AdamF

At the risk of being hooked by a troller here. I'll state that not only is that common practice but it is also just common sense. In fact, it is written into our owner's manual as a recommendation. There are two reasons: Parachutes get assembled inspected and placed into plastic bags for delivery. It really doesn't matter how good a quality system it was manufactured under, until it opens for the first time, it is nothing more than a bundle of fabric and string. Why make that first jump a single parachute jump? Secondly, why not get a realistic amount of canopy time under your new parachute before being forced to operate it in the unforgiving environment of a BASE jump? A single skydive is equivalent to a least 10 BASE jumps worth of flight time. Besides planning and judgment, canopy skills are what BASE is is all about. Sure, back in the day, we all did many things that weren't so well thought through. I'd like to think that in thirty years of taking risks we figured out the ones that were unnecessary. Adam Filippino Consolidated Rigging crmojo.com

Bump... FYI, one week remains before Consolidated Rigging will be passing on our recently increased canopy production cost. New prices will be published at that time. However, until July 21st you can still order a new Ace or Black Jack at current pricing. Additionally, we have over a dozen stock parachutes in production that can be purchased at current prices as long as they are available. For a complete listing of models and colors, please visit our web page. Adam Filippino BASE 205 crmojo.com

Yes, this is accurate. On Friday June 23rd we recieved verbal notice from Performance Designs that the price they charge us to manufacture the Ace and BlackJack has increased. Until we have written confirmation of this we cannot publish an updated price list. However, we have decided to maintain our current pricing for one month, regardless. In addition we have lowered the deposit requirement for custom canopies for this time period. If you have been considering an Ace or Black Jack. now is definitely the time to act. For the full text of our press release including all the details and new pricing, when published, please vist crmojo.com

They are still available..........

As the designer of the Mojo, I’ll take the liberty of answering the question… The Mojo used an airfoil similar to, but not the same as, the Pegasus. It is based on the Clark –Y. A tried and true airfoil that is older than most people alive today. Most other design elements of the Mojo were the product of either empirical knowledge or current standards of the time. The Mojo has no direct relation to either the Fury or Sharpchuter other than both of those are “derivatives” of the Pegasus. Adam Filippino CR, Inc. www.crmojo.com

Hello Arnie, Consolidated Rigging is alive and well. We organized in April 2004, and we function as the direct source for the Ace and Black Jack canopies. You can click on the flashing banner at the top of this page to be directed to our web page. You can read more about our reorganization at www.crmojo.com/pressrelease_0404.htm Thanks, Nancy Filippino

Looking for Hunter Bellenger. Anyone with current contact info please email CR or pm me. Thanks Adam Filippino Consolidated Rigging, Inc. www.crmojo.com.

Here s a news link to an article on the "overzealous behaviour of the Yosemite law enforcment community". The link requires a subscrption. http://www.latimes.com/search/dispatcher.front?Query=yosemite&target=article&x=19&y=4 Same old story...jail for jay walking, four-figure fines for things like public consumption of alcohol. This time it's grandmothers and tourists, not BASE jumpers. Gardner/ABP board members---here is some ammo! I read the article in my local paper (not the LA Times). If someone can source an all-access copy online, please post the link. If not, I'll scan it and post it later in the WE. Happy Holidays Adam Filippino Consolidated Rigging

I would suggest verifying line trim. For several reasons canopies tend to get "flatter" with age. From there I would experiment with shallower settings to see if this makes the problem go away. I would expect that just a small change (3-6cm) in combination with a properly trimed canopy would stop it from happening with out generating excessive forward speed. Have you checked w/ BR? Adam Filippino Consoidated Rigging, Inc.

Gus, We found the scenario I mentioned was more likely to occur on slider jumps, which is not surprising given what a slider does to a canopy during deployment. I believe it can happen regardless of canopy but if for example a different canopy has a steeper trim or different airfoil than the Ace, those things may mitigate it so it won't be very likely to occur. BR's Vtec canopies had this rocking thing going on and I was told they attributed it to air coming in from the lower surface vents then out the nose. This could be. I think they went with shallow brakes to solve the issue. Which is really the heart of the issue. If the canpoy moves forward on deployment it will not tend to rock back. Adam Filippino Consoidated Rigging, Inc.

