Can't afford AAD?

[riddler 0]

Just an informal poll - would like to hear from people that do not jump and AAD because they are too expensive. I'm talking about that being the only reason. You would like to have one, but you can't afford it, so you jump without one.
I don't want to turn this thread into a debate about the merits or dangers of AAD. I suspect there are more than a few that feel that $800 or more is beyond their financial means, even if $20 for a plane ride is not.
I hope no one feels too embarrassed to post. I'm not too embarrassed to say I would like to have an audible, but can't afford it right now. I've already asked for one for my brithday!

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[DJL 235]

Wear a helmet and don't get into any free fly bigways. Keep up with your emergency procedures...not that AAD users shouldn't...

-djl

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[diverdriver 5]

Being away from Free fly big ways does not guarantee that you will be safe. There have been 2-way collisions that ended in a fatality. "Always analyze your personal skill, the skill/currency of your partner, and plan a dive accordingly" might be a better statement. No matter if you are doing VRW, RW, or CRW.

Chris

[indyz 1]

I don't jump an AAD. When I bought my rig I basically wiped out my bank account, and I only had one full paycheck left before I had to quit my job and go back to school. I had two options: a) Spend most of my cash on a used Cypres and only jump once or twice a month until I got settled down at school and found a new job, or b) Jump without a Cypres but be able to afford 15 or more jumps a month.

After thinking it over carefully, rereading a bunch of old Cypres debates on this site, and talking to a very experienced jumper at my summer DZ, I decided that at this point in my jumping career keeping as current as possible would do more for keeping me alive than a Cypres. I still fully intend to purchase a Cypres once I resume working full time next summer.

[skybytch 273]

Quote

You would like to have one, but you can't afford it, so you jump without one.

Let's see... Cypres' first starting showing up on my "home" dz in late '92. At that point I was jumping a ragged out main in a mid-eighties Racer container with a round reserve - cuz that was all I could afford. A new Cypres cost $1250 (would've been $1350 plus to put one in my container) back then - my whole rig cost me way less than that. Plus it seemed kind of silly to spend that much on an AAD instead of on a square reserve - moot point since I couldn't afford a square reserve either.

Once I got a rig with a square reserve (1997...) I started thinking about getting a Cypres. I finally got one this year - used, from a friend who'd take payments. I still can't afford to pay all at once for a new or even used one.

Am I glad I have it? Sure; it being there makes my mother feel much better about me jumping, and I feel a bit better having it there since I'm doing JFTC next month. Would I have gotten it if I wasn't doing really big ways this year? Nope. Like I said, I really can't afford it.

[riggerrob 643]

I started jumping in 1977, long before Cypri were invented.
While I was freefall student, the DZO told me to quit being a wimp and hand that reserve with an FXC to a first jump student. Consequently, I only did a dozen student jumps with an FXC 8000. While on the Army team, I also did a bunch of jumps with FXCs, but no-one expected the army team to be cool.
When I returned to civilian skydiving, no self-respecting licensed jumper wore an AAD.
So by the time Cypri were invented, I had made more than 1,000 skydives without back-up. I also had hundreds of tandem jumps before AADs became mandatory for tandems. Since then I have done about 2,000 tandems with Cypri and flatly refuse to touch a tandem rig without a Cypres.

On the other hand, I only installed a Cypres in my sport rig last year. And that was only because my boss loaned me a Cypres. He felt that it was important for PFF Instructors to lead by example.
I installed the loaner Cypres in my Talon 2, the one with the 135 main that I prefer jumping. I make a conscious effort to repack the Cypres-equipped rig first.
Being a poor professional skydiver, I still cannot afford to buy a Cypres for my second rig. Like Lisa, a Cypres would cost more than my second rig is worth (1985 Mirage with a 5-cell reserve and an Ariel 150 main), plus I do not want the hassle of a 2-pin Cypres.
Maybe I will buy a used Cypres when I finish rebuilding the frayed Javelin or Vector I that are laying around my loft.

[Scoby 0]

I'm in that shopping for gear mode, and I have to admit that I probably won't have a cypres immediately. I do, however, intend to get one. I've only actually done 6 jumps with cypres-equipped rigs (my student gear had FXCs and I've jumped mostly no-AAD gear since), so I'm comfortable with the idea that I need to pull or I will die. My feeling is that this is drilling altitude awareness into my head. I will likely buy a used cypres a short while after buying a rig, but I need to spread out the costs a little. I don't feel significantly less safe without a cypres.

[rhino 0]

I've been jumping for almost 5 years. This year was the first year I could afford one.. I always wore a helmet to try and offset the risk but I must admit it is nice to finally have one..

I told someone 3 years ago when I got my own gear I couldn't afford a cypress.. He asked me if I needed 1300 dollars to fix a broken leg could I come up with it? I said yes

Kind of funny

Rhino

[ChileRelleno 0]

$1300 geez thats cheap my tib/fib is over $18,000 and counting.

ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414
Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868

[AggieDave 6]

Now that my gear is starting to trickle in, once I get one of the credit cards I used to purchase gear on paid down enough, I'm going to buy an AAD. Technically, I really can't afford gear right now, but the gutter gear I've been jumping is too scary not to have bought gear.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[riddler 0]

This might be a good idea about Cypres rental. Or another might be to ask skydivers if they want to contribute an extra few dollars during USPA dues to the "Cypress relief fund" for poor skydivers The problem is that EVERY skydiver is a poor skydiver! Funny thing, too - I didn't start out poor.
It would be nice to find someway to make these less expensive or have a way to finance them. There just aren't enough skydivers in the world to have the type of production numbers that would drive down cost or justify financing. I'm not sure I would want my cypress to be mass-produced anyway.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[rgoper 0]

that brand spanking new Heatwave didn't look like "gutter gear" to me! looked pretty doggone good, way better than my stinking Cobalt floating to the east like it did!

--Richard--
"We Will Not Be Shaken By Thugs, And Terroist"

[AggieDave 6]

Yeah, but did you look at the container I was jumping? You should have seen some of the mains I had been jumping, shit I blew up a PD 210 that was made back when Christ was a mess cook. Never mind the old reserve that I didn't trust.

With the Heatwave, the Wings container (which'll be here Thursday or Friday) and the PD reserve, my credit can't handle an AAD, yet. Soon, not yet.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[rgoper 0]

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I blew up a PD 210 that was made back when Christ was a mess cook. Never mind the old reserve that I didn't trust.

LOL at Dave! your nutz dude!!

--Richard--
"We Will Not Be Shaken By Thugs, And Terroist"

[happythoughts 0]

My girlfriend couldn't afford one either until 3 years ago when she almost went in. It seemed affordable the next week.
It is possible to get knocked out in freefall, no matter your experience level. I have a personal friend with over a week of freefall time that has been unconscious. It has nothing to do with experience, training, emergency procedures. I can give you a list of people that this has happened to. All have/had over 2,000 jumps. I'm not going to bother.
It comes down to this: It doesn't happen to many people. It may or may not happen to you. That is the roll of the dice. That is the deciding factor.

[Stacy 0]

I have not had a cypres (besides my student jumps and rental gear jumps of course) for 2.5 years. Similar to others, I started jumping as a college student and buying gear cost me enough, a cypres was just not financially possible. I've done over 550 jumps without one. However, getting kicked in the face in rantoul made me start shopping around. I've also started to do some bigger ways (80 hopefully in december) and it's a nice extra thing to have along... I now have a steady job, etc so I can afford it (kind of). It will be installed the week before big ways in december.

• Quote

[skymedic 0]

I would like a Cypres...but wont sit on the ground while waiting for one...it's just that simple.....and plus if I get a cypres fire and am under a reserve...I better have on divinely guided reserve.....

Marc
otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman....

[tlshealy 0]

I kind of look at AAD's like air bags in cars, they'er great, they can save lives, but I wouldn't buy or drive a vehicle because it did or didn't have them. I've been jumping since 1976 without one, so it's not a big deal to me, also I've pieced together a used rig for about $1000, so a cypres would double my gear cost, I may buy a used one some day, but if a jump seems too dangerous to do without an AAD, maybe I'll just wait for the next one.
Blue Ones
Tad

[bodypilot90 0]

yep I agree, I did my first few hundred jumps w/o one and then bought a used one. If you HAVE to have one you prolly shouldn't be jumping. If you'd LIKE to have one I understand. Buy one that's 8 years old prolly can pick it up for 400 bucks, less if it still needs the check. Stay current and safe.

[Ducky 0]

Yes the affordability factor is a HUGE one. Unfortunately buying used in the case of a Cypres is not always such a good deal. Heck ther down to $900 (even less someplaces). People are still trying to drag in $750 for a 4+ yr old Cypres. I nderstand when they bought it it was $1200, but why not spend a $150 more for new?

kwak

Sometimes your the bug, sometimes your the windshield. Sometimes your the hammer sometimes your the nail. Question is Hun, Do you wanna get hammered or do you wanna get nailed?????

[lummy 4]

You might want to take a look at this. Cypres Value Estimator

I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. eat sushi, get smoochieTTK#1

[Ducky 0]

I am well aware of the "valuator" and based on it most used Cypres are way over priced

kwak

Sometimes your the bug, sometimes your the windshield. Sometimes your the hammer sometimes your the nail. Question is Hun, Do you wanna get hammered or do you wanna get nailed?????

[skymedic 0]

Look at this site....they sell cypres for $750

www.skydivesupplies.com

Marc
otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman....

[AndyMan 7]

$825 according to this page: http://www.skydivesupplies.com/cypres/default_cypres.htm

Which isn't surprising. The US dollar is slowly coming back down to a normal level, imported goods will get more expensive...

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[Cajones 0]

My rigger sells 'em for $855, installed, with a repack.

The laws of physics are strictly enforced.