Widgeon

Rule of thumb? Don't do anything radical below your predetermined decision altitude. If you want to stall and play with the canopy, do so and explore what it can do, but above your decision altitude. I believe the going figure is 2000' for students?? If you were to continue to mess around too much and found yourself in linetwists at 1200', that would put you in a situation where your emergency procedures would need to be carried out in a frame of time that might be too challenging for you at this stage. Take a canopy control course as soon as you can and read up. Brian Germain has an excellent volume he's updated several times that is an invaluable read at any skill level. Some of the text will make little sense to you at this point, but you can refer back for some solid advice later as your abilities and skill set grow. Be safe...

This is it!! The most comfortable helmet I've tried yet.

Is the season schedule posted somewhere yet? Don't know if I'll make round 1, but I want to get at it again soon.

I really liked the format the Optima uses for its alerts. Nice for pilots who prefer a long base leg in their patter because I'm not as tempted to take my eyes off of the course, or distract me from checking for traffic to peek at my visual. The increasing frequency of chirps until you hit the final one lets you know at a real time pace how much time you have left to make corrections before you arrive at your target altitude, slick... Also, integrating an audible as a tool gives you some more backup for when your eyes say go time. Neptune just has more features that I need and their customer service is top notch. I use one of my Neptunes as a visual for working out my average loss of altitude in a turn and then plug those numbers into the audible later to get more dialed in. I've got different banks of alerts programmed for the pattern I'll run with the different canopies and or approaches I intend to do. I need both.

500HMA is installed now on Katanas up to a 107. 675 comes on the 120, 135, 150, and the 170.

Digging out can also put you in the ground that much harder. The technique that gets tossed around here from time to time about recovery arc manipulation actually requires you to be in the earlier part of the powerband. By giving input to force recovery, you yourself will be traveling at a higher speed than your wing momentarily..... hopefully level (or in some instances, climbing) flight will be acheived. It's a very advanced technique, and extremely dangerous if not executed perfectly. You stand to be more consistent(and safe) just learning to be as smooth and do as little as possible to disturb the energy you went to all the trouble making in that turn in the first place. A high speed flat turn is another solution. This can be taught by a qualified coach and can avoid the situation I described above. It can give you the extra few feet that can make the difference between a close call, and impact. Get some coaching, fly safe....

To the original author of this thread: Send your canopy in to PD if you are in any way unpleased with it. The canopy will be completely inspected and then test jumped to determine if there is in fact a problem. There are quite a few variables that can change the opening characteristics of your canopy, and if you're not satisfied, a check up doesn't hurt. Blues...

Just a matter of personal preference IMHO. I like to use the harness for control of rotation and the risers for regulating the dive... SO-- I start from the verge of a stall and let the canopy get back in front of me to catch it on the surge, then get on both risers hard while the pressure is still lower than full flight to get it diving. When I'm happy with how steep the dive is going, I twist in the direction of the turn to use the harness all out for the rotation. To me, it's the most repeatable process I can perform and the turns look very similar on video. The rotation is very progressive and if executed properly, very smooth. I struggled with different techniques before settling on this and it's the most consistent turn I can throw. I'm doing a right handed 270 for now, but this technique when I experiment up high works out well for larger rotations. The deep brakes accomplish two things that are important to me. The reduced riser pressure for the maneuver, and my ground track when setting up is slower. I feel I can be more point specific of where my process starts so I can be more accurate. Safe swoops...

Isaiah is right, don't argue.... But FIVE seconds? Throw out before a static line would get ya!

Nice job... Glad to see some of the other regions getting it going. Have a safe season and good luck to all of you.

Weather hold after round 2.... We just finished speed and the winds up around 25 steady. It's gonna be a long day but everyone's hanging out with our fingers crossed for better conditions later this afternoon. I want some more points... OUT

Get coaching... Your profile says you jump at ASC so speak with David Ludvig or V. They're both excellent pilots and I'm sure neither would mind watching some of your landings to help you out. But seek out qualified, structured coaching, it'll make a huge difference.

Adrian will be there too, and after the way he was flying in Sebastian...shit, look out.

Dude, you know....

Thanks Chris and to the FLCPA for getting this kind of coaching lined up for the meet. See you all in the morning. Good luck to everyone this weekend...

I'd still be more careful in the langauge you're using to descrbe specifically where and when these techniques are applied. Scott Miller jumped on me for this yesterday and encouraged me to describe this as the phase he reffered to as the 'early part of the powerband', quite different from actually being in the corner. This pop up happened to me yesterday on my last run(which was especially quick) and I couldn't really place what I did to make this happen. Neither could Rickster who watched my approach but our best guess was that after zipping along for 200ft or so on the deck, I caught some turbulance that might have subtley altered my AOA that induced the climb, which in that part of the swoop was conterproductive.... Anyway, call it what you want but I'll make sure everyone I'm discussing it with is on the same page. Recovery arc manipulation discussions can be disasterously misunderstood.

I have no experience on the smart or r-max but the PDRs I've jumped above 1.7 both flew and landed nicely. I demoed the PDR126 and PDR113 before going with the 113. My only unintentional ride was on a 150m so it kinda soured me early on with PA reserves as well, but I'd be willing to give the r-max an honest try, as well as the smart. The thing that I personally get confidence from with my PDR is the extent of reinforcing and overall quality the reserve shows. As mentioned about other reserves earlier in the forum, they seem to display a fair amount of overengineering as they pack up a bit bigger that the ravens or tempos or smarts I've seen. I do agree they are bit on the pricey side, but for the peace of mind, it's an acceptable investment. Parachutes De France also aparently brings alot to the table with the techno. We get many jumpers from overseas here in Titusville come through and this reserve is showing up more often now. I'd be intereted to give that one a go too. Again, my only experience is with PDRs at the wingloading you described and I was satisfied solidly with the performance.

You're absolutely right. I think thats the key.

After a recent experience, I wonder what kind of people still have it. It just doesn't seem to matter when it comes to certain issues.

So when will the Neptune get downloadable, mp3 audible alerts? "Pull, Bitch!!!" In my best Dave Chapelle impression... ------SWOOP MODE------- "Dig Muthafucka!!!! DIG!!!!"

Probably not.

If the light is right, 50 is nice from 175-300mm as long as you're within 40-50ft.

And again and again and again. As your skill set and abilities improve, more things will make sense. Get some coaching too; there is no substitute.

Entry fees would have to be in place to cover the things we've mentioned over and over. Judges and organizers of the event don't do it becuase they like swooping a whole lot. You gotta do something for them. Look at it like cheap coaching. I pay almost that much for just my fee(without slots) once a week for a half day of canopy coaching.