The111

Mid-level makes no sense. I tried volume up all the way, and as I said, it wasn't enough volume. I had to crank the stereo up considerably higher to match the CD volume. Have you actually sat down with an iPod, a Zen, and a CD in a car, and switched back and forth between the 3 over the same segments of different tracks? I have. When listening to the Zen by itself, it sounds "ok", but when comparing it side by side with a CD the difference is obvious. I also hooked both players into an audio input on my home stereo system, and compared with each other and a CD... same result. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Obviously things like interface can be subjectively judged. However, there is one point in my post you did not comment on, and that one is the most important - the reason I returned my Creative Zen. MP3 players exist for one reason - to play music. The Zen's audio was UNDENIABLY inferior when played in my car through a straight aux input. If I had to guess, I would say there is not enough internal amplification in the unit. I had to crank the stereo in my car way up to get the volume right, and then the sounds were all washed out. I cannot tell the difference between my iPod and a CD burned from the same mp3. You cannot argue that an mp3 player which cannot output a clean sound is superior to one that can. Maybe for headphone usage only it's alright, but as I said my intended primary use was in the car. And between the 2 units I tried, the iPod ruled. I bet there are other ones out there that work too, but I could not afford to keep trying/returning different units to find out, and this is one thing (surprisingly) that is not covered in most online reviews. The Zen did not do the most basic thing I needed it to, so I returned it. The iPod did most everything I needed it to, so I kept it. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

I am in USA, but I got a "sporting equipment" addendum on my renter's insurance which covers sports gear AWAY from home. It's intended for use with golf clubs, etc, but skydiving gear works too.

Agreed, I'm still challenging somebody to come up with a better option than an iPod for the needs I listed in the post above. I would love to get a 60GB mp3 player, better than the one I have, for $125. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Sounds like you might be able to get a job writing slogans for No Fear t-shirts... www.WingsuitPhotos.com

I bought an iPod after trying EXTREMELY hard not to. I hate trends. I had read a bunch of reviews and decided on the Creative 40GB Zen. My only criteria were (a) plays mp3's (b) has a shitload of storage (I would prefer more than 100GB) (c) has good sound quality (my primary use is in my car, plugged into stereo receiver through aux-input) (d) is not an iPod I thought the Creative would meet all those requirements, so I bought one from Best Buy (a store I refer to as "test buy" since you can return your shit if you don't like it... and even if you do like it you can return it and buy it from the internet at a better price ). The Creative did indeed have a lot of storage, it played mp3's, and it was not an iPod. But when I hooked it into my car stereo using the aux input, the sound was NOTICEABLY inferior to me (on my cheap factory Corolla stereo speakers) to that of a CD, burned from the same 192kbps mp3 files (I used Tool's ÆNIMA as my test album since it has a lot of good dynamics and was the CD I happened to have in my car). And I do not pride myself on being an audiophile, but I could easily notice this difference. So, the Creative was getting returned. I couldn't find anything else that met all my criteria, so I thought "what the hell" and bought a 60GB iPod from Test Buy. It played mp3's, the sound quality was identical to the CD tracks, and it definitely had a shitload of storage. In my journey comparing the 2 players, I also noticed that it was MUCH easier to use (interface-wise) than the Creative. At this point, I could have returned the iPod and tried something else, but instead I realized that my fourth criteria (not an iPod) was silly and kept it since it was working great for me. I have no regrets, and I'll admit the thing is cute too, although I do still feel a bit too trendy carrying it around in public. You know of something that would have been a better option for me? I do not remember exact numbers, but I am fairly sure I made a comparison and the iPod proved a better price, $/gig, than the Creative and anything else I could find out there. It was CERTAINLY not "three times" the price of the competition as you imply. EDIT: I also really wanted an empeg Car but could not bring myself to spend so much money on something used, no longer made, that required so much effort to get to work right. Although it does sound damn cool, and somebody else needs to get their act together and release something new like that. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

You should have sent them to my tent to fly a 6 sq. ft. wingsuit. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

