skydiverek

The difference is I do not jump a 'prototype', or kind of 'secret' canopy. Maybe a design is already not really protected anymore and PD does not care, but if not, it would be unresponsible to leave SUCH rig unlocked and unattanded, so that a competition had an option to steal it, pick the stitches, disassemble the canopy, perform all the meausurements, and manufacture a copy canopy, or a very similar canopy. Such things do happen in other industries. But, if PD does not care about the above, then we are just talking about the cost of materials stolen (say $10,000), not about huge R&D costs that went into designing and releasing Peregrine, as well as future profits (say $100,000). So, the question is: does PD care if someone had a chance to measure all the parts of disassembled Peregrine? Anyone can do it with Stiletto, etc, but my feel was that Peregrine was more protected (as in: not sold just to anyone, you had to be selected by PD, etc).

Something tells me this is Reverse Engeenering at work... I wonder if the rig was left unattended and unlocked and any time.

Check out this whole thread for more info on Slinks nad tandem: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3326440;page=1;mh=-1;;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC

It was designed for a 200mph headdown opening with freeflyers in mind, so that you are not injured/killed (accidental opening, etc).

http://www.performancedesigns.com/packingchart.asp

Do you measure altitude in ft? Nope. 4000 meters it is !

True ...

Please read THIS POST of mine: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4185232#4185232

John, So, how do you rebuttle the TK Donle's points (posted here on DZ.com in 2002): "We carefully tested the red Teflon cable when it was introduced in April of 1997. In its current form, it is not approved for use with Relative Workshop Vector, Micron, or Sigma Systems. Here are the reasons why. 1) Due to its slick nature, Teflon does not stick well to other materials, including stainless steel cable. One local manufacturer of these new cutaway handles has already discovered long runs of Teflon separating from the cable. Can you imagine pulling your cutaway handle, only to find the Teflon still running through your 3-Ring loop, thereby preventing a cutaway. 2) It's difficult, if not impossible, to melt the Teflon to effectively cover the sharp, exposed cable ends. Instead of melting into a liquid state, Teflon tends to evaporate into a gaseous state when heated. (This is referred to as "sublimation.") We understand the current supplier of these handles is simply blunt cutting them with no further end preparation. We've heard a recent report of a sharp cable-end snagging the 3-Ring loop and damaging it. 3) A local rigger reported that the outer Teflon coating shrunk noticeably during a 120-day inspection cycle on one of his customer's rigs, exposing the end of the inner cable. Samples provided to us by the current supplier also exhibit this problem. 4) Red Teflon can be sucked through the grommet at the end of the cutaway cable with less force than the standard yellow Lolon-F cable now in use. This is a major disadvantage when coupled with out-of-spec risers that can heavily load the 3-Ring loop. 5) Teflon coating is softer than Lolon-F. You can easily create an impression on the surface with your fingernail. Worse yet, the 3-Ring loop and the housing grommet will imbed themselves into the Teflon under high loads, hence the increase in pull forces at 2000 lbs. We know we're getting 2000 lbs.+ loads due to the number of broken risers that we have seen over the last 6-8 years. In our estimation, red Teflon cable exhibits far too many problems in its current form. Teflon coatings are not a cure-all for improperly made 3-Ring risers. And don't forget Relative Workshop has been producing cutaway handles with the yellow Lolon-F coating for over 14 years, and we've never had a reported problem with it when combined with properly constructed risers. And if you were to think about improving the qualities of Teflon, you'd want to make it slightly harder so it wouldn't be so impressionable; You'd make it slightly less slick, so it sticks to the cable permanently; You'd add something to it so it wouldn't sublimate when heated so one could form a bullet-shaped end...........and what you come up with is Lolon-F! And you've already got it! Hope that answers your question. Loose the red stuff and go back to your original RWS yellow Lolon-F handle, and you'll be safer for it! Best regards, T.K. DONLE Tandem Program Director Quality Assurance Manager Vice President The Uninsured Relative Workshop, Inc. 1645 Lexington Avenue DeLand, FL 32724"

Oil lasts one month, silicon lasts one week (as per John Sherman).

http://bard.ca/skydiving/jumpshack-dealer/racer-features/

How about the red cable fracturing? There was a photo of such case by Polish rigger in 1997 (or so) Skydiving Magazine.

John, What do you think about the Tear Drop (photo attached). The amount of reserve container covered by the main riser covers has always scared me! There is less then an inch from the reserve PC to the riser covers. BTW, wasn't it intended to be a Racer rip-off ?

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4051517#4051517

This is real... .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bGxaWTEubw

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/904176_10200322425296972_164888592_o.jpg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPSqoNKvMu8

Relatively easy to replace if you have hip rings. But, do one jump and see.

+1. Best ever!

You are always FACING the wind. Think about it - when you are, as you are saying, flying with the wind *behind* you, according to your theory, your main PC would be blown in FRONT of the canopy, correct...? And it is not...

Says it all here: http://performancedesigns.com/docs/Spectre-Flight-Char.pdf

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3978424#3978424

John, Pleas see the attached PDF file on the Collins Lanyard (currently, UPT uses a more streamlined version of it, though).

He was simply untwisting them.

Same here, in this thread.