BASE canopy + skydiving rig

[The111 1]

I've been feeling the call to the dark side for a long time now, but have recently been feeling I might be "ready" to get started, whatever that means.

I understand that it's an added benefit to first jump a BASE canopy a # of times in the skydiving environment to get a feel for how it flies. My question is this... how big of a BASE canopy do you think I can fit in my Vector sized for a 170 Spectre? Is that out of the question? I think, based on what I've read, that I'm shooting for about a 260 sq ft BASE canopy. I really don't want to have to obtain new skydiving gear just to do some hop-n-pops with a BASE canopy, but if it is truly important, I will.

Also, I do understand the importance of seeking out a real life mentor and plan on doing so when I am ready to move forward.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[leroydb 0]

I would ask to borrow a student rig, or if you want, you can borrow my big rig if a ROL(leg throwout) dosent scare ya.

Leroy


..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio...

[JaapSuter 0]

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If how big of a BASE canopy do you think I can fit in my Vector sized for a 170 Spectre? Is that out of the question?

Depending on how ballsy you are, you could probably freepack (use the tailpocket, remove the D-bag) a 220. It will be spilling over on all sides and you might want to stick to hop-and-pops. I don't think this is a good idea though.

Buy a properly loaded BASE canopy (a 260 in your case) and use that. Then make a deal with your dropzone about renting a big student container and reserve. That's what I did, and they only charge me 7 US dollars rental per jump. The added benefit is that I now have two rigs which makes doing more jumps in a day easier.

If you dropzone is non-USPA, get a base container and install chest loops so you can attach a belly mount reserve. This way you can jump your actual BASE packjob and see how your heading performance is.

[RhondaLea 4]

If you decide to use your skydiving rig, get a crewdog to show you how to pack it. But be very careful. A friend used my skydiving rig once to test a base canopy, and on opening he ended up with his steering lines wrapped around the slider.

Even so, that was not an issue of fitting the canopy into the rig but of his insistence on running the steering lines outside the slider grommets in spite of all good counsel that it was a RealBadIdea®.

rl

If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

[Sean621 0]

use your BASE gera with a tertiary reserve...??????

http://www.extreme-on-demand.com

[lifewithoutanet 0]

Remember, Jaap's in Canada and he can get away with this because there's no pesky FAA.
What do you see wrong with what he's doing?
-C.

[JaapSuter 0]

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use your BASE gear with a tertiary reserve...??????

Well, strictly speaking it would be secondary, and since the word reserve implies backup, it's really the primary reserve. But anal retentiveness aside, I jump my full BASE gear out of the plane while wearing what is commonly referred to as a tertiary parachute or a belly-mounted reserve.

Did I mention I jump at a great dropzone?

Admittedly, I would much rather not wear the belly-mount at all, but there's laws to comply with.

[PhreeZone 20]

In the US the FAA will not allow this since the rig is not TSO'd.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[JaapSuter 0]

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In the US the FAA will not allow this since the rig is not TSO'd.

I see, I thought it was a USPA guideline, not an FAA regulation.

Do the same rules apply for visiting jumpers with rigs from other countries? I believe European and Russian jumpers can take non-TSO'd rigs to the States and jump them, right? Can this provide a loophole?

[RhondaLea 4]

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In the US the FAA will not allow this since the rig is not TSO'd.

I see, I thought it was a USPA guideline, not an FAA regulation.

Do the same rules apply for visiting jumpers with rigs from other countries? I believe European and Russian jumpers can take non-TSO'd rigs to the States and jump them, right? Can this provide a loophole?

Unless things have changed in the past few years, an FAA waiver is required. I don't know how anyone else does it, but DeLand has a blanket waiver to allow foreign jumpers to jump non-TSO'd gear. At a dropzone which does not possess such a waiver, the jumper would be required (I guess) to obtain one on his own behalf.

Even then, the dropzone will be required to approve of and take a certain amount of responsibility for allowing the gear to be jumped. Ergo, it may not be so easy to get a strange set-up past a nervous dzo.