As Kolla pointed out, PD says that a Spectre in full flight glides flatter than a Sabre2, for example. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Hey, how do you know that? That's top secret wingsuit pilot info you're not allowed to have for another 200 jumps! Somebody is a SPY!!! www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Thanks a lot. You owe me back the last two hours of my life. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

It's a flying Dutch monkey! www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Umm, if this is a wingsuit jump, how is he able to wave his entire left arm (without a wing attached to it) in front of his face prior to pulling? The only thing I can think of is maybe he's jumping a Prodigy, but even then I didn't think the wing could slide down your arm that far. And even if it was a Prodigy, why do an RW pull? www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Thanks to everybody at SDA and all the flockers for a great SAFE week and a lot of fun jumps. The flocks were not huge but they were fun, and more importantly, everybody learned a lot and many new birds earned their wings. Attached are pictures of some of the new birds.

Congrats Allen, glad to hear it made it in time for the weekend.

I had an experience with a demo suit today, where the cables were obviously WAY too long. After some thinking, I asked the student, while geared up on the ground, to pull the cutaways. They would not come out all the way; the bottom 5-6 tabs remained laced up. Obviously one only has to let go of the handle and regrab the cable higher up to complete the cutaway, but someone under pressure (especially a student) may not realize this. So keep your eyes open.

Damnit you guys, quit posting all the cool pics of that heli! There is no way I'm gonna be able to avoid this boogie now! I was thinking of passing because of expensive airline tickets, and a lot of other travel next year, but now it looks too freaking cool to pass up. Not a definite yet but I will probably be there. Will post confirmation in the future. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

And me with my rotten, stale S3. (I just sent you a PM, Mark) www.WingsuitPhotos.com

I want video slot.

Any chance of some showing up at the Holiday Boogie in Eloy? www.WingsuitPhotos.com

We'll miss ya' Scott, but we'll still have fun. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

A good point James, in addition to Medusa's "warning" a few posts up. Ideally, swoops like these should always be briefed. The potential for collision should be obvious. In this specific video, the people swooping each other are not only very experienced flyers, they are very experienced at flying with each other. We all know each other and each other's flying habits, and know what our own awareness and comfort levels are as a group. Key points learned by the Z-Flock in our swooping endeavors: 1) Less bodies is better than more - it is riskier to swoop somebody when there are a lot of other flyers nearby 2) Don't get fixated on your "target" - if there are other flyers around, you're going to have to be aware of them, as well as whether or not they are aware of you (which they should be if it's planned) 3) Margin for error - a swoop 5 feet away is as cool as a swoop 6 inches away and much safer 4) Slower is safer than faster - obviously 5) Offset your swoop a bit to one side, and if you need to veer off as an "escape/abort route" you can (keep #2 - peripheral awareness - in mind) 6) Backflyer should be proficient enough to fly stable, and fly evasively if needed ("escape/abort route" again) 7) DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME, PERIOD. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Just talked to Jari and we will have ALL the newest BirdMan wingsuits there - Firebird, PHI, and S3-S! Along with all the other production models of course - Classic, GTi, and S3. Come try em all! I will arrive on the 23rd around noon and will begin setting up the BirdMan tent (aka flocker hangout). Hope to see you there soon.

Screw you and your more thorough explanation, you Dutch monkey. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Leo, I'm pretty sure most Sony mini-DV camcorders (even the older PC models) can shoot in 16:9 (there is a setting in the menus). As you may have noticed from the credits, this video was shot by FIVE different flockers. We all shoot in 16:9 since we like to share footage and we decided to make it standard for all of us. I use an HC90, Perry an HC1, Omar an HC3x (I think), and Medusa and Jeff both use older PC models (no touchscreen, if that helps). I'll bet your camera can do it... what do you have? www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Hmm, I've been doing a lot of backflying and flapping (backflapping?), maybe I need to keep an eye on my legwing from time to time. Where exactly did the tear occur? www.WingsuitPhotos.com