Tonto

I don't think 130 MPH on your belly is very fast. Most of my AFF students are between 120 and 125 when they complete the program. As they learn to relax more, they're closer to 130 by the time they finish ISP. This includes the 115 lb, 5'10 female students in similar suits to yours. 115 I would consider to be a very slow fallrate. My range, flat, in Birdman Pantz and a long sleeve T is between 100 and 145ish. If I need to go faster than that - it's onto my feet or my head to get there. I'm 165lbs and 5'11. t It's the year of the Pig.

Here, in Africa, among skydivers, cute means, "Ugly but fuckable." That's the truth. I hope it's good news. t It's the year of the Pig.

Wrong. 6.7 Billion. t It's the year of the Pig.

Congratulations and welcome! We had 1 new bird on our DZ this weekend too - and another rejoining after a long break (after a break) doing his 1st Birdman in the Southern Hemisphere. Yes. His FIRST. t It's the year of the Pig.

Between you and PJ... I can hear the clock to SC calling. Give up on the good old days when you could say negative things about black people and women and have people "understand". The sting of pride you feel in debates such as these are a fraction of what any member of the population who is not a heterosexual white male has felt for 1000's of years. If it truely does turn 180 degrees - It'll be our turn again in 20 000 years time. Breathe deep and show some resolve, or move with the times. t It's the year of the Pig.

Well.. I hop that doesn't happen to me next year.. While a couple of pounds may improve my performance in a Wingsuit... weighing 85lbs may leave me without the strength to pull... t It's the year of the Pig.

What's the S3S? Jussi said it was a "special." What's up with that? t It's the year of the Pig.

I'm jumping a Stilleto 107 @ 1.80 for AFF and a Safire at 1.77 for Birdman. I have 4599 dives. t It's the year of the Pig.

I was 22. Been a while since I was 22... t It's the year of the Pig.

Not at all. Falling up is tough. What's even harder is falling up kinda sideways when there is sea everywhere when you miss. I'd never try that drunk. t It's the year of the Pig.

No, you're on top. That's why so many great skydivers come from the Northern Hemisphere, or only get good when they're there. (Yes, Chromy, Lob, Ivan, Solly, Gary, Gary... I'm talking about you guys.) The vast majority of our time down here in the southern hemisphere is spent on the not easy task of falling up. You should try it some time. t It's the year of the Pig.

I think that some people can track, and some people can't. I know the difference between these two groups is huge. I think that a 4 way suit with booties, long T and Birdman Pantz, PF Tracking suit all have comparable forward speeds. I think that the PF Tracking suit will accelerate to that speed fastest, then the pantz, then the 4 way suit. I think the 4 way suit will fall fastest vertically, then the pantz, then the PF suit. This means that with the longer timeframe the 4 way suit will cover the least distance, then the Pantz, then the PF suit. Wingsuits flying with the above three are a different story. A classic, GTI or S3 "flying" with a 4 way suit has no wing out. Nothing. They're equal. Putting more wing out simply slows the vertical speed and allows us to steepen the hill we fly down. Wingsuits among wingsuits... huge variables among the skills of the pilots, thicker VS thinner wing profiles, different wing loadings, some suits like the Vampire having attacked the parasitic drag problem, others like the Sugarglider going for lower forward speeds, and so lower drag, and potentially extending their glide in the same way a bit of brake does vs full glide works under canopy. Aerodynamic drag is exponential. Best glide speed in an aircraft is never near VNE. All I know is that I love to fly, and I try and do better on each dive I do, and when I'm not jumping, I'm usually thinking about it quite a bit. t It's the year of the Pig.

