nitrochute 2 #1 April 10, 2010 does anyone flat pack anymore? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SEREJumper 1 #2 April 10, 2010 Flat packing is the only authorized packing method for the parachutes our military unit jumps. Paraflite MC-4's, PD Military Tandem Mains, and PD Spectre and Navigators are all flat packed. I flat pack my personal rig's main (Spectre/ Pulse) out of habit and I don't have anything bad to say about the technique other than it takes up a little more floor space when you lay it out.We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pchapman 279 #3 April 10, 2010 One DZ I'm at teaches flat packing for students, with their F-111 student canopies. Later they learn from friends how to propack when they get their own gear. All student gear has to be flat packed (even by experienced packers). The Tandem Sigmas are flat packed too. Which takes time. It is a bit of an anomaly, but the DZO clearly likes the traditional flat pack. Not that he's totally against propacking -- I've seen him propack his Parafoil 282. It's more that he sees propacking as something a bit newfangled that's too easy to mess up if done too quickly and wrong. (Counterargument: learn to do it right!) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
captain1976 0 #4 April 10, 2010 Yes, I always flat pack my main. Its easier on my arm as I have a bad shoulder and reaching down deep to clear the panels can be painful. I make exception on my reserve which I pro pack, only because it splits easier for bagging.You live more in the few minutes of skydiving than many people live in their lifetime Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #5 April 10, 2010 sure... my P D Spectre came with packing tabs,, and my previous 7 cell mains did also... So i use(d) 'em...I carry a drag mat and a proper sized packing mat,,, and set up somewhere 'out of the way'... no problem.. It's just as fast. i call the technique... "Pre -Pro" Packing If it ain't broke,, don't fix it...have not had a main canopy related mal...,, in over 30 years... jmy scr scs nscr Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohanW 0 #6 April 10, 2010 Sure. Mains over about 240, Foils and Mantas mostly. Just as fast as propacking them. One of the clubs I call home teaches flatpacks for student mains, though you don't have to if you're not a student. The other one has packers and doesn't really teach packing student gear. Johan. I am. I think. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
profallrate 0 #7 April 10, 2010 My wife still does. Her motto, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" Also, her malfuntion to jump ratio is much lower than mine ------------------------------------------------- Lord please help me to be the person that my dog thinks I am. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
psf 1 #8 April 10, 2010 I have never pro packed, don't see a reason to change, the chute has always opened.ignorance is not bliss Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Airman1270 0 #9 April 11, 2010 ..."Pre -Pro" Packing... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Funny. I flat-pack the 'Cloud. After six years and nearly 80 jumps on the Triathalon I'm finally getting to the point where pro-packing the thing is not intimidating and can be effortless if I do everything right. Whatever that is. Used to pro-pack my Star Trac (290.) Once flat-packed it but it was an awful lot of work for the same result. Nice trip down memory lane, though. Cheers, Jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
godfrog 2 #10 April 11, 2010 I pro pack my PD, before I put it away for good I flat packed my cruise lite. It seemed to have a longer snivel if I pro packed it. When I first got my PD it was recommended to pro pack it, everyone I knew was still flat packing, So I'm pro packing my PD and someone walks by and says, packing a mally there. Experience is a difficult teacher, she gives you the test first and the lesson afterward Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drdive 0 #11 April 11, 2010 Darn flat packers use up too much space!! One that I know is a vegetarian too. We fondly call him the "vegetarian flat packing bastard"They both work - do what you are comfortable with. "We saved your gear. Now you can sell it when you get out of the hospital and upsize!!" "K-Dub" " Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #12 April 11, 2010 I find that pro packing is faster too, if you do it correctly. You're using gravity to do half the work for you. But much of that is the smaller canopies we have, with the lower profile airfoils. I pro pack the tandem rigs too, but man, that's a lot of nylon I'm trying to hold up in the air.Maybe we'll just move to West Plains and I'll have Mutley pack all my tandems for me forever.Hey Doc, give Cindy a hug for us. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jumpervint 0 #13 April 11, 2010 And he has good taste in beer and USED to have good taste in friends.... No more Obsidian Stout for you....... . . . . "Make it hard again." Doc Ed “A person needs a little madness, or else they never dare cut the rope and be free” Nikos Kazantzakis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linestretch 0 #14 April 11, 2010 I only flat pack reserves.my pics & stuff! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bip 0 #15 April 11, 2010 I flat pack. Flatpacking is so rare where I jump that I am constantly being asked if I am packing a reserve. I tell them it is my base rig. I have also never had a cutaway. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkBolton 0 #16 April 11, 2010 I have always flat packed. My canopy opens the same as it does when pro packed. I have never had a malfunction under modern gear. I had 3 my first year with packing straps and ropes and rings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #17 April 11, 2010 Quotedoes anyone flat pack anymore? Only people who aren't "cool". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drdive 0 #18 April 11, 2010 Quote Quote does anyone flat pack anymore? Only people who aren't "cool". +1 Take that JumperVint!!"We saved your gear. Now you can sell it when you get out of the hospital and upsize!!" "K-Dub" " Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
likestojump 3 #19 April 12, 2010 QuoteQuotedoes anyone flat pack anymore? Only people who aren't "cool". :) I know a guy who downsized from a F111 200ish main (after 20+ years jumping and 2000+ skydives) to a Sabre120, which he still flat packs. I also met a guy who has been jumping for 30+ years and still jumps an F111 and simply didn't care to learn how to propack (his words). Yes, there still are people who flatpack their mains. I flat pro-stack larger reserves and BASE canopies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jumpervint 0 #20 April 12, 2010 If it's good enough for Lenox, it's good enough for me. 'Cool' is over-rated.. . . . . "Make it hard again." Doc Ed “A person needs a little madness, or else they never dare cut the rope and be free” Nikos Kazantzakis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
k-dubjumps 0 #21 April 12, 2010 My dad still flat packs. Its funny to watch the crown gather around him when he's packing. They all watch in fascination. I only learned to pro pack when I started jumping again a year ago after a 15 year hiatus. I needed a refresher on packing and nobody knew how to flat pack so I had to learn to pro pack. Adrenaline is my crack DPH #3 D.S. #16 FAG #12 Muff Brother #4406 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drdive 0 #22 April 12, 2010 Everybody, please note JumperVints avatar"Outlaw flat packer" is perfect!! "We saved your gear. Now you can sell it when you get out of the hospital and upsize!!" "K-Dub" " Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smooth 0 #23 April 12, 2010 Quote does anyone flat pack anymore? I still flat pack. (Currently jumping a Sabre-2 150) Notice the word "still" meaning that's the way I initially learned. Don't have any compelling reason to change other than to conform to the masses and/or take up less packing space. When (almost) everyone was using this method there wasn't a lot of whining about floor space and we all seemed to get along. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #24 April 12, 2010 15 year hiatus? did you start when you were 5?FWIW, i've had one cutaway, on a flat packed manta. go figure. "Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raftman 12 #25 April 13, 2010 What is this flat packing that you speak of? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
