ManBird

I'd T&F that bitch, anyway. Talking about being an attention seeker. Personally, I think involving the authorities (what Tree was talking about) is a bad idea. Yeah, you don't want anyone pulling this shit, but the more work you make police do, the more of a bother you become. If they're having to come out to chase people away or monitor activities, that's bad news. Just try not to fuck it up before I leave there on Sunday. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Nice! Lucky bastard. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Heck, if freeflyers are dirt diving these days, why don't we? The whole concept of planning and executing a dive adds a lot of challenge and satisfaction to a discipline. Planning over two minutes of freefall can be tough, but very rewarding. Some of my most memorable flights were the ones that were planned right down to a dirt dive. And I would definitely like to see some at demos/airshows. The Soul Flyer guys have done that and wowed crowds. The Golden Knights are rumored to be doing their diamond track with wingsuits now. Getting out a little lower and doing a smoke flock would be awesome. Just build a V that flies in a straight line, and peel off like the Atari logo. So, BJ, where do I sign up? "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

This might help: http://www.deepart.org/code/CountTracula/ "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Both pilots had a Xaos 27. Don't know how the 21 cell flew against them in terms of glide ratio. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Hey, I dump in full flight. Though, I do have a 10' bridle and 32" PC with no weight on top (practice golf ball as a handle), and I'm using the BASE PC pouch, as well as container mods and a snivelly pack job. It's not bad at all, as long as the gear is right and the throw is hard (leaving a camera off is a good idea). I'll dump last. Getting pretty comfy with 2K. (Though, not jumping a Sabre2 anymore, that might have to change.) "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Well, I can't add to my score now, but I didn have my second flatspin this last weekend. Got rolled over another jumper's back. SUper fast recovery. Wasn't that big a deal, though I did have my BASE PC puch goin', and was really hoping it wouldn't extracting whilst on my back. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Xaos has a very flat glide. In a little swoop comp down in Eugene, OR, I had to go ahead of the guys on Xaoses (sp?), even though I was loading my Sabre2 a lot less. The Xaos in full flight had a better glide than my Sabre2 in rears. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Naw, dude. Wet face. Everything else dry. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

We'll be doing this at the wingsuit boogie and competition at Skydive Oregon, September 10 - 12 (the comp will be on the 11th). Come check it out! "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I'll bet you do on a student canopy amongst others. Ah, yes. You're right. I forgot that they make those things hard to stall. I need to get on a Navigator and wring that thing out. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

No. Find the stall on your rear risers up higher (above 2,000', IMO). Then do the rest of your canopy ride as per usual. Talk to your instructors and/or S&TA. I think you're misinterpreting what's being written here. If you lose a toggle or break a brake line below a safe cutaway altitude, rear risers will likely be the best option. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

You shouldn't have to take a wrap to stall a canopy. I would recommend trying to rear riser stall, as well. Try it up high. There's a good chance that you will one day want or need to land completely on rear risers. It's nice to know how to do it just right to give a soft landing without stalling. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I'd be willing to bet that in full flight, the S3 would get the better glide (assuming the same jumper flies both suits well). Depending on the height of the object, the SG might win if it gets flying right away, whereas the S3 drops straight down for a moment. If you took both suits of Eiger, or of course, out of a plane, I would be very surprised if the SG covered as much ground. Though I wouldn't be surprised if it got a longer delay. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

