pilotdave

Just practice a little. It becomes easy with one hand quickly. Dave

I wrote to aerostore the other day to see if they can get the digital plug switches. They now have them in stock and available on their website too. Dave

Yeah, but his is only a bite switch for a little while.

It's called a digital plug. Conceptus makes a bite switch with that plug. Only place I've found that sells them is paragear. Dave

FYI: New 50D firmware just came out. Fixes a noise banding issue (which i haven't noticed). Just installing it on mine now. http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=17499#DownloadDetailAct Dave

Those are from the tandem vector manual. Dave

But does he still look like a homeless guy? Dave

This wasn't a grommet problem. Rig was a fairly new javelin. The grommet is very well protected. It was probably caused by sloppy packing, allowing a line to get over the webbing that holds the closing loop. The line wrapped the webbing and cinched it down. Dave

Here are a few: http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=2886 http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=2854 http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=5430 (3:11 into the video) Dave

I'd go with the optimum 160 because it's bigger (assuming your profile is correct). But aside from size, they are both great reserves. The optimum has a better flare, more like a sport canopy, but the regular PDr flares fine too. You can't go wrong with either model, so to me, it comes down to the ability to fit a bigger optimum in the same rig. By the way, after demoing an optimum for a weekend (and using it for freefall camera jumps), I wanted one as a main. Dave

Shot my first tandem video with the 50D last sunday, and I'll agree about the file sizes. I was shooting by hand because the tongue switch failed, and I wasn't quite sure what I was getting, so I held the button down a lot. At over 6 frames per second of 15 megapixel pictures, I had to make a lot of cuts and downsize them a little to fit on a CD. Still gave him 130 pics or so (not all freefall), but it was a bit ridiculous. But I think it'd be a LITTLE crazy to buy a 40D just for tandems. If that's all you do, go with a rebel series camera. If you're going to use it on the ground a lot, the 50D is a slightly better camera than the 40D (although thats debatable) but the 40D is definitely more bang for the buck and easier to live with due to the smaller files. The 50D files make my computer cry... especially when I try raw. Dave

I have a 50D. Can't compare it because I don't have a 500D, but my guess is the 500D will be a better choice for skydiving. I don't think there will be any difference in picture quality since they share the same sensor. The 50D will have some advantages, but it's considerably bigger and heavier. It's got a higher frame rate, metal body, bigger grip, higher flash sync speed, etc. The 50D uses a different plug type for the tongue/bite switch. My $75 tongue switch started to fail on me around jump #3, but always worked with a little prodding. Had it working fine on the ground last sunday so I went up for a tandem video with it. Switch completely failed in the plane, so I had to take pictures by hand. Not so happy about that. Luckily I still have my XTi as a backup and the other tongue switch still installed on my helmet too, so switching cameras was no big deal. But of course the DZ gear store doesn't stock the digital plug tongue switch, and I've only found it at paragear which is not my favorite place to shop. The camera is great though! Dave

From today (or technically yesterday)... Dave

Quoting it in your post won't help.

Makes ya wonder why they bother with the sport side, huh? Hmmm, a lawsuit is a great reason to stop... Dave

Autofocus works great... until it doesn't. I had my PC1000 on autofocus for a bunch of jumps (4-way videos) by accident. It worked great... I didn't even notice it was on autofocus. Then I got a little moisture on the lens and the camera decided to focus on that. Goodbye 4-way team... until I turned on my windshield wiper and cleared the lens. When the ringsite fogs, it's time to wipe the lens.

Hi Lenzo, I'm from CPI. Best source for info is our email list. We have a weekly newsletter going out, which contains a recap of the past weekend and upcoming events. You can sign up on the website: http://www.skydivect.com. We'll be operating 2 cessna 206s and the 182. Still hoping for occasional larger planes, but I don't know the status of that. Events schedule is coming together. DZ is getting a lot of work done... enlarged manifest to include a gear store, fixing sheds and bridges, etc. The clubhouse was completely renovated last year and looks great, if you haven't seen it. Let me know if you have any questions... otherwise come on out! Dave

A brake line caught on the webbing that the closing loop attaches to (on a javelin). Dave

Either his practice paid off, or he really needed more... Same guy, last friday... It was his 7th cutaway, by the way. I think he can do it with his eyes closed just fine now. Although I'm not sure you can count this as a cutaway, since the main never left. All he needs now is packing training.

I personally think it would be nuts to buy a camera for jumping long before you're ready to use it. The technology is evolving so fast right now. The CX101 or 106 or whatever comes next might blow away the current cameras. And the prices, unless it's a PC1000 a few years ago, only go down. Dave

So are you talking about jumps with students or jumps with licensed skydivers? Once they're licensed, the coach rating doesn't really matter. But that's entirely different from a coach jump under the ISP. And I'd agree, the "coach" shouldn't be getting paid unless they are providing some really special training. Dave

Need multi-select capability. I have a Vector and a Reflex. And currently borrowing a Talon (or Classic Pro or something) and a Strong MiniHawk. Dave

The pin protector flap is just an extension of the top closing flap. It just folds over top of the left and right flaps. The pilot chute pulls the pin out of the side of the pin protector flap without pulling the flap open. It probably moves the pin protector flap, but not enough to pop it open. After the pin is pulled, the main container opens up but the left and right flaps swing open without pushing the pin protector flap open. Then the top flap can open, lifting the pin protector flap with it while it's still folded into the pocket. Then the dbag can lift out. I think that opening just took about 30 seconds.

It's really not scary. The bridle comes in and out of the main flap on the right side (completely hidden, of course). The pin can be pulled without ripping the flap open. Pretty sure all (most?) rigs with upward closing main flaps work the same way. Dave

Hehe, take a look at a Vector 3 next time you get a chance. The main flap (that protects the pin) does not open when the container opens. I always know if my flap was secure because it's still closed when I lay my rig down to pack it. Dave