beezyshaw

QuoteDo you think there would be additional benefits to using multiple winglets at intervals across the topskin? *** No, the vortices are only formed as the air flows toward the wingtips. At the center of the canopy the flow is laminar and winglets there would only be a source of additional parasite drag.

The Nitron isn't Precision's canopy design. It is a copy of Klaus Schenk's NITRO, and unfortunately he is no longer with us. But I can tell you a bit of what I've learned about winglets: Lift is created by the pressure difference of airflow over the upper surface vs. the lower surface of a wing. When air flows over the upper surface of any wing, it begins to rotate in a circular pattern as it moves towards the tips. This of course disrupts the pressure differential and the tip of the wing stalls (or quits generating lift). The winglet acts like a knife-edge and as the rotating air hits the winglet it breaks up the rotation (voritices) and forces the air to resume its path over the surface. This, in turn, allows the entire wing to continue generating lift. I could go on and on with other additional benefits of the winglet, but this is the primary function.

If you would actually quit skydiving because of a close call, you're in the wrong sport, my friend. Did you never hear the old saying used after getting thrown from a horse when learning to ride?

The standard case of why some are against the AAD; I had about 4000 jumps at the time, and was on the outer ring of flyers on a 64-way. At breakoff, turn and track like hell until 2000 and (according to the organizer's rule) don't dare pull above 2 grand. Well, 2000 turns into 1600 or so very quickly, and with a slow-opening main, ended up with two out. But not just any old bi-plane, an immediate downplane. Chopped and had about a 10 sec. reserve ride. As I used to wear a camera while doing big-ways, the dz got some good video of the ordeal. Now my absolute hard deck for main deployment is 2500, period. If an organizer insists on below that, I'll sit it out.

It took me a long time to figure out that I got lots of cuts on my fingers, around my nails, from gripping other jumpers. The pull forces of freefall cut my cuticles all the time. As everyone has said, gloves fix the problem, but I hate having to skydive in gloves. It's like taking a bath with your socks on.

The one thing you can do that will GUARANTEE softer openings on your canopy is to get it relined with DACRON instead of SPECTRA. It will add a small amount of pack volume, but it will tame the openings without a doubt.

That's a good point, Josh. I have what I think is Rob's first hand-cam glove. It was for sure a prototype. I've been using it for a couple of years, shot several hundred tandems with it, and they are all framed fine...but thinking about your suggestion, I would be able to extend my left arm a bit more and maybe capture a larger image. I'll talk to Rob about it, maybe I can get a good deal on an "upgrade" !! c 'ya

Well, well, I've gone and done it now! RastaRicanAir is indeed correct. Here's the clip...http://www.angelfire.com/retro2/lisanostalgia/sounds/mrmicrophone.wav I am quite sure about the Mercedes, though. I had a friend with a car like the one in the commercial, so I got him a Mr. Microphone for Christmas one year so he could be just like the guy on TV. What's the right thing to do, kids? I certainly can't take away the prize from the formerly declared winner...I guess RastaRicanAir gets a jump at the boogie on HiPerUSA too!

Pinnacle Studio is pretty good. I use Version 8, but I think that now Version 9 is the current program. Intuitive, lots of features, etc.

I'll be there by noon on Friday, and I'm sure I will have time to put her rig together for her. I'll be sure and bring my rigging kit in case you need me to get her in the air. c 'ya

Yes, ladies and gentlemen...we have a winner! I guess I'm not the only one here who remembers the 70's. My problem is, I can't remember what happened yesterday...oh, well, probably wasn't important anyway.

Let's see if anyone here remembers the old TV ad for "Mr. Microphone". The guy is sittin' in a 450SL with the top down, of course. He sees some chicks walking by, grabs his Mr. Microphone and says, "..." I'll buy a jump ticket at the boogie for the person who comes closest to the right answer!

Man, I got on dis heah dz.com so's I cud read 'bout dat der boogie in duh mountuns, but sheeut fie, yall be talkin sum kina trash 'bout gittin nekid an all dat stuff...I not sure I ready to go to no boogie wit yall or not! But I tole Chris I wood, so I guess I cummin up der an brang sum a my new parrot shoots so any a yall it aint too bizzy bein nekid kin jump dem new fangled shoots!

Here are a couple of pictures of my setup. I use a Sony IP5 (MicroMV format), a Diamond 0.3 lens, and my glove was made by Rob Warner (riggerrob). The camera including battery and lens weighs 11 ounces. The weight is not even noticable. Someone mentioned they wouldn't want to have to suffer tandem openings with a camera on their hand, but you don't even know it's there.

