Treejumps

Nice work Tom!

*** They do win alot, because they are good at what they do, but they are far from winning everything. I know they don't win everything, and they would probably do it on whatever canopy they were flying. The real point here is that a low production run, highly esoteric canopy is not going to sell very well because it will not chnge even a highly experienced pilot's performance. Jim is one of the most experienced in the world, and yet these canopies have not rocketed him to any marked or measurable improvement in performance. If the guy who is selling them, had a hand in (re)designing them, and has thousands of jumps on the exact same or slightly similar canopies does not gain a measureable performance improvement, what would make anyone else think that there was something to it. If it can't improve performance it is just a nice marketing campaign. If it could improve performance, it would certainly show in competition results. Overall, PD has the most winning canopy in competition. If this is not accurate, I apolagize, and will surely be corrected. Keep in mind that I fly and love my VX, but the numbers seem to point towards the Velo being the best canopy if you want to wiin competitions. Obviously the pilot makes it happen, and the performance gins of any new design would have to be signifincant to have an impact on the average highly skilled swooper.

To start with, I fly a VX. PD hasn't needed to bring out a new canopy since the Velo has been the overall top performing canopy, PERIOD. Its not like you, Jim, don't have something in the game here when you put down PD, and everyone knows it. How unlikely is it that PD has not been working on a new design for years? How likely is it tht PD's new canopy will not outperfrom tiny little NZIcarus' canopy, given that PD has 100 times the money to spend on research? A few JSX and JVXs have been flown for a few jumps (may a couple or a few thousand total). Thats hardly high quality research and it hardly begins to find out the design's structural integrity. The JSX and JVX are nice marketing campaigns to sell HP canopies, but the way you are going about it is perculiar. You can't simultaniously be a marketing rep and a "trusted canopy expert" with a neutral point of view. You want to sell these canopies to make money, and that is a good pursuit. Congrats on your entrprenurial spirit. However, don't try to take cheap shots at PD or suggest that the leading canopy designing and manufacturer in the world is stealing (your) designs. It cheapens your pursuits. If your stuff is a superior design and quality, they will sell. If they are nice marketing efforts with nothing behind them, the market will quickly figure that out. One win does not a canopy make. Best of luck. I love my VX (with a dome slider I've had for over a year), and have been waiting for new designs to emerge.

Nice advertisement. Even for you, the rules apply. Send a check to Sangiro. Now if only those pesky PD guys would quit winning everything......

Is Atmonauti now Atmonauti (TM), or all rights reserved? First the germans trademarked Freefly (TM) and now the Italians have Atmonauti (TM). Ahhh, remember when it was just cool to fly with your friends in the sky.....

Hi John, I'm just not sure why you are stumping for ripcords. I don't see or hear anyone complaining about the deployment options available today. Other than you and maybe 3 other sport jumpers, only students use ripcords. I don't think they are unsafe, but there were enough positives about throw out that ripcords are definitely relegated to students and the "don't like no change" crowd. Not to mention that throw out was one of the biggest steps forward in jumping, and as I recall it won Mr. Booth an award. For an old timer set in his way, jumping a huge , slow canopy, and otherwise jumping as if it was 1975, a ripcord is fine. For anyone jumping even a marginally small canopy (under 200') a non-collapsable PC is a huge loss of performance. I see that you have decided that PC drag is not an issue, but for modern jumpers, it is proven that a collapsable is better. Even on a 200' canopy, a collapsable PC & slider as well as a loosened chest strap after openng will give "noticable" performance gains in many parameters. By all means, jump whatever makes you comfortable, thats your choice. However, trying to stump for outdated technology for who knows what reason just does not make any sense to me. Are you on capewells payroll or something? Note: Old timer is a term of endearment in skydiving. If you gain this title you are doing great in the sport.

In short, no, but I guess you could try. A 26 is for large thread, such as 3 & 5 cord (346 & 415). Thats harness stiching size, and even if the machine will phisically accomodate the needle, none of your tentioners are built to accept that size thread. Not to mention that your bobbin would only hold about 2' of thread. Hope this helps. YMMV

Here is the newest member of our crew.

I'm surprised that there has not been a post about the cop who followed the old couple to the hospital. He detained the couple until eventually the hospital staff came out and took the old man in, but the cop continued to detain the wife to write a ticket. When the wife finally got inside her husband was dead. They should just hang that cop. Any new news on this?

Hi Gawain, You numbers are way off. The A license number are up to 43,000 or so, but they have been issuing them since the 60's. Thats 40,000 total jumpers in the last 40 odd years. THere are probably about 4000 to 5000 active (100 jumps or more per year) jumpers in the US. The number of people making 1000 jumps per year is maybe 100 to 200. THis is a tiny sport with zero spectator value. The largest canopy maker in the world (PD) probably does less than $10M a year. The relative workshop has made 40,000 rigs.... in 40 years. Teeny tiny numbers, and yet we can still get jumps for $15.00. Not bad. Cya.

Are the tickets the jump ticket prices? Or are you thinking that people will actually pay to come watch this stuff, say like at Skyquest? (Even with a $100M museum they can't get spectators) Later

In this case Robin is correct that one should "MASTER" front riser 90's before doing anything else. I beleive that it takes hundreds of jumps for someone to master this skill. Doing 180s+ on larger canopies or lightly loaded ones must be done at lower altitudes due to the short recovery arch, but I don't think downsizing to a smaller canopy to learn swooping is the answer. Training is the key, and having a plan on what you want to learn and do will take you a long way. I'm not sure why Robin wrote what he wrote. He is certainly no expert on canopy flight, and I doubt his ability to even do a hook turn much less a decent swoop. After a serious injury from a majorly bad judgement call with a Triathalon 135 on a base jump, Robin has a lot of time on his hands to think about other areas of parachuting he can involve himself in. Take advice from people who stand on the sidelines with a large grain of salt.

I agree that most people would never know what it means- all the more reason not to have it on your car, except for fun. In this case, I know the area well and I know that the police are always driving through, and that it only takes 1 phone call to cause a problem. On this particualr weekend it really just seemed like bad idea. I can never help you, but it could hurt you. If sombody had gotten busted, there would be no wat to rule out the tag being a contributor, and I would never want to think that somthing I had done had gotten someone else busted. YMMV

Over the weeknd I bumped into a friend I've known for a a few years. He's a good jumper for sure and otherwise seems to take a real good approach to the sport. Camo gear, clothing and the like, all to keep things low key. The thing that bothered me, and the thing that I think could help get me busted, or call attention to an otherwise warm object, was BASE XXX (I don't want to directly identify the jumper with his actual number) on his license tag. Anyone driving through the parking lot of the hotel we were staying at would be immediately alerted to the fact that jumpers were in town. Cops drive through said lot nearly hourly. Additionally, there were people packing in areas open to the public, again, alerting locals to our presence. Sure, maybe nobody cares, but it only takes one person to drop a dime and the heat would be on. I've got one bust to my name, and would like to not have a second. I really feel that these 2 actions could cause someone to get busted. Not doing these 2 things would have no adverse impact on anyone. I tried to bring up the tags with said jumper, but he either didn't hear what I was saying, or didn't care. The only people who care about your base number on your tags are the cops/rangers/security. Maybe 10 years ago it would be no big deal, but in the modern era of jumping we live in it can only hurt you or your jumping brothers. IF you want to do everything the right way, and I think you do, lose the tags. They will look better on your wall than on your truck, and then it can never be the thing that got someone busted. Stay cool.

If you are planning a trip to a really tall "S" in the Mid-Atlantic, use extreme caution. It is being watched. Send me a PM if you want details. We had a great New Year's weekend, but jump numbers were very limited due to the attention. Cya.

If you would like a ground launch harness, I could make you one for $200.00 There is nothing to them. 2 rings and some stiching, and a long chest strap. You can eve pick your colors. Cya.

Hi Shane, I'm sorry, did you have digs on Jimmy? Don't worry, I'm on the East coast. Nice reply. I must admit that your writing level seems to have improved. Your normal 6th grade writing level is a nice put on, though. Must go over real well with your fan base. Still, a solid post with all the trimings. Merry Xmas!

I retract all I said about Miles, except for the glory hounding stuff. Its obvious to me now that Shane is the cause of all of BASE jumping's problems. These kids (Shane, JT, et al) just don't respect anything. But hey, they will grow up and quit playing with Barbie dolls soon, and then the sport will be ok. Until then, thanks for the rad videos Jimmy H. Totally tubular. (Still can't get the 80's music out of my head). Happy Christmahanakwanzaaka!

Yo Avery, I love the shirt and will take it out for a flight this week. Happy holidays man! Cya.

By a Huck-It. I make them, they are quite inexpensive 2 pin rigs of exceptional quality and comfort. Just last night a Huck-It jumper was tickeld pink with his new toy. His delay was a different story, but he had fun all the same. Just Huck-It! Cya.

Parastock was a bit on the pricey side.

Avery, Luv your work mate. You guys keep this up, it draws attention from my rantings, which I always wish I hadn't posted, after the fact. Having gotten a new A this week, I feel great. Again, keep up the good work. You too Johnny. This is good stuff. The bitch board is BACK! Woo hoo! Later.

Your best bet would be to simply re-line that canopy with black dacron. you can buy it from paragear. The black mesh is available, call vertigo and ask them where they get it. Quite frankly, if the color of the lines is the difference between getting away and not, you are already caught. Cya.

Tried to stay out, but this was great. *** "and to call one person better than another is just so damn arrogent" Would that be as arrogant as proclaiming one's self "World Famous"? I think you have hit the nail on the head with that comment, and made the point perfectly clear. There are no world famous base jumpers, and I doubt there ever will be, other than being infamous with other jumpers. Jimmy, that comment was so good, lets see that one more time: "and to call one person better than another is just so damn arrogent"

Would anyone be interested in a rig with the spine protection built into it? It would be easy to sew it right into a new rig. A retrofit would be possible as well, but not as clean as building a new rig with it. Then you would never forget your protection.