Chubba

So let me get this right. Sabre 135 1:1, Sabre 170 1:1. They will both have the same forward speeds. The smaller canopy will descent faster in all types of flight (braked/full flight etc?) and will turn faster/lose more altitude in a turn. Something about descending faster but having the same forward speed between the canopies is genuinely confusing me.

Oh really? So it turns faster/loses more altitude in a turn. What about the vertical descent in normal flight?

One of my instructors is a lawyer, you might want to keep that secret. His words: "Skydivers are a really great group of people, but that sure do get into a lot of trouble"

Fellow Australian here, Squeak is RIGHT on the money. Everyone seems to get a 170, regardless of weight if they are spending a decent whack of money. I haven't seen anybody buy a nice ZP canopy loaded ~1.0 or under, like Squeak said, the majority seem to load 1.2-1.3. I've seen guys @ 100 jumps on Sabre's loaded easily 1.5+, or cross braced at 150 jumps, the culture is definitely fast over here. The only people I have seen that are buying larger canopies are the people that grab discount F1-11 rigs to get off renting ASAP... though I see the tendency when they do buy new to go quite smaller, an example is a PD190 (1.0) to a Sabre135 (1.4) @ 90 jumps. I'm a light jumper, I went from a PD 230 to a Sabre2 170 @ 25 jumps, it's loaded slightly under 1.0. Every single person (bar my 2 original instructors) were telling me to buy a 150, some even suggested a 135 for my weight. I actually started a thread here on DZ.com asking whether I should consider a 190 (loaded 0.8ish?) because I have previous injuries... when I told other jumpers about the 190 I got essentially laughed at. My 2 original instructors eventually settled me onto the 170 after a bit of coaching... 19 jumps later on my Sabre2, all 19 soft stand up landings and not looking to change for the next few years, I'm happy. So far, I haven't seen a serious canopy injury from all these 1st canopy selections. I strongly agree with the conservative approach and I personally think a lot of these guys are way over there heads, but I'm very happy they have stayed safe so far. Bit of a rant, but that's my personal view so far of the Aus "1st canopy" scene.

Just for curiosity sake, what canopy are you flying at the moment?

Next time you're tracking away at break off (or on a solo), try to look between you legs/feet directly behind you. This is a good way to make sure you are dearched with the added bonus of being able to see everyone breakoff from the formation to ensure good separation. For canopy control, get somebody to film your landings and talk to a canopy coach or someone suitable that has seen you land first hand.

1. Straight onto rear risers during opening, check for traffic 2. Open the end cells with my rear risers (bloody Sabre2's) 3. Turn to LZ/holding area 4. Collapse slider 5. Pop toggles I should really check how my canopy responds to immediate rear riser turns while the end cells are still collapsed, I'll put that onto my to do list for my next jump... not sure if it's going to make a significant difference. I haven't explored my rear riser inputs much beyond the list above

That is something that you should definitely know before you start renting. Unlike the OP's case which is complete bollocks, a lot of DZ's do require you to replace any gear lost/damaged when renting.

I just wear good quality joggers, comfortable and plenty of support when landing (especially if you have to run it out ).

Just go hang out at the dropzone and have a chat /watch people pack and fly their canopies. You have done one jump, there's no need to overburden yourself straight up. Read some of the SIM and if something desperately needs explaining, jot down a note and ask your instructor, but don't stress this early. You don't need a comprehensive knowledge of the sport straight away, just focus on the very important tasks at hand and stay safe.

Slightly off-topic. There's a tandem videography "tribute" on skydivingmovies. One of the camera flyers goes above the tandem and "twangs" on the drogue bridle. Is that something that would get you in a lot of trouble? What is someone unintentionally ended up above a tandem? What typically happens then?

I read about dual SOS systems on here at some point, it sounded like a really good system. What are the disadvantages of a dual SOS system compared to the single SOS system (no dummy)? I'm trying to think of one, but I'm coming up blank.

You can always buy "near new" used gear, I got my Infinity with only 10 jumps on it (pic attached, VERY clean), Sabre2 with only 50 jumps, PD reserve with 0 jumps and a 8 month old Cypres2. If you got the cash, you can get pretty much EXACTLY what you want in the used gear market... it's going to cost you though. I overpaid, but I'm loving my gear Australian dollar went to absolute shit, turns out my overpaid gear is now an bargain

Wait till you're 18, then go skydiving with your own money as an adult.

I was being serious 4 people would be a comfortable ride. We have 5 jumpers + pilot in our 182. Getting stuck behind a AFF1 wearing the 280ft rig is a nightmare, I nearly fainted the other weekend. You know it's a 182 dropzone when people are estatic when the DZO says "anyone want to go up for a hop n pop"... still takes at least 5 minutes to 3500ft but it's definitely not the crushing ride to 10k.

Our DZ has SOS + dummy cutaway handle and were taught sports EP's from jump 1. Good system IMO.

Only 4 people in a 182? That would be a comfortable ride to altitude

Nice one Make sure you set it to "STU" (student) mode if you do hop n pops, otherwise it won't pick up on short freefalls.

I can't wait for my 200th. Wingsuit BASE with camera, going to be a fun jump.

I got one of those freak metabolisms, I've been 65kg/145lbs since I was 13, impossible to gain weight.

I think it's time to link this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA2qwCRXdZY

One thing that I've seen more then once is when a first jump student gets a long spot, the CI points them in the right direction and tells them to maintain heading. The student though, first time being under canopy wants to play around and experience all the inputs... starts spiralling, doing flares, flying in random directions despite the CI telling them specifically "head for home" a dozen times. So yeah, despite being under canopy at 4000ft, they don't make it back and end up owing 2 cartons of beer

...and the plot thickens Though in all seriousness, you got to self-monitor your own situation, if seems out of the ordinary or it goes against the recommendations of your governing body... question it.

We got something like that in Australia. To achieve your B license you have to complete the "B-rels", 10 stages/skills done by a rel work tutor. The end result is supposed to be a skydiver that is capable of safely doing "up to 10 way flat fly's".

Got to love hop n pops