Vigil setup

[Carver 0]

Here's a mistake that I recently made concerning my vigil and was picked up by a concerned skydiver at my local dz. I am posting this here to raise awareness and hopefully preventing this mistake from being made again.

Along with many other cool features and unlike Cypress the Vigil has 3 operating modes. Pro, student and tandem. These settings can be changed by the skydiver as they wish.

Pro = fires at 840ft at 78+ mph

Student = fires at 1040ft at 45+ mph

Tandem = 2040ft at 78+ mph

When I received my Vigil I did read over the instuctions carefully and then set it to student. At the time I was still only a novice so I didn't give the activation speeds too much consideration because my landing approaches where always long with flat turns. Now as my level is starting to increase some of my approaching speeds have also increased a little which could have possibly lead to vigil firing and me having 2 canopies out at a low altitude.

It was pointed out to me that student mode is only for students. Tandem only for tandem. And pro for anything else.

I mainly opted for the Student mode so that if I did get knocked out in free fall and vigil did save my arse then I would have a longer time under canopy to hopefully steer away from obsticles, head for home or kick out of line twists.

It was also pointed out to me that the acivation height can be changed with with altitude correction but please do not do this without the aid of a DZSO or someone else in the know at the particular dz.


I hope someone can get something out of this.

Never try to skip a stage of natural progression...

[jurgencamps 0]

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I mainly opted for the Student mode so that if I did get knocked out in free fall and vigil did save my arse then I would have a longer time under canopy to hopefully steer away from obsticles, head for home or kick out of line twists.

It was also pointed out to me that the acivation height can be changed with with altitude correction but please do not do this without the aid of a DZSO or someone else in the know at the particular dz.

Do not raise the activation altitude to get more time under your reserve ==> you will raise the risk at a 2 canopies out scenario.

But a very good point, student mode = for students.

Jurgen

[BIGUN 1,314]

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if I did get knocked out in free fall and vigil did save my arse then I would have a longer time under canopy to hopefully steer away from obsticles, head for home or kick out of line twists.

You can do all that unconscious?

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[Yossarian 0]

i know I can skydive in my sleep, can't you?

[billvon 2,991]

>if I did get knocked out in free fall and vigil did save my arse then I
> would have a longer time under canopy to hopefully steer away from
> obsticles, head for home or kick out of line twists.

If you truly believe that the AAD is there to save you when you "get knocked out" - get a round reserve. It will land you more safely and reliably if you're unconscious.

[chris74 0]

Hi,
Better, don't jump anymore
Blue skies
Chris

[kelpdiver 2]

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if I did get knocked out in free fall and vigil did save my arse then I would have a longer time under canopy to hopefully steer away from obsticles, head for home or kick out of line twists.

You can do all that unconscious?

I think he hoped to wake with opening shock. But I don't think 200ft (15secs?) really increases the chances that much.

[NWFlyer 2]

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I think he hoped to wake with opening shock. But I don't think 200ft (15secs?) really increases the chances that much.

True, the difference in opening altitudes is not so different, but as noted in the original post, the difference in firing speeds is: Student = fires at 1040ft at 45+ mph and might impact someone's decision to use it or not use it for other reasons than the one cited.

A good reminder from the original poster to understand our gear, how it works, what the options are, and why we might choose (or not choose) a particular option.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[riggerrob 643]

Heaven forbid!
You could read the manual.

[NWFlyer 2]

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Heaven forbid!
You could read the manual.

No! Say it isn't so.

I have actually read my manual... it's been a while, but then I haven't had to make any adjustments to it in a while. But I can recall reading the manual when I was at a DZ where I needed to do an altitude offset... and still being confused ... and writing to Vigil to be sure I was understanding it correctly. I'd say I got to know it fairly well.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[mjosparky 4]

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A good reminder from the original poster to understand our gear, how it works, what the options are, and why we might choose (or not choose) a particular option.

Excellent advice and deserves repeating.

There is a good reason by the two versions of AAD have different parameters.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[Yossarian 0]

are round reserves really still an option nowadays?
another thing i was wondering was when you get high performance, small canopies etc, and very small reserves with them, a 120 for example, are they relatively hp too? how would an unconscious person fayre under one of those?

[mjosparky 4]

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are round reserves really still an option nowadays?
another thing i was wondering was when you get high performance, small canopies etc, and very small reserves with them, a 120 for example, are they relatively hp too? how would an unconscious person fayre under one of those?

Reserves are F-111 7 canopies. Not very HP even though some people load them to the point they are scary.

