ramon

Not 100 % sure, but... I think the alpha had stronger line attachment points. (2.0-2.2 loadings etc)...and that would be the only difference. A space 135 and an alpha 135 at the same wing loading would be exactly the same. but...... Jim Slaton had a "special" alpha at one point. I believe it was called a "pro blade special" or somehting like that....I have no clue what the difference was, but if you find one it is supposed to be slightly higher performance...maybe ramon

You have adroitly put several times that the stilleto and the FX have the same airfoil, line trim and plan form must be slightly different, but they both have hard riser pressure. I can't imagine the Xaos having a different planform and airfoil than the fX so it must all be line trim there... Am I correct? ramon

don't get me wrong, I'm just making observations. ramon

It was impossible to find any info out there on blade raid. I wonder if the other team member was on a 27 also? ramon

I posted it because....every post in there is a new post. I have never read it. I don't have fall rate problems or want to learn the mantis position....tunnel camp would be nice though I do RW about 4-5 times a month. The newer freefliers are doing rW in spare time to be truly 3D fliers. I was on a jump with Max Cohn this weekend (4 way with video (me)) with tight slots. Started head down...then at a key we all went n our bellys and made a round. then on a key we all went to a sit. then he pointed individually at each flier for him to go head down and fly sith the sit formation till we were all head down. if you looked at nationals video there was some RW in the FF routines. it islimited to simple 2 way and typically winds upo with someone going in a sit from belly and dragging the other to head down amintaing the dock. FF are doing this to try and be a flier at every airspeed. It does not and can not replace fast 4 way or 8 ways skills. Some of the worlds best freefliers were on the 300 way world record though ramon as paula would say 'fly your slot!'

Item 4 This is total hearsay from someone who will be left un named. Red Bull Blade Raid. There were high winds. Two canopies collapsed during competition before they stopped the competition. hearsay has it that they were both jumping XAOS, one of them was Andy Farriginton and one of them (not sure which) was bruised pretty good from the incident. sorry I totally forgot that in the original post but I wanted the canopy intelligensia to read it. ramon

and a 20 foot kevlar streamer.

sorry. Actually there have been some good posts put out about freeflying by older members. many of them are lost on the server. I know I wrote a long one about a year ago. You get tired writing the samething again and I always hope someone else will fill the gap. Unfortunately the serious talent pool is a lot smaller than RW FreeflyGoat 78Rats and IMGR2 are probably the best members of the group and all have atmospheric dolphin ratings. Addressing posts to them in particular might elicit a response. Don't ask Levin If you PM me I will try my best to answer your questions for you, I feel bad. ramon

This is a theoretical discussion only I am not pointing fingers and it is sort of a rehash of riser pressure/stability. Plus we probably should not be trying what we were. Facts: Looks like an FX (or a velocity for that matter) but modifications in nose shape, stressed stabilizers, non cascaded lines, line trim (angle of attack and center of gravity change), and of course line material (minor). The canopy does have lighter riser pressure than it's cousin the FX. General discussion with pilots seems to point to possible shallower angle of attack in fullflight. I am no expert but I heard this can be achieved by moving the center of gravity further back on the wing somehow (ala Cobalt or Alpha). I am unsure how you can make the canopy have a shallow angle of attack without shifting this weight and therby lessening the riser pressure. But the stilletto which supposedly has a shallow angle of attack has high riser pressure. Anyway. Item 1. There was a fellow who had his small xaos (68 I beleive) collapse on one side then go into line twists, in VA. No I have no knowledge of this incident at all. He seemed to have low jump numbers (for that canopy..maybe 500?) and maybe he did somehting to induce the canopy to colapse (possible deep brake turne bordering on stall turn). I just don't know, but somehting resembling that happened report said he was amking a slight correctionat 50' and that is kinda low. alegedly winds were 10 mph with gusts to 16. I know that could be dangerous if the right gust at the right time happens, but most cross brace pilots brag about how stable their canopies are in gusty weather...beats me. item 2. My friend Wane and I are fans of doing small Crew with whatever we are jumping Samurai, vengeance, FX etc. We have done a 2 stack with me FX109 (2.0) him Extreme 99 (1.8). Canopies appeared stable though it was twitchy ans if I applied a little brake his wanted to outlfy me ever so slightly. Wane bought a Xaos 80 (loaded 2.2) he tried a 2 stack with an FX 84 (my friend hoop) loaded about (2.2). Twice when the Xaos tried to dock on the FX it would colapse and spiral up. I videoed this so it seemed like air to the nose would be bleed out and sides would do their own thing, or that the nose wouldn't have anywhere to go and then the sides would out fly it. It was really violent and after the second time wane kicked out of twists almost cutting away they gave up. item3 We had a couple of locals with the corssfires requireing modifications. My friend JD was boasting about his extremely light riser pressure. bulletin came out, he got it back and the riser pressure was now in the high range. Final discussion topic. If a canopy is trimed steeper should it be more stable and how can you trim a cnopy shallow and have heavy riser pressure (stilleto) can you do the reverse? ramon

