ntacfreefly

I'm noticing a trend of this. Personally I don't like it at all. The CPC is supposed to entice new pilots, give existing pilots comp practice and generally increase the level of piloting. HAVING MEETS AT THE SAME DZ OVER AND OVER AGAIN DOES NOT DO THAT! I really hope Jim steps in and puts an end to this 'my area only' crap I've been seeing more and more of. Disappointing. Blues, Ian To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

Glad to see the New England region is getting things started off on the right foot. I know there are some good pilots in the area and I hope as many people as possible fly in the CPC it's a great place to learn to be a better pilot AND a better competition pilot. Good luck in your first season. See you all around the circuit!! Blues, Ian Drennan To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

Precisely! If you cannot recreate the event accurately we may never know the answer!! To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

Great job everyone. Sorry we missed this one but see you all in Zhills!!! Blues, Ian To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

Unfortunately it seems to have struck a chord with some people who, mistakenly, apply the political events and climate events of the movie (or the theme) to some of the political hot topics of today. In their minds it's a propoganda machine. The reality is that the comic V for Vendetta was originally published between 1982 and 1985, in black and white, in Warrior, a British anthology comic. ** The fact that some people who are up in arms saying it's 'anti-us/bush/whatever' are comparing it to the government today (their comparison, not mine) is perhaps lends more credibility to the movies contents when you consider it wasn't written with current events in mind. Agreed, unfortunately it's become very 'unpatriotic' to question the current administration which is why it strikes, IMO, such a nerve with some people. They can't see it any other way than propoganda because their ideology doesn't support the notion that the government is fallable. All that mumbo jumpo aside, I have yet to see the movie and I'm looking forward to it. I've been following it's development for some time. Blues, Ian ** Wiki Source To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

Katie has LASIC surgery on Friday. No jumping for her for the next 2 weeks. We'll be there though. To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

I must be - I skydive with you To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

Pffft, I would have been if you'd gotten a decent picture of the switchblade/Tickjockey Well, from now on you have no-one else but yourself to blame for my actions To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

How'd it all go? Hope everyone had a safe, good time. Blues, Ian To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

Listen, just in case you were wondering...Katie and I think you're hot - so that makes it official Now sit back and enjoy the compliments To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

Likewise!!! Hope your throat feels better today and we're going to have to make sure we stick around and party with you guys next time.....Chuck is probably starting to get a complex heheheheheh

Paul R and I will be out on Friday afternoon. Sat Katie will be there...eye patch and all hehehehe

Chris, Thanks for the update. Katie and I will be at the Z-hills and last Lake Wales one. Unfortunately we have a wedding (Travis is a dumbass) to attend during the GA meet. Doesn't that just suck Blues, Ian To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

Chris, just wanted to confirm that these dates are all correct and haven't changed? Just setting up my calendar. Thanks! Blues, Ian To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

Sorry, yes I should have stated that. As to the details: I've always considered myself a safe and aware person. I am particularly careful around taxi ways, runways, and generally any place I expect to find aircraft (including the air). Often I'm that guy that's overstressing safety, watching dirt dives, landings and skydives hoping to help people be safer. I didn't think for a second I'd do something as dumb as I did today. There were 4 of us on a Freefly skydive. The Casa and Kingair (we were in) were running jump runs and somehow unbeknowst to everyone we all ended up in the same airspace. As we were breaking off the tandems from the previous aircraft were below us. They definitely weren't there when we got out (visibly). Anyway, kudos to everyone involved keeping a clear head and doing what was necessary for safety. While hairy everyone deployed ok. After this is where the actual incident occurred. I was walking back with Chris (who was taking pictures) to the main area across the aircraft 'parking' area. I was chatting to Chris about what had just happened and looked around noticing the Casa and the King Air both on the ground, props roaring. I wanted to tell the pilot of the King Air what had just happened so I started to run over to the plane. At that time Chris yelled out "WHOA WHOA WHOA" and I immediately stopped. Unbelievably (to me) I had not seen a small taxing aircraft and was running right in front of it. We're talking feet here...not many somewhere in the range of 10-15 feet. With the other aircraft running I couldn't hear it, even when it finished taxing by me. Very scary, extremely embarressing and a grim reminder of how easy it is to put yourself in a world of trouble. Seems that in my haste and preoccupation I'd neglected the most basic of safety rules around the airport. Watch for spinning props I replay that scenario over and over in my head if Chris hadn't yelled out. Personally I don't like the outcome. Lesson is, no matter how safety orientated you may be (or think you may be), 1 second of stupidity will wipe that all away. I'm not sure there's a lot to learn from this because, honestly, it's nothing new to any of us. It's just a reminder of how easy it is to do. And I wanted to thank Chris. I know Katie's pretty damn appreciative too Blues. Ian To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