It's hard enough to get 10 skydivers to go do a BASE jump. 10 whuffos are going to get together, lured in by this sign in front of a tanning salon? They've got the target market nailed, though. Because everyone who gets a tan also wants to BASE jump. Right? "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Ooohhh... damn I missed out. That flock looked pretty damn nice. And the cloudplay -- you bastards. Haven't seen that white suit of Jari's before. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Personally, I agree. It's also one of the reasons why I don't use a RSL -- though I'm considering a Skyhook at some point. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I'll rephrase... I didn't get much response from harness input. Granted, I did have my leg straps somwhat tight, as I would wear them with a wingsuit. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I was really impressed by the freeflying. I normally find it really boring to watch. I guess the 30 seconds or so that was in there was the perfect amount. Skills. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Nice. No packing, no flaring, no counting, no pitching. It's about time. Hey. I'll be out there this weekend. I'd love to see if they put on a deathcamp. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Yes... 109. And my comparisons were more between the 107 and the 109. I was going to drop it in reviews, but I don't have enough jumps on it. Once I get a good 50 - 100 jumps on it, I'll probably write up a review. Yes. I mentioned that more or less in the original post. It has a lot of drive. On rears, it really flattens out and moves forwards very quickly without much altitude loss. I found this surprising, as every other mode of flight is very ground hungry. Yes. This can't be emphasized enough. Don't let it's lack of cross-bracing fool you into thinking this is just another 9-cell. It's very fast, it dives like crazy, and it's very responsive to all but harness input. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

You and me both. I got myself and my wingsuit wet for the pre-second time (competed in my wingsuit for shits and giggles). Round one - 40pts in kick targets, but no water = 0 Round two - 15pts in kick targets and water, but came up four feet short (and got wet) = 0 Round three - Verticalled, probably because I wasn't wearing my wingsuit , and I did a major no-no: changed my approach = 0 I had a lot of fun, though. Competitions and swoop courses like those are just plain fun, and present a very fun and challenging environment you don't get everyday. I have had the occassional killer shred on my Sabre2 107. After the comp, I started the demoing the Katana, and instantly began getting these shreds of which you speak. Dive, dive, dive, rears for forever, toggles for a bit, and then little to no slide (into the wind). "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Yeah, the top third is like a perfect match. The leg does look a lot different on closer inspection, though. The shape and sort of "two-stage-edness" is pretty different. Much larger inlets, as well. The zippers in the back appear to allow for the booties to be more easily removed (I just landed with my feet still in on the Crossbow). Going by the size of the wings, it almost looks like the suit would fly backwards. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I only grab the risers if the opening is starting to look offheading or if I see that I need to avoid someone ASAP. During the deployment, I'm grabbing from the outside and pulling outward. By doing this, a big, strong, unstoppable twist will rip the risers out of your hands, rather than wrap around them. 80% of the time, I don't touch anything (BASE jumps are definitely an exception). More than 50% of my jumps are in a wingsuit, and I really don't make much attempt to grab the risers (though I can a little bit). I aim to pack and pitch in a manner that avoids off heading openings and the need for corrective maneuvres. But I do occassionally get off headings, and I generally just let them go unless I'm in any sort of traffic (small-way wingsuit jumps generally have good separation). This is what I do right now for whatever reasons. I'm not preaching this to anyone, and my practice is subject to change with experience and advice. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Too late! The payment has been made. BWAHAHAA!!! Besides, I have a Katana backpack, beanie, and shirt -- I wouldn't want to go around looking like a poser with all this Katana gear and no canopy to match. ;) That is a pretty damn, smooth opening. I hadn't really considered a Firebolt. Looks a lot like the XF2's openings (a good thing). Personally, I like a slightly brisker opening, because I tend to pitch low these days. The only Firebolt that I see flown regularly in my neck of the woods really isn't flown the way it should/could be (usually just straight in landings). S/he's not a sponsored jumper or anything, so it's Jump Shack's fault that they can't make the canopy look good. I was watching Vladi fly a Katana -- a pretty good advertisement for its potential. I guess the reason for going with the Katana was more that it felt really right, as opposed to any other canopies feeling wrong. If I was AggieDave, I'd demo the Firebolt, A-Max, Comp Cobalt, Vengeance, Samurai, Nitron, and Crossfire 2 (I've only jumped two of the aforementioned), and I'd probably find that one or more of these canopies meet some or all of the attributes I seek. I had some specific characteristics I wanted, and the Katana delivered. I forgot to mention the lines on the Katana. I'm hoping I get the same ones. I'm not sure what it was -- sort of like a super thin microline. Not quite HMA thin, but really damn skinny. Probably the thinnest cascaded lines I've seen on a non-pro competitor's canopy. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click