MB38

*ahem* donations? You clearly have some gear to spare. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I was on the second or third to last load at Perris on Sunday and found myself going out before 4 or 5 guys donning heavily Red Bulled wingsuits. Apparently they were going to attempt to fly relative to a jet that had been at the airport that day... couldn't identify it though. They were flying smoke but I wasn't able to pick them out while under canopy. Didn't see any of them back at the packing area, so I didn't get to ask how it went. Anybody know what the deal is with those jumps? How they're going? What the idea is? I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Here are four pics I took yesterday of the jump. Handheld with a non-IS 300mm lens, so the focus is pretty bad... but you get the picture. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Everybody, please think of the cats. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Not only was I laughing as soon as I saw this thread... I was wondering if it would survive! I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Bah, it was worth a shot! I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Or, more specifically I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Here we go. If the cat chickens out, Luis will jump it. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I bet one could get away with tracking pants... how do they know what tracking pants are? [of course, I'm sure some NPS person reading this thread will go find out] One could definitely argue that tracking pants fall into the same arena as knee pads and elbow pads. Pads are to prevent one from hurting their knees/elbows on landing. Tracking pants are to prevent the jumper from hitting the wall... to get him or her far enough away from the wall so that deployment is safe and no third parties [climbers] are in danger. I suppose the canopy is to prevent the jumper from hitting the ground, but that's a different arena. The wingsuit is touchier, I bet. One could argue the same with a wingsuit as they could with tracking pants, but in the eyes of a whuffo, they'll be very different. Maybe a BMI could make a good argument for having the suit returned, but I doubt anybody else could. Now move a few years down the line and lets say that one could land a wingsuit without a parachute. I don't know what kind of landing areas are around Cap [and other Yosemite walls], but imagine if it were possible. Does the aerial delivery law only cover parachutes? Would a successful jump and landing without a parachute be legal? How would a X,000 foot jump without a parachute be any different [in a legal sense] from a 5 foot jump without a parachute? I really have no idea what I'm talking about. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I don't see how they could justify permanent confiscation of camera equipment. It may be used during the jump, but it isn't a part of the jump. Your rig is. If they confiscate your camera equipment, they might as well confiscate your wallet and clothing. Said equipment has more to do with those items than it does with a BASE rig, IMO. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Hopefully some hot chicks? I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Thats nothin. The sonic boom from an S-3 flight of mine earlier this year knocked out all the windows in Seattle. The DZ sent an F-99 fighter to get me but I kept outclimbing it. Had to come down after 27 minutes 'cause I couldn't hold my breath any longer at 85,000 feet. Thought I was pretty hot shit until Jim passed me in his V-1. Blew the fuckin booties off my Birdman. You mean that was you??? I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Most likely the idea that a canopy takes 1,000 feet to open comes from the length of pull time. When I was in early AFF, pull altitude was 5,000. That meant at 5,000, I would wave off, check to make sure my airspace was clear and pull. The PC wouldn't really leave my hand until [estimated] 4,300. By the time I was in the saddle, I'd be a touch over 4,000. At first, I thought that the canopy took forever to open, but I later clued in that freefall doesn't stop at 5,000 feet. So for listing pull altitudes, it would probably be best to note if the altitude is the time of the wave off, the time of the PC leaving one's hand or the container opening altitude. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

And then there are those of us who are chuckling, but only to fit in... because we have no idea what's going on. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

This video report is terrible. I love it when reporters shape the facts to fit their story. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I wasn't able to get anything on the news down here, but here's to getting down safely... I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Just be sure to post video I really don't know what I'm talking about.

The only situation that comes to mind where I can see this being a problem is during an aircraft emergency where you're getting out low. Then again, if you're that low... use the reserve. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

If that's the video I'm thinking of, then the canopy was definitely spinning. You can see a complete rotation before the jumper gains control with toggle input. The canopy only flew straight with around 3/4 toggle input on the opposite side (which is why the jumper is using one hand and his teeth to manipulate the knife, and you never see the other hand--it was busy keeping the canopy flying away from the cliff). On a BASE jump, your very first priority is to avoid object strike, which is why canopy heading is addressed before issues with the canopy itself. I watched the video again and you are correct. I thought it wasn't spinning because of how quickly the jumper reacted to stop the spin. He has an immediate 180 off heading and a quick spin to face him in the correct direction. I can see the toggle input you're describing to stop the spin as well as a few attempts to clear the line over before he starts rigging. At my jump level, I learn more every day. What I see watching the video today is very different than what I saw a few weeks ago. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

The funny thing is that I've found that many a whuffo can be truly fascinated by the appropriate videos. I work for a local Apple store and decided to put three videos on my iPod to carry around... one freefly, one wingsuit and one terminal wall BASE. At least 60-70% of the people who view the videos just stare in awe, not able to believe what they're seeing. About half of those people either say "I've always wanted to do that" or "I did it, it's not that hard. They wanted me to fly that bird parachute suit thing but i decided against it". The 30% of people who don't stare in awe either get uncomfortable [fear of heights?] or just don't care. Remember that 94% of all statistics are made up on the spot. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I love actually being able to find high resolution skydiving pics now. I hope people actually use it! I really don't know what I'm talking about.

"By this point, the jumper is only 500 feet from the ground... 400... 300... 200... [altimeter comes into view reading 3,000 feet]... 100... AND HE GETS HIS RESERVE CHUTE OPEN!!!" I really don't know what I'm talking about.

You may have lost it, but it thinks you're dead! I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I got in touch with both of them, thanks all! I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Does anybody know the guys who go by "CJ" and "Douggs" and how I can contact them? Looking for the jumpers featured in this video. Thanks...