councilman24

"A systemic or specific equipment design issue" The goal here was with a properly sized container for the reserve used (container chosen by manuf. for the specific reserve make/size used for all tests) do we see bag extraction force requirements higher than PC drag forces. In reality the prime data is just how much drag do these PC's create in real life freefall behind a jumpers burble. The towed PC data gave us that. The single AAD launch for each gave us one extraction force measurement. Data is limited due to cost of program. That doesn't mean that any particular rig (which may not have been tested) with an over stuffed reserve container and an over stuffed main container and a loop 3 inches too long may not have issues launching as seen in the referenced video. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

There is no 'hand deploy'. The non aad data, either at terminal or sub terminal started with the pull of the reserve ripcord. The pilot chute launched and reached the end of the bridle. The bridle was attached to the yolk of the rig with a three ring release a few inches (maybe a foot) from the bag. The forces are the peak when the PC hit the end of the bridle and the constant force as it was towed in stable free fall. Then the bridle was released and the PC allowed to extract the bag. All deployments were video taped. The load cell transmitted wirelessly and was small so didn't really effect the function much at all. The AAD deployments were made flat and stable with a manually activated cutter. The peak is the peak measured by the load cell as the PC deployed the reserve as it would normally for a total malfunction/AAD fire. No delays in bag launch were observed. All jumps were made by the same jumper using the same techniques and body position. And no this was about PC design, this was about why are people bouncing after AAD fires? Are bags being held up by tight rigs and are PC's drag strong enough to deploy bag. For the seven rigs submitted (all were invited) no issues were seen although differences in towed PC force were observed. Don't try to guess which was which. You won't get it right. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

The ripcord deployments are pulling a ripcord, launching the PC without allowing the bag to be extracted. The bridle was attached to a three ring at the yolk a few inches from the bag. The peak force is the spike on the load cell as the PC hit the end of the bridle attached to the three ring that towed the PC until release. The sustained force is the PC being towed at terminal. The AAD force is essential the extraction force of the free bag. These are lower because the PC is not towed. A manually activated cutter cut the loop and initiated normal reserve deployment. The PC never had to exert it's maximum force to extract the bags. Note that only 7 manufacturers participated. Not all of the most popular rigs are represented. All were invited. Some declined and some never responded. The manufacturers got the data for their own gear and agreed not to use it for marketing. No, I don't know which letter is which rig. In watching the video opening times were not significantly different and no bag was delayed in extraction. The load cell was in line in the bridle and transmitting wirelessly. But YMMV depending on your combination of components, rigging, attitude, speed and a multitude of factors. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

How big? A custom jumpsuit for belly flying will likely solve the RW issue. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

+1 Love those... I still have my old 260 sitting in the closet. Well take it out of the closet and sell it to me. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

But you want the hybrid, not the CRW version, if you want to go to terminal. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

You know you can still by a Fury 220, the Glide Path version of the Django Pegasus? http://flightconcepts.com/7-cell-reserves/ Flight Concepts is the reorganization descendant of Glide Path. Or a zp manta in sizes down to 185. Don't get me wrong, I like and own a triathlon but seems you want to relive the old days. And the newest Swift Plus somewhere close to 25 years old. Many riggers have age limits to the stuff they will work on. While I don't have a drop dead age for these any Swift Plus is getting pretty old. You should update your choice of reserve. If you want old school new Glide Path/Flight Concepts reserves are also still available. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Contact below for the experts on mechanical bar tackers. Herbert Jaffe Inc 40-11 Skillman Ave Long Island City, NY 11104-9003 Phone: 718.392.1956 Fax: 718-393-2748 herbertjaffe@attglobal.n I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Have to admit this is not something I don't know much about. Would like to see photo in gear, special preparation of rig, his weight and height and how the hell do you go that fast? Congrats I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I believe that's what Skydive Sandwich (Roger Nelson) had in the 80's. Never jumped it. Of course it may have been supported by other activities. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Ever spot for rounds? I did 6 weeks ago. Sport jump. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

