fcajump

Also In addition to the good advice already made, let me add... I myself am 5'9" and 200+, and while I could stand to drop a few this spring, I am also an athletic build. I asked that same set of questions when I bought my first rig at ~35 jumps. I chose to buy new and would recommend the same. 1. I needed to KNOW where the gear had been and what condition it was in. I did not want trouble with someone else's cast-aside with that little experience (no offence). 2. Custom harness size. For the larger built, especially in the torso and shoulders (like me), most rigs that you can get into are still not right. Remember most folks that buy used gear focus on the container volumes and take the size harness that happens to be attached. BOTH the container size AND harness size are a factor for guys built like us. Jumping a rig with a too small yoke or main lift web hurts after a while... my second rig was used... great rig but the main lift web was too short for me... 3. Canopy size. DO NOT buy the canopy you will want later. Buy the canopy you can safely handle when you've already pushed the wind/condition limits and get an out landing. This means the reserve too. 4. Container size. I would recommend here, buying a rig that is correct for the canopies, but is a little tight for the main. Here you are giving yourself the flexibility to move down to a smaller main later (assuming you don't need to move up because you took #3 seriously). Good luck and have fun! Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

While I personnally jump with a Pro-Track and have found it loud enough for me, I would like to throw this out for consideration in the theme of "Bigger isn't always better" How loud is too loud? While I realize (first hand) that the audio needs to overcome the wind-noise (I jump w/ a Protec and believe me, there is alot) if the pure emphasis is making them louder, what long-term hearing loss and or tinitis (sp?) risks are we running. BEFORE YOU START: I realise that not hearing it is also a risk, but if you can already... why buy one that is twice as loud? I would especially ask this of those wearing full face helmets or even frap-hats as these tend to decrease the effect of wind noise. Bigger isn't always better, louder isn't always safer. Just a thought. Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Rob, Do you have a copy of the two SB's? Thanks, Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

All the more reason to work with Sunpath to get a rig built for you and your (correctly sized/loaded) canopies. They can adjust the build so that it FITS rather than something that you ask your rigger to "MAKE WORK" Paraphrased from one of my own seminars: The reserve canopy must fit your exit weight and worst case situation (broken arm, over a swamp infested with beavers and half unconscious for example). The container fits the canopy and should not extend beyond your body profile such as to affect your body position or stability. The harness must FIT your body shape and hold you securely in all possible opening orientations. Jim Wine PS - I wish certain people would stop calling me an asking me to inspect/pack and help them put on the latest piece of junk they found on EBay (at such a greatprice). Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Getting off thread a little, but one other thing to consider when picking a reserve... I knew someone that ordered a custom color reserve (at extra expense I think) to match her gear. One afternoon she had a mal on her main and cut-away. The jumpers in the air wanted to give extra room to the person under the reserve and the crew on the ground wanted to go out and lend a hand in case the jumper had additional problems... only problem was until she was on final (and we could see no pilot chute in trail) that we even knew which multi-colored canopy was in fact the reserve. It was only because we knew how many jumpers were on the load that we knew the cut-away jumper had not gone in. My recommendation is that reserves should be solid color and either white, yellow or orange. This makes it clear to all that there is a jumper who is not having "just another skydive". (white is fine IF the thead is a contrasting color) Jim PS - I bought a used rig with a very fine Raven II in it... while I believe the above discussion on visible solid colors, Neon PINK would NOT have been my first choice... Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

No, but I was holding my breath (and bid) when it was still at $50. Next time I looked, it was above my (wife's) price range. J Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

In my experience with my gear, this concern is mitigated by two observations: 1. The amount of tension required to release the 1/2 loop is (virtually) inconcequential and should flow with no resistance. Prove this to yourself by watching the deployment on the ground.* 2. The double-wrapped stows should be tight enough to keep the small force described in #1 to be of issue. Also, had there been any drag of signifigance, there would have been line-burn at some point in the almost 500 jumps placed on each of two canopies. I have seen none. Jim * To the purists out there, I know that the dynamics of freefall deployment can be different, but I don't have the freefall video of the deployments to back it up... will have to work on that. ;-) Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

On this rig and my Vector V8, no. 4 locking stows on the D-bags. However, I have also used a rig that has a center stow and it made no difference. Maybe I should make the following clarification: Place the resulting loop under the lines from the previous NON-locking stows. There really is no benefit to shoving it all the way the the closing flap. Remember you are simply tucking it under and out of the way. Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

John, Honestly no. I have no direct proof that double stowing the locking stows will cause a bag lock. I repeat the long-held belief as it makes sense to me and would be a very hazardous condition. (And me erroring on the side of caution on this one.) (Please also note that I only stipulate not to double wrap the locking stows, though I do double wrap all others.) I will go back and read the prior discussion as I missed it the first time through. Would be interesting to see if one could provide any proof on this DZ legend. Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

I threw this together quickly last night and will append/edit if anyone provides feedback. Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Can anyone from PD explain? It is one of the few reasons that I don't like working with their reserves. (The other is white thread on white fabric being hard to inspect... but I digress). Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

#5 or #6 would be my vote. J Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

In Reply To However, what I do with that 1/2 loop is to neatly slip it under all the other line groups against the D-bag. See, although unlikely (?) I'd be worried about it pulling a stow out as exits from under the line groups. But I'm sure you mitigate that with fresh bands and even double banding on those stows. ______________________________________ Actually, to complete my dangerous and unconventional description (and answer questions implied..) I do keep my stow bands fresh and I double wrap but I keep my bites to ~1". (and use the appropriate sized band for the line type) I've done this for years with both Dacron and Spectra lines with no evidence of friction burns. Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

