pilotdave

Just getting warmed up. I guess the real jumping starts tomorrow. Dave

I just received word that the SkydivingMovies.com server is losing its home. Matt Crocker has been donating hosting for years. Without his generosity, the site would have shut down years ago. But the insane bandwidth we use isn't cheap and it's become impossible for Matt to continue donating his services. I don't know what the future holds for SkydivingMovies.com. The site exists on a dedicated server, which I'll be holding on to while we figure things out. Maybe someone wants to buy a ready-to-go website with thousands of videos and over 60,000 registered members?

It doesn't work that way at all. At least not under the ISP. That's exactly how it used to be, and it has been changed (at participating DZs). I did the old 7-level program. After level 7, I did solos. I actually did a couple coach jumps (before the coach rating existed) to learn some stuff not taught in AFF... fall rate control, side slides, etc. But those were optional. The day I did my 20th jump, I mentioned it to an instructor. He surprised me with a written test, which i barely passed, and I had an A-license. But things have changed. AFF under the ISP is a lot more jumps. Then after the hop n' pops (2 of em now), students are on to coach jumps where they work one on one to go from basic survival skills to group skydive skills. I'm not saying it's perfect, but I am saying that it works. It's expensive, but it works. Our "graduates" (A-license recipients) are so much better now than people like me were 10 years ago. They both have more skill and more knowledge. I've got an IAD rating too (which I've never used because we don't normally offer IAD), and I still don't understand most of the arguments for why IAD/SL is better or ever was better. By Category D, the programs merge together. But the IAD/SL instructor is only "encouraged" to exit the aircraft with the student to observe. It's in the IRM. Both programs have advantages of course, but (at least at my little DZ), I don't agree with most of your conclusions about AFF. Dave

I've found a lot of great info about both helmets, but no direct comparison between them. Any opinions on the pros and cons of each? Here's what I'm thinking so far... The Vapor is an inch wider. I plan to top mount everything including a 50D, so width seems inportant. Some people use wider plates on FTPs though. The Vapor looks like it would cover the mouth... the FTP is shaped the opposite way at the front. Saw one comment that the Vapor's design makes it harder to get a switch in your mouth, but it's not too bad. Any more opinions on that? Any difference in the way the two helmets latch and clamp down? The main reason I want a new helmet is to get one that clamps to my head more securely for less camera shake. The FTP uses an L-bracket for front mounting a camera, the Vapor uses an overhung top plate (which I'd cut off). Seems like the FTP is more versatile there. I don't plan to use the front, but options are nice. Any real pro to the way the Vapor does it? Seems like the Vapor wins on comfort, at least from the few reviews I've read. What else? Any other reasons one is significantly better than the other? I'm leaning toward an FTP just because it's been around so long and improvements have been incorporated. The Vapor is still new. But I do like the width of the Vapor and I would love to figure out how to put a lens on it, which I know has been done. Not sure how you stick a tongue switch in your mouth if it has a fixed visor on it, but I'd be willing to learn. The prices are identical (when you add a cutaway to the Vapor). The fact that it doesn't come with a cutaway pisses me off actually. So, which would you buy and why? Dave

Till dragon2 comes and recommends a nikon with a prime lens and mouth switch. Then it's not so easy, is it??

The server amazingly ran completely uninterupted for the last couple years, hosted (for free!) by Crocker Communications. Not sure whats going on right now. I can confirm the site hasn't been shut down on purpose, but I don't know when it'll be up and running. Dave

No problem with the knife itself, he just couldn't identify which line to cut while in a spinning mal... even though he knew which line was causing the lineover before he boarded the plane. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=172047 Dave

Maybe not the most impressive picture ever, but I'm not a freeflyer so I don't have too many like it... Dave

There'll be an R-44 helicopter at Pepperell, MA during their CASA boogie next week (thurs and fri, aug 13-14). $50 a jump. Dave

If you plan to wear your birthday suit, I'm out. Happy bday though. Dave

For those using cinescore... are you using the default themes that came with it, or did you buy any more? I'm just playing with the demo... I think I'll go for it. But I'm just curious if it comes with enough variety that works well for skydiving videos. Any of the themes available for sale have a lot of good stuff for skydiving videos? I haven't looked at acid... I assume that's too much trouble for quick edits. Especially for the musically challenged. Sound about right? Dave

I got one too... but it sure looks like the box they're selling is not the one in the picture. Look at the dimensions. Still sounds like a good deal to me. Dave

No. Keep trying new things and you won't get burned out. I'm saving freeflying for when I get bored of instruction, RW, wingsuits, accuracy, and photography. Maybe I'll try swooping after that. And by then, space diving should be in full swing. I don't see boredom in my future. Dave

This should help: http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/camera_multi_page.asp?cid=6007-9424 Dave

He transitioned to a 2-handed crotch grab back slide with a smile. Dave

Connecticut Parachutists just got a swoop pond. It's a little smaller than most. And some people would call it a puddle. But it's a really big puddle. And the swoopers took full advantage of it yesterday since it won't last long. Dave

1. Purple Mike 2. Michal M 3. Obama 4. J-Sho 5. Andreea 6. Dan M -- no handlebars 7. Stu 8. Scott Gray 9. Chris Gray 10. MonkeyBoy 11. Taya 12. "One Ball" Rick 13. "responsible" Phil Peggs 14. Mark K. 15. "irresponsible" one and a half ball "Stoney" 16. Lurch "Most stylish debris cloud in history" 17-20. The CPI Regulars (Mark K apparently doesn't count) Dave

I've never tried to wire anything up like that so i dont know, but is it possible you bought a normally closed switch instead of a normally open switch? Dave

My emergency response team is repelling from a black hawk helicopter into the top secret SkydivingMovies data center as we speak. I'll keep ya posted as we learn more. Dave

Can't burn a DVD straight from Vegas. Use DVD Architect (which comes with vegas) for that. Dave

No, it's not. They are claiming the aircraft, facilities, and people pictured on their sites operate at those locations. Those aircraft, facilities, and people not only don't operate at those locations (since there are no dropzones at those locations), they don't operate at any location affiliated with skyride. That's deception. It's lying. And once again, the court documents prove it to be illegal. I'll stay on topic if you do too. Your topic is defending the people that work and jump at dropzones owned by skyride. Don't try to defend skyride itself... it's not happening. Dave

You're asking what's illegal about claiming to do business in areas they don't do business? I'm not a lawyer, but you can read all about it in the Skydive Arizona court documents. Pretty sure the court documents also spell out pretty clearly that Skyride == Ben&Cary == ASC == Igovincent == all their other aliases. It's all the same. Dave

I haven't done anything so fancy... just one attempt at night landing shots. But the biggest problem i had was the bugs. All those little specks... And yes, I totally blinded the jumpers with my flash. It was worth it.

Looks like the drogue is caught in the lines. I caught one of those the other day. And a drogue over the nose (and caught in the cascade) a few weeks ago. The drogue in the lines didn't seem to have any effect, but the drogue over the nose caused a turn. TI had to fly with one toggle down to keep it straight. Still managed a nice landing. Dave