What you say may be true if you run a dropzone as a business. If you're a Tandem instructor working at a DZ, and have no control over the policies at that DZ, but need to deal with passengers who put you at risk and bitch at you, then the "bowling ball" speech can be changed to the "Go and do AFF/Video/Coaching/BMI if you're not happy" and can be given to the Tandem Instructor either by the business that employs him, or he can reach that conclusion himself. What your post neglects to mention is that EVERY Tandem Instructor did a 1st jump course once, and moved their way up the ranks. We are ALL customers of the system. I simply struggle with the high volume, low retention aspect of Static line and Tandem operation. I like to put my effort into people who have some intention of remaining in the sport. Tandem is not part of any progression in South Africa. t It's the year of the Pig.

Taz, my GF, and I did a few flocks with dudes in PF tracking suits in Eloy early this year. Forward speed was close to my S3 and her Gti, but this is also true of Birdman Pantz. We got a few docks in and then took off from there. Wingsuits can flock with anything. I've taken mine to flock with trackers in 4 way suits. I just LOVE the lift I get when I'm tired of playing with them! t It's the year of the Pig.

Really? Than thing must really sing with him in it! t It's the year of the Pig.

My 753rd Tandem sucked too - so I quit doing Tandem. Now I don't have people I'll never see again bitching at me that the weather sucks and that the sun goes down. I'm so glad I'm done with Tandem. It would be great, but so many of the passengers suck! t It's the year of the Pig.

Nice one! Who was the other pilot? t It's the year of the Pig.

These threads usually go along the lines of.. "I jump a Mirage! It's perfect! Buy it!" "I jump an Infinity! It's perfect! Buy it!" "What's wrong with you! Don't buy those! I jump a "insert brand you've already decieded you don't want here" and it's perfect! Buy it!" When you buy gear, it's a profoundly personal choice based on safety, cost, delivery time, and what you think is a good looking rig that others may think is ugly as sin. Deep down you probably already know what you want and are looking for others to confirm it for you. Good luck with your choice. t It's the year of the Pig.

My dreams are not being shattered. The origional posters may be. I say again - to skydive is to risk hard opening. I have over 750 CRW dives, and anyone that thinks subterminal openings on CRW rigs are soft - obviously has not jumped one. t It's the year of the Pig.

Hi. I'm guessing you're not allowed "real" skydiving due to the potentially high physiological decelleration forces a terminal opening may subject you to. If this is the case, I think that ANY kind of skydiving is out of the question, as there is no garentee that a SL rig may not malfunction resulting in a terminal or near terminal reserve deployment. Same situation for CRW. A wrap or entanglement may result in a cutaway that requires you to fall away from the mess prior to reserve activation. You should find out WHY one form of skydiving is deemed safer than another. If SL chutes never malfuction - why do you wear a reserve? t It's the year of the Pig.

Yeah. We're not in your country. t It's the year of the Pig.

Too fast, too soon. Stop it, or the ground will stop you. It doesn't care. To the rest of you, this is something Chuck posted to a similar thread last week. Little has changed, it seems. Lots of inappropriate responses here, people; quit it. To the original poster: you have no business even thinking ******, much less a ****** at your experience level. Shame on the person who loans you one to try. To the others: don't assume "troll" here. This might very well be a person who thinks a ****** is an appropriate choice (it's not by the way). And again: don't egg the guy on; this is a serious forum. Keep it clean, fools! Chuck t It's the year of the Pig.

Damn right I would. And I'd be a million times more African than all those basketball heros you have over there - just as they'll be a million times more American than I'll ever be. I'm sorry if the idea of 7th generation white Africans upsets some people, but as we said earlier - it's about where you're from - not what colour you are. And I am from Africa. t It's the year of the Pig.

I let my SL I go this year too, as well as my SL JM. Last year I let my tandem rating go. I still have mine listed. Why? I was a SL JM for 18 years. I gained some experience in that time, like dispatching students safely from 2 aircraft emergencies. I was a Tandem Instructor for 12 years, had 8 Tandem cutaways and one Tandem reserve malfunction. I feel that some of these things don't happen every day - and it would be a shame not to be allowed to give input. My PASA card still lists my ratings, but places a "U" at the end of the number. I'll learn from anyone I can, rated or not, current or not, more or less experienced than I am. t It's the year of the Pig.