blitzkrieg

IMO the wind (whether a tailwind or headwind) will affect your opening speed almost nil. in my experience, the canopy is like a windsock and will simply follow you in freefall at an angle with the direction of relative wind. air will rush into the nose from below the canopy, not necessarily in front, as per design and line trim. so whether you do a floater or normal exit, the canopy should open the same. to picture it... floater = belly to relative wind, canopy comes off your back with the wind a regular exit (may end up being slightly head down on a shorter delay to get belly to relative wind) = canopy still opens off your back with the wind. even if you take a 1 sec delay, where you'll be traveling somewhere around 20mph in freefall, you will still be accelerating during opening, which dependent on PC deployment method, could be another few seconds of travel. is this making sense? maybe, i'm just crazy. edited to add: stupid picture... what i'm trying to say (probably not so well) is that regardless of how you exit or where the wind is coming from, in "theory" the canopy will always open the same (disregarding heading) based on the fact that the "relative wind" will always hit the bottom of the canopy during deployment in the same manner (in a closed container deployment).

Eric... don't forget your "other" parachute gear.

if i drive all the way out there and this friggin' boogie sucks... i'm not going to be happy.

... sorry 'bout the window.

looking to share a ride from SLC to Twin Falls Friday morning, 6 July, if anyone is headed in that direction. or inversely, i'll have room in my car if i have to rent a car and drive it myself...

if you ever find yourself jammed up in a tree, powerlines or getting towed down a river... you'll understand. again, if you're scared 3rings will fail for some reason... slink the rings together.

congrats! that is good news.

there is no "REAL" DZ in Nashville.

i planned on taping my dvd to a brick and throwing it through your bedroom window at precisely 11:59pm on the night of the 15th. hope you like it.

a pretty day over eastern NC.

will be around 28 - 30 May if anyone is willing to play.

FWIW, i think the cut-away on the optik-illusion is splendid. i wouldn't change it. just be sure to check that the cut-away pin is fully seated before jumping... last year at Bridge Day, on the platform, my chin cup fell open. at least it didn't fall into the river.

i currently own two (almost) identical Vector III Microns with SkyHooks. 1. love the SkyHook, Bill Booth & his cronies are genius! i've had a few skyhook rides and still love them. this is why... http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=5671 2. comfort and fit is top notch for taller people like myself. 3. i like when people ooh and ahhh at the fact they look like camel-baks. 4. i do not like pop top reserves. it drives me nuts to see peoples reserve PCs or bridles poking out from the flaps.

just go man, just go... it's very liberating.

what's more annoying to me is the fact he started running a mile back, when the same push could've been gained from two steps. but that's just me, and who the hell cares.

FWIW i've been using reserve slinks on my Xaos mains for quite a long time with no problems. i don't notice the extra bulk at all.

i've got a handful of decent ground shots... BSBD

damn, Gregor! ... and it looks just like you!!

jailhouse tattoos are SO out.

alcohol is a way of life. BASE is just a hobby/sport.

hahah. that sucks. damn the Cleveland weather. it's hot down here. in fact, i got a sunburn on an object just the other day...

Ohio is a cold and frigid place. the weather always seems to be nasty when i visit. you are all fucking nutz.

exactly what i'm getting at. and Chuck, we're on the same page. --- but here's another question. somebody who upsizes for said jump, say from a velo 96 to a stiletto 120... will it make any difference in the safety of the load if they still decide to hook a 270 for landing? you're either going to land conservatively, or you're not. doesn't make much difference what canopy you're flying under. if you're dangerous, you're dangerous.

never beg. "There's a kind of distortion of liberalism which says that we live in a democracy and people should be able to do what they want. That's not true if you're not playing with a full hand." ~John Bird

i understand your reasons for this poll, and actually think it's a good idea in general. although, i think it is much more important for people to have the ability to just fly their little swoopy canopies in a straight in conservative approach, or one with minimal turns, and recognize the times it is a good idea to avoid traffic complications by initiating big speed inducing turns, etc. you don't always need to fly balls to the wall... but, i'm probably just waisting my breath