CaTo

if you want to be future-crw-proof, I would suggest a PD-Storm Caren

you can also take a look here for some theory (for your rainy days) Caren

hi, although already made some years ago (2002 to be exact) I would like to share my attempt of making a 3D skydive clip. using a competition camera-set on my bonehead, some obscure japanese anaglyph 3d software, and 50 hours of editing this came out of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zksYUx5a7ds you will need some funny red-blue glasses, but then you could be in the middle of a CRW-jump yourself you see, people think 3D is 'hot' today, but some where already experimenting years ago Caren

yes, we think so (but hey, every person it's own thoughts) we fly them at WL 2.0 and have good experience, although landing is a challenge when you are used to lightnings. But once you get a grip on it, it can be done (but keep alert) Caren

1850 jumps 4 cutaways: - steering line could not be released from stow (knot) - CRW - steering line caught by other canopy - head-to-head canopy collision.... - hard pul l Caren

There were some alterations made to the 135 and above of the CF Storm(TC) and regular Storm(TF) to make the canopy a bit more friendly during the terminal openings with a fabric slider. Trials of the larger sizes went very well for general use and in the CF community. Some may remember playing with them down in Lake Wales a few years ago. During the release of the CF Storm, PD (with the help of some of the first customers) discovered that there were some adjustments that could be made that would make those larger sizes better for "hard core" CF guys and gals. The changes were made to the CF Storm(TC) and the larger sizes bump and grind like the smaller ones do. Flight characteristics on the website were updated as well. Hmm, last year, at the world championships, the overall message from ALL teams flying (or had flown) the 120 (USA, Egypt, Netherlands) were the same: NO good for competition CF . So either these alterations you mentioned have been made after september 2008, or our idea's of 'hard core CF' differ from what PD thinks it is...... CaTo (now happy flying a 107 CF storm and use the 120 CF-storm for FS.....) Caren

the smaller the canopy and at the same time higher wingload, the more you will have problems with a Pc that bounces of and on your canopy. First time I flew my new storm 107 (without kill-cone...) I thought it was really bumpy in the air and could not fly properly. Until I was pointed out that my pilot was bouncing and it was not bumpy at all. After the kill coe attached, no more bumpy rides, but smooth flying Caren

you can use a Kill cone: round piece of fabric with a grommet (nr 8) in the middle through which the pilot-chute will be (partly) pulled. The key difference between pulling the PC through the bridle-ring and through the kill-cone ring is that the kill cone fabric will be pushed around the mesh part of the PC and stop it from inflating. (sorry do not have a picture, that would make it more clear) Caren

CF Storm has dacron lines, enforced nose (do not know if the normal storm has cascades) so packs a little bigger. Flight characteristics should be the same I guess. Note that below 120 sq/ft CF storms are REAL competition CF canopies, the 120 and above are re-designed and have the nose-skin pulled over the nose (for better openings) This results in collapsing cells if you fly in front of it without directing re-inflating. So NOT good for doing competition CF Since we ordered first the CF120, fly it and then decided to order the 107 to have the real CF characteristics, we now use the 120 for free-fall, and thus opening on terminal. NO PROBLEM. No bag, using the mesh slider (i.s.o. the spider we'd put on) Just do not pull out the nose during packing, and open stable :-) hope this helps Caren

for competition: 200% better. We fly now 107, with high wingload (+2) and used to fly 143 lightning with wlngload 1.5. Note that the CF Storm 120 and above are not competition CF canopies because PD pulled the topskin futher over the nose for smoother openings, which makes it less suitable for high-level CF (end-cells easily de-inflate, and do not automatically inflate when the airflow is resumed). The 107 and 97 do not have this problem and fly just FANTASTIC (not talking about the landings though ) Caren

nah saskia, totally wrong, ask henny: THE answer should be: thunderbow Caren

we are on Storms, but were not on triathlons, but on lighnings Caren

we did: making formations together is somewhat impossible: storm flies with steeper angle and is much faster. our cameraman in the CF-2 team does uses a lightning together with our storms, but also has a high wingload on that lighting, and uses the b-line toggles and our burble a lot to stay close. Caren

maybe this document can help you, its part of a complete introduction to CF and tells you something how to act with different wind speeds. the three points that ARE important (rule of thumbs) are: -wind-speed on the ground needs to be less than max speed of canopy -when performing standard CRW (so not competition jumping or big formations...) try to keep on flying right against the wind direction (note, this can change on different altitudes!) - calculate approx exit point using highest wind speed and direction Caren

goodbye to the 'old man' we will miss you at Teuge Caren

to illustrate a picture, see right frontsiser Caren

this ring IS connected to the B-Line, and pulling it has a kind of 'front-riser' effect, but is easier and lighter to pull. On my lightling I have b-line toggles, which helped me when i was flying camera, especially with large formation: the span of control is bigger: a little b-line gives you forward speed (also GREAT when trying to fly back to the DZ against the (heavy) wind). Using a lot of b-line input will make the canopy sink quicker, also handy when trying to catch up with a sinking formation (stack..) IN the formation (flying wings) you could also use the input of your outside b-line in stead of the (more heavier) frontriser. In the two-way team I am in now, I do not use these b-line toggles anymore: the input that has to be given is to quick and to short to be able to grab the ring/toggle and pull. Plain-old frontriser input is then the name of the game. Caren

ditto here, but the only 'life-experience' I saw was last year and was more than a bridle-line: canopy wrapped around head, owner did release the main, but canopy did not slide off the head of the jumper below. So that person started cutting and the result can be seen on the photo Caren

you are doing nothing wrong, the video clips are just not in there (yet...) I have some clips that I use during my own presentation, it depends on the people listening and what questions bein asking to decide what the best clips could be I prefer NOT to show to heavy wraps or entanglements, no need to get them all stressed up if you aim for just some CRW fun with beginners. I will see if I can put some footage online that you can use Caren

Since Wendy speaks Texan, I'm not sure if the translation would be valid... All help is appreciated, even if it's cowboy language :-) And you are all more than welcome to use the presentation whenever you like. I am in the process of also adding notes to the presentation, but since I am busy with work, but more importantly also with training for the 2-way wolrd championships @ Teuge this year, this may take some time. Caren

see my thread just below yours : my presentation already has some 'basic setup pictures' in it Caren

hi For our annual 'rubberduck-boogie' at my home-DZ in Teuge (Netherlands) in which students get the opportunity to get in contact with all disciplines, I have made a presentation to show to the CRW-newbies. I posted the presentation (as PDF, 2.2Mb) on my website. please take a look, feedback is welcome

thanks bob, but that footage was known to me. I am looking for the air games - WC of 2006 (in???) video. We saw it just after the competition, but did not get hold of a copy. Caren

Hi, We are looking for bright idea's how to do some transitions in CF-2 faster and more reliable. (yes, we are training for the WC in Hollad (Teuge) this year) What would help is video footage from the last world games in russia or world championships. Anybody out there that can help? caren CF-CaTo Caren

[replyJohn also needs access to good Scotch, of course. but don't forget, in holland we also have Jenever Beerenburg Heineken Grolsch and water of course (at all levels :-) Caren