MWGemini

Just a reminder- I am a new skydiver (not even licensed yet) and I think cypres saves are as big a deal as you can get, regardless of the reason for it. Mike

Maybe I'm just not comprehending, but I don't think you have explained how to determine what "sufficient time between groups" is. I'll have to read your notes, but since that is the ONLY link you've posted in the 3 pages of this thread, either we are all blithering idiots and have failed to derive any meaning from your posts, or you have failed to explain your position well enough. I'm here to learn, but if you can callously insult professionals and colleagues, I'm sure that I am completely meaningless to you. Mike

Another thing- since we've been (for simplicity's sake) assuming headwind and airspeed are equal (thus making groundspeed zero or negligible), we could also look at it from the perspective of a tethered balloon or other fixed point in space, which should give the same result in the end. Mike

Right, by the time the second jumper gets there, the first is already gone, but the second jumper would open at the same point in space, or am I mistaken? Assuming my understanding of this is correct, and given a 5 second separation with 60mph winds at all altitudes, the jumpers would be 440ft away horizontally if the first jumper was under a round canopy (60mph = 1mpm = 5,280fpm = 88fps = 440 feet in 5 seconds). That's not including any vertical separation, which I'm too lazy to do the math for right now. Mike

Not sure what you mean by that. Mike

I'm with Aggie on this one. A&W is the best stuff in the world. ANy other root beer tastes horrible (especially Barqs). Try some A&W, try an A&W float. Trust us, you'll love it. Mike

If you want to rig a setup like this, my suggestion is to do it from the back of a pickup truck, mount the scale to something firmly attached to the truck, and have somebody in the bed monitor the scale (and/or film it). Two way radios would aid in communication. Then you can have somebody in the passenger seat writing down the speed and forces. Should work. I'd be interested to read your results. Mike

I've been wondering the same thing, shouldn't the exit point (deployment separation) be 0 if the airspeed and headwind are equal? Then, assuming completely identical fall rates, freefall times, and winds, the two jumpers would open at the exact same point in space. The only separation there is the temporal separation between jumpers and whatever the first jumper did under canopy during the gap. Right? Mike

I'm with SunDevil on this one. Let's refrain from personal attacks. Explain or provide links to your proof, but don't insult us. I just downloaded Kallend's freefall simulator, and punching in a lot of different numbers, every time I put the Indicated Airspeed and Upper winds the same, the horizontal separation is very low (a few hundred feet, nowhere near your 1000ft claim). With 80 and 80 in both, and 0 for the below 6k winds, there is only 97 feet between deployment with a 3 second exit. That becomes 162 at 5 seconds. Far from 1k. How did you get that number? Thanks, Mike

If they opened at the exact same point, that wouldn't be HORIZONTAL separation, time between groups would only provide vertical separation. Of course, during that time, the lower group would be open and flying away, but still, I fail to see where that 1000ft horizontal separation comes from. Mike

Watching other drivers as they drift into my lane. You even admitted you think it's a hazard. Just because we disagree as to how big a deal it is doesn't mean it is safe. I've probably spent more time driving than people ten years older than me, and I've yet to have an accident. Nearly everyone I know who has been in an accident was caused by distracted drivers. Cell phones, makeup, changing CDs, food. Doesn't matter what you're doing. If your primary focus isn't driving, you're wrong. (When I say you, I don't mean YOU specifically, I'm referring to the general driving populace). It's no different than people who lose altitude awareness and have cypres fires. They focused on something that should not be their primary concern (pulling), and are wrong for that. Mike Edit: typo (why does spellcheck think "ot" is a word?)

And if the person is more focused on redialing then driving, it's their own damn fault when they plow into a phone pole. Serves them right, IMO. And that is the way it should be- voice dial and hands free, leaving you to direct your attention where it is needed: the road.