You might reconsider that statement if you had ever had Herb Porter, former DZO of the Abbotsford, BC dz in the pilot's seat ( this was back in the 60's ). You told Herb what altitude you wanted & where you wanted to get out. When he opened the door you would be about 15 secs from 'there.' Jerry Baumchen I've know many pilots like that and jumped with one last week. But who "spotted". The jumper who told him where he wanted to be? And who threw the winddrift? Yes we all know past and current pilots who never require a correction. I still maintain that while they are excellent drivers the skydivers spot. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Fair enough. But you've been around. Haven't you been in a C-182, the newbie pilot opens the door, and you're almost crossing the DZ but a couple fields off to the side? "What's the hand signal for 90 left then 90 right??" Having a pilot who can spot makes it easier for skydivers to do their spotting, and doesn't waste DZ fuel on go arounds. That's the newbies I was ranting about. They insist that THEY aee the airport which means that we do need a 90 right and cut. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Aside from my rant, I know how to tell if I'm looking straight down directly. Not sure I could tell that in the limited field of view of a mirror. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Pilots don't spot, skydivers spot! Skydivers throw and watch the wind drift, skydivers watch the drift and ground speed of the airplane, skydivers account for the time necessary for the formations on the load to climb out so that all can reach the LZ, skydivers check for traffic below, skydivers check for clouds below, skydivers adjust the spot for opening altitudes, skydivers are responsible for their own exit and landing! At least that's how it was, that's how it should be and that's what the FAA used to believe. Now pilots and DZO's as well as the jumpers can be fined for FAR violations. Pilots don't need to see straight down. Unfortunately we have trouble convincing our new skydiver drivers fresh from the local university aviation program of that fact. Yeah, yeah I know, I'm an old fart. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Was cat person for whole life until married at 46 and wife was allergic. Have had a carnival gold fish for kids that has survived 4 years. Then inherited maltese/yorkshire mix after my sister died. Actually now becoming a dog person. Friendly, picking up poop not so bad after you've had two kids, fetch is fun, doesn't smell too much. But can't leave a dog alone for a four day weekend. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Full face helmets limit visibility, hearing, talking, other people being able to see your eyes and expressions and sometimes head motion. For those of you growing up with them it may not be a big deal but it can be. It took me 10 years to find one that had the visibility I wanted, and it still really doesn't. Visibility issues? Can you see your handles, can you turn your head or does your helmet hit your risers, can you see your hook knife(s), can you see chest, mud flap, leg strap rated altimeters and can you see jumpers and canopies around you? Hearing issues? Can you hear emergency commands in the airplane, exit counts, people under canopy yelling at you because your about to run in to them, the air rushing by (and in your face) to know how fast your going to indicate an issue with your canopy before your see it. Talking? Can you give effective exit counts, communicate in freefall (yes you can yell and be heard in some situations but also your lips can be read), and can you yell at the guy about to run into you under canopy on a collision alternate base? Other people see your face? Lip reading from above, facial expressions of horror when you see your buddies canopy coming out on the step or a newbie diver about to hit you from behind, eye motions to show your RW buddies where the next guy docking is? Advantages? Quieter, less wind blast, face protection (from rain a few weeks ago was good), hear audibles better? (not for me so far). Most advantages are convenience or comfort. Most disadvantages involve safety. Need to have experience to make an informed decision. But I'm an old fart and still don't like my Phantom X, not because of any issue with the helmet but some of the issues above. But it did keep the pointing end of the raindrops from hurting. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Holding the Paraflite "rating" was not an instruction, it was a requirement. My FISDO did not recognize it, had the opinion that no manufacturer could impose an additional rigger training requirement, and said I didn't need it. It got even less legitimate when USPA tried to issue ram air rigger ratings. Never had either and my FISDO didn't care. There may have not been a TSO requirement for a manual in b but Paraflite had one and stated the Paraaflite rating as a requirement. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Okay, okay. But he did say he was guessing and sounds like he's never seen one. Sorry Max. But I'm still pissed about lots if new senior riggers not being trained on rounds. BTW I had read every issue of Parachutest ever published before my third jump. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Why is someone with three years in the sport answering this? But he got it right. It is not TSO'd but the OTHER legal type of parachutes are military contract rigs. Post a photo and all us old farts on here can tell you what is it. IF it's airworthy its legal. And if you have the tools to pack any other PEP you can pack this one. You might not want to but you can. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

This model was among one of the first BOCs. At the time people were worried about the spandex being damaged. With the heavier spandex used it evilved that the pockets wore out before they were damaged. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Did you seriously have a rigger refuse to pack a round PEP with a round ??? Remember, many new riggers for the last few years have no training on round parachutes. Dave DeWolf does not include training or testing on round parachutes and PEP's in his basic rigger course. For that training you have to stay longer and spend more money. On the other hand my FAA Supervising Inspector REQUIRES me to test senior rigger candidates on round AND ram air parachutes. And even if they know how to pack they many don't have the equipment and facilities to pack round parachutes and don't want to mess with them. The problem is with the ones that don't know how but still pack them. On the other hand there still should be a lot of old farts around the midwest. About all I pack are pilot rigs with rounds. He may not have tried very hard. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Is the up tab tbicker than the down tab? Its not hard to make but photos aren't clear. Also if someone makes some they need to know what can be wrong. A badly made set of normal velcro toggles he bought at a boogie caused a friend's brake to lock and he spiraled into the trees and speared his butt cheek. As soon as i saw the toggles I showed him what was wrong. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I would call that the left side, unless you are putting your feet toward the headboard (presuming that your wife is also in the bed). My reference point is standing at the foot of the bed facing the headboard. That's house right then, not stage right. Put on your pants, which is the right leg? Put on your bed, which is the right side? Or just point and say that one. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Yes, with paraplegic leg assist device and someone experienced with it. Either rig o2 to go or two bottles one in plane and one on ground. She's dying. Do what you can. My dying 62 year old sister went tubing behind a ski boat. Priceless photos. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE