DancingFlame

mfnren was talking about Safire, not Crossfire. Safire has slightly tapered planform. It is a good step from PD. However, only instructor can say if he is ready for that downsize or not. W/L 0.95 on a 190 means that he will have ~1.06 on a 170. It is still safe for a jumper with lots of perfect landing on a 190. Safire has a lot more flare power and with this W/L can make pretty long surf. But again, only his instructor can tell if he is really ready.

Try this: www.paraavis.com Only in Russian though... Company makes pretty good tandem canopies (ST Tandem). But, in fact, russian skydivers prefer foreign canopies (from PD and Icarus). Some canopies are pretty good for their money. Ozone (7 cell tapered, very similiar to PD Spectre, but Spectre has much more powerful flare). Scorpion (9 cell tapered, Sabre-Safire-Pilot class canopy) now used at some DZs here in Russia. However, I found Safire fly much better than Scorpion. Russian 'dark horse', Warrior canopy (completely new design, quad-cell, like Onyx). I saw Warrior more than year ago but AFAIK it is still not in production. Extensive testing I believe. Better consult support@paraavis.com

One more pic. My rig. That's me behind it

Take a look at that photo: http://skyphoto.ru/phpgallery/displayimage.php?album=topn&cat=0&pos=0 You'll definitely like it

There is no MicroDV. There is miniDV and MicroMV...

Just don't put chest ring in order form. Without chest rings and stainless hardware I believe Element will cost ~$1000. I heard of one problem found during manufacturer tests (reserve container did not open after Cypres fire - noone get hurt, just a metal anvil hit the ground and made a lot of dust popped). But that has been corrected prior to going on market. Never heard about any problems with fit, riser covers or something else. Maria Riabikova (world champion in skysurfing) made more than 1000 jumps with Element container and it still performs good! (though looks a bit dirty ) Ay my DZ (Aerograd Kolomna) most people uses Element and Spirit containers

I demoed Spectre-135 at ~1.3 W/L, it flew really fine!

But I would not agree. Flaring a 240 is really tough job. At that small wingloading student may not have enough flare power to do the perfect landing. If downsizing to 170 put her ~1.0 W/L, it's OK unless her instructor tells her it's not. Downsizing from 0.7 to 0.9 w/l will not increase speed dramatically. Just a bit...

Comparing canopies of different sizes is wrong thing. Try Spectre-150 and Pilot 150, you'll find they have similiar front riser pressure. I thought Spectre has higher riser pressure than other canopies until I tried Spectre-135. It had really light pressure and it flew DAMN FINE! Not really slower or in any other way worse than Pilot-132 I demoed.

I believe it's not. Does it matter? it's solid rig, it is built with care. It's safe and comfortable. It's not too expensive. The only disadvantage, you'll have to wait for 8-12 weeks to get one

Element rocks! Element comes first, about 2 years ago. So, actually, it is Icon looking like Element. Fully equipped Element (4 rings, all stainless hardware, deluxe backpad etc.) costs about $1100 (only $800 without rings and stainless). I have 200 jumps with my Element and it still looks like new. I can make some pictures this weekend if you like. We have more than 50 Element H/Cs at Aerograd. It definitely worth the money it costs. Feel free to ask questions!

Leave your slider collapsed while packing the canopy. You'll get realy BRISK opening

See you next year at Aerograd!

Try e-mail them : support@paraavis.com 5 or 6 Spirit Tandem rigs are at Aerograd Kolomna in service for more than 3 years. TIs seems pretty happy with them. Rigs are heavily used, more than 12 jumps every week on an every single rig. Stealth Tandem main canopy is not certified, AFAIK. So, buying Racer may be better idea (most comfortable harness)

You can get a new ParAAvis tandem for ~$6.700. It flies great, you can check it out at Aerograd Kolomna. But it's russian , no service in US.

Try jumping with lighter people. Jumping with little cute gurls might help Seriously, wear some weight. It's not bad! When I had ~70 jumps I had the same problem (falling to slow). I've got a tighter RW suit but that didn't help. I started to wear weights... during my jumps with weights (~20-25) I got used to the relaxation during the jump and when I put the weight out I felt I could fly without weight as well! And I did! Weight will let you to fall relaxed (without hard arching that actually may not help you because you have all your muscles hard).

May I ask you to explain, why pulling toggles apart gives better flare than pushing them down? In my opinion, there is little or no difference (well, pulling apart looks better ). Toggles are routed through the small rings on the risers... why pulling them apart distorts canopy less than pulling them down? Pulling force is still directed the same way...

I prefer Barigo altimeter Costs less. Solid design.

