evilivan

A bus carrying only ugly people crashes into an oncoming truck, and everyone inside dies. They then get to meet their maker, and because of the grief they have experienced; he decides to grant them one wish each, before they enter Paradise. They're all lined up, and God asks the first one what the wish is. "I want to be gorgeous," and so God snaps His fingers, and it is done. The second one in line hears this and says "I want to be gorgeous too." Another snap of His fingers and the wish is granted. This goes on for a while but when God is halfway down the line, the last guy in line starts laughing. When there are only ten people left, this guy is rolling on the floor, laughing his ass off. Finally, God reaches this guy and asks him what his wish will be. The guy calms down and says: wait, for it... savour it "Make 'em all ugly again". "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

Damn. Damn. Damn. If there is any way he was going to go, I suppose this would be it - pushing the limits to the absolute.

I think we can conclude that the CYPRES fired between 2250ft and 1500ft; the question is, at what point within the 750ft? If at the top end, then there is a good chance that a swoop initiation would not build the required speed... We need a test that starts a conventional swoop approach at the relevant altitude within the parameters of the test. The CYPRES log will tell us the rest. "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

OK, here is what he - Troy Ketsdever - did (from Skydiving vol 23, #2, issue 266): VX99 - WL 2.3 VX86 - WL 2.6 (detachable D-bag) VX74 - WL 3.1 Set the CYPRES for +1500 ft field elevation. At 4k initiated a 180 toggle turn and held the turn with harness input only to 1.5k. The VX86 fired the CYPRES (he jumped the VX74 without the CYPRES to get a descent rate comparison). Approximate descent rates (based on video) - there were several results given, this is the one I think the most pertinent: VX99 between 2.5k and 2k = 48mph VX86 between 2.5k and 2k = 79mph VX74 between 2.5k and 2k = 75mph His conclusion: "...we can conclude that any high-performance landing approach that builds enough downward speed prior to 130ft AGL could result in a CYPRES fire. I think that my test demonstrates that this is not outside the realm of possibility. If you are jumping a highly loaded canopy and are using a CYPRES (or similar "expert model" AAD), consider carefully your landing approaches." Hmmm... may email Airtec on this one. "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

I don't remember how long he held the dive/turn before it fired, but I will look it up tonight and post. Although IIRC his conclusion was that it would be possible to cause a CYPRES fire during a high speed approach. "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

Can't remember the WL details, but it was certainly above 2.0 - he tried it with 3 WL'ings and I think it was only when he got well above 2.0 that the CYPRES fired. As you say, for the average skydiver this probably won't be an issue. My point was that Airtec have added the water resistant feature to allow the use of a CYPRES when pond swooping - which is when it is very likely the pilot is loading it well above 2.0.... (I think the tests were done with the original CYPRES and I don't know if the CYPRES 2 has had any modifications with regards to descent rate etc) "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

I believe that the water proofing was added to allow the use of CYPRES for pond swoopers. In recent article (Skydiving, I think...?) they did some tests to see if you could trigger a CYPRES swooping a highly loaded canopy, and they managed. Wonder how they will solve that one.....? "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

I like! "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

.....and of course congrats to JD et al. And a knarly decision on the B there, McFly, especially after the WDI's experience........ Not many out there with UK BASE, never mind within 12 hours. Nice. "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

$200?!? Wow.... any offers for my mint condition hardback copy? I'm currently in the housing market and could use the cash... Think I picked my copy for £8 on the internet; the guy would be gutted if he knew. "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

Most of my jumps in the last year (300+?) have been free as a team cameraman. Bastard? Maybe. But a HAPPY bastard "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

Forum rules: you may want to edit that (before Tom does...) "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

Follow the action here: Daily reports: Omniskore Results and more reports: Mondial03 "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

A man walks into a dentist's surgery and says, "Excuse me, can you help me. I think I'm a moth." Dentist: "You don't need a dentist. You need a psychiatrist." Man: "Yes, I know." Dentist: "So why did you come in here?" Man: "The light was on..." "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

Thanks Colin. Still itching to know what our last round score was though - all I know is that it was better then a 13......

Yep, just found out - silver it was. I is stoked.

OK, nothing broken but that was definitely due to being very lucky - an instructor on the DZ was watching me had already started dialing 999 (911 for you Yanks) as he saw me hit... 1. What happened Had been jumping at another DZ with very different landscape/features for a week, and progressing from 90 to 180 front riser hooks. Had been doing OK with them (although knowing what I know now, I was probably low). 1st weekend back at my home DZ, and tried a 180 WAAAY too low and hit just coming out of the turn: left knee/right knee/face. I can still clearly remember - with all the visuals - coming off the riser and realising that I had f*cked up big time. Very horrible moment. Somehow I didn't break anything (I dug a lump out the ground about 8'' deep with my left knee...). 2. Canopy Spectre 150 3. Wingload Approx 1.5 4. Experience (canopys) +/-300 on a PD190 +/-50 on various 170's & 150's +/-100 on the Spectre 5. Number of jumps +/-450 6. Damage done Very stiff and bruised for a week or two; aggravated a prolapsed disc in the base of my spine. 7. Cost Osteopathy bill £450 (for immediate treatment - still seeing the Osteopath every 6 weeks or so now). 8. Down time I was booked on a Airspeed Big Way camp 6 weeks later... so I was seeing the Osteopath twice a week for the 6 weeks - and to his credit he got me OK enough to go. I think my story is very representative of the issue. 500-jump-wonder thinks he knows more then he does, and hasn't learned to respect very definite boundaries in the sport.... (Un)fortunately, if you hit the ground hard enough, the lesson gets learned. Just very very lucky that the ground was wet and the damage was not whole lot worse. "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

.....not to mention the suits they would have to wear.... "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

You can come and work for me Em, my even let you visit the office now and then I actually quite like my job. Just wished it payed more...... "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

Damn, that just makes it WORSE....!! Thanks for the info, now I have GOT to know. "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

Nice one team Aspect.

Anyone know what the results were - specifically in Senior? Had to leave before our last round result was judged (Minus V2).... "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

....definitely a cool statistic... Didn't know about the Weston wingsuit thing, sounds like fun. Still don't have a wingsuit, but may show up and see if I can borrow/hire one. "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent

Oh, yeah, and the cameramen DID rock..... "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent