freeflir29 0 #1 December 5, 2001 Just want to remind everyone to check your pins before you get out! I'm pretty religious about it as I had a two out once. Not sure why it happened as the pin was seated when I left but I do remember the cable seeming "a little short" before I left the plane. Anywho....I was on the plane last weekend and a guy asked me for a check. I peeked under the flap.....HOLY SHIT....I told him to hold very still. His reserve pin was damn near all the way out of the closing loop. He was about to do a sit fly. Could have been bad but it got fixed..............CHECK YO SELF!!!!!"and I'm not easily impressed...Ooohh look...a blue car!" -Homer Simpson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheMarshMan1 0 #2 December 5, 2001 And another thing... a week or two ago, I was sitting up in the front of the Otter with the pilot- and I sorta got screwed out of a pin check. Make sure if you sit up there, you get someone to check it for you before you get out...Be safe, blue skies!-Marshall Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #3 December 5, 2001 good save on that one Clay...you could have saved his life, or at least a sore neck. its good that you checked his reserve pin too, cuz most people dont do that on the plane.-------------http://www.JumpinDuo.com"oh no. Not another one"-Alienangel Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnischalke 0 #4 December 5, 2001 It makes me nervous when you "can't" check up under someone's reserve flap cause "it's a pain to close back up." A brother can jump all day without the reserve pin being looked at once. That's a bit frightening to me. If something that important is too hard to get to on a certain rig, that would not be a rig I would jump.My infinity opens and closes no sweat, and I really like that.mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #5 December 5, 2001 People dog Dolphins a lot but I'll tell ya something......I have jumped about 5 or 6 differen't kinds of rigs and this is the ONLY one where the pin has never moved. At all since the rigger put it there. It's nice to open the flap before I go up and see it still seated...all the way just like last jump. Dolphins are very easy to check also. No tuck tabs to pull out no problems......just a large velcro flap. Mine has never come open in a sit that I know of. Very safe rig....."and I'm not easily impressed...Ooohh look...a blue car!" -Homer Simpson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #6 December 5, 2001 Velco?? Ewwww.....all of our rigs at the DZ had velcro...well, USED to have velcro. See what I'm saying?Now it is just a couple of patches of fuzz there that dont stick together. hahaha-------------http://www.JumpinDuo.com"oh no. Not another one"-Alienangel Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RemiAndKaren 0 #7 December 5, 2001 I'll pick properly maintained velcro over poorly designed tuck flaps anyday. RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #8 December 5, 2001 Who has poorly designed tuck flaps? Curious.-------------http://www.JumpinDuo.com"oh no. Not another one"-Alienangel Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 0 #9 December 5, 2001 QuoteIt makes me nervous when you "can't" check up under someone's reserve flap cause "it's a pain to close back up." The only rigs that I can think of where you "can't" check the reserve pin is reflex's and racers. I jump a mirage and it is easy to check the reserve pin without opening the flap all the way up. All you do is lift the bottom of it and you can see the pin without the side flaps coming undone. My boyfriends Micron is the same way. As for are they a pain to reclose if you undid the side flaps, yes they both are, but part of that is because they are very small containers with very tight reserve packjobs. On the other hand on my old reflex I would never let anyone give me a main pin check because they wouldn't tuck the tab back in right so it would end up coming open in freefall. I also know people who don't want you to touch their rig at all. I used to be one of them, due to the above. Now I don't care, check it if you want, just make sure all the bridal is tucked.Kelli Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #10 December 5, 2001 "All you do is lift the bottom of it and you can see the pin without the side flaps coming undone"This guy had a Mirage....Yeah I could see the pin...see that it was about to come out of the closing loop! It really wasn't that big of a deal to open the flap. Not as easy as my Dolphin but.....His closing loop seemed pretty loose to me??? Unusual for a reserve to be that loose.....Most of the time it can be a little tough to move a reserve pin. This one wasn't any tighter than my main...maybe less...."and I'm not easily impressed...Ooohh look...a blue car!" -Homer Simpson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #11 December 5, 2001 "Now it is just a couple of patches of fuzz there that dont stick together. hahaha'It really is OK....in fact encouraged to replace worn parts on your rig. This doesn't say much about the maintenance of equipment at your DZ. Nothing stays new forever. My Dolphin was made in 95 and the velcro is still in great shape. I check the pin before every jump at least once. It has a lot to do with the quality of the