Hope they got a yellow/red cards. There are so much threads about separation in this forum... However, these are my calculations: you make a 1 sec pause before jumping out, then you hang out of the helicopter (3 sec), say 'Ready-Set-Go!' (2 sec) and jump out. That gives you 6 seconds. Or, 250 meters of separation. Isn't it enough for a 2-way or 3-way? English name for 'sidewing' is 'base leg' And there IS a pattern you should concern! There is a rule: you must make you approach from the field! That means, if the arrow shows you it's LEFT side, you should do a LEFT approach. If you come from the field see RIGHT arrow side, make RIGHT approach! It's that easy. I'll try to make an ASCII picture ++++++++++++ +++ (buildings)()()()()()()(toilets ) On this, ahemm, picture arrow points to the right. Coming from the field, you see the left arrow side. So, make left approach, left turns. Drink some more and you will understand

The easiest way is to ask DZO (Roman), he will order you a mini-van (two, three, as many as you need). It will cost ~$70 for one car (approx. $10-15 from one person). I would recommend to stay at a hotel. August may be rainy enough to get you waking up in an aquarium instead of tent. Taxi to the hotel will cost something about $2 per person - not an issue, I believe.

Yeah, you mean DZO (Roman) Well, you may try to restrict him from doing weird things Freefliers exits are too slow. Mi-8 takes up to 26 people onboard and flies with 100 km/h speed. If you wait 3-4 seconds, it is enough to separate from other 2-way freefly formation. If you wait more, people after you is going to land somewhere far from airfield... After we had out packing tent broken for the third time , DZO decided nobody will fly above the buildings. Do you want to land safe? Land 100 meters away from the tent, closer to the windsock! It will take 1 minute to get to the tent and you will make S&TA happy She had to make 100 jumps per week with Maria Riabikova (world champing in skysurfing), so she need to land as fast as possible. I know this is a bad excuse but it still is... Man, you scares me! I got one warning in winter (for a 180 approach, they are restricted at Aerograd) And they are Uhh, I always thought women flies conservative patterns Roman is a DZO. And that BIG GUY always sitting at the boarding line is S&TA 'Mikhail Vasilievitch'. You know, every jumper in Kolomna looks at Roman or S&TA with the same impression, even me Every time I silently ask 'did I make ALL RIGHT?' but they just evilly smile . Yes, it seems like you are right. Before, there weren't as much foreigh skydivers at Aerograd. I believe, this summer we had more foreigners than local jumpers there! It is quite confusing when Natasha (that cute girl from manifest ) says 'fifty minutes call' instead of 'fifteen minutes call'. I tried to explain that fifty does mean 50 and mot 15, but she just cant remember this. Roman (DZO) is sending some staff for 'spoken English' courses... I believe next summer there won't be that problem at Aerograd. Hey! I know you made some belly-jumps with Sally We are preparing for a 110-way boogies in August. Next year we will not, so, freefly will be accepted. You know, I liked jumping in shorts ! For the first time it feels kinda weird but it's easy to get used to it! Just like a cold shower... oh, did I mention they finished the hot showers? Yes,exactly when you left Agree! Kolomna is a kick-ass place. As you said, russian women have GREAT boo... err, bodies By the way, what about Slovenia ? Do you remember that funny talking about the best slovenian chicks ?

Some of them do. But I believe they won't take foreign students. Minor misunderstanding can lead to unsafe situation. If it can, it will. In Russia, every fatality means there will be a long investigation (reasons of the incident), DZ will not function for 2-3 weeks or more. Nobody wants that. Nobody want people to die

Come on, it's easy! Just have that tiny aluminium ring loose and put away the strap. It takes 3 minutes to make that (I used a spoon to loosen the ring).

At Aerograd Kolomna, instructors will put weights on the student even for the first jump... otherwise, most of the instructors could not fly near the 45-kg wonder

If you know Russian language, you'll get a highest possible quality of instruction at Kolomna or Stoopino. If you don't, I strongly do not recommend to do AFF in Russia. Language barrier, you know... Last weekend I found out interesting thing. Foreign jumpers at the Kolomna... are the MOST UNSAFE there! Every day I heard S&TA screaming 'WHAT THE #### ARE YOU DOING THERE!!!' on some 'skygods' breaking all landing patterns, landing across the windblades, doing the most stupid things I've ever seen there. Who pulls low? German skydivers... they pull at 2500 feet! It is a rule in Kolomna: pull at 1000 meters (3100ft) or a bit higher, - it means, at 800 meters (2500 feet) you MUST be under your fully inflated canopy! Another rule: follow the landing pattern! as big red arrow points! DO NOT look on the windsock, do not break landings of you teammates ! One more rule: do not fly above the DZ buildings! (only tandems and instructors are allowed to fly there). One more: if you are not going to do a swoop landing, DO NOT land on a swoop lane! Do not land close to 'beer line'. 'Beer line' is a large white line dividing the landing area into two parts: one small for instructors and tandems, one LARGE for regular jumpers. Anyone who is not an instructor but lands on smaller part, buys a case of beer. Who breaks all the rules? Right, foreign jumpers. I can't understand, WHY? Is it too difficult to follow those simple rules? There are so much talks about safety on this forum! Sorry for my rude words, just can't hold my tongue where it should be This summer our S&TA made two cards: yellow and red. Before, there were no need in them. Now, there is. Yellow card means that jumper will be grounded for some time. Red card means that jumper will be grounded for this day and possibly for some more day.