riggersam

Unfortunately, I've discovered the interpretation of the aerial delivery regulation varies depending on how the government wants to apply it. If they don't like what you are doing, they make it apply. In one of the 1995 cases regarding that lake in the SouthWestern U.S. (one in which I was involved), arguments were made that seaplanes are allowed to land and take off from the surface without a permit. Why shouldn't parachutes be? It is my understanding that parachutes ARE allowed to land on the surface of the lake without a permit provided the jump originates from an aircraft. A movie from the early 90's that included some skydiving scenes was filmed over the lake and included scenes of jumpers landing in the lake. It is my understanding that an aerial delivery permit was neither deemed required nor was one obtained for these jumps. TS filmed those sequences and I think he can confirm that. The question then was about how the jump originated. People are allowed to jump from cliffs without parachutes. So, the focus was on a person "leaving" the park using a parachute. When questioned, a park ranger confirmed that a person jumping from a cliff into the water un-aided would not be charged with aerial delivery. When asked "What if the person was holding a bed sheet?" The answer was "It depends on how he was holding it." This implies that if the bed sheet was configured in a way that it would retard the fall of the jumper, that meets the definition of a parachute and the aerial delivery regulation is applicable. It's nuts... Mark

I have a TRV-900 and I'm considering getting a new, higher quality wide angle lense. I've been using an old Vivitar .42x since the mid-90s and its showing its age. I really should have left it when I went digital. What have you found to be the best quality for the price among lenses in the .5x range that fit the 52mm threads without an adapter? Mark

More pics: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/photo_gallery/3013889.stm

Jason, I'm not trying criticizing anyone for leaving the slider on and tying it down. I agree that the possibility of rigging errors during the removal of the slider is very real. (Personally, I've developed habits and checks during the process of putting on/removing the slider which make me more comfortable doing so) I'm guessing here, but I'm pretty sure that the people in the examples that Tom gave probably left their sliders on for reasons similar to yours. I'd just hate to see a low-time jumper reading that to say "you should leave your slider on to act as a cross-connector in case a riser unintentionally releases". I think that if you are afraid of your riser unintentionally releasing, you should inspect your gear again OR you should stay home.

Interesting thoughts, however, I don't think that these are really reasons one should use to make a decision whether or not to leave the slider on the canopy. The slider is designed to slow the opening of the canopy. If it is not used for that purpose, IMHO, it should be removed. (For similar reasons, I don't leave my tailgate in for slider up jumps) My .02 Mark

Are you using a Premiere certified capture card? That's the problem I have: I can import video from the camera and edit it just fine, but I cannot export more than a few seconds of video to the camera properly. What card are you using? (I should probably start another thread on what the best and least expensive card is for doing general video work with Premiere v6.x) Mark

I just configured my rig for a no slider jump last night by removing the slider. Why? 1) It's cleaner for packing 2) It's cleaner for deployment 3) The canopy performs better in the flatter profile. 4) An added benefit is that the harness (and therefore your body) are a bit more likely to face the same direction as the canopy on opening. IMHO, with a given opening heading, say a 120 left (god help you), you are more likely to get a line twist if the slider is on and holding the ends of the risers together than if you had removed slider.

Type-III tape comes in different widths, but the only size I've seen people use for pull-up cords is the 3/4" width. It's the same stuff that is folded in half lengthwise and double stitched to bind the edges of container flaps. Manufacturers and dropzones often have these printed up with their logos on them for advertising. That's why they're free and abundant.

Are you using Type-III tape as a pull-up cord? I've found that stuff to cut loops up. It acts almost as a saw. If so, try using gutted Type-IIA line. You'll find it slides out under the pin considerably easier meaning there is less friction with the loop and less possible damage. Be sure you're not extracting the pull up cord too fast. Let us know if you find any rough edges or burrs on the grommets or pin. Mark

I've seen video of jumpers using a pilot chute in one hand and a small canopy in the other, but not from a building. The video I have seen is OLD (early to mid 80's?) and they were only jumping over water. The small canopy looks like it was only 5 or 6 ft in diameter. so I understand why someone might confuse it with a PC. They would throw the PC first and just about the time they got linestretch, they'd toss this "backup canopy". I guess the theory was that if their one and only "real" parachute failed, this thing would slow them down at least a little - and a little was better than nothing. I agree it seems a bit silly and more dangerous by todays standards, but those were the days when some CRW jumpers wore tertiaries. How many do that today? I think the video I have seen is of one of the "H" brothers. One of them should be able to comment more. Mark

It seems to me that JV got some time for that one jump near the Mississippi River.. I can't remember how much.

I'm 6'4", 185lbs + gear... Guess I'm out of the competition.

Did they blame it on sudden gust of wind?

Regarding the Evacuchute, there's an actual foot launched BASE jump with landing here: http://www.evacuchute.com/products_building_evac.html Mark

A few years back, I was lucky enough to learn that attaching the bridle to the bag was a standard for Sun Path. I simply requested that they not attach the PC to the bag when I placed my order. Mark

Isn't the non-conductive property of a fiberglass ladder one of the things that makes it so appealing? Now you just need something to allow you to climb down. I can see myself studying up on composites... Mark