deal with rigging issues. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

(Disclaimer: I am NOT a SL instructor, but was a SL student years ago...) To an extent, whatever works... Practice is good, "muscle memory" and rehersal will help you when you do your next jump. (Just make SURE you are learning it correctly.) As to "climbing" or "swimming"... been there, done that!! My first or second actual ripcord pull, the instructor told me later that it looked like I was trying to swim back up to the plane... Best advice is to try to hold the arch and then do NOTHING more with your lower body while hanging... But your instructor will have the best advice for you... Just know you aren't the first/only/last. HAVE FUN!! Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

But who is this "DeWolf" guy really... (only the one who has taught 2/3 of the riggers in the US... ) GREAT class, highly recommend. Besides, you won't find a more handsome instructor anywhere JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

My decision was made at ~500' flying down wind into a baseball diamond under my first reserve ride (square), a round would have left me hanging in the middle of the woods. At the time, the order form was in my gear bag (not filled out) and I was trying to decide round or square... JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

To what?.... The what...? Now its all we can do to get them to look out the door before exit. I mean... if they're looking out the door, how will they know when to exit... the Green Light is on the INSIDE. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Hey... is that Phantom 28 a lopo (3-5)? I've been using an SE 26lp for intentional cutaways, but the decent is too fast (for me) to land. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Always good to check your sources. In this case its a good source, but that is not always the case. Very reasonable to ask when you're not sure. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...