velcro used as well. Some lasts longer than others....But even tuck tabs wear out and they are much harder to replace!"and I'm not easily impressed...Ooohh look...a blue car!" -Homer Simpson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RemiAndKaren 0 #12 December 5, 2001 QuoteThe only rigs that I can think of where you "can't" check the reserve pin is reflex's and racersAny pop top (tear drop, vortex....). Its a set up a that lots of people like (100% protected reserve pin)as far as the question of poorly designed tuck flaps, alot of containers had (and sometimes still have) that problem of covers continuously comming open during freefall.RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,991 #13 December 5, 2001 >It makes me nervous when you "can't" check up under someone's reserve flap cause "it's a pain to close back up." I prefer the Reflex/Racer system. I check the pin(s) before I get on the plane. Once the rig is on, the pin in inaccessible, and extremely well protected against impacts. In this case I think protection wins over inspection, but that's just my view of things.On my main pin, I check it before I put the rig on, then check before I exit to make sure the flap is still closed, and the PC/bridle are still in place. If they are, I have a very good confidence that the pin hasn't moved.>A brother can jump all day without the reserve pin being looked at once. That's a bit frightening to me.Why? You jump all _month_ without looking at your reserve once. The key is to make sure that both the reserve and the reserve pin are well protected from impact, penetration, water etc. Once you take care of that, gear checks are just icing on the cake.-bill von Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jumperpaula 0 #14 December 5, 2001 Quote Why? You jump all _month_ without looking at your reserve once. The key is to make sure that both the reserve and the reserve pin are well protected from impact, penetration, water etc. Once you take care of that, gear checks are just icing on the cake. Amen! Racer Elite XS NOS Fly Your Slot ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanG 1 #15 December 5, 2001 In response to:-- Who has poorly designed tuck flaps?Vector II. Terrible reserve pin cover. My friend jumps one, and I spent almost an entire freefall recently flying next to him trying to reseat it after it came open on climbout. We were turning pieces on a six way, and I didn't want someone landing on him and knocking the pin loose. Once on the ground, we looked at it and determined that we could open the flap with one pinky finger if we pushed it to the side. We figure he must have pushed it open against the top of the door frame, or maybe the wind just got it. They also do not have very good main pin covers. Anyone who freeflies in one is crazy or ignorant, and is looking for trouble.The Dolphin's reserve and main flap are excellent. My Dolphin has over 700 jumps, and both sets of Velcro are as good as new. Easy to check, won't come open in freefall, what more do you want? Bridle and riser coverage are another issue.- Dan G Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #16 December 5, 2001 "The Dolphin's reserve and main flap are excellent"Holy Crap!! There are two of us on the planet! I was beginning to think I was all alone........."and I'm not easily impressed...Ooohh look...a blue car!" -Homer Simpson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #17 December 5, 2001 QuoteI prefer the Reflex/Racer system. I check the pin(s) before I get on the plane. Once the rig is on, the pin in inaccessible, and extremely well protected against impacts. In this case I think protection wins over inspection, but that's just my view of things.Agreed. I check my reserve pin on my Reflex myself, and once I get that baby on my back, I'm comfortable with the fact that it's not going anywhere. Honestly, I don't know if I'd want someone opening and closing the reserve cover flap all the time.Pet me! I'm harmless and cute! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgoper 0 #18 December 6, 2001 i fly a Javelin J-4, i'm constantly checking my own reserve pin, but don't let anyone else touch it. i'll have a main pin check before exiting, then "feel" for it my self, of course i cock my own pilot chute, and check for the "green" in the window, so i know thats good. but i'm funny about someone else opening and closing my reserve flap, although it is a tuck type. i've had my share of partials, but no reserve rides yet, i know, yet is the key word!R.G."Gravity Is My Friend" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freaksister 0 #19 December 7, 2001 I have a Dolphin that is only a little more than a year old and its wonderful. The bridle and pin protection are both excellent. They made some improvements over the last couple of years on bridle protection.There is nothing wrong with velcro as long as it is properly maintained. 'Nuff Said.SisI feel so alive,for the very first time-and I think I can fly! - P.O.D. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Albatross 0 #20 December 10, 2001 Airspeed does a pin check on every jump. Just a thought that is the best team in the world does it maybe we all should.God bless us and God Bless AmericaAlbatross Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
