DaVinciflies

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Posts posted by DaVinciflies

  3. Quote

    Quote

    What it does take is:

    a. someone to actively monitor people under canopy
    b. someone to take action where it is warranted

    To my knowledge these are the steps that have been taken at some of the most prestigious DZs in the US,



    IMO, that's what the S&TA is for. Unfortunately, not all of them see it the same way and some of the ones who do often get an override from the DZO...especially when it comes to the "cool kids" and even more often when it involves the DZ workhorses.



    Seems like, after a rocky start, we're on the same page, Pops!

  5. Quote

    still trolling bill!? i'd love to have them mad skillz you obviously posses, identifying "foolish pilots" over their postings.

    maybe you should step down from your moderator-job, because, you're not doing it right.. ;)



    Can I please appeal to you to stop this childish bullshit?

    If you have nothing constructive to say then please take it to PM or, better still, just shut the fuck up.

  6. Quote


    Unfortunately, honest self-evaluation and common sense is not in vogue at this time amongst the younger people.



    Yep - totally agree.

    Quote

    Does that mean you fly and don't die for X number of jumps or years? You hit a target every time? You swoop successfully X number of times? I dunno.



    I think that in most cases there are warning signs before someone hooks in or takes out another jumper. Take Sangi for example - there was plenty of time for people to see that something was not right without any need for "tests". What it does take is:

    a. someone to actively monitor people under canopy
    b. someone to take action where it is warranted

    To my knowledge these are the steps that have been taken at some of the most prestigious DZs in the US, such as Skydive Arizona and Perris where Bryan Burke and Dan BC are really trying to do their bit.

    Quote

    Therein lies the answer...changing the general mindset. But nobody yet knows how to do it accomplish that. What ever happens, it's not going to be short and sweet. It's going to take time and a lot of it.

    In the meantime, we, individually could help by instilling a sense of safety and self-preservation in the youngsters and hopefully some of it will stick after the bozos fill their heads with Mad Skillz glory.



    Again - totally agree.

    Quote

    As for your comments about that, a simple "I don't see that" would have sufficed as opposed to your coming across as, in paraphrase, "you're wrong because I looked at one book" approach.



    If that's how it came across I am not surprised you took issue with it! Sorry about that.

  7. Quote

    Quote

    Now you make a flippant remark?


    Flippant? OK
    Sarcastic? Yes.
    Not a lot of people put much credence in a sample of one.



    You're certainly right that my n=1 is not statistically significant. It is however better than a sample of 0. I also looked through Blue Skies and found the same PD ad showing the entire range. And that was it for canopy ads.

    My point is that I don't think the assertion that the manufacturers or dealers are pushing the very HP canopies because they're sexy is correct. My, admittedly minimal, research backs that up.

    The point is that if people want to fly HP canopies without the training, they WILL get hold of them one way or another - I don't believe that step can be controlled.

    I believe that we should be doing is trying to ensure that unsafe pilots do not get to FLY their canopies and, longer term, to change the culture to a point where how well a person flies is more important than what they fly.

  8. This poll may give us an insight into canopy related accidents.

    Only 13% (currently) of people express a preference for the canopy ride. Extrapolating this, it could mean that only that fraction of the population would be happy to do a significant number of canopy focused jumps (and I'm not talking about a sunset cross-country with a beer here).

    This lack of a canopy focus combined with a canopy culture of small-is-cool is putting lives at risk.

    I realize that this post does not offer any solutions, I am merely trying to interpret the limited data this thread offers.

  9. Quote

    Quote


    I just flicked through the last copy of Parachutist looking at the ads and PDs shows their whole range and Aerodyne's is focused on their Pilot.
    .



    I just looked through Cosmo and didn't see ANY ads. Therefore, skydiving doesn't exist at all.



    That's not a fair or reasonable response. My post was in answer to your instruction:

    "Read the ads. Compare how many are related to moderately-sized canopies and how many are related to the hot rods?"

    Well, I read the ads in the most recent issue of the national magazine of our sport, and provided the results.

    Now you make a flippant remark? Should we assume then, that your initial "instruction" was flippant, too, and was intended to be ignored?

  10. Quote


    But to reply to your overstatements:

    "Someday I would like to meet this HP parachute manufacturing money tycoon you old guys are so convinced exists. I want to have a conversation with the evil distributors who push small parachutes on students like a heroin dealer giving a free sample to teenagers to get them hooked. "

    Read the ads. Compare how many are related to moderately-sized canopies and how many are related to the hot rods?



    I just flicked through the last copy of Parachutist looking at the ads and PDs shows their whole range and Aerodyne's is focused on their Pilot.

    Other than that there is one for the Firebolt328 and that's about it for canopy specific ads so I don't think it's fair to blame the manufacturers or the dealers.

  11. Quote

    Has anyone had their Vigil (AAD) activate at below 150 feet...?



    Quote

    This did happen,



    I would say, then, that the answer to your original question is yes - at least once.

