jerry81

Hell yeah! I often do headdown practice when exiting after students from such height...

I've been flying my current wingload (1.55) since around jump 150 and I intend to fly it until I can squeeze every bit of performance out of my canopy. So I guess I'll be somewhat below the recommended wl by the time I downsize again.

No contest here...no matter how many people dislike the saying, equipment-wise, I am actually much safer in the air than driving to the dropzone.

Try to break as few bones as possible...and I'm not entirely kidding. If your canopies downplane at 50ft or less, chances are you'll hit the ground before you peel the cutaway pillow off. Personally, I'd chop the main at a safe altitude (i.e. before turning on final). Also, after seeing this incident up close, I'll make sure I check for the reserve if I ever pull really low on an AAD equiped rig.

I wore one a few times at about 40 jumps. It helped me get real comfortable in my sit fly real quick. I never had a problem deploying on a ripcord system. I don't think those "wings" are big enough to really matter.

Duh! So it's all about using complicated gadgets to make your life easier...I can relate. Knowing myself, I'll probably get a rangefinder as soon as I start jumping just to verify the height of the already verified "newbie" objects.

I thought of a laser rangefinder for measuring c too, but then thought a plastic ruler for determining the 45° angle would probably be somewhat cheaper... If you have the laser gadget, more power to you.

Dirtdive has a classifieds section...

Why bother with measuring c? When you're looking at the top at a 45° angle, a and b are equal...(for example, when you're looking at the top of an A at a 45° degree angle, the distance to its base is the same as its height) Or does this have another use that I can not grasp with my yet-untainted-by-BASE mind?

The pics are in the bulletin...I suppose you pull enough fabric through the stows so the shirt doesn't get pulled up in freefall.

Neat trick. I always check that my (Atair) slider is open all the way before I wrap the tail around. But here's another question; If the slider was just, say, 80% open (like if I forgot to check it), would the opening be harder or would the air hitting it expand it fully before I got slammed? Anyone tried this yet? Hooknswoop?

Nice gesture.

Have you read Paul Quade's completely true story about something similar he did some time ago?

Not quite enough for the whole set, but I'm willing to let you rip me off for the reserve...what do you say? It's long since been proven to work, very small pack volume and I hear you can land it on a coin (given the coin is more or less directly below you on opening).

You mean this? It's actually a magazine cover from before we voted on whether or not to join Nato. It says "Why Nato wants Slovenia and what the consequences would be for our army". It's a pretty mainstream magazine which nevertheless tends to criticize our government's every decision...and a lot of your government's decisions too.

Both canopies are borrowed, though, but it really doesn't matter, as long as I can...stare at it the whole weekend wishing the weather was better. Yes, it's my first... A Voodoo V2, currently holding an Impulse 135 and a Swift 170 (soon to be replaced by a Tempo 150). I like the way the harness curves around my body...I like the long reserve and main pin flaps...I like how the mouth of the BOC pouch goes under the flap so there is not a millimeter of bridle showing...I like how the rig moves with me...and yeah, having flown a "female" Wings made for a much smaller girl for the last 50 jumps, I really like how the leg straps leave room for, um, my "other gear" even when they're tightened up. Anyway, here are a few pics...

Uh, yeah, I was kidding...whether you're at 5 or at 15k doesn't really matter if you know how to fly. Why not get a good freeflier to jump with you and tell you if he notices anything wrong with your technique? I'm sure that has a lot more to do with the problem you describe than air density. Two-ways with someone more experienced are also the way to go before attempting any group action...make sure you know how to fall straight down and move around the sky on purpose, otherwise even a 3-way can turn into a total zoom fest.

Duh! Denser air. Everyone knows that...

The problem is in your head and it seems to be rooted pretty deep, but your determination to learn to skydive is admirable. If AFF really isn't an option (although 40 DRPs at 35 squid per jump sounds even more expensive), I'd suggest you start meditating or doing yoga. Or just read up and practice correct breathing methods for relaxation. Anything that will give your mind more control over what your body and subconscious are doing. Or simply ask if you can stick your head out of the plane a few times before you get to altitude so you get more comfortable with what it's like outside... I hope you will somehow succeed!

Dude, I beg to differ. I got into a sit the very first time I tried it (jump 23, I believe). Sure, I was spinning around slowly, but it was more or less a sit-fly. Of course I've had some problems with spinning and backsliding before I learned how to fly it stable, but I don't remember ever having to try really hard to maintain the position. Headdown, however, is a total bitch to learn for me.

Really, in my (somewhat limited, to be honest) experience, pilots can be much worse than jumpers. But I jump in a country where skydivers are often looked upon as second-class people on airfields where we jump. Perhaps if we had a real dropzone or two it would allow our collective character to fully emerge. As for loud and rad- I've never flown a plane, but I doubt it gives you such an intense feeling of being alive. I know our equipment is much safer now, but I still feel like I've cheated death each time the canopy opens. And for me that's reason enough to be loud.

Okay, scratch friendly. You suck!

Actually, I don't really mind. Autumn is by far my least favorite time of the year, and the shorter it is the better. But I guess my belated nekkid jump (wanted to do it for my 200, but had no video) will have to wait a bit longer. Edited to add a really friendly f_ck you! to all "still eighty degrees here" people.

In this part of Europe, anyway. But damn, it's not like we're way up north. There's almost an inch of snow outside already. I never thought I'd have to shovel the drive in october. Well, I better dig out the gloves and thermal underwear...saturday's supposed to be nice.

I see the lines are already on links and the links on a piece of cardboard. Just attach the "front" links to the front risers (the ones without the yellow toggles on them) and the "rear" links on the rear risers. Control lines attach to the toggles. You can remove the slider before you attach the lines since you have no use for it. Left and right don't really matter since you won't be jumping this canopy (I hope I don't have to point out that "lef"t should go on one set of risers and "right" on the other). I'd also suggest you attach those risers to opposite ends of a strong stick or better yet, a 2' long piece of metal tube you can easily hold in your hands. Sorta like what kitesurfers use. Note, though, that the lines on the canopy aren't long enough for it to actually fly around like a kite (other difficulties put aside). But you can probably put on roller blades, find an empty parking lot and have a blast. Just make sure someone's filming it. (Another note; you can get seriously hurt doing this. Don't say noone warned you) If you're still not sure, ask a rigger. Also, if you intend to jump this, or any other canopy, get a rigger to attach it to the risers!