For what is is worth, I was taught to use the same method of "split-stows" and Wendy's pictures look just like my rig. However, what I do with that 1/2 loop is to neatly slip it under all the other line groups against the D-bag. This way it stays put, but does not have a lopsided stow band on that line group. While I WON'T say that one problem or another couldn't happen, but with about 1,100 jumps on this method without issue and no deployments in line twist of over 180 out (and very few over 50-90 off-heading), I think this is a reasonable method. Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Sounds like we learned from the same person... I've used that style for >1k jumps and like it. Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Not wanting to change what has always worked for me... ~8" - about the distance from the links to the bottom corners of the main compartment with a little slack. (I also "split-stow" the last stow, a technique I don't teach but always use myself.) This keeps the lines from crossing the container near the closing loop anchor. About the gear used: Vector I and II PD-260 w/ dacron lines Spector -230 w/ spectra lines (I think) More techniques I use on my own gear but not currently recommended: 1" bites double wrapped stowes for all non-locking I KNOW this goes against current techniques, but it has worked on MY gear (old & big) for >1000 jumps and makes me happy.

Just as with other out-landings, consider the following: - obstacle avoidance / open area on land - don't hit the tractor / power line crossing the field on water - don't hit the bridge / power line crossing the river - wind line on land - into the wind slows your ground speed and helps collapse your canopy behind you on water - into the wind slows your ground... er... water speed and helps collapse your canopy behind you - near (but not ON) avenues or individuals of assistance (not forgetting obstacle avoidance) on land - near a road or house (phone) on water - near shore or a boat - REMEMBER TO be ready to PLF (I've boated on some very large lakes/rivers that were only 1-2 feet deep in places.) / REMEMBER TO do all the other things learned in your live water jump training. - fast moving water... here you might open a lively debate as to whether during your landing you would be dragged back under the canopy, and how the you and the canopy could be entangled in the currents... but the specific examples get very involved and I doubt that a single solution provided here could address all possible situations. Maybe a good general guess would be land across the flow. Just my thoughts... Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

1. When system is packed, must hold the pilot chute securely, but not so much that you have a hard pull. If it doesn't, replace it. If it is too tight, check with a rigger to ensure your are packing it correctly, if still hard to pull, replace it (a rigger can give you a little more room if needed). 2. When spandex starts dying, it often starts looking white (or salt/pepper) as the elastic starts breaking down. The aforementioned wrinkled look is also a great 'tell'. 3. If you get a hole in it, REPLACE IT. I've seen people jumping with holes in the pouch and it drives me nuts. Imagine the horseshoe that results from the PC being extracted through a hole in the pouch... Stop justifying why this may or may not happen... fix it. Personal opinion: If you still have a Cordura pouch (instead of spandex), replace it. You can't imagine the hard pull this can cause. Just my $0.02, JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

(from the US) I've been advised to keep the seal as high on the pin as possible to keep it clear of the grommet for this reason. If you get a chance to post a diagram, I would love to see your method of placing the seal. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Terry has address the legal side of the FAA in the US. As to how US rigger feel about it, I would say that I would be pi$$ed off to find out that this happened under my seal... Locally most riggers seem to believe in not tampering with someone else's pack job enough that they will not even tighten a Reflex loop unless they either were the one who packed it, or they have a specific agreement with the rigger who did. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

While I don't specifically charge differently between sport rigs, I do charge differently between sport and pilot rigs. And as a part time rigger I have as much work as I want and charge what the market will bear. I have no problem with those who charge what they want for their work. (In this area we have no shortage of riggers "next door") They learned the skill and will either charge correctly or loose business. Simple as that. I do have a problem with riggers that undercut the market either because they don't place value in their own time, or because they are cheap for cheap work. But I also see this as MY problem as long as the other guy's work is not specifically unsafe (just might not be something I would put my seal on...) WARNING - THE FOLLOWING IS A JOKE: There is no need to worry about a tight packjob, if you have a customer that buys mis-matched gear, just trim off anything that doesn't fit... THE PRECEDING WAS A (weak) ATTEMPT AT HUMOR. We now return you to your regularly scheduled endless and unresolvable debate. JW PS - learned just to work on my own gear. When asked, I set my prices high. Consequently I have more work than I have time for... time to raise my prices I guess. Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Dont ever pack anything that you are not comfortable doing. However, I found that after working with roundsfor a while is that I actually prefer packing them to ram-air. I have seen one in the air... (see photo of me under one - attached)

As one who has landed a (skydiving) reserve, what catches my attention is how nice it is to already know that someone has seen the reserve out and to be able to talk with the searchers before you are even down. Thinking I have other reasons to use them, any paraglider folks that know what type radios they use, please catch me w/ PM. Glad to hear that he (seems to be) OK after his final landing. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

An even more morbid one showed up on E-Bay... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=310&item=7142040968&rd=1 Can't say they aren't open about their listing, but I was wondering if anyone else knows anything about it... Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

I am also a part-time rigger, which has several advantages. Most of my customers are pilots, and a pilot rig takes me ~1.5-2 hours. Most of that time is inspection, the rest is packing. A sport rig (without main) will take me about the same, but I am more likely to not be happy with little things like new closing loop lengths or bulk distribution. Redoing anything I don't like adds to that. (As I say I am quicker and more familiar with the quirks of the pilot rigs.) As to sewing and other minor repairs, I do some that I am comfortable with, but am also quick to call the mfg or a local master and/or DPRE. If you are not already, get yourself registered with the PIA rigger forum. (see www.pia.com) Not as quick a reply to items as here, but replies are screened and from trusted sources. I take my rigging reserves like I did (do) packing my main. I was usually the slowest packing when I was a new jumper, but it WORKED, and that to me is much more important than the time taken. With reserves, how much more important. Add a main inspection and you add ~30 minutes or more. Hope you enjoy what you do ('cus the pay ain't worth the time ) JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...