The large dzs (Perris, DeLand, Skydive Arizona and Cross Keys) have this information at their fingertips, as do the gear manufacturers. Don't reinvent the wheel when all you need to do is call 'em and ask.

rl

If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

[JaapSuter 0]

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Don't reinvent the wheel when all you need to do is call 'em and ask.

Neah, I'll just stick to Canada.

[TomAiello 26]

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... how big of a BASE canopy do you think I can fit in my Vector sized for a 170 Spectre? Is that out of the question? I think, based on what I've read, that I'm shooting for about a 260 sq ft BASE canopy. I really don't want to have to obtain new skydiving gear just to do some hop-n-pops with a BASE canopy, but if it is truly important, I will.

I think you'll find that Vector is too small for your properly sized BASE canopy. Your best bet is probably going to be to borrow or rent larger gear to practice with. I've got an old accuracy rig I use for jumping BASE canopies out of planes. You're welcome to borrow it, but you'll probably need to get the reserve repacked. Send me a PM if you'd like to use it.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[unclecharlie95 3]

Perry's Vector works cus he has a custom small Troll in it

Welcome to the darkside, Lord, hopefully we can do some flocking over here too

BASEstore.it

[The111 1]

That Vector still looks huge anyway. I just found out he only has a 180 in it.

And I am totally ok with all the good-natured ribbing (in return for the well-deserved ribs I give you), but where the fuck did this "Lord of the Skies" thing come from? Is it some inside joke I am missing, or should I just chalk it up to you being you? Either way, at least my legs are hairy.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[ryan_turner 0]

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In the US the FAA will not allow this since the rig is not TSO'd.

Does the FAA require that your main be TSO'd or is it just the harness/container and reserve?

[TomAiello 26]

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In the US the FAA will not allow this since the rig is not TSO'd.

Does the FAA require that your main be TSO'd or is it just the harness/container and reserve?

The main does not require a TSO.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[PhreeZone 20]

Mains are not certified. Harness/Containers and reserves are. For more info on the TSO process seach the Gear fourm.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[gweeks 1]

I found a good deal on an appropriately sized rig by searching the classifieds for words like "student" and "big". Just for reference, my BlackJack 280 fits tightly in my Vector II 10.5.

[NickDG 23]

Just keep an old Javelin J-5 around. Almost everything fits in that . . .

NickD BASE 194

[SabreDave 0]

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use your BASE gera with a tertiary reserve...??????

Yeah, the tertiary makes it so you are following the rules (in Canada) and let's you jump your shit! Perfect wouldn't you say? I mean, not like you are depending on it, mostly there for show.
I trust my BASE gear on both terminal and sub-terminal so why not skydiving?
My thoughts......... file'em where you like

SabreDave

[NickDG 23]

Totally, the problem is two canopy containers are so complicated their own account makes the reserve necessary.

Every BASE jump is a cutaway . . .

NickD BASE 194

[pullhigh 0]

I was going to ask about how long it's been since you've jumped out of a plane, but the rig is out of date, so I'm guessinbg it's been a while....

Ganja

[base689 0]

> Just keep an old Javelin J-5 around. Almost everything fits in that . . .
Yes, indeed. Into my Javelin J4 I did something like 40 jumps with (BASE packed) my Fox 245 (only Vtec-ed at the time).
And, for helping as student of mine, I packed his (valved Vtec) Flik 266 into my J4, it was jolly tight indeed, but it worked nicely!!! He managed to do 5 or 6 skydives.
Keep into account that X-size Flik packs slightly smaller than X-size Fox, I think that a 265 Fox (valved Vtec) wouldn't have fit into my J4.
But, anyway, I too think that with a J5 you can stick any (reasonably) large BASE parachute in it!!! Up to at least a 280÷285ish!!!

Stay safe out there
Blue Skies and Soft Walls
BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

[veter_ 0]

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Just keep an old Javelin J-5 around. Almost everything fits in that . . .

What will fit Flik 322?

[BASE813 0]

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Every BASE jump is a cutaway . . .

when ever a skydiver questions about jumping without a reserve I always retort "I do jump with a reserve, I just dont jump with a main" - I think this is more realistic and also goes to show "some" skydivers that they to only really put their life in the hands of one parachute in the end..........