jimmytavino

. I always landed mine this way. Just reach up as high as you could on the back risers and do a chinup at flare time. It usually worked well. ......Steve1 I made 1050 jumps on the French Papillon,,( actually 3 different Fr. Paps ) ( a round, like the PC.. but with better "sink" characteristics,,,,, for shooting accuracy) but...... I used to take this technique a step further,, if it was windy and while facing into the wind,,,,,, we were STILL backing up......I would grab my rear risers,,, but would cross my arms,,, over my head,, and get my left riser w/ my right hand, and my right riser w/ my left hand, and then torque around ,,,180 degrees just at touch down,,by straightening out my arms, as I "chinned myself", so that while my canopy was still " backing up" I was landing facing "forward,",, and then would "run out the landing"......hahaha worked 6 times out of 10 !!. .. Ah..... youthful enthusiasm

Congratulations. I was one of the 10 that held the previous record.

......... .... looks kinda "snag-able"....

.. ...

.....

QuoteThe Coal, Carrot, and Scarf Five pieces of coal, a carrot, and a scarf are lying on the lawn. Nobody put them on the lawn, but there is a perfectly logical reason for their being there. What is it? ____________ Got it.... snowman... didn't use the clues.....

QuotePush That Car A man pushing his car stopped outside a hotel. As soon as he got there, he knew he was bankrupt. Why? Clues: Q: Did he have to push the car? A: Yes _______________________________________ jmy replies.... ....

............Joseph ( Joey ) Winona.............

Rather fond of the Spectre 230 myself. I'm thinking of having a beeper and a light put on it for reverse gear....nyuk-nyuk!

A good thing about tandems,, is the "above normal opening altitude".... and if the spot is long....A camera person can find themselves opening at 4 grand or above,,,, You spun at opening,, and even so,,,still did your cutaway at 800 meters,,, (2500 feet)...... so THAT was good....... but you erred,,,, as you indicate,, " I did a very short delay of 1 - 2 seconds....then activated the reserve 'still on my back'..." Gee.... at 2 grand.... ( 700 meters) I believe you can invest the 2 or 3 seconds,,, to properly position yourself,,,, Face to earth,,,,, and then pull the reserve handle...... Instead,, you ( perhaps unintentionally ) effectively "simulated" an RSL,,,, by immediately pouring out your reserve... something which should have occured only once you had reestablished yourself in the 'relative wind'...( I do not use an RSL for that reason and I bet you have the same feelings on that subject....) ( perhaps this attitude is somewhat "disrespectful" of the usual, "pull the padded handle, pull the silver handle " training,,, which is the usual and 'proper' approach for novices, intermediate, and semi- current jumpers,,),,,, BUT when we ADD CAMERAS,,,,things change!!!! Perhaps we need to accept some "variation" or " fine-tuning" to our "personal emergency procedures",, factoring in the "entanglement devices" which we wear on our heads... ....... When a canopy leaves our back,,,,,it goes UP..!!!... if your helmet, or your legs, or your arms, or anything,,,, is/are positioned UP ... relative to the deploying freebag,,, it can cause conflict.... ( as you have recently experienced)... Start your emergency procedures high enough to allow yourself the "leeway" to properly position yourself , prior to the reserve opening..... belly to earth,,, maybe even a bit head low,,,,... then your reserve risers will split correctly, and at line stretch your cameras are cleanly between them.. Perhaps the tree landing helped to limit your injuries... I once landed a French Papillon (round ) in a tree at the end of a thunderstorm jump,,, where we (4 of us) backed up at 35 knots or so,,,,, and I was grateful for the "cushiony " landing which help reduce the intensity...

Yeah, I'd go higher numbers to shoot tandems, the camera flier introduces a risk. 500 would not be unreasonable there. good flying skills and a thorough knowlege of your gear and it's operation should be "second nature" before you fly camera...It probably helps if you have many many jumps on your current canopy as well.... A recent downsizing (unfamiliar Canopy) coupled with trying,, to " catch that self portrait shadow shot.".. could result in a distraction which might affect a landing in a negative way....So the more jumps the better..... As for the "introduced risk" which a NEW camera flyer might bring....very true.... but ..... the opposite can also be said.....once a person gains experience. The video person can bring an additional monitor to the skydive, a guardian angel of sorts,, who can help the Tandem Master,, if needed....... One of our TM's had the main bag get out of the container, while in droguefall.. the D. release handle had not yet been pulled,,,, we were at about 10, grand,,,The TM was unaware that the main bag was floating 2 feet off his back..... BUT I could SEE it.... about 3 line stows had undone,,,, I moved in... parked in front of him.... waved,,,, waved again,,,, pointed to HIM with my left hand,,, and simulated a PULL with my right hand,,,,,by repeatedly going to my B O C ..... He got the idea,,, pulled the drogue release handle at about 8,000feet, and got an acceptable opening,, ( a few line twists.....)... More than once I have been with T M 's who got into flat spins,,, post drogue.... and on 3 occasions,,, I flew in,,,,so that the were rotating TOWARDS me.... and stuck out a hand and planted it on the TM's leg.... as they spun around........ stopped the turn every time....... Tandems without video,,, lack that extra touch of safety which a competent camera person can provide..

Actually I would like to find some space to mount an altimeter on there....... it's seems like whenever I have the cameras on,, and runnin'.... somebody is ALWAYS " looking in the lenses"...... If we are in freefall.... I'd just as soon give them a chance to get an altitude reading,,,, as well..... " When someone asks me if my helmet is heavy ( it weighs 8 pounds) ,, I often Reply,,, "it's weightless ..in freefall !! ......but at opening,,,, it's 4 G's "!!!!! jmy A 3914 upsa # 9452 Life is Enjoyable,,Freefall