That's even worse- a biker with a cell phone. To clarify- if somebody has a speakerphone, I don't care if they use it while driving. What I do care about is people who have one hand on the wheel, one hand dialing a number, and no eyes on the road. Yes I have done it, but that was before I got rid of my cell phone (and now I refuse to get another one for reasons like this). It's no different than people applying makeup while driving, or anything else that takes you attention off the road and your hands off the wheel. If I am ever in an accident caused by somebody who was talking on their cell phone, Regardless of injuries sustained during the accident, they'll be hospitalized for a while. Guaranteed. Mike

How bout these: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/detail_page.cgi?ID=15023&d=1. Mike

Maybe they'll start reading accident reports then. I know some states have made driving while talking illegal. Years back when I first heard this, I was pretty pissed. Now I wish it was a nationwide law. Mike

Well, if the plastic is thin enough to flex, then I don't want it. Since half the time I would be using it as an open face helmet, I want it to be rigid the way the open faces that I've tried are (only open face helmet I've tried on is a Bonehead). The factory diver that I'm currently using is probably not any thicker, but the design of the helmet makes it feel very solid, regardless of whether it is or not. After looking closer at that picture, it almost seems like the guy on the right is getting choked by the chin strap, which pretty much answers the question about airflow being a problem. If I can find somebody with this helmet around my DZ (doubtful) or demo it, then I'll check it out, but I'm not willing to drop $169 on something that doesn't seem all that great a product. The picture in the ad made it look like a pretty cool idea, but maybe that's all it is. On a side note- I grew up in San Diego and never in my entire life (and yes, I did surf) have I seen a surfer wear a helmet. Mike

I don't care why they're using their cell phone. If they are doing it while driving, its unforgiveable. Don't endanger my life and create an emergency for somebody else. Mike

Thanks for all those who replied. You're right, they are made by Gath. I've been able to find a little bit more about them, but still haven't found any detailed reviews. From some of the pictures I have seen they appear to be pretty flimsy. If anyone has ever jumped one of them and could tell me their thoughts, I'd be interested to hear them. Thanks, Mike

Custom made, huh? Any idea if there are plans for them going into production? Thanks, Mike

What percentage of the population and the total minutes used do you actually think go towards emergencies? MAYBE 1%? I used to be a truck driver, and believe me, cell phones DO NOT belong on the road. I can't tell you how many accidents I have SEEN happen because people are too busy dialing or talking on their phone, let alone how many I've seen narrowly avoided. If you have an emergency, pull to the side of the road. Want to talk and drive? Get speakerphone. People who drive while using cell phones are a danger to themselves as well as others. I have zero tolerance for it. Mike

I grew up there, and I miss it so much. The weather in San Diego is better than anywhere else I have ever been. Too bad it costs so much to live there... Mike

Not sure if this belongs here, or in general skydiving, or in gear, but on page 30 of the October Parachutist, there are two freeflyers in a closeup shot wearing white helmets with the word Babylon printed on the side. I've done a google search for this, but found nothing relevant. Any idea what this is, and who makes it? Also, how useful would a helmet like that be? Wouldn't it allow a lot of air into the helmet itself? Has anyone here used it? How did you like it? Does the visor retract into the helmet? Thanks for any info you can provide! Mike

I've toyed with the idea of making one of those that can run off a car battery and drive around with it turned on. I hate people who use cell phones while driving. Mike

Joe- it sucks that your string of bad luck lately has included today's mal. Glad you were able to get it down. I'm still debating about coming out tomorrow, and if I do (and I'm not in the class), I'll help with the freebag. If you need more equipment than what I left with you, ask the front desk for my home number or something and I'll bring up whatever you need. Hope your gig went well. Karen- it was good to see you and Stuart again, glad to see he is doing ok. Sorry that I didn't say goodbye to you guys before you had to leave. Mike- thanks a ton for arranging the pig and everything today. It was good to see a crowd on the deck after dark. I wish I could hang around later on a more regular basis. Also, congratulations on 100! Marion- good luck. That's really about all I can say. Ellis- it was nice meeting you today, thanks for the help with carrying all the gear. And now- off to sleep. I'm starting to lean towards trying to make it out early enough to talk to John about the class. Ugh, I hate waking up early. Mike

Now I'm really curious to see what that post said before he deleted it. Mike