ridestrong

Should there be a new forum for 'relationships' and any 'relationship related' threads? *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

If not already mentioned... Argus banned in Dubai as well. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Why? Because he sold gear cheaper than other dealers. Sure, he came off as a good person, but that's easy enough to do online. Heck, even I managed to have a real good reputation around here. Very few people sent Gary orders because they thought he was a good person. They sent him orders because they thought he was going to save them a few bucks. you would also get gear to use while you waited for yours to come. it's funny that now everyone's rambling, while back then nobody ever said anything but that he was "good people". unfortunately, i cant talk myself out of that either. and yea, it's more than just a "few" bucks, his prices were great! too good to be true, as we had to learn.. He did have a good reputation at one point in time... I bought my container, reserve, and Cypres through him a year and a half ago and did get a pretty good deal. He also sent me a demo rig to use in the interim, which ended up being more trouble than it was worth. While my dealing with him wasn't hassle free ultimately in the end I was a happy with my goods received. Unfortunately he made some very bad decisions, has found himself in a lot of trouble and will likely never deal in the skydiving industry ever again. Sad... *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

oh well....

No kidding... I'll bet there were some pretty nasty diggers for sure. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VlbdBZ4LCs&feature=player_embedded I think the best part is that he's wearing a suit. Sick course!!!! *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Live wind and weather near you. www.wunderground.com *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Exactly that! *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

uuuuuuuuuh..... *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Did you check or carry-on your rig? (assuming you had it with you) carried it on. cool... thanks. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Did you check or carry-on your rig? (assuming you had it with you) *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Thanks for that info. I've flown with my rig many times, always carry-on. But, this will be the first time bringing it with me internationally. Anyone flown to Dubai recently from the states? Any problems to speak of? Checked or carry-on? Kinda glad I'm connecting through Newark and not JFK given the OP's experience. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Is there a recommended number to call or person to reach at the USPA in situations like this? I'm flying to Dubai on Sat and bringing my rig. Was going to carry it on as I'm somewhat concerned not having it in my possession at all times. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

I'll stick to man beer thanks... *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Hahahahha!!! Who packed my chute? http://video.adultswim.com/robot-chicken/we-gonna-jump.html?cid=vplayer_robot-chicken_we-gonna-jump *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

and facebook really needs emoticons! [thumbs up] ETA: how do you do the 'thumbs up' icon?

Hahaha.... "like" is actually the new stutter. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

No one is forgetting the swooping accident. The thing is that was not an error *in the system*... It operated within it's parameters, period. It is not the fault of the CYPRES unit that the operational parameters were met AFTER the parachute was opened. The Vigil did the same thing (fired when parameters were met). You may not LIKE the parameters, but that is different than a malfunction of this type. So you could lump the Vigil and the CYPRES into the "I don't like the parameters that it works" And that would be fine. But the Argus is creating a situation where it does not work properly. Worse, in some rigs it locks the reserve closed. I didn't buy a Vigil based on the door issues. I didn't buy an Argus based on the groundings in Europe. I don't fly a 69sqft canopy anymore so I could easily live within the parameters of the CYPRES... so I bought a CYPRES. +1 *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Is 'EPIC' the new 'AWESOME'? I've never heard a word over-used as much as AWESOME! Everything is NOT awesome! Chuck Yeah basically 'awesome'.... but as someone said earlier, it's kinda like the new 'EXTREME'. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

So in the case of the Vigil, you have an AAD that could misfire at any time - in the plane, in the door, etc. I don't trust them to not fire at an inopportune moment. I don't want to jump one, and I don't even like having them in the plane with me. Seems like a no brainer to me! I gave a reason why I thought one might be banned over the other, but I actually tend to agree with both you and riggerpaul on this. I personally would not jump either one of them. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Yeah I definitely see your point. I'm a bit up in the air with banning Vigil, it does seem that there is a data reading/progaming issue which caused the mis-fires. Argus just seems more like a no brainer. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

So why are the H/C manufacturers not banning the Vigil? It has fired in the plane, and the manufacturer says they won't fix it because it isn't broken. Why would the H/C manufacturers not be scared of that AAD as well? Something in this playing field does not seem to be level. Seems to me that either one of these devices needs fixing before the H/C manufacturers would be happy again. Now, at least one manufacturer I contacted said that they do not approve AADs. But, according to CFR 105.43.b.3 -The tandem parachute system contains an operational automatic activation device for the reserve parachute, approved by the manufacturer of that tandem parachute system. The device must— (i) Have been maintained in accordance with manufacturer instructions, and (ii) Be armed during each tandem parachute operation.(red emphasis mine) If the H/C manufacturer isn't approving AADs, then we can't legally jump the tandem parachute system, can we? Anyway, why aren't the two AADs treated the same way? Either one could easily cause a catastrophe should it repeat a known behavior at the wrong time. So why is one banned and not the other? I'm certainly not a rigger... but as far as banning one and not the other, the issues between the two AADs are completely different. The Argus has been proven to not properly cut the closing loop and this has not been properly corrected. (Seems pretty cut and dry) The Vigil, had 2 miss-fires in the incident that you mentioned, that seem to be due to a combination or rare set of circumstances. This has yet to be proven as a defined problem with the device. (not yet cut and dry) Ultimately one is an obviously known problem... and the other is yet just a 'phenomenon'. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Hahaha no fighting.... just thought some of the previous directions on how to create a link were humorously convoluted. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

After your first skydive!

After your first skydive!