jdhill

No License # = No License I know a team that ran in to that situation at nationals this past year... had to compete as a "guest" team http://www.aerialfusion.com

It retails for about $650... you can find it for less on Ebay... Just about any online computer vendor should have it. Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

who would not let you count it? There is no requirement to have the night jumps before you take the test... I know a few folks that took all 4 tests (A-D) at one time then filled in the other requirements as they got them. Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

Or if you want to compete in a USPA sanctioned comp... I know folks that have their A so they can jump at most DZ's and have meet all the requirements for a D (including passing the test and a signed application) but don't want to part w/the $20. http://www.aerialfusion.com

1600ish jumps / 62 posts I have noticed the same thing, but figured that was why the profile was so easily available, so you could evaluate a a post based on the posters profile and give it the appropriate weight... new jumpers can have some interesting insights too, but all should be careful about from whom they take advice, in person or on DZ.com. Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

In my experience - it is extra... down here, it is something like $25 or $35 for a wash and scotchguard. http://www.aerialfusion.com

Billo and Shark... Thanks for your input... The basis for my question was not for my starting to do CRW (although I do enjoy trying the occasional 2-stack with velocity's), but rather in the interest of safety. I have seen and heard about people doing what I would consider more advanced maneuvers close to the ground with only limited experience (down plane that breaks so low that you swing back under the canopy and land in whatever direction you were headed because you don't have any altitude to turn). Some of them have gotten hurt some have come real close... Just wanted to see what the CRW community considered a logical skill progression. Who knows, maybe I'll give serious CRW a try someday... But right now I enjoy my little pocket rocket too much! (fyi.. I don't advocate downsizing or hookturns without compotent instruction and a full evaluation of the required skills) Thanks again for your input. http://www.aerialfusion.com

given the right circumstances, I might be talked in to a career change.

What is the typical skill progression for CRW? (for example... what skills should one demonstrate before moving from doing two stacks to doing bigger stacks/formations, or doing down planes up high v. doing them down low) Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

I think many people will be surprised to find out that only the harness and reserve part of the system are TSO’d, and that the 3-ring is not… My short answer… No, don’t make it part of the regulations… the more that the industry can regulate itself the better… While I do not have the depth of experience, knowledge, or industry insight on the subject that you have, the industry does not seem to be doing bad on this item… I like the idea of having a measurable standard for the construction of main risers, but I think it is too much to expect that I would have a rigger change my main every time I want to switch them out... I think the industry is competitive enough that if a manufacturer were producing unsafe risers or release systems someone (either jumpers, riggers, or another manufacturer) would catch it and make it known (we all know how skydivers love manufacturer scandals). This would obviously have an effect of sales...it would be too much of a liability to risk being known as the guys with the cutaway system that does not work or the risers that break regularly. Just a procedural question... how would one be able to tell a main that was hooked up by a rigger vs. one that the owner hooked up? Would you put a seal on it? I don't think I would like a little piece of string and lead tangled up in my release system. On a side note… I would like to thank you Bill for your posts on a variety of equipment subjects. The knowledge and experience that you so freely share with us only makes us better and safer skydivers. I have been fortunate to find that my equipment does not show any of the issue you have raised, but I’m sure some people have found stuff wrong that they may not have even known to look for. Peace Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

for a pc I would go with Premier 6...the learning curve is a little steep, but there is plenty of material available for it. It gives you the ability to do everything from the very basic to professional level stuff. Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

I use an Olympus E-20 with some fairly nice results (there are several in the galleries and 3 in the current photo comp)... Olympus E- series works depending one what picture quality you use... at full quality it takes quite a while to process the shot... you can take 4 shots in about 1.5-2 seconds, but then you can't take another for about 30... it gets better when you use the lower quality settings. You have to be very selective about what shots you take, and because of a delay from when you hit the button and when the shot is taken there is still some guess work involved. The E-10 (4MP)is going on e-bay for around $1100 and the E-20 (5MP) is about $1800... I have also heard that the Canon D30 (3MP)or D60 (6MP) are good, but they are still in the $2k range and I have not used them myself. I also know someone that is working on a Nikon Coolpix 5000 (5MP) (around $1K) but has not got it working yet. Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

"EVERY toggle hook I have ever seen has created a longer surf than a straight-in, natural speed approach...so there must be some benefit." What about those that end up femur deep in the ground? I agree with your next point that they, in my opinion, are not as safe... just wanted to emphasize the point... of course it can happen on a riser turn too... I have a hard time even watching our resident toggle hookers at the DZ, they are just way too low for me. They make my skin crawl... so does anyone at the DZ hooking a Stiletto in general (not bashing the ST either... had two of them for 800 jumps, and did hook turns too)... I have just gotten used to the higher turns that I can make on the velocity and x-fire. Isn't football the devil? http://www.aerialfusion.com

while that is not the lightestr camera out there, it is not too bad... my helmet wieghs 10 lbs. (4.5 kg)... as I think has been said before in this thread (but maybe not) pack your main to open slow and do neck and back exercises to prevent injury, even for the smallest cameras. Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

with your helmet, you could do it either way, video first or still camera first, as you can see through the view finders on both cameras while mounted... the question would be which one is easier to adjust for the angle since they are not on the same verticle plain, you may have to shim the still or adjust the d-box angle to get them to line up... sometimes the shims you see on mounts (for both video and still cameras) are due to the angle of the top surface of the helmet being too flat for the position you fly in to get the desired shot... for example... if you are shooting a tandem and your desired shot is below, looking up at the subject, from your belly you may not be able to get your body/neck in such a steep angle to get the cameras on target. Your choice is to either fly in a sit, or mount your cameras at a higher angle. Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

.....(said at a most inapropriate time)... by your pilot... http://www.aerialfusion.com

If you try # 16 in excel you'll get a wrong answer (yes, I am bored at work) http://www.aerialfusion.com

Looks like he was in a pretty radical carve... then turned it almost 180 in place... anyone out there actually see this live that would care to describe iwhat actually happened? http://www.aerialfusion.com

any video? looks wild! Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

That looks like a pretty dynamic landing... is there any vidoe of it? I understand it is not quite done... any idea on an anticipated release date / demo's being available? Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

Is there a place where other swoop comps are "advertised"? PPPB has its website, and there is PSN which I think anyone who swoops knows about... where do hear folks about other events? Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

that seems like bad karma to me... tempting fate and all that... http://www.aerialfusion.com

I think one of the reasons you see people moving down quickly is what they are jumping as students... several places use Sabers as student canopies... they are used to Z-p from day one, and have never seen or flown a Manta. Having said that, I agree that many people are moving down too quickly. They are able to purchase (either new or used) HP canopies without regard to their ability... You can tell them not to, but they do it anyway... who's responsible? I don't think any of the small canopy pilots (myself included) on my home dz have ever suggested to a youngjumper "go smaller", but I regularly hear "you don't fly your current canopy well enough... your not ready for that yet". Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

I agree that you should practice rear-riser flairs up high on a good canopy... but I think his point was if you decide to cut your break line, try flairing on that canopy w/ rear risers... if the tail folds up you are better off on your reserve. Josh http://www.aerialfusion.com

---but I think you can chop a main and get a reserve out in that space fairly easily. 500 feet? If you don't have line twists, a hung slider, or a preference as to where you will hit the ground... it will be out, but will it land you safely? Too close for me... make your decision higher... and if something happens where you canopy folds up low, pop the reserve and get nylon over your head, as much as you can!!! http://www.aerialfusion.com