Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: notesfiles - hp 1.2 08/01/83; site hp-pcd.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcs!lsuc!pesnta!hplabs!hp-pcd!kas From: kas@hp-pcd.UUCP (kas) Newsgroups: net.rec.skydive Subject: Help! Info needed Message-ID: <41800002@hp-pcd.UUCP> Date: Fri, 8-Feb-85 21:32:00 EST Article-I.D.: hp-pcd.41800002 Posted: Fri Feb 8 21:32:00 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 21-Feb-85 02:54:54 EST Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Corvallis, OR Lines: 64 Nf-ID: #N:hpcvlo:41800002:000:3751 Nf-From: hpcvlo!kas Feb 8 18:32:00 1985 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!kas