  13. Quote


    Bottom line. I just wanted to know if the safire2 179 would pack bigger than a pulse 190.

    Regarding the reserve I just asked because The the setup the manufacturer suggested was with a optimum. I think it was a bit expensive so I just wanted to know if I could use a speed instead.



    I think you need to do some thinking about your priorities here. On the one hand you are saying things like money is no object, I want to buy new and I want a custom sized Safire2 for another $50. But then you are resisting spending the extra for an Optimum. IMO the last place you should be cutting corners is your last chance to survive. You should be asking - what is the best reserve I can get for me, regardless of cost or pack volume. I am not saying that the Optimum is the best, but if it IS then it should be worth the money to you. I have an Optimum 143 and I am never going to downsize it so it's going to last me years and years.

    Additionally, why are you not looking at a Safire2 189 to compare with the Pulse 190? This was asked before but I did not see an answer.

  17. Quote

    oooo-kay.. not trying to be a wiseass, but the "string" from the pud to the actual PC seems to be quite long on those few i've seen; like, the PC willl hardly get out of the way of your back, even at an outstretched arm, or so it seems (i havent seen many pull-outs, and it might have been some time since). what's the thoughts of that "string" (i dont know the proper term for it) wrapping up with bridle and/or PC!?

    i'm still curious about the triple-risers, if you have some insight on that one as well.. :)



    I call it the lanyard - but I may be wrong too. Anyway, it is about 12 inches long on my rig so with my arm extended it is about by my elbow, which means the PC is catching air and in a fraction of a second is vertically up from your outstretched hand in the airstream, inflated and leaving your grip whether you like it or not!

    I hated jumping with triple risers. Extra work packing, they would sometimes snag the knot on the brakeline where the toggle attached (it was older gear) and I never really believed it gave any more mechanical advantage at my level of flying. I doubt it does at any level as the pro-swoopers aren't using them AFAIK.

  18. Quote

    i jump a throw-out, to me, it makes more sense to deploy your PC into an actual airstream, than having something bubble-burble-dancing on your back that will eventually clear.



    If you operate a pull-out correctly, the PC is placed in the airstream at the end of your outstretched arm. If you don't believe me try holding onto one - it will be ripped, painfully, from your hand!

  20. I really hope those were solo Hop n' Pops because you showed very little sign of any effort to look out for other canopies during or after opening.

    The slider can wait until you've ensured you're not about to wrap someone.

  22. Quote

    Thought i would get a 190. But got a good deal on a Falcon 170 which is F 111. I only had a few jumps on it and was haveing problems landing it.



    So the question is - was it really a good deal?

    A low price on an inappropriate canopy is not really a good deal, IMO. A low price on the right canopy is the bargain we should all be searching for.

  24. Quote

    He does have a point.

    Any decent DZ or Instructor would see that students get more than simply what is on the A-card. Unfortunately, that's not true everywhere.



    I agree with you wholeheartedly.

    When I first read the new B-license card my first thought was "That's it? This should not be stuff people with 50 jumps need to LEARN - it is the absolute basics to be left alone in the sky." However, it is a step in the right direction IMO, and should be applauded for being something rather than nothing.

    I was just pointing out that there is canopy work on the A-card, however limited.

    What we really need is a culture where canopy education is cool and people take pride in how they fly their canopies rather than just being proud of the canopy they fly. If that could ever be achieved then real change could be seen.

    I don't know how to effect such a paradigm shift in the population, but I am sure that the massive emphasis placed on freefall in the AFF syllabus does set new jumpers out into the world with the wrong mindset.

  25. Quote

    Why not do it for the "A" license?



    There is already a canopy section on the A-license Proficiency Card:

    Canopy skills
    1. Plan and fly a landing approach pattern that
    promotes smooth traffic flow and avoids obstacles.
    Jump #_______ I_______ Lic. #______________

    2. Demonstrate a stand-up landing.
    Jump #_______ I_______ Lic. #______________

    3. Perform a braked approach and landing.
    Jump #_______ I_______ Lic. #______________

    4. Land within 20 meters of a preselected target
    on at least five jumps.
    Jump #_______ I_______ Lic. #______________
    Jump #_______ I_______ Lic. #______________
    Jump #_______ I_______ Lic. #______________
    Jump #_______ I_______ Lic. #______________
    Jump #_______ I_______ Lic. #______________

    5. Perform rear-riser turns (brakes set and released).
    Jump #_______ I_______ Lic. #______________

    6. Above 2,500 feet, perform a maximum-performance
    90-degree toggle turn, followed immediately
    by a turn of at least 180 degrees in the opposite
    direction (two times).
    Jump #_______ I_______ Lic. #______________
    Jump #_______ I_______ Lic. #______________

    7. Above 1,000 feet, perform front riser dives and
    turns (may be waived if insufficient strength).
    Jump #_______ I_______ Lic. #______________

    8. Accurately predict the presence and effects of
    turbulence in the landing area.
    Jump #_______ I_______ Lic. #______________