gunsmokex

Yeah my Vector II spring about took off my riggers picture on his wall. Funny thing is my other rigger said he'd like me to get away from jumping Vector containers. Ill file this information away for when we have the discussion about Vector II containers vs. Javelin. Can't wait to see what he says. I think a lot of people in the skydiving community think that the more $$ you spend the safer you are. My latest "new" container cost $50. Container only. The rest of the parts are being swapped out from my old worn Vector II. But I love UPTs transparency when it comes to their rigs. Example of such is the old school video on Youtube showing the benefits of a meshless reserve PC.

It seriously only jumps 3 ft?!? Is that common on all Sunpath reserve PC's?

I looked at my state, South Dakota, pretty sure out number is inflated because of the Indian Reservations. They are literally like 3rd world countries and the crime rate is worse on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation than Compton, CA. In fact just from the 9 reservations alone it actually doubles our crime rate stats. https://www.ksfy.com/content/news/Reservation-crime-would-nearly-double-South-Dakota-stats--416659913.html

Thanks for the reply. I'll look into the SkySnatch PC. I'd be interested to if anyone has a setup of a wingsuit using a PISA Hornet as they have a bad rap for hard openings. I've had one hard opening on it from something funky using a packer on a hop and pop during a canopy course (i'm sure it was body position ) It was a PC in tow i believe.....opened....slam.....ouch. I know wingsuiting is a whole different ball game when it comes to the burble behind you though. I just want to get the right setup. My Hornet was a later model and they fixed their notorious hard openings using a larger slider. So I believe I might be ok there. I do love the canopy though. From what i'm seeing though the swift does look like a very decent suit. Right now I'm thinking SkyDive Chicago for a weekend roadtrip....after the Tiki Bar opens! I still have a few jump tix left there anyway.

My goal this yr is to get into wingsuiting. I'm going to start looking for a FFC, but need recommendations on a general idea of what kind of wingsuit to start with? I'm going to probably rent from Wicked Wingsuits. Also anyone that knows of any FFC near the upper midwest please let me know. I jump a Hornet, low wing loading, going to eventually get a new PC with bridle extension.

Thanks Rob, yeah i don't plan on free flying anytime soon. My goal this year is to get into a wingsuit and keep working on my belly skills. If I did freefly then I'd definitely buy a container designed for that discipline deployment @ 160+mph doesn't sound like fun especially with a Hornet.

Update I actually found a 10 yr Vector II closet queen with just the container (made in 1996 and put away in 2006). Just have to swap out the freebag, reserve pc, AAD and the 'new' container even once had an RSL so the same components should work from my old container which I had an RSL added onto the new one. Velcro is new, container even looks "fresh". Thanks for all of the input I just didn't really realize that webbing loses 1/2 its strength under the right conditions. I'm very happy with this container its being put together right now. I can see how UV ray exposure, use and abuse would decrease the webbing strength. It'd be interesting to review those 2 harness failures.

Very cool app!

There is also my friends cheapo style go pro lying out there somewhere in the weeds. I came off on exit, we looked for a while and never found it. Oh and funny story my friends were out there before I got a jump with them at that DZ and well they went to full altitude with no door. Must've been dam cold! Nice clear and pull bro! Definitely take heed on the shirt advice goes for fleece jackets and such too. Just find a nice used jumpsuit that fits you and you'll be much happier.

Hmm that's a bummer that happened man. Great DZ though, I've made a jump there. Chill and a great atmosphere for jumping and very good people too. I'm thinking there may have been circumstances you may not have known about behind the scenes going on there. Not sure if you updated you profile yet but says you are on your 3rd jump so I assume this was your 4th. Did you actually meet and get to talk to your instructor? Instead of talking to the DZO try the instructor instead and you will have better luck. DZO has to fill loads to keep the pilot flying at small DZ especially if they have 2 planes going at the same. Anyway that's my suggestion. I'm suspecting though that quite possibly your instructor maybe wasn't there. Or (worst case scenario) the DZO called an instructor out just for you...the student....you left....the instructor shows up......no student.....and yeah not good. Its a good vibe out there and in the skydiving world and yeah i'm sure you realize this is a way different world than other or at least you should soon. Students always get frustrated and come and go at every DZ cause of weather, rigs, stafffing, etc. Its the ones that keep coming back that actually become skydivers. Leaving unannounced sorry but I see your frustration but that's just not cool. Keep trying and keep coming back and don't get too frustrated.

Simple question, probably a complicated answer. Talking with my rigger he stated that the webbing over 20 yrs loses 1/2 of its strength. Is this true?!? Just wondering because my container is from the mid 90's and that statement worries me....a lot.

Thanks for that correction. Yes it was a great student canopy! I've seen many students flare waay too high before the flare command was given on radio and it sets them down nice and gentle each time Only problem is the light student who hang in the sky well forever lol.

I'm curious as the size and style of canopy as well. Getting good flare down on a large student canopy really helped my confidence level when I was student. For reference that canopy was a Skymaster 290, so it was F111. Don't know if that helped me or not because when I finally got to ZP I actually got different flare of course.

Nice exposure for our sport. I guess Terry Francona (Indians coach) did a skydive then went back with the rest of his coaches to do another one. Here is the article http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26332385/francona-takes-indians-crew-skydiving I guess some Navy SEALs convinced him to go lol. Dropzone looks like Skydive Buckeye. Nice work for our sport guys! I couldn't find in on the DZ.com map though.

Definitely "High Speed Dirt" by MegaDeth. The whole song is about skydiving and 'ol Mustaine had a few jumps I think In Perris where he got a license not sure if it was an A or a B but yeah skydiving was a thing for while with Megadeth. I believe when they went platinum w/ Countdown to Extinction the whole band had to jump. There is a funny video of it out there somewhere and in the back ground is Patrick Swayze getting some jumps in for I think Point Break at the time.