flyinfishman

That's actually a better option than any I've heard yet. There doesn't seem to be any drawbacks. I'm definitely changing to this one. thank you sir! JIM

Very nice! Delivery time is amazing. My order is in for the new production model. Can't wait! Jim

I have a regular hackey with two attachment points, and they are so close together, it might as well be one... not like a PVC.

Glad you made it out of that situation OK

What was the size and configuration of his PC? How was it packed? How was it deployed? JIM

Thanks Paul, I sent her a PM. I'm really looking forward to May and the WS boogie in Lodi. Hope to meet you then! Maybe we'll do some all SG flocks?

Could someone please be so kind as to provide ordering or contact info for these suits? I'm very intrigued.... Also, does anyone out there have any glide ratio data for these suits yet? Looks like it would be a great suit for backflying too. thanks! JIM

Thank you sir! JIM

Are you supposed to mate the shrivel flap all the way to the top of the hook velcro on the suit? If not, why install velcro that far up on the suit so that it would rub on your backpad after deployment? I only ask because I've read suggestions to place a piece of pile velcro on the part that will rub against your rig after deployment. Do you mate the top of the shrivel flap up to the bottom of the container, or go up to the end of the hook velcro and double back down to the container? thanks for any input! JIM

These are the only ones I have so far, carving circles around Kelly Craig who was on his back in regular freefall. I love staying down with freefallers, especially tandems and seeing their gaping mouth when I fly off!

Calendar's marked. ROAD TRIP!

around 2500

I definitely want to come down there this year, $15 to 13K seven days a week, I miss being down there. It's probably impossible to remember all of your students, but you were my AFF instructor back in '95 at Yolo. Small world. Those were the good old days, it would be super cool to do some flocks with you! JIM

That about sums it up, now I'm depressed, thanks Ed! We do a lot of hop 'n pops at the ceiliing. Or in my case: FLAP 'N POPS

That was taken under canopy by one of our DZ photographers, Kelly Craig (super cool guy) right after I flew past him. The river was flooded that weekend, you can see a couple of houses at the top that are completely surrounded by water.

Hey, Yes, when I fly just for the most glide, I take the spot out 3.5 - 4 miles or more depending on the altitude and winds aloft. I just turn around right away and fly a straight line back to the DZ. **SAFETY note to anyone learning...take the spot out gradually and ONLY fly down the line of flight when safety allows it and the airspace is clear of other jumpers, tandems, high flying flocks of geese, etc.** The DZ here also has two landing areas, the airport and a student field 2.3 miles from the airport, so there's some flexibility when it comes to the spots. Flying a straight line has really helped to fine tune glide, but I have learned to fly box patterns without losing the glide by turning with the legs and making the turn gradual to avoid losing the forward speed. It's more like a semi-circle than a box. I always focus on the forward speed and try to eliminate drag from airflow straight ahead, not increase drag from airflow below. I sweep back the hands, keep the toes slightly in, head down, eyes up, and just think "more forward speed" Straight body from head to toe, adjusting the angle of attack. At first it was surprising that my fall rate was low, without even thinking about it. Arm pressure is significantly less when focusing on forward speed and turning that speed to lift to keep the fall rate down. Just took lotsa practice, as will getting the good numbers with the V1.

6'3" 175 lbs. 267 ws jumps (mostly Gti, a few S3) Just the descent rate doesn't mean much to me, glide ratio is my only measure of performance. You also need to know what the winds aloft were when taking into consideration glide and forward speed. I've had a glide ratio of 2.8 in my Gti (with a 45 mph tail wind, which made my ground speed around 130mph from GPS!) No wind glide ratio on the Gti is at 1.8- 85 mph fwd avg. by GPS, fall rate 47 mph avg. by protrack. Fall rate on Gti has been down to 40 avg for the entire flight, but sacrificed glide... not much fun. JIM

I'm upgrading mine to a 30"ZP KL, 10' bridle and a PVC handle for use with my V1 (skydiving rig) Some hackeys are attached close the PC and are attached on two sides of the hackey, like the PVC. Some hackeys have only one attachment point and dangle away from the PC. I would stay away from these. After advice from some experienced individuals on PC's, I'm sticking with the PVC as opposed to an internal or floating handle. The odds of PC mal are considerably low and I don't want to compromise not having a good, solid grip for the very unlikely chance of a PC mal. Take into account how you are pulling too. If you're in full freefall before throwing, there's not much chance for the PC to dance in a huge burble and knot up. If you pull in full flight with a good throw there's not much chance for your PC to dance in a huge burble and knot up. When I say full flight I mean full glide with the highest forward speed you can muster. If you flare out or just get floaty and create a huge burble where the PC can dance around after a weak throw...chances would be higher. JIM

Thanks! Would you be able to post the info in a new thread so everyone can see it, or PM it to me, that would be great! thanks very much, JIM

So are the Sugargliders commercially available now? How would your average Joe-Schmo like me go about ordering one? Does anyone have any hard data in regards to glide ratio on the Sugarglider? I've read conflicting posts on here where some say it's better than the S3, others say the fall rate is the same as the S3 without the glide. ? Hard to make a conclusion without the same experienced pilot in both suits. This would be the logical choice for a landing attempt. All the float without the high forward speed. Not being sarcastic- Good luck to whoever attempts it!

Forward speed, glide ratio and distance is what does it for me! V-1 is coming and will satisfy that need for sure. It may become a DZ requirement on all V-1 flights to be outfitted with a transponder and 2-way radio comms with Seattle ATC. Will keep the GTi for aerobatics and fun flocking ( if we ever get more birds to fly at my DZ ) Not into superfloaty time records, but I would love to fly a Sugarglider.

Forerunner 201. It's small, wrist mount, does everything you'll need and is easy to use. It's only 140.00 and USA photomaps is free. http://www.jdmcox.com/ It logs altitude (from GPS) so if you really want to look at your track in 3D you can use the free demo version of topofusion. Photomaps is the best. You get a clear satellite photo of your track, not a topographical map, plus it does all sorts of other crap. The latest version of photomaps lets you drag your cursor over the track and will display the time, speed, distance from the start of the track, and altitude...and it's free..I'm a cheapskate.

good story! I never want to grow up... I just want to fly further and faster! I can't drive at 85 MPH and not get a speeding ticket, yet I can fly next to the clouds that fast for two and a half minutes with my shadow following me! Childhood dreams come true every weekend! (made possible by people like Robert P.-THANK YOU!!!)

I've wondered the same thing, since the tail is so long and there are rigid ribs inside... Difficult to stand in or just walk getting to the door? I've heard there will be no LQRS option on this suit, which I've found useful a few times with my GTi for kicking out of line twists. Granted the leg stance is so wide on this one compared to the GTi, you'd probably get a good kick with the booties still on.

Amen to that. I don't watch the PC or even look up at the canopy until I'm solid in the harness. This is especially true in full flight deployments, which I prefer because I can "feel" the deployment much better and fly through it. Make sure to maintain heading after pitching in full flight. Awhile ago I reached to pull, paused briefly to get a better grip on the handle and changed heading by maybe 10 degrees, pitched, then (unknowingly at the time) returned to my original heading before the canopy was out of the bag. dum-ass Jim! The result was a nice barber pole from the uneven weight distribution. I got what I deserved. Jim