CygnusX-1

I totally agree. Sometimes the hands type faster than the mind can think. I forgot that this thread was started by a student.

It's called ear plugs - instant reduction in loudness.

That sucks that there is no feature to connect to a computer. I was hoping you could download data via Bluetooth like they advertise with the altitrack. Hopefully that function is there (in hardware) and the have chosen not to implement it yet.

Yes it does. That's called "survival of the fittest". And to Liemberg, all of these things are technically possible (see below) for sake of discussion. But I agree it would be pretty hard to sell such a system to the general public, myself included. Hey, I don't even have a RSL. 1) register an opening shock on the main Easily done with an accelerometer. Inexpensive ones are sub $5 (US). 2) followed by a spinning mal Could be done using the same accelerometer or a simple digital compass $15 in parts maybe. 3) and cutting the loops on both risers Standard-type cutter. ($30-40) 4) above (say) 750 feet and automatically switching off below that altitude All just software. So we have a system for $60 in parts + about $100 in engineering labor to design.

Not that it really matters, but: 20 meters = 65.6 feet

I would check out http://www.skydiveu.com/. Although, right now they don't seem to have anything up on their website right now about the "Fundamentals" Camp From: 03/24/2006 To: 03/27/2006 @ Deland, Florida. But I have been to a couple of these type of camps and have learned a lot. It really did improve my skills and they are a lot of fun. (Rob, you should be paying me for this type of advertizing.) After rereading you original post, if you are only interested in freeflying, that specific camp is probably not for you, but I'm sure skydiveu has others you may be interested in. Just another source to check out for information.

Does anybody know if Pia returned to ERAU this semester? It has been a couple of weeks and I have not seen her around and was just curious where she was. Thanks Jim

That all depends on what you mean by "land on instruments". I've had to land several times without the use of an altimeter due to my Neptune acting up. I only use an altimeter to better judge where my set-up points are, i.e. downwind - base - final turn points. Sometimes I can land (without alti) exactly where I want within 20 ft. Other times I am way off. But that is just part of my learning experience. If, however, you are implying that I use my altimeter to determine when to start a flare, I don't even know how you would do that. There are too many things happening too quickly to even consider looking at the altimeter.

Here is something to think about. I’m not going to recommend what you should do as I don’t think it will matter. You will do what you want anyway. However, I have 192 jumps in about the past 4.5 years so I know what type of progression you may have had in the past with regard to frequency of jumps. I also did something that people don’t recommend, but I did it on a bigger canopy. I downsized from a Saber I 190 to a Firebolt 146 – square to elliptical and reduced in size. Although before I tried the Firebolt, I did put about 10 jumps on a Saber II 150 and about 5 on a Spectre 150. I’m loading my Firebolt at approx 1.2 btw. Anyway, I digress, the point of this post is to say that on my FIRST jump with the Firebolt my altimeter gave out on me. I had to land a canopy I never was under without the use of an altimeter. By the way, I never landed without the use of an altimeter either. I survived, brushed myself off, and got back up in the air. On the third jump on this Firebolt, I had my first off-DZ landing. I had to attempt to place this canopy down in and around many obstacles. Neither of this events were planned (obviously). You just need to be aware that shit does happen. I believe anybody can land just about any canopy given ideal conditions. How confidant are you that you can land the Stiletto off safely on your first jump? With or without the use of an altimeter…

A pilot chute is what you throw out into the air stream to pull the main parachute out of the rig. 1) Yes you had one on your tandem. 2) If you got video, no it is not the drogue you may see trailing behind you while you were in freefall. 3) Welcome to the world of skydiving. I hope you don't plan on having any money for anything else in your life.

I couldn't agree more. However, one reason might be that they can now tell potential advertisers that they have x number of subscribers - which would make them think that they have a larger number of potential viewers for their ad. They might be getting in more money coming in from ads than they are wasting by sending out duplicate copies in the mail. Why else would you choose to waste money on printing and mailing?

