Jonsmann

Fine by me!

Really, take a look here they invented the Psycho pack. http://www.precision.aero/omega_pack.htm http://www.precision.aero/extreme_pack.htm http://www.precision.aero/tandempack.htm As you can see the tail is definitely not rolled! If you roll the tail you offset two clear benefits of the Psycho pack. The controlled arrangement of the nose when it is on the ground, and verification that the control lines have stayed at the back. There are variations of the Psycho pack (personally I use a more exotic version) but the variation I describe is the most common. Jacques

This is where you are wrong. There are no difference until you wrap the tail around the canopy. After that stage the packing methods are different. We seem to agree that what comes after the canopy is put on the ground is different, so lets focus on what comes before. 1. With a Pro-P the nose is usually wrapped/closed and put in the center of the pack job (or variations of this). This is not done with a Psycho-P where the nose is arranged after it is put on the ground. (more control as Dave points out) 2. After pulling the tail around the canopy the tail is closed (by wrapping the two sides). This is not done with a Psycho-P where you just hold on to the tail, and arrange the tail when it is one the ground. (more control as Dave points out) How the canopy is put on the ground and how it is bagged is quite different, but we seem to agree on this. I think the two packing methods are quite different, and saying that Psycho packing is just a Pro-Pack with a twist is misleading. It is like comparing a Diablo and a Crossfire 2, they are both elliptical ram-air canopies right? How different can they be? Jacques

I don't quite agree with this. I think psycho packing is more than "just a different way to put it in the bag", and it definitely gives slower openings. I've tamed Sabre 150's that for years had given consistent hard openings. To the original poster; go ahead and try psycho packing, but please get help from someone who normally psycho pack. Too many think they know how, but really don't know anything. Many people have tried psycho packing without instruction and gotten miserable openings as a result (often with line twists). Jacques

You are right it looks strange, but it doesn't matter one bit! I've been psycho packing for 8 years now and I'm still really happy with it. Jacques

When one of my Cypres' expires by the end of the year, I will replace it with a Cypres2. I don't need the uncertainty of an unproven AAD. In 5 years time maybe it will be another AAD, but now it will definitely be a Cypres2. Jacques

Nasty oil stain. I'd be more worried about the RSL ring, its just waiting to snag on the rip-cord housing. Jacques

So you trashed your new BMW because you drove in the wrong side of the road? Jacques

How about this one. Many years ago when I was just off student status, my RW instructor and I was waiting for the plane in the loading area. We see a student hit the ground really hard, and stay down. Many people run to help out, so we stay and go with the plane. Under canopy I look down and see an ambulance parked in the landing area next to the injured guy and like 15 people standing next to him. several times during the canopy ride I told myself to land well away from the ambulance and the people, but I kept looking at the ambulance (big mistake). Guess where I landed, 5-6 feet from the ambulance. My canopy blew toward the injured guy on the stretcher, and would have wrapped him if it had not been caught by the bystanders. I still feel like a bloody fool so many years after! Lesson: You will land where you look! Jacques ps. The injured guy had multiple fractures in the leg. He recovered fully, but never jumped again. He was in too much pain to notice my canopy. A few others did notice as has been pointed out to me quite a few times since.

In that case you should look into the SMG-92 turbine finist. Jacques

Can you please explain why they are a horror to operate? Do they need 2 pilots? Maintenance? The LET 410's I have jumped have been great, I prefer it over a Twin Otter. Jacques

You do mean it was -10 C on the ground right? If it was in 13000 ft is was not cold. Rather comfy actually. (and no I am not kidding). Jacques

That's exactly why I was asking. I've had some fogging problems that go away as soon as I can get my head in the door. But I'm doing a high alt load this weekend @24k where it might be more trouble than I've had at 16-18, should it lead to ice. I got my ice experience at -30 C, if you will get to the same temperature be careful not to let the helmet fog up. Instead of the usual clearing of the fog the ice appeared when I exited. Just make sure you exhale through the mouth hole in the helmet. I have done several jumps at comparable temperatures without problems by doing this. The ice is milky white and you can see nothing through it! Sure taught me a lesson. It is no fun to be skydiving blind. Jacques

If you think fog is a problem you haven't jumped in cold weather! Fog that turns into ice IS a problem! One winter I spend an entire jump without seeing the 4 people I jumped with. Couldn't see my altimeter either even when it was pressed against the full face helmet. And no I couldn't get the helmet open. Jacques

Well you have me tempted, you seem quite agitated about being called a whiner! Being asked to pay sales tax for the past 10 years sounds like something from a banana republic. Lets see if the US is a banana republic then. If it is only 7.45% sales tax from now on it is annoying, but not really a problem. Jacques

I am serious and that is what I have been informed as to what is going on. I'm not the type of person to blow smoke up your ass, I'm telling you the truth. So quit doubting and judging a situation that's not even in your country. Oh dear, I am not judging you at all (just being mildly amused at your expense). I am just questioning how 7.45% can manage to double the price. If that makes sense to you I would love to hear it. If it really manages to add up to doubling the price, there is something totally messed up in the US tax system. If it is a simple 7.45% added to the price and not 100%, I would like to repeat that you whine. Jacques

My DZ has a 206 with the same engine. It goes to 13000 ft in 15 minutes with 6 skydivers, so your 18.5 minutes sound about right. Going to less than 13000 ft is silly for a turbine Cessna. We have been in 20000 ft with ours, and it took 25-30 minutes. Jacques

At a commercial DZ you buy a service (the lift to altitude) and of that transaction you pay sales tax. What is the problem? everyone seems to want skydiving to be as commercial as possible, so now you have it, but you don't like to have what comes with it. It sounds like whining to me. However, in a skydiving club it is a completely different matter. Jacques

Hm, how do you come up with "double" lift ticket prices????? In Denmark we have the highest sales tax (I think) in the world 25%, and that is far from doubling the price. It is ok that you whine a bit, but please be serious. Jacques

A stall does not have to involve a canopy collapse. If you stall your canopy and let it develop the canopy will at some point collapse. I stall my canopy on almost every jump up high, just to be reminded of the stall point. When I try canopies other than my usual one, I always stall it but I never let it develop to a collapse. My Diablo is a bit unforgiving when recovering from a collapse! Stalls done at altitude are harmless and everyone should do it on occasion. Just be careful about letting them develop into a full collapse. Jacques

From e-bay: Makes me wonder if he was widowed or just divorced. Jacques

Put the canopy in the bag yes only a few seconds, but I am talking about everything leading up to it being bagged. I think it will lead to an unacceptably high malfunction rate if it only takes 30 seconds from you start the pack job until it is in the bag. Is it at all possible? Jacques

In the video on the web site they bag it in 60 seconds, and you can do it twice as fast. Hmmm I would very much like to see you do it in 30 seconds! Using any method. Jacques

"A fast, ground-hungry canopy that swoops like crap!"*** You got it mate, that is what I want! Really!

In fact I just have!