I'll post it all in the morning I'm heading out the door in a second. The lesson is simple, 1 second of losing your awareness can be deadly. Blues. To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

thanks buddy - life (or lack thereof) could have been very different without your intervention today. Indebted forever. Blues, Ian To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

Ha, they don't make 97 velos but there's a few nice 96's.....hehehe But seriously I'd talk to Jim or Paul R (proswooper) about it. They both have 2.0 material and are far better equipped to answer questions about the canopy and material than I am.

Material. The canopy is made from a material that keeps the wing stiffer (it holds it's shape better I'm told) but comes at the expense of huge pack volume. Blues. To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

The new levels of abuse that we can take creepers too will be staggering....it'll be awesome To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

The only difference on Scott and Johns velo was the HMA line set type, you know the same on the JVX has. You loaded around 2.5 for that distance run if memory serves me correctly and so did they. Look, no one's saying the JVX isn't good, it obviously is, but there's no wing ON THE MARKET out there that's going to run away from the others. It's more piloting than anything else. Put Jay on the JVX or the Velo and my guess is that you'll see very similar results. Nothing is going to run away 'by far'. This season will show if I'm wrong or not but I highly doubt we're going to see any wing be miles ahead of the rest, and honestly I think that's a good thing in the competition arena. It's really cool that things are relatively level right now with the new weight classes, pretty much all wings being comparable, etc. It's always been about pilot skill but placing even more emphasis on it is awesome IMO. edit: Back onto topic. Regardless I hope the wing does really well. I think the more performance each manufacturer brings to the table, the better for all of us regardless which wing we fly. Long as there are people. and companies, pushing to develop new ideas (even if they don't work) to continuously bring up the level of equipment - I'm happy, and excited and I can't wait to keep watching who does what

Not sure on the creepers, but I can tell you that GI-JOE doll sales are on the rise They make great visual aids when planning VRW. Blues, Ian To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

Huh, why? Scott Roberts smashed the JVX record (on the same run), Jay did the same x2 (once on that run and even further on the next run with LESS downwind) and John Judy had a monsterous run that smashed it too albeit not counting because of a 1/2 a foot verticle. All three flying velos. Don't get me wrong, the JVX is obviously a good canopy. It has done a lot to level the playing field and I genuinely hope it lights a fire under other manufacturers asses to build something even faster than is currently available, but I keep hearing the above example used and it really doesn't hold much water. Fact is, that 3 other velos out distanced it every time. I'm expecting to see great things from the JVX this season, but I don't think we're going to see any 'runaway wins' either. edit: I've said it before and I'll say it again. The pilot is going to make the most difference ESPECIALLY this year with the weight restrictions. Not a velo, not a jvx and not a rds. Factors, sure - deciding factors, I don't think so. Personally I think it's going to be a boatload of fun and a technically challenging year. I can't wait

Absolutely not. I have stood by and supported PD way before I was ever sponsored by them. I will continue to do so, even if they dropped my sponsorship this second, as long as they continue to provide (what I believe) is the best service and products in the industry. Nor would I seek sponsorship from a company I didn't believe in. You're welcome to your assumptions about me though, however incorrect they may be. Blues. Ian To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

I'll remind you that he bought the canopy 2nd HAND not too many companies I know out there would offer him such a good alternative for a 2nd hand canopy. You're welcome to your opinions on this matter, I just happen not to share them based on my, and friends of mine, experiences with other companies in comparision. Blues. Ian To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer