SniperCJ

You might have met me too Neil. I was the guy behind you that made the "steers and queers" comment about Kansas. Glad you had fun with us! JC

That was me that posted the same problem and within an hour had an e-mail from Mirage customer service asking me to send the rig with photos and new measurements. The day Mirage received my rig Jeff (I think) called me and discussed the problem and solutions with me. Its being fixed as we type. Im very impressed with Mirage's customer service. Give em a call!. JC

Dude, with all the crap I was wearing on that jump 'stability' is a relative term. The helmet catching air and the pants NOT catching air made me backslide like a fiend! The camera dude gave a great effort keeping up with me. I have a couple more pics ill try ro get posted. None of the back of the sign tho. Its just 2 rope loops I ran thru holes in the front of the sign and knotted on front so they wouldnt pull thru (I added washers under the knots to keep them from pulling out). JC

OK, lets see if this works. Here's my sign jump. JC

Hmmm, if somebody can tell me how to post the picture or if I can scan it and e-mail it to someone to post for me, I'd be happy to do it. JC

OK, finally something I have actual firsthand experience with! I have jumped with both a fabric sign with handles on the bottom and a rigid sign with handles on the back. First the fabric one: obviously a better choice for flying with as it doesnt affect your flying very much. However, it also quickly becomes unreadable due to the flapping of the fabric. If you want to try it, write your message toward the bottom of the fabric and leave 'flapping' room at the top. I put large loops on the corners that I could easily jettison if I needed to. Rigid sign: I bought a 3-ring binder with the clear 'window' on the front flap. I printed my message on standard size paper (landscape view) and slipped it into the 'window'. I attached rope nandles to the back to hold on to. This worked very well. Affects you flying to a degree, but as you said, keep it vertical and it minimizes the effect. Dont put your entire hand into the handles, just a couple of fingers. When it was pull time, I used my left hand/arm to clutch the sign to my chest and pulled. Worked fine and I could still get rid of it if I had to. Have fun, be safe and make sure you can get rid of the sign of you need to. JC PS: and the rigid sign with the window is reusable.

Sounds like youre one jump away from receiving a lifetime ban from the sport because you "ploughed myself into the ground" and KILLED yourself. Low pulls, hooking it at all costs,,,sounds like the DZ might be a little safer for everybody for the next 2 weeks. I'm all for pushing the envelope a little, but geez, can the ego or whatever it is making you hook at all costs. If you had to wait for someone else to land and missed your hook window, then dont freakin hook. Land your canopy safely and live to hook on the next jump. Keep up like this and there wont BE a next jump some day. JC

I have a Dolphin. Put over 300 jumps on it before I went big and got the Mirage. I love the Dolphin. Ive also had a reserve ride on it with nary a problem. Ditto the "more money for jump tickets" comment!. JC

I second those opinions on Roy and Rigs and Things. Bought my first and second rigs from him plus the reserves for both plus some other assorted goodies. Good guy, very helpful, great prices.

Sony PC9 on a self built L bracket mounted on a Pro-Tec (dont laugh, it works and its safer than some ive seen!) JC

$8.29 !!?? Dayum, That hurts! Just kidding: You are worth exactly: $1,789,000.00.

About 340 JC

Ive jumped with my pager still on my belt,,,never lost it tho...

How about: "Hail to the king, baby" Its sorta a cult classic.

I really gotta hand it to Mirage Systems. Very shortly after I posted about my rig being uncomfortable I received an e-mail from Mirage Customer Service stating that they had read my post and asking that I take photos of me wearing the rig, new measurements, and send the rig in so that it can be checked. My gf and I have both dealt with Mirage customer service since we got our rigs and they have been nothing but helpful. Still, for a company to go out of its way to solicit a return and possible repair goes above and beyond the call! This is truly how you build lifelong customers. Thanks Mirage! JC Cranford

I got a new Mirage a few months ago. I probably have 30 jumps on it so far and I'm waiting for it to break in and get comfy. It pulls on my shoulders and sometimes borders on hurting. I *think* its just stiff from being new, but I'm beginning to wonder... At this point, my old Dolphin is more comfortable! I havnt tried most of the others, but I tried a Vector 3 once and it was WAY comfy the way the shoulder straps curved in a little.

Girlfriend of 3 years died of a brain aneurysm at work. Fell unconscious during a meeting and was gone less than 10 hours later. A year later I had to euthanize the old cat I had for 16 years since he was 6 months old.

"Container #2: Medium size stock Racer. I got a good price on it, so I went for it. It seemed ok when I put it on without canopies in it, but totally went into my crotch with the canopies in it. " Lucky Racer....

In the criminal psychology world its called the big 3 in reference to serial killers: bed wetting (at an unusual age), fire setting, and animal abuse. Serial killers often demonstrate these 3 things somewhere in their past. Im with you all the way on the animal abuse. Its kinda funny, Ive been a police sniper for 10 years and have long ago resolved in my mind that I may someday be called on to take a shot on some asshole. And I know I can do it without hesitation, but shooting an animal bugs me. Hmmmm, maybe I'M the serial killer... JC

Goat, Help me out with my freeflying so I can legitimately CALL myself a freeflyer and I'll gladly post some more!! JC

0:6:1 6 great jumps on Saturday. One sit that went ok, 4 great camera jumps with my 4 way team (Im getting better and better doing this camera sh&t!), and one really nice 14 way. Sunday winded out with 30+ mph and gusty. Blues! JC

Rhine, if that was for me, I'm loading at about 1.45. JC

LOL,,That IS a good idea isnt it?? See, guy hasnt even started skydiving and we're learning from each other already. JC

Skydive Dallas is closed on Thursday till March 1 when they start summer hours (closed Tues / Weds). If youre gonna be here on Friday too I'll probably be out there. Im not sure what rental is any more, but I think about $75 / day. Dunno about per jump rate. I have a spare rig with no main but I think the reserve might be outa date on it too. I'll check tonight. If its in date, I dont mind if Merrick wants to put his main in and jump it. You can PM me, e-mail SniperCJ@AOL.com, or get me at work 972-744-4925 if any of this works for ya'll. JC

Rhino, you may have answered a question I have had for a while about my Diablo. I dont swoop or come in screaming yet and on those no wind days I really have to run it out because I dont get much lift at the end. I figured the diablo really needed a faster approach to get that lift at the bottom, so it sounds like I figured correctly huh? Guess I better get cranking on that approach! JC