sunkenstate

Interesting video. Thanks for posting. My first instinct watching the video (and presumably what I would have done under canopy) would have been to take a wrap to satisfy my control check and land under rears or using the half brake lines. That said, I'm inexperienced, own a pretty forgiving canopy, and haven't had to chop yet. Still, I've landed it downwind with late flares and came out OK, and actually am not able to totally stall my canopy using steering lines alone. Maybe I would have broken myself this time. The consensus on here seems to be for chopping. Certainly food for thought, but then again a malfunction isn't the time for deep thought.

Haha. Sweet. Thanks for the response. I had a mental image of a tiny spring being cranked and over-stressed and then me sweating bullets as I tapped the face on the way up to altitude.

Hi all, Is anyone aware if it is safe to adjust a Parasport Aeronaut altimeter at a 4,000ft ASL dropzone to achieve a 0 ft AGL display? Underneath the face of the alti, basically the entire bottom half rotates to dial in the display, but I've typically only done minor corrections due to barometric pressure, etc. at a ~0ASL DZ. Is a 4,000ft adjustment acceptable? This is my first owned alti. Maybe this is standard? I've contacted Parasport Italia, as well. Thanks!

Hi all - What is the standard operating procedure for jumping with an object in your hands in freefall? In a nutshell, I had a death in the family recently and a commemorative t-shirt was made with a sweet logo on the back. I wanted to jump with it in hand, belly fly, and have a shot taken of me in freefall with the shirt. (e.g. like this http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pg_TpKrqEkM/0.jpg) Do you just let it go? Is separation for opening an issue? Let go 1000 ft before opening? Any hope of retrieval? ~Gracias PS - the quote on the shirt is curiously relevant! J.M. Barrie: "The reason birds can fly and we can't is ... is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings."

I thought the same thing.. It seems like it should - if anything - be easier to pull the toggle since the locking loop would have already left (and presumably taking the elastic keeper with it). Whatever the issue was, it took enough force to get it down that I though something would be damaged / torn. Full on left arm big-rig horn honking steeze. The whole analysis could be wrong. Who knows. Anyways, I've integrated a steering line "tug test" into my packing now, and I'm pretty neurotic about the riser placement against the reserve.

Check out Skydance Skydiving a little north in Davis, CA. I don't say that with disrespect to Lodi. I've jumped and bought my rig there. Even Lodi instructors will tell you that it isn't the best place to roll up and meet people. You may find Skydance to be more welcoming, which is where I jump. Folks are chill and the American Boogie is coming up (http://www.skydancegiftcertificates.com/boogie2012). EDIT: PS. your post sounds like an eHarmony profile (not mine, of course.... I use OkCupid), which probably wouldn't help the situation at Lodi.

I'm writing to briefly share my experience incorrectly stowing a toggle which resulted in a minor malfunction and damaged equipment. I pulled around 4,500. The opening seem a little strange, based on my limited experience, and there were minor line twists which cleared quickly. The end cells were not totally inflated. The canopy also was in a gradual right turn. Once the line twists were clear, I went for the toggles but had trouble with the left one. It came free with some effort and I assumed the toggle was just unusually tight in the locking loop. I cleared the end cells, control checked, and flew in for a standard landing. On the ground, I saw the elastic toggle keeper on the left rear riser was almost entirely gone. Only the fabric directly under the stitching remained. The local rigging guru believes - and I concur - that I likely stowed the left toggle in the steering line locking loop ABOVE the guide ring and just under the elastic keeper. On opening, without the guide ring to keep it in place, the steering line locking loop probably pulled straight up, off the toggle, and shredded the elastic right off the riser. This would also explain the right turn on opening. The line twists might have been from the brake or just my overall crummy pack job. Anyways, I got the rig repaired and learned a few lessons. Namely: if I'm tired or unfocused when packing - and I was - call it a damn day and go home... which I did immediately after getting my rig back. It was a humbling wake-up call. Anyways, just wanted to share. -Peace

Thanks for the comments, all. It sounds like the butt strap isn't getting much use beyond the bungee mod (or when it is standard). A belly strap would be a little more involved for my container, as the legs are not articulated. I suppose it could still be done, however. I will probably have the bungee mod made, but maybe make it so the bungee ties back on itself on each side instead of just relying on a knot that might compress and slip through the fabric loop under force. I'll probably also get the strap made, then make the call to use it or not as time goes on. The leg straps have B12 snaps (love these things - so convenient!) so it would be super easy to take it on or off as required. On a side note, it is crazy to look at a climbing harness, in which the legs are always connected to one another, the front, and back of the belt; OSHA fall protection body harnesses; and then a skydiving rig, which could be confused with the daypack I'm wearing in my profile pic. Only without the hip strap. Ah well. I'll report back. Blueskies.

Just got my A, a rig of my own, and a 50 jump package! Woo hoo! And then I went home, put the rig on properly fastened, bent over at the waist and effortlessly slid backwards out of the harness (see: http://makeithappen.com/spsj/fallout.html). At the risk of being slightly less fashionable or perceived as paranoid, I plan on getting a butt strap made. I just don't want to be thinking about this stuff - or putting myself at risk - as I'm learning and having fun in the air. Because I plan on getting one, does anyone HAVE such a strap or have recommendations on proper fitting / placement of a custom-made butt strap (note: not just a bungee)? I did some forum searches, but didn't see much beyond general discussion.

