kas@hp-pcd.UUCP (kas) (02/09/85)
Since there hasn't been all that much activity in this net group, I'll
try to generate some by giving you all a chance to disgorge all that pent-up
knowledge you've just been dieing to share with someone. But first, a little
background history.
I started jumping back in '72 when PC's were "in" and nobody seriously
considered jumping a canopy that wasn't round. The harness/container systems
came in two models: (1) conventional backpack for the main with a belly-wart
reserve, or (2) piggyback rigs. Canopy releases came in one style, 1-1/2 shots,
and nobody had even thought of throw-out pilot chutes yet. After I had made
enough jumps to decide that I wanted to stick with the sport, I started to
acquire a new set of gear. Since the piggyback rigs of the day had relatively
small advantages over "conventional" gear, and several disadvantages, I bought
the latter. My main was a 23' "Russian" PC, (anyone remember those?), and my
reserve was a modified 24' military surplus canopy. I jumped this gear for
about three years or so, and then due to a change in my financial status (e.g.,
I got married), I quit jumping for several years. Well, a couple of years ago
I started jumping again, but only on a very casual basis. Needless to say, I
was somewhat amazed by the quantum leaps made in gear technology, and everyone
who saw my gear naturally assumed that I was a novice--because no self-respect-
ing skydiver with more than 30 jumps would actually be seen in public with
this stuff. To date I have over 330 jumps--not a lot compared to some peoples'
standards, but enough that I'm reasonably proficient at RW despite the supposed
handicaps imposed by my gear. Anyway, I get a lot of funny looks and stupid
questions when I try to get on a Beech load for a 10-way, so I finally broke
down and bought a new set of gear. It was delivered a week ago, and naturally
I'm going half crazy waiting for the weather to clear up enough so I can go
air it out. Oh, by the way, a year ago I bought an old Strato-Star to put in
my old gear, because I wanted to learn "square-jumping" and it was the only
thing around that had 1-1/2 shot releases on it.
OK, I said all that to ask this: In 50,000 words or less, what do I need
to know about making the transition from conventional gear to today's "high-
tech" stuff? If you want to be gear-specific, my harness is a "Vector",
both canopies are "Raven-III's", and I bought a "Flight-Suit".
To get you started, here are a few specific questions I need answers to:
(1) Emergency procedures: If under a garbaged main, do I yank the break-away
handle and reserve handle simultaneously with each hand, or break away
first and dump the reserve, both with the right hand? What body position?
(2) Throw-out pilot chute: What do I do with my left hand when my right hand
is groping for the dildo, so that I remain flat and stable. (I'm
accustomed to pulling my ripcord with both hands, just to keep my left
hand out of trouble. Obviously, I can't do that anymore.)
(3) Exiting and Flying: Any special tricks about flying a Flite-Suit and this
tandem rig? I've NEVER jumped a piggyback of ANY kind--only belly warts.
At what length do you set the swoop-cords?
(4) Canopy: Although I feel comfortable flying the Strato-Star by now, the
Raven is a much higher performance canopy. Anything I should know about
it that I don't want to find out during my first ride?
(5) Anything and everything else you can think of. I'm fair game.
Blue Skies! (someday)
Ken Scofield C-9355
Hewlett-Packard PCD
Corvallis, OR
{ucbvax!hplabs, harpo, ogcvax}!hp-pcd!kasbrent@phoenix.UUCP (Brent P. Callahan) (02/21/85)
>(1) Emergency procedures: If under a garbaged main, do I yank the break-away > handle and reserve handle simultaneously with each hand, or break away > first and dump the reserve, both with the right hand? What body position? > I don't recommend pulling both simultaneously. God forbid if the reserve pops and falls out before you're properly cut away. I tear off the cutaway handle from the velcro with my right hand - then pull it with both hands. Then I pull reserve handle out of pocket with right hand and pull it with both hands. Make sure your feet aren't forward or you'll roll on your back during deployment. Oh Yes, throw each handle away after you pull it. It's a good idea to practice now and then. Get your wife on a chair behind you and have her put tension on the risers. It helps remove the "set" from the riser fabric in contact with the rings. >(2) Throw-out pilot chute: What do I do with my left hand when my right hand > is groping for the dildo, so that I remain flat and stable. (I'm > accustomed to pulling my ripcord with both hands, just to keep my left > hand out of trouble. Obviously, I can't do that anymore.) > You should be able to fly stably with your hand on the dildo if you keep your legs in and other arm across your forhead. You shouldn't be spending any time groping anyway. With practice you can reach & grab first time. Its MUCH easier than pulling a ripcord. >(3) Exiting and Flying: Any special tricks about flying a Flite-Suit and this > tandem rig? I've NEVER jumped a piggyback of ANY kind--only belly warts. > At what length do you set the swoop-cords? Life is much easier without belly wart getting in the way: sitting & moving around the A/C, exiting & especially flying. You can dive & track MUCH faster with a tandem. You may need to use more of an RW stable position when trimming in to a slot. I would advise flying without the swoop cords connected to start with. My jumpsuit doesn't have any. I,m sure you can do better RW without them. I appreciate swoop cords only when I do a long dive after a large static formation. They let you dive fast & stop quick. They mess you up during sequential RW though. Reach with a swoop-corded arm, and you get further away from what you're reaching for. (I`m assuming that you are average weight) >(4) Canopy: Although I feel comfortable flying the Strato-Star by now, the > Raven is a much higher performance canopy. Anything I should know about > it that I don't want to find out during my first ride? You should find the Raven a delight to fly after a Strat. Much lighter steering, soft landings, more range etc, etc. Best way to try it out is follow a CRW group & fly with them (not getting in their way). Wring out the canopy up high spirals, slow flight, stalls etc, so you feel confident when the ground gets close. Roll on WARM blue skies! -- Made in New Zealand --> Brent Callaghan AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft, NJ {ihnp4|ahuta|pegasus}!phoenix!brent (201) 576-3475