I'm going to post the good things. Javelin: properly sized was very comfortable. the new ones that are made properly seem pretty secure when the main flaps fit tight. they have some really cool options with new materials and a small odysey feels very non restrictive. Wings: the most comfortable rig I ever jumped and it was a demo. I like the main flap style (like Vector3 and Mirage) but the material seemed soft as opposed to stiff (reserve flap was soft, but it did not want to come out by itself you needed to get your finger under it). The wings looked aerodynamic and all the rigs looked smooth (no lumpy reserve or mains bulging out, I have seen lumpiness on Voodoo, Vector and Mirage) ramon

where did that forum come from? J/K ramon

some people naturally daffy while learning..like Hookit (trey). to others it seems the Xman /frog is better because it is symmetrical and it is easier to see on video why someone is having a heading problem. Personally it was easier for me to get stable without moving foward or backward in an x-man then learn how to slow down in a daffy for a good neutral position. but I could be wrong ramon

You are a fag if you don't jump one. I mean you are a FLAP if you jump one imagine video of main flap flaping in the wind. flapflapflapflapflap ramon V3 micron baby!

ha. ramon

Space suits are thin and light and designed for faster fall rates. typically really skinny dudes and gals (skinny like Mike Ortiz 6' like 150 #. If you are a little heavier I would get a tony free fly or tie fly suit. they have more drag. My first freefly suit did not have enough drag (I weigh 190-195), I wound up haveing to sell it and get one with more. ask around. ramon

Since you called this a 'fairly large dog' can we assume this was like a prehistoric 'sabretoothed/grizzily/hyena/dog'? ramon

I am guilty too. looks too much like wreckdot. BSBD ramon

I've been meaning to come out there many times. I was in abu dhabi for 2 months. I've been flying my FX and I was sort of afraid to fly it at SDH. I have no problem with my vengeance 135 on a par 3 dogleg though After the San Marcos freefly I won't be doing anything and will probably come out to SDH to spread some love over there. I like that DZ too. If you get a chance you should go to dallas or san marcos they have strong freefly groups there also. Really soon S.Land will have a strong freefly base too, Max Cohn really helped the dZ out and everyone that braved the weather benifitted from his organizing, coaching and debriefs. ramon

1st place 14 points (team was stacked) Team Duh john McCollum Stevei Boyd Levin (barely woke up in time) Jackson 2nd place (I think between 8-6 points) Chris

A Caboose and an engine holding on to over 1/4 ton of Cornfed and McKelvie falling to the earth. It really is too bad the weather sucked and we didn't get to do more funs stuff like that. ramon

that part of the video is sideways too. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!.

Coupled with masterful planning and long training. We tied for third place in the Freefly scrambles.

see amazing control

See the incredible exit count that made Ramon and Nac Famous at the Spaceland FF festival.

She posted 273 last year, to be beat by Chris (God take care of him) who posted 286 but could only do 266 this year lucky for me.. This year she got here too late to enter..she has done 300..she has a trick. Ramon