What is the point of getting a B license? I have no desire (right now) to do a night jump. I make a jump at least once every 60 days anyway. Do I really need to be trained on how to get out of my rig in case I'm in water over my head? I'm sure I'll figure it out real quick. After all, I take my rig off after every skydive. I know how it works. And finally, I could not case less about status symbols. Does having a piece of paper (or an ink spot on your USPA card) make you a better skydiver? I think not.

I can't believe you all have got it wrong. BASE jumping is incredibly cheap. Here is how you do it: honeyjigga said he was in good shape which is good because in order to do this you need to be in shape. In order to save money on traveling costs you will need to hike around and find all of the good base jumping cliffs. He might even want to consider some that are not known good ones. That way there will be less people around for witnesses. You don't want to feel like you are putting on a show for everyone on your first jump. Solitude is the key. Now I say forgo the rig. They are heavy, bulky, and just a pain to carry around. They also cost too much money and you won't need it for very long anyway. I'll explain later... When you find that perfect cliff face, take a running start and jump off. It is the most incredible feeling in the world to be falling a few feet from a rock edge and flailing around. Your jump should last from 15-25 seconds. Then everything will go black. Now here is the key: Resist the urge to walk into the light! You don't want to be there. After a few minutes, the darkness will fade and you will find yourself back on top of the cliff. Don't ask me why. You just are. But here is the best part. You can now jump off that cliff and your freefalls will last for several minutes. There is no need for wingsuites. And you can do this for an eternity. Total cost: $0. Problem solved. Disclaimer: Individual results may vary. Some of the facts stated above are based on speculation of what could happen and have not been tested or verified to be accurate. I do appreciate honeyjigga's attempt to learn to skydive for a reasonable cost. However, my personal belief is that risking your life should not be done with the belief of, "How cheap can I do this?" Safety should be your #1 concern not cost.

If all I had to choose from is a Neptune, I would trade it with someone on the DZ for a Protrack (audible). Of the jumps I have had using both devices: Neptune screwing up: 7 times. Protrack screwing up: 0 times. I'm getting real good at landing without the use of a visual altimeter. Thanks Alti-2.

Here is another tip, which I didn't think of (you probably doing this anyway). If you have a spandex BOC, take the pilot chute out when storing the rig. No need having the spandex stretched out all winter when you don't need to.

Add that plus the ability to tell you if you are going to make it back to the DZ on a long spot. That probably would give you a higher altitude to choose an alternate landing site when deciding to land out if you needed to.

Well, that all depends on your frame of reference. My last canopy was a Saber1 190, so of course everything opens softly.

Another canopy you might want to try is the Firebolt (Jumpshack). I've been jumping one and am really impressed with it's performance, although I'm loading it at closer to 1.2. It has most of what you are asking for - snappy turns, soft openings, good flare (these are the characteristics that I was looking for in a canopy). I can't comment on recovery arc or front riser pressure as I haven't bothered to pay attention to them - I'm not doing HP landings.

Why do you want to come to the DZ and give the rest of us your cold?

Why do it the hard way by getting a visa? Just get a flight to Mexico and cross the border illegally. You could be in this country for decades before anyone cared or found out.

Age: 35 Sex: M Ave 1: .1946 Ave 2: .1762 Ave 3: I don't feel like trying it a third time...

Is there as specific line item on your home/renter’s insurance for insuring your rig? Or are you talking about a separate policy for just this? I ask because when I started skydiving, I asked my State Farm agent here in FL about this and they would not even touch coverage for my rig. (I was specifically asking about theft.) I would like to go back to them armed with some type of evidence that State Farm does cover rigs. Thanks Jim

So how do you like your PC? Medium rare or well done?

Currently, I’m a hit-man for several drug lords and unscrupulous businessmen. Oh wait, I don’t live in Vice City or San Andreas. I keep forgetting.

I stand corrected. I agree that both systems have their pluses and minuses. In the end, it comes down to which system we as individuals choose to jump with.