TowerTopper

I didn't really care for the Direct Bag deployment. I tried one jump with a D-Bag in TF and it seemed to take forever to open, 2+ seconds. First time we put it in the bag (packed as normal but S-folded in the bag) we had the handles marked Left and Right backwards, so we re S-folded it right so we wouldn't get mixed up at the exit pulling it out of the back of the container. We had the PC off and I can't remember if we hooked the PC to the bag or if we hooked the bag to the bridge as a back up, Tom do you remember?. I figured it would snap right open, it didn't, must of not like being folded in the bag twice, but boy it seemed like a lifetime in 2 seconds knowing I was without that PC when I was all ready for that instant opening and it didn't happen. Most people I've talk with about D Bag Deployments have had no problems with them. Try yours up high first. Did you buy a D-Bag or a Sleeve from Apex? I was wondering how much different they where from each other.

Bridge Day isn't too bad for a first time jump if you don't mind the circus going on round you and 200,000 sets of eyes on you. I did my first two there in 2004, I sort of had to figure it out myself for the most part, grabbed a friend to help strighten out the pack job from hell I put in the container, thanks Mark! The first one went great in the peas and everything, the second one the canopy was sopping wet from packing in a T-storm, and Jason's photo crew got a great 12 shot series of me deploying head down with my packed canopy boucing off my feet nicely. After that it was off to TF and the Snake River BASE Academy with Tom. Jimmy P puts on a great course at APEX also. Before BD I was at the WFFC jumping the ballons and the helos doing some practice exits, I thought that helped me see about how an exit would be.

Update on repair of my camera PC101 s/n 1822911. The repair service , http://www.a-tech-inc.com shipped my camera back with no insurace on it with UPS and it's now lost or stolen. The sevice is no help with the investagation or filing a claim with UPS. I bet it was sold on E-Bay by them, under the seller name of "DoctorSony". I would not send them anything you don't don't want to lose or have to buy back on E-Bay. DON"T USE THIS SERVICE AT ALL COST. And Manny, Thanks for nothing!

Looks sort of like the Softie bail-out rigs I've been packing, what's it have in it, a 24' round? Just kidding, I tried to look up "Virtus Rigging" and found nothing.

New cellular company I'm doing work for in the midwest (Ohio and Indiana) is currently running this ad on TV and there website here... Need Flash To View... www.revol.us ---> click "Enter the Revoluition" ---> click "Join the Revoluition" --->click "Mission Footage", The first video is the BASE jump they are airing on TV pushing Revol. Sorry I couldn't figure out a clicky thing for the QT video

A friend of mine wanted to get rid of her deer after they ate the bark from her new trees. She bought these "post" that had a "D" battery and some wire loops on top of them them and stuck those all over. The post had a cotton ball on top and you would add some accorn scent on it, the deer would come over and smell it and get shocked on the nose from the loops and run off, it's a once bit, twice shy thing. The deer after getting shocked didn't come back. Here's some on E-bay... http://cgi.ebay.com/Havahart-Electronic-Repellent-for-Deer_W0QQitemZ7743557199QQcategoryZ50365QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/Havahart-Electronic-Repellent-for-Deer_W0QQitemZ7743557199QQcategoryZ50365QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

On page 91 in my PC1 Manual it says to just reset the camera to clear this error code. 1) Remove the tape and re-insert it into the camera and try it. 2) Reset camera by removing battery and AC power and then turn on for 10 seconds or so, turn back off and re-install the battery or AC power.

I sent my camera here... http://www.a-tech-inc.com , http://www.a-tech-inc.com/wo_form.html . I landed in a creek on a BASE jump at the WFFC and drowned my PC101 and it wouldn't shut off or sense a tape in the carrier. Camera works great now, new switch flex board and cleaning, total for the repair was $190.85 $68.85 Parts $20.00 Diagnostic $90.00 Labor $12.00 Shipping Also a friend of mine sent his PC105 in after ripping off his lens and manual focus ring, his total for the repair was $160.70 (not including lost Waycool lens) $68.70 Parts $20.00 Diagnostic $60.00 Labor $12.00 Shipping

It's been my experience that most fire departments are not trained or have equipment to preform such a rescue. I think that I can have a cavalier attitude about this, I have in the past had to preform a similar kind of rescue with my own rigging after calling 911 to get someone injured off a tower @ 385', another time we where called to a site to help with a recovery @ 160 after a mishap, we ended up having the guys work buddy's do that also while the fire department more or less watched and learned. I know of many other incidents where this is the case also. I could of had him down with my own "in house crew" or even a group of BASE friends in less than a hour, and I wouldn't of had to break out my big winches or put anyone in harms way. I was just giving my thoughts on the interview clip I saw. That must have been you doing that interview? Sorry I stepped on your feelings after your 15 minutes of glory.

The scary part I saw in the report is that the first responders had no clue how to get him down, their equipment was inadiquit. and a helo was unrealisitic, then they finally figured out a rope rescue, if you hang long enough in a harness you'll black out due to constriction, If you get stuck, give me a call, Vince

Hamsters BASE too!!

Anyone jumping around Indy or anywhere close? If so PM me. Vince

I'm broke from the WFFC, but we did flick a couple of A's there so it was worth it. Videos, stills, and stories later on that.

Thanks Ripcord for your thoughts on my question, That's on the lines of what I was thinking about using markers, I'm using a 24' I have because it is a steerable GE-21 (B), As for the message... go to Bridge Day and find out. C-ya!

It's really a new canopy, I have about 15 Lopo's ranging in sizes, I think, or say that they are junk because I'll never skydive with one.

I have a junk 24' round canopy that I want to write a message on and jump in my BASE rig at Bridge Day. I don't want to spend a lot of time and money so sewing like a logo is out, I was thinking of using the real large Sharpie markers and color it in. My question is ... Would coloring large areas with a marker weaken the fabric the gores are made of on the canopy. Other ideas are welcome.

Bridge Day Stats.... http://www.bridgeday.info/stats/bdaystats.pdf

We made a bunch of night jumps from the bridge after dinner at Tom's last night, we jumped till 4:00am, full moon and no winds, it was a blast. I have an extra bed at the Motel 6 till Tuesday afternoon if someone wants to split a room, call me, Vince 317-626-2382

Feel brave? Make a Digital ELPH http://www.jesseshuntingpage.com/site/brian-s100-digital-mod.html

I buy safety gear from Elk River, www.elkriver.com and from Safewaze, www.safewaze.com. You will need a full body harness with a "D" ring on the back and a set of double 6' shock absorbing lanyards with ladder hooks for 100% tie off. If it's on somebody's job site they will also want you to wear a hard hat also, I use my Petzl helmet for that, they are ANSI approved, it's an OSHA thing you know.

Climbing cell towers is safer than climbing broadcast towers when pertaining to the RF from antennas, I'll climb all over those cell towers and not bat an eye, but while if on a broadcast tower I won't climb past the top side markers (the top set of lights that don't flash) unless the station is turned down before I'll climb up to the stick. The thing to watch for is microwave dishes but even then it would be really hard to cross in front of those climbing the tower, getting behind the dish is safe but stand in the microwave path is not. Touching small metal 2-way type antennas can shock you if you touch them while their transmitting but there's not to much of those on cell towers. Climbing self-supporters and most cell guyed towers is hard cause you have to climb on the outside with nowhere to rest. You have your arms up most of the time and the blood doesn't flow good and your arms will crap out unless you can shake the blood back when you rest, it's hard to be tense on the climb and hold on tight the whole way. Most towers have a 3/8 cable on the climbing face to hook a "safety climb", a wire-rope grab made to trolley up the cable as you climb so if you fall it will catch you, they cost around $200 new but can be found on e-bay used for $50 or so and worth having one. When free climbing towers and other things remember the "three point rule" to be safe always use two hands and one foot or one hand and two feet on the tower all the time while climbing and save the falling for the actual jump.

Hey Cession, Here's a clip I took with my Sony Mavica of a 350' guyed tower I took down in Indiana in the matter you suggested, we used a chop saw to get it down. Revised: clip was too large, maximun size allowed for attachment was 60 kb, clip was 583kb with killer audio, Sorry, I'll e-mail it if you want to check it out.

$5000 for the tower isn't bad. You can take it down in a day if you want to pay around $13000 for a 200 ton crane for 8 hours, not including the $2500 for a cheap tower crew for the day to set it in 20 foot sections on the ground for you. Then all you need is to rent a 18-20 ton boom truck to take those apart for a week, but then you can truck it anywhere you want and do it again after you find the right zoning for it and get the FAA to give you the OK to go over 200 feet. Did I mention the cost for the new foundation? Mike on e-bay has a good deal on the one he has for $30000, but I rather have the Huey UH-1 helicopter he has for $95000 on there to jump out of.

I want to download some new music to edit with videos, I'm tired of the same old music I have. Any suggestions on tunes?

I too never noticed those hooks up there, of course thats most likely because I like to run out of the skyvans from the foul line and do a back gainer go out. Nothing like having the prop wash in your face to help spin you around.