Thanks, Gary. The program works great. I've put links to the program on our website at www.hiperusa.com in hopes that it will simplify ordering canopies for our customers.

As I shared with Bill at Rantoul, the soft links I market (called the HiPerLink) is a very simple, easy-to-make soft link that is re-usable. I will be happy to share the instructions for making these to anyone interested. Like Bill said before, all it takes is a piece of spectra and a finger trap fid. One note of disclaimer is that for an experienced rigger these are a piece of cake, but for a newbie it might be a bit overwhelming to make this link. So, for the jumper that wants to spend about a dollar for material and has the ability to tie a couple of boy scout knots, the instructions I provided previously in this thread are a great way to go. The advantage to the actual HiPerLink method is that they can be removed and re-installed.

Yes, we miss Klaus very much. A really brilliant designer and a great guy. I only knew him the last few years of his life, but at Rantoul this year I heard some very funny stories about Klaus from some of his long-time friends from Europe.

Damn, Billy, that canopy must have REALLY made a loud "thud" if you heard it!!

Instructions For Hand-Tied Soft Connector Links The method of hand-tied soft links has been used for years. While there are several variations in use, the type that we describe here has been successfully used for countless thousands of jumps. Engineering studies and pull-test results have proven this method to be stronger than any commercially available connector link, soft or metal. Pay attention to the instructions and follow them exactly. It is crucial that you have the ability to tie a square knot and a simple overhand knot. The material used is 725 lb. Spectra, exactly like the suspension line on many canopies. It is recommended that an experienced parachute rigger assemble your canopy to the risers. Check the continuity of your line group. Begin installation by inserting the link material through all the lines and then through the riser. Repeat the step “through the lines” then “through the riser” three additional times until the link material makes four complete turns. Make sure not to allow the link to form any twists as you form the loops. Tighten the loops until all slack is removed and the suspension lines are snug against the top of the riser. Check again that no twists are in the connector link loops. Tie the running ends of the link in a tight square knot. Remember that a square knot is formed by “right over left” then “left over right”. Now form an overhand knot with the two running ends. Before tightening the knot, get it as close to the square knot as you can. Make sure that there are no twists, then pull the overhand knot as tight as you can get it. A good way to do this is to grasp the two running ends of the line about two inches below the overhand knot with a pair of pliers; hold the riser and lines with your other hand and pull hard. It is imperative that the knot is close to the square knot and that it is very tight. Scissor-cut the two running ends of the link material about one inch below your overhand knot; then rotate the finished link so the knots are hidden inside the top of the riser.

There has been a good bit of discussion about the pro's and con's of shooting hand-cam while making tandem jumps. Many of those with "opinions" have never even seen it, so I thought I'd put just a short sample on the web for people to at least see, so they can have a more informed opinion. This video is just what was on my hard drive from last weekend, so it's nothing special, but it gives you an idea of the concept... go to www.skydivingmovies.com, then the dropzone.com category, and the name of the clip is "tandemhandcam.mov"

If anyone is interested in at least seeing a sample of what the hand-cam captures on a tandem skydive, here is a short clip I've uploaded...go to www.skydivingmovies.com, then the dropzone.com category, and the name of the clip is "tandemhandcam.mov"

5-10 feet? I do a lot of tandem / wingsuit fly-by jumps, with me jumping the tandem and Chris Martin in the suit. We do it regularly, I love it, the passenger gets a kick out of it, and Chris has a ball because he has a "target" to aim at and fly relative to...but if anybody EVER came within 5 feet of my canopy there would be a serious ass-whippin' when I get on the ground! That's TOO DAMN CLOSE, I don't care how experienced you are, and there's plenty of fun to be had from a safer distance.

USPA rigger rating? I think she meant FAA rigger certificate.

Moving the toggles lower will NOT change the setting of the deployment brakes. It will only put more slack in the control lines AFTER the brakes have been released. Think about it; you would only have a longer length of line that goes from brake loops to toggles. The shrinkage of the control lines makes the canopy open with a deeper brake setting, which does change the opening characteristics, so these would HAVE to be changed to have any effect during deployment.

yea, I guess...Jeez, Lisa, you like VELCRO toggles?? Uh, it's 2004, dear. I will admit there are some issues with the Slinks brand of soft link; I wouldn't like to see all my lines fly off the riser because the slider knocked the tab right off the link! Of course PD has a "fix" for that, going back to bumpers which is one of the reasons why soft links came about in the first place, to not have to use bumpers!! Can you say, "what's wrong with this picture"?