PiLFy

Since we typically get what we pay for that's kind of a scary thought. Agreed. However, apparently they are out there, & riggers have found them to be airworthy.

Not choosing sides on the debate, but to be fair there have been people with arguments pro and con that have been trying to impose their views on others. Chuck, The words you've attributed to Iyosha, are mine. For the record, I haven't tried to impose my views regarding AADs on anyone. I've made no arguments for or against their use. I merely shot down a few false arguments.

I wouldn't jump a Vigil, or a Mars2. Dunno what Wicked Wingsuits would say. I only queried Cloud9 out of curiosity. I don't jump wingsuits, & have no interest in buying an AAD. If I wanted one, I'd have simply bought one years ago. ETA: $6 per month for 20yrs?? Care to figure the interest on that one ??

Do try to pay attention. A number of people have already posted that their complete rigs cost them less than a single AAD.

As usual, an awful lot of BS getting spewed by a few people on Dizzy... Here's your $20 rental fee: "Thank you for reaching out us at Cloud 9 Parachute Leasing LLC. We have the following payment options available for Cypres 2 AADs. (2) month option - $729.89 + tax & shipping (3) month option - $499.33 + tax & shipping (12) month option - $164.53 + tax & shipping These prices are a Lease to Own for new Cypres 2 AAD, at the end of the term you would own the AAD. Please let me know if any of these plans work for you." 150 month service life for a Cypres comes out to $11.50 per month plus interest. If you're going to make your argument towards people of marginal means, do it accurately. Nanny States always start w/a foot in the door technique, because "It's just plain old common sense." Then, they quickly spiral out of control, passing progressively inhibitive laws. The They in those cases being assholes who think they've the right to impose their views on others. That's a Hell of a slippery slope once it starts. Carry on...

This is what I meant. I'm used to seeing the cargo rails you mentioned for securing the single-sided belts. I just wish there were belts on each side, for each jumper. I jump at a few different DZs. I'm happy to say I usually don't see that kind of flippant attitude regarding belting up. Anyone not belting up would be spoken to. I do see a lot of belts that aren't tightened. I also sometimes can't get a belt on a full load if right by the door. I'm not trying to argue w/anyone. It just bothers me that USPA & the FAA both know about this easily mitigated hazard, yet won't enforce corrective action. Not for nuttin, but how much would another 21 sets of belts cost for an Otter?? A whole lot less than the potential consequences.

They weren't configured like that on a Casa I jumped. TBH, I also wasn't crazy about sitting sideways. Looked to be real bad in the advent of a crash.

I meant any two-sided affair that I could better secure myself with. I could run a lap belt through my harness, or use two single attachments through the harness.

Yet almost a full decade after that crash, I've never seen a two-point harness attachment in any jump plane I've ever been on. Why is that? Harnesses can't cost that much.

I found this one to be very informative, as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLJdDXJ9qBI Thank You for posting, OP.

Ohh... Eh, F it. He's still a lot closer to Eloy than I am.

FWIW, I too jump w/contacts. Never had any issues w/Z-flex goggles. Less than $20, & they can be adjusted to fit nice n tight. No need to switch to a fullface (until ya get kicked in the face, one day ).

You're brand new in the sport, & get to train at a world class facility like Skydive Arizona?? You suck, Ben... Oh yeah. Congrats, & welcome to the sport .

And the easier it will be.

As Joe already said, this has come up before. The Dainese units I've seen, press uniformly against the lower edge of a full face helmet. Guess a G3 would be the closest thing to those, but still lacks enough purchase/leverage around the bottom, IMHO. I'd be more afraid of the thing misfiring, than comforted by its protective value.

Those Dainese units have been used in Moto GP racing for a few years, now. Their main purpose is to protect the neck in a crash. They do that by pressing evenly against the bottom of a MC helmet, stabilizing the neck. Jump helmets don't have a prominent lower edge like that. Sorry, but I don't see the application for skydiving, either.

It always baffles me when a bright, rational jumper argues that holding your head in any position other than neutral will increase the chances of NOT causing an injury . Our cervical vertebrae are best able to withstand axial loading while in the neutral position. Simply looking at the architecture should make this apparent. Tilt the head in any direction, & you'll increase pressure on one side of the disks, decreasing it on the others.

http://www.apf.asn.au/Members/Information/Exit-Seperation/default.aspx Thanks again for this link. There's a lot to read, but I'm finding pearls of good information there. It's filling in gaps in my understanding of this. Enough to warrant a sticky, IMHO.

http://www.skyxtreme.com/archive/july2000/safety.html Skydiver Got Hit By A Bird

Thank You. I'll take a look at it.

Thank You for the lengthy explanation, Chuck. I understand it a bit better, now. It looks like I need to spend some more time on understanding this dynamic. Jumping in relatively the same conditions most of the time, I've been getting away without spending too much time thinking about this.

I'm not sure I follow that, Chuck. Please elaborate for us Newbies?

I insured my cars, motorcycles, & apartments w/State Farm for 32 years straight. I never put in a single claim, & always paid my premiums. Yet, I didn't get one renewal notice in the mail, & my car's policy lapsed for about five weeks. They refused to maintain my multi-year, accident-free discounts, & insisted on writing me as a brand new customer. WTF?!?! It turned out that their discounted rate wasn't nearly enough to be competitive, anymore. I told them to go to Hell, & found better policies w/a different carrier, at lower prices. FU2, State Farm.

FWIW, I have troublesome eustacian tubes that don't always equalize well. I once had vapor lock on one side that lasted for about three days. Drove me nuts. I got a script for Astelin from my ENT. The nasal med drips slowly into the back of your throat when lying down. It dripped onto the eustacian tube opening, & cleared it. YMMV. Good Luck.

Sorry friend, but a rickity, rattling, stamped-steel SKS isn't anywhere near being in the same league.