Maksimsf

Eh, yeah, gotta get my "Muscular athletic build ass" to the gym someday and give up on 6 pack a day

That was my plan "B", but Seems like it will become "A" I'm going to keep my eyes open for a "50% off MSRP Wings' or wait till American Boogie at my LDZ and play some raffles or buy it from someone who will not need it and just go for used Main/Reserve and AAD

thanks, hip ring means articulated?

I'm getting close to the point when I have to get my 1st rig and stop renting. I'm 6.3 250 lbs. I do rent student rigs (Icon student with Voyager 240/260/280). I check classifieds every day for the last 2-3 month. Most of the time I see rigs from late 90's early 2000's with "only 300 jumps" and that way they price it accordingly....$3500-4000+ for a complete rig. Just quick "add to cart" estimate from SQ1 or Chutingstar (custom Wings+Solo/Voyager+smart+Vigil2/Cypres2) will run me $5000-$6000 OTD. My budget is limited and i don't want to get a brand new rig as my first. It's like buying a Porsche as your first car. I was thinking to try to find a descent container that will fit 260+ main/reserve and send it to manufacturer to replace a harness, then look for used large main/reserve canopy and just buy new AAD? Any big boys that have an experience with buying used gear? Heads up please Max

Year ago I was in your shoes: Lodi, Byron or Davis. In Lodi AFF will run you $1000 + $100 (Tandem required before AFF), you will jump with 1 JM. Davis: AFF will cost you $1300-$1500 depends if pay as you go or pay for everything right away. Byron: - They did not have rigs that I can jump (I'm 6'3 250lbs) So I don't know their prices. My choice was Davis. After 19 jumps I went to Lodi for a couple of "cheap" jump with my coach buddy. Picked up a rental rig and had my first cutaway (line over) on jump 20 :) On jump 21 I got kicked out of the airplane because 5 seconds separation time is too much there :) And yeah, forget about seat belts... Byron or Davis is what I would personally recommend.

Thnks guys, I will be getting Wings or Sidewinder then.

Hey guys, I was on the phone with Eastern European rig manufacturer and I've been told that I can jump their equipment only as non-resident - their rig is not FAA certified or something, does it mean that my local rigger will refuse to work with my rig (container only). Manufacturer is in Ukraine: http://www.swsrigs.com I know most of you will probably say that you got what you paid for, but me and my buddy got RW suits from skylark for $200 custom made and I don't see any difference material and craftsmanship wise. I'm a big guy and need my rig custom made, it will cost me ~$1000 compared to $3000+ US made rigs. Any thoughts?

I'm going to hit AFF after approx 1 hour or more of tunnel, having troubles with my legs.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruHAnLrvDiI

Thanx a lot I did emailed him.

Did I mention that I can't afford AFF at Lodi? I'm doing 15 mins in Ifly tunnel and AFF at Skydance, Lodi?I spoke with 3 guys so far and everyone suggest to stay away from Lodi AFF, wonder why. Yes, I'm on the budget but I'm not trying to save few bucks by putting myself in potential danger. Thanx for your useful feedback anyway.

just talked to my buddy who has coach license and used to jump there, there are a lot of cutting corners therewith their AFF , good thing skydance has 250lbs limit, cost more, but Ill get descent ground school and properly maintaned plane.

Just talked to Bill at Lodi, they have a student rig for me! AFF is $1k and I must do Tandem which is going to be $150...YAY

Bought a salad, green beans, mushrooms and skipped on "fat tire" today

USPA doesn't have a a weight limit, but the FAA does. Most sport and student reserves have a maximum TSO weight limit of 254 pounds under TSO c23b. There are other factors such as deployment speeds etc, but essentially, it is not only unwise to exceed the posted limit on your reserve, it is also illegal. Wherever you jump, ask to see the packing data card of the reserve you are expected to jump and check it's maximum weight rating. Don't be so excited to jump again that you exceed that weight. If you have to use it in a hight speed situation, you may be unlucky enough to find out why they have a posted weight limit. I'm not playing around with safety. I will probably just stick to tunnel, then spend my 2 annual incomes for custom rig and travel to some DZ with heavy AFF coaches who can jump with me without a problem.

I see, so it's just being limited by available gear and instructors willing to jump? That's why I asked about static line, I jumped 15 years ago when I was 13 back in East Europe, I remember huge guys jumping with me on round ones and then getting transferred to UT-15 then PO-16 (Soviet military chutes). so S/L is not available and weight limit 225-235 for AFF...I'm screwed.

Oh, boy maximum weight for AFF is 225, im 6.3 250lbs, I may knock it down withing a month to 240 (no beer at all) but 225 - don't think so. Seems like Lodi is my only option for AFF, I know it's not USPA listed ect. I believe 225lbs is USPA maximum allowed weight?

tjanx for a link, but that is what I'm talking about, just called BA skydiving and they don't do S/L too. I think I'm better off to few rounds in tunnel and then AFF :)

Hey everybody. Any one knows DZ's around SF bay that still offer S/L? I checked dropzone here and seems like info is outdated, I called a guys in Lodi, but they don't do it anymore. AFF is a second option, but I eally want to do it "old shool" way of learning, espetially money is tight right now. Thanx