Almost all rigs made today are not designed to take a round.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[billvon 2,991]

>are round reserves really still an option nowadays?

Used rigs that take round mains are readily available, and a few manufacturers still make new containers that will accept them.

>another thing i was wondering was when you get high performance,
> small canopies etc, and very small reserves with them, a 120 for
> example, are they relatively hp too?

They don't swoop that well, but they do fly faster, descend faster, require more care in landing etc.

[mjosparky 4]

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Used rigs that take round mains are readily available,

They will be really used and unable to take a ram air canopy. Rigs that were TSO's for a round will normally have a different riser configuration then one TSO's for a ram air.

Readily available, I doubt it.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[billvon 2,991]

>Rigs that were TSO's for a round will normally have a different riser
>configuration then one TSO's for a ram air.

A used (or new, for that matter) Infinity can accept a round reserve. See the packing manual for instructions on how to connect/pack it:

http://s90422833.onlinehome.us/manual/infnty7.pdf

[mjosparky 4]

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A used (or new, for that matter) Infinity can accept a round reserve.

Can one manufactured for a round take a ram air? Several older rigs were made with just one riser per side for rounds. The risers where sometimes as short as 12 to 14 inches. The containers for rounds are not made with a free bag and bridle. In all probability they will not be AAD approved and the list goes on.

You said “readily available,” when was the last time you saw one for sale?

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[billvon 2,991]

>Can one manufactured for a round take a ram air?

Infinitys are not manufactured for rounds; they can just accept them.

>You said “readily available,” when was the last time you saw one for sale?

8/22/06 on Classifieds.

[mjosparky 4]

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>Can one manufactured for a round take a ram air?

Infinitys are not manufactured for rounds; they can just accept them.

>You said “readily available,” when was the last time you saw one for sale?

8/22/06 on Classifieds.

Bill you are blowing so much smoke it's hard to see. But you keep believing and some day it might happen.

But for now it is bad advice.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[billvon 2,991]

>Bill you are blowing so much smoke . . .

You know, they make decaffeinated brands of coffee that taste almost as good as caffeinated nowadays . . .

You can, today, buy a container (an Infinity) that will take a round reserve. If you buy a used Infinity, it will take a round reserve as well. You can still get an AAD for it. If you are unconscious under canopy, a large round will land you more safely than a square. Whether or not that's a good tradeoff is up to each person. Since I find that most people need their AAD's for simply forgetting to pull, not because they're unconscious, I wouldn't get one - even though I have an AAD on most of my rigs.

[sundevil777 102]

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Can one manufactured for a round take a ram air? Several older rigs were made with just one riser per side for rounds. The risers where sometimes as short as 12 to 14 inches. The containers for rounds are not made with a free bag and bridle.

Larry Chernis, who made the Northern Lite III at the time, made a set of 14 inch risers to attach to my Northern Lite II harness at the L-bar link. The original, single risers on each side were so short that the toggles were easy to reach. I had one reserve ride on this setup. It was such a good way to get 4 risers out of an old rig, without having to take it apart. It helped that I jumped where the rigs were made. I had Dan at ParaPhernalia make the freebag.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[mjosparky 4]

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Larry Chernis, who made the Northern Lite III at the time, made a set of 14 inch risers to attach to my Northern Lite II harness at the L-bar link. The original, single risers on each side were so short that the toggles were easy to reach.

I did the same thing for a jump pilot/jumper friend that had not jumped in a while and had a Racer that was designed for a round. I knew his ability to deal with it and keep his mouth shut if the rig came under scrutiny by the wrong people. While this is a safe and simple fix it voids the TSO of the rig.

And I think the key phrase is “Readily available”. Not.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[mjosparky 4]

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You know, they make decaffeinated brands of coffee that taste almost as good as caffeinated nowadays .

I normally don’t drink coffee but if it makes that “readily available” theory easier to swallow I may start.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[sundevil777 102]

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keep his mouth shut if the rig came under scrutiny by the wrong people. While this is a safe and simple fix it voids the TSO of the rig.

I believe Larry acknowledged that he shouldn't be doing it. I didn't care, it seemed like a perfect way to get the 4 risers with no taking apart of the rig required. I was a little bit nervous that later riggers would have a problem with it, but none ever did.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[mjosparky 4]

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I was a little bit nervous that later riggers would have a problem with it, but none ever did.

That surprises me. I wouldn’t touch it with a stick. The one I worked on was never in the same room with my seal press and if it had a PDC I swear I never saw it.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals