frost

Are you using the Pro Duo or the HDD?

Actually, I think that the real slider rings in the teflon base are smoother on the lines... But they do add some bulk. Also i think the openings with full RDS vs just the slider are smoother, at least on my JVX, for the reasons you suggested. Terminal or not. Everything else Ian said is on the money.

But thats the thing... Actually a few things

what did he say not on topic? Is it not a valid idea to try the camera in an airtight enclosure to see if it eliminates effects the burble has on the lens? I personally think it's not a financially viable solution, due to the cost of such an enclosure, but it would be interesting to see the results.

I think it's part of the reason. The other one is the design of the hard drive - if that reader arm touches the platter during the opening shock, it will ruin it...

uhm. short reply: thanks for nothing!

we all know that the HDD camcorders are not suitable for skydiving and other activities where the shock factor is too high. i was told (not by a video expert) that the new technology allows you to use hard disc camcorders for activities such as skydiving. Supposedly this was confirmed to him by several customer service reps. but how much do CSRs know? But here is a quote from some of the new HD based camcorders, such as the HDR-SR11: "when you record images during activities such as roller coasting or skydiving, you can set drop sensor to off." I dont know, has the hard drive design changed? Does the arm no longer floats on the platter?

indeed. Speed = lift, but getting that speed in the right place at the right time... that's the trick we're trying to learn. P.S. may be it was a 71... or 72? but something pretty small for sure.

I thought i knew that... until i saw Jay Mo fly a 79 loaded probably around 2.7(?) and go pretty damn fast and far SoFPiDaRF - School of Fast Progress in Downsizing and Radical Flying. Because nobody knows your skills better than you.

There is a good chance you already have or are about to burn your firewire board. Firewire IS NOT hot swappable, even though it may work and look that way. It may work, then it might present problems like you describe... but a static electricity spark WILL burn the circuit to a crisp and you will be left with no firewire. ALWAYS turn the camera/PC off before connecting the firewire! This comes from someone who has burned a PC1000 firewire that way. When it stopped working I did some research on DV info forums and found that a lot of people out there had this issue. It all leads back to the basic RTFM! advice.

yeah what he said. But! lucky for you i have some old pics here: http://public.fotki.com/tefloncoated/skydiving_-_rigging/

tuck, dude, i had same concerns as you, but i never had a chance to prove/disprove them... i still used it :) However if your concern is: will the cutaway "break the rubber"?, then you could do this: cut the long rubber band in half to make two thin bands on put both of them on the ball bungee. In case one brakes, you have the other one as a spare. You can also do a simple pull test - on the ground, connect the slider as you would in the air. Then pick the rig up by the slider and shake it down once or twice. Rubber band should break. That's putting about 60 lbs of force on it. On an actual cutaway, that force will be at least your weight, right?

Well... nah it's easier to bitch about it Lets consider this: There is also no intermediate or CPC equivalent elsewhere in the world - all other countries compete on 5 foot gates as per IPC rules. So the US Nats may go away with 10 foot gates/intermediate class too. Now that there is no more Pro Swoop Tour - CPC is dead too, along with it. So all the Ams can now compete with Pros. There is an event or a series of events that have enough good pilots to give any PST/EST event a run for their money. FLCPA. 31 pilots last weekend, 16 Pros. Not a lot of prize money though. Yet.

BTW, with all that big talk... i forgot my Pro certificate at home last week... I guess I'll return it to issuer in person come August 28th

i probably spent about 7 grand on CPC comps last year. Absolutely no regrets from me... but i think he probably would have sold me a Pro card for two geez. Home delivery, FedEx next day air. For four geez he'd probably throw in a free JVX. But instead of JVX/Icarus logos - i'd insist on a "i'm a sucker" across the bottom skin. In Gothic letters, black on white... i like! P.S. please bring the loudener to the Nats