It could be a deployment stall. Deployment stalls will often occur sporadically if the deplyment brake setting is just a little too deep. Things like airspeed , winds etc will be the deciding factor as to whether or not the canopy actually experiences a stall or not. However, something we experiencd in testing on the Ace and Black Jacks could also be occuring. I didn't look at your movie. Do you have a canopy with 5 upper control lines per side? What you are desrcibing (if it is not a stall) is a common by-product of the 5 upper control line configuration. When controling 2.5 cells of the tail per side, the canopy's trailing edge is almost completely tensioned. It is almost like the skirt of a round parachute. What can, and has happened, is that the high-pressure mass of air under your canopy actually vents to the front at line stretch. This causes the canopy to pitch backwards. Aerodynamically, is not stalled but geometrically it has a positive angle of attack. It will then pitch forward and fly off as if nothing happened. Originally, we brought this under control with the Ace and Black Jack by simply using shallower brake settings. However in recent months we have gone one step further. These canopies still use a 5-line setup but, now only controlling 2 cells per side. This configuration has softened openings, and improved heading performance-especially with a slider. By retaining 5-control lines, turn and flare response is largely unchanged but openings are better in every way. If you have an older Ace or BJ, we have a free retrofit kit that you can request. Regardless of what brand canopy you have, I would first determine if it is a true aerodynamic stall or not and then examine your options. In the short term, I would suggest using the shallowest of the available brake settings Thanks Adam Filippino Consolidated Rigging

Hello Everyone. Consolidated Rigging has new contact information effective immediately. Consolidated Rigging, Inc. 2945 Bell Road, #151 Auburn, CA 95603 tel: +530 889-1917 fax: +530 889-1871 Email (support@crmojo.com) remains unchanged and is also the best way to reach us. Thanks

After 15 years of design, manufacture and sales of BASE equipment, Adam Filippino the owner and founder of Consolidated Rigging, Inc. has decided to pursue new career opportunities and will no longer be involved on a day to day basis with the BASE industry. The bulk of Consolidated Rigging assets have been sold to long-time employee Martin Tilley who has formed Asylum Designs. Martin Tilley has been with CR for 5 years during which time he was responsible for the manufacture of the Perigee Harness Container System and many aspects of the business. He is an FAA Master Rigger and has been BASE jumping for 15 years. He has worked in parachute rigging and BASE equipment manufacture for that entire time. Many BASE jumpers own, or are familiar with, equipment Martin has built. Asylum Designs is a new company dedicated to the manufacture, sales and support of BASE equipment and training. Asylum Designs will continue to manufacture sell and support the Perigee series of Harness Container Systems, all accessories and the Ace and Black Jack canopies. Adam will actively consult with Asylum Designs and Martin to ensure that the transition is as seamless as possible. All the outstanding products and services you have come to expect from CR will be available from Asylum Designs. Until the end of April, orders and inquiries may be placed through existing channels. During this time the changes will be largely transparent to the customer. Consolidated Rigging’s web page, email and phone numbers will remain active. crmojo.com will be the best source for updated information on the changes. Commencing May 1st, 2004 Asylum Designs will be the primary contact point for pending or new orders. Customers wishing to purchase a Complete System or a Perigee Harness and Container System should contact Asylum Designs. Asylums’ contact information and web page address will be made public prior to the end of April. Consolidated Rigging will remain in operation indefinitely. However, activities will be limited to managing the business transition, parachute design and sales. Adam intends continue work on a variety of parachute design projects, some of which are specifically for BASE jumping. In the future, customers desiring just a new parachute are encouraged to contact CR directly. All other equipment needs can be filled by Asylum Designs. For those of you that know me: Be excited for the new horizons that I have found. Thank you all for all the years of support and loyalty and I hope to see you at the exit point someday. For those of you who know CR: Be excited that this change represents not a loss but a rebirth. Look for exciting developments in the future from Asylum Designs. Adam Filippino Martin Tilley

Oscillating PCs are a major concern for BASE jumpers. They have proven to cause off-heading openings and in the BASE environment that's a BIG deal. We designed a solution to this problem by developing a pilot chute that uses a formed parabolic profile and an apex vent. Appropriately named, the AV Series they are available in 4 standard sizes plus custom. Since their release in '01 they have been immensly popular. Most BASE jumpers now use vented pilot chutes. Last year we sponsored the US Crew Team with 34" versions of these pilot chutes and they had rave reviews. Chris Gay commented that they were especially effective in the shorter delay slots where cross-stream deployments wreaked havoc with standard style PCs. Check them out here . If you would like more info about how and why these pilot chutes work so well feel free to contact us. support@crmojo.com Thanks Adam Filippino Consolidated Rigging, Inc.

Going stowed is a relatively new thing to BASE. It has become the norm and for the most part that's OK. Although many aspects of the isssue are being discussed in this thread, I'd like to draw your attention to an article written and presented over 6 years ago when going stowed was more novel. Check out the document entitled: stowed in our library. Hopefully, it will add a bit of context to the dicussion. In skydiving and in BASE (until recently) pilot chute reliability has been chronicaly overestimated. It's good to see constructive dialouge on the subject. Thanks Adam Filippino Consolidated Rigging