Beatnik 2 #1 May 20, 2006 I jumped my paracommander for the first time today, well yesterday now. It was more fun than I had in a long time. It was like a rock, so stable and the softest opening. What a landing. If the wind wasn't there I couldn't have asked for a better landing. Did a rear riser chin up and stood it up. That is until the wind threw me on my ass. But it was soft. Can't wait to jump it again this weekend. It is a hard choice. I have so many other canopies I want to jump. I also packed up my papillion. Then there is also the stratostar to jump. Things are too much fun with vintage gear around. Might have to jump a LoPo 26' that is laying around just for shits and giggles. Also, of course to see the looks on everyones face. If that wasn't enough brought out the balloon suit and did one hell of a jump with it. And a last note, real men jump rounds and they sure aren't scared of them. Blue skies everyone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #2 May 20, 2006 It's no accident that the PC set THE standard for sport canopies for over a decade. It's a beautiful canopy that opened and landed softly and reliably and was a hell of a lot of fun to fly. And contrary to the anti-round brainwashing the kids are taught these days, it wasn't carved out of wood or riveted together and you didn't need big boots to land them safely (as the latest issue of Parachutist would have you believe). What people need to understand is that until the Strato Star, Strato Cloud, and slider deployment came along, squares were considered to be dicey canopies. The early models had high malfunction rates and brutal openings. They were also very touchy to fly and could stall suddenly with no warning. I knew several people who bought their first square in the springtime and would have it up for sale before Labor Day, while they were only too glad to be back under their good old PC again. For the rest of us, as beginners we normally had to make around 50 jumps under a surplus canopy before it was considered safe to try a PC (and then at least another 200 or so under a PC before trying a square). I don't think I EVER heard of anybody dying because they hooked in a PC either, maybe breaking a leg, but that was as bad as it ever got. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
murrays 0 #3 May 20, 2006 Good man James!!! If you're ever out Saskatoon way I have a Dactyl, 7TU C9 and a ParaCommander.-- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