I'm 165 w/o gear; have been jumping 240 -> 190

Thanks. Couple points - the main size is a good conservative fit for my weight. Reserve size is being investigated. Will look into the other points. Will look into it, but how much cost is a Cypres checkup and main line set inspection / replacement run?

I just got my A, and am looking for a rig. I found a local ad for a Mirage 5, Triathlon 190 ft² (800 jumps, DOM 11/1997), reserve Raven Dash-M (1 ride, ?? repacks, DOM 8/1997), Cypres 2 (11/2005). The negotiable price is $3100. Seems like an OK deal, especially if I could knock a little off if I show up with a wad of cash ready to go. Pictures indicate good condition; would have a rigger inspect it... Thoughts on the price or the number of jumps on the main?? Much appreciated!

Brilliant! I'm not long out of AFF and am still well in the middle of your freakout-o-meter. I agree with the above - get some of this in Parachutist or some other publication! Maybe they'll do a mini-series with a new episode every month or something.

+1 I also support reviewing this document. I was surprised to find that even before having my A license, I am already approaching the low end of my recommended range.

Haha! Wow. I'm a student there. I'll keep the bird in mind this weekend... not that it'll probably change anything I - or the bird - does. Great story about the tandem / eagle jump. Gotta get my old man back up in the air!

I went about 2 months between jump no. 16 and 17 and got a coach to do a refresher jump with me. Basically, we just went through EPs together on the ground, then made it a coached jump as well (swoop and docks). I felt more confident, it was definitely safer, and took care of some A-license requirements. I would consider something similar if I were you. blue skies :) [edited for stupidity]

I wrote "DICK FIRST!" on the top of my altimeter hand with a permanent marker. It is funny (relaxing) and instructive (deep body arch). It was also a hit with the instructors and fun jumpers. Might loosen you up a bit. Also, 10 minutes of tunnel time helped me tremendously. D

Alright, 80 more to go as of this weekend. :) Your points are well taken. Last year I watched a guy break a leg (or two) due to a bad landing at Burning Man. Not pretty. A regular at my DZ is of the opinion that 100 is too low a jump number to go into Burning Man; he basically equated it to a demo jump. Thoughts?

Nice! You guys rock. Thanks for posting these. My goal is to jump into BRC next year. 83 jumps to go! I was camped with the Lamplighters on 5:30 and Rod's Road around center camp (the big tent that looks like a disc). Anyone dive their canopies through the big smoke rings getting poofed on Saturday? The whole city started cheering when a couple guys managed to pull it off. D

Hehe you made a funny

Anyone have any footage / images from the ground or air of the many jumps made into Black Rock City at Burning Man 2011? Props to Burning Sky and 88NV crew for making these jumps possible. Here is a taste from last year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55G8yuGqKl0&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1 Please no flaming about BM in general. D

I wrote "DICK FIRST!" with a permanent marker on the top of my left (altimeter) hand. As in life, so also in skydiving. Seriously though, it helped me do a nice deep body arch instead of a superficial (for want of a better word) chest/arm arch. Most importantly, it made me - and everyone who saw it - smile even when in free fall. I saw it somewhere in these forums...

First post! With that out of the way... Disclaimer: first purchased alti, jumper working towards A license, worn on 4 jumps at time of review, altitude indicated in feet to 18,000. Pros: The velcro wrist strap is comfortable and very secure. The finger loop is a good size for my fore+middle finger. No needle "hiccups" that I've heard described. Crystal clear face and numbers. Slightly more stylish / not as bulky as the Altimaster Galaxy. Cons: The altimeter body had a tendency to slide up on my hand, when looking at the face in freefall (i.e., towards my little finger) requiring me to crank my arm a little more to read it clearly. I've counteracted this by tightening the last bit of velcro strap over the fabric that connects the altimeter to the strap and positioning the altimeter closer to my thumb. Doesn't glow in the dark.

Haha - the gun range is definitely still there. After a few trips, you barely notice the constant blasting of shotguns and whatever else those guys are packing. I love it. My FJC instructor was like "in no wind, land going north away from the power lines... but not too far north. There is a firing range there."

I'm reluctant to offer advice, but I can tell you what I did and how it worked for me. I had two tandems and some tunnel time before my AFF course. That gave me a chance to observe the jump as a passenger on the first tandem, read the altimeter/pull/pilot the canopy on the second jump, and get comfortable in a relative wind freefall environment in the tunnel. By the time the AFF course came through, I aced it. I would ask questions - lots of them. If anything pops into your head or provides some type of lingering doubt or hesitation, get it resolved. By the time you are on the load going up, you will really wish you had asked on the ground. I almost always had the instructor run through emergency and dive flow drills with me about twice as many times as he probably would have without my requesting it. Oh yeah... to help with potato chipping, I wrote "DICK FIRST!" on my altimeter hand. It worked!