You should definitely get an RDS slider and use just by itself. Why would you buy "the ultimate swoop machine" if you're flying with a regular slider? Now, as far as systems, in the past, I really liked Joe/MEL style RDS on my VXs. I've had two of those, one with the yellow cable (crappy) and the same one with lines instead of cables (MUCH better). Single point of release was the best feature for me. I've heard people say that (4) single points of ring attachment create some instability in the slider/rings configuration when attached, but it didnt seem to me that way. Worked well on VX. Never had one for JVX, where, as you know, slider position is crucial for good openings due to slider stops being offset. The Paraconcepts RDS for JVX is excellent. I have two of them. One is an older style with real slider rings in a teflon base (which i actually may have for sale - PM me if interested) and the other is a newer style with thin machined rings. Slider itself is the same - two points of release, 8 points of attachment (2 per ring). It adds a few seconds to removal/reattachment times, but hardly noticeable once you put a few dozen jumps on it. At this point you can have a slightly better, IMO, system (but a bit pricey) AND the great service from Kirk at ParaConcepts, who delivers on time. Or you can have a good solid and slightly cheaper RDS from MEL, but you'd be gambling with his service and delivery times, as everyone knows by now, just read the gear and rigging forums. Joe can make the same solid system for you and he has also been pretty good for me as far as support and service. The slider release lines he had just made for me broke on the second jump. I am sure it was just an odd rare defect. He fixed it quickly. There are other folks that make similar RDS set ups. A good rigger can make one too. The rings are the most important part, not everyone has the same ones. Hope that helps.

Could dampening the mount/hardware help somehow? Cookie box/liquid lock base has a solid rubber-like layer inside. What about softer material? The screw still remains a solid point of attachment though and i wouldn't jump without it with just the rubber bands securing it. May be screw it in not as tight? I cant test these ideas - i lost my CX7 on a Delta flight this weekend coming back from Atlanta...

A full Removable Deployment System includes the D-bag and pilot chute. A Removable Slider is not same as RDS and it's good not just for competitions/training. It helps you see more around you, improves the canopy shape and flight. Years ago I also used to think that removable sliders were for competition pilots only. I now think anyone can enjoy the benefits of a RS. To OP: i remove my RS on every jump. However if i am on a back-2-back i may just stow it. It takes a minute to re-assemble it and will become a non-issue after a couple of dozen jumps

No doubt. Sunman is one of my heros, i was just kidding. But not really. I actually did go blind.

i actually went blind for about 60 seconds... but the initial image has burned in the retina, so the brain kept processing it.... in the darkness of blindness.... "terrifying" doesn't describe it... i think the proper description would be "scary beyond all reason". I think a new CP rule needs to be put in place, along the hard shell helmet and closed toe shoes rules. A pilot MUST wear some type of penis cover. Not applicable to pilots with no penis.

You tell him, Kolla! Hey Stu, you want me to show you how it's done? Let me borrow that velo 90 for a week or two Hey Ian... May be you have a slight case of portaphobia AKA abnormal fear of noodles and gates in general? Wait i think i know what it is! it's the fear of speed!! You drive like a little girl! BTW, Jay was too embarrassed... but it was actually him who asked me to sign him up for that basic canopy skills class you're holding next weekend. Oh man i love to trash talk. Where is McNenney and my poker chips! SoFPiDaRF - School of Fast Progress in Downsizing and Radical Flying. Because nobody knows your skills better than you.

I wonder who told you that... Question: What are you looking for? Or rather, what do you think a velo will give you at this point that you cannot get out of a Katana?

My pleasure, dude!

The Farm ROCKS. Thanks Al, Hans, Kim and everyone who helped out. The comp was challenging, lots of people had problems... their minds were not in the game i guess... The results will be posted soon, but here are some pics from the last run of the meet, courtesy of Chad. http://maxf.net/~shatalov/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=FLCPA_5_2008

I dont know about that... look at the teams like Spaceland Anomaly! With their awesome flying they are inspiring new fliers out there to go the artistic route and compete at the Nationals. I think you answered that pretty well There will always be things you can do and learn - and that's what keeps some people going. It's supposed to be fun right? If you dont want the vrw style of precise flying - artistic freeflying is always there for you. SoFPiDaRF - School of Fast Progress in Downsizing and Radical Flying. Because nobody knows your skills better than you.