dragon2

I think if you do a search on both canopies here, you'll find your answers.... Anyway I have a Spectre 135 and I just got a Triathlon 120 I haven't jumped yet (haven't even seen it yet actually, and jumping it could take a while since I'm un-current at the moment). I'll let you know the differences when I've jumped it a couple times I was looking for a Spectre 120 originally but this Tri was so cheap, I thought I'd give it a try. Personally I found the hybrid (CReW modded) Tri 150 I jumped really sluggish compared to my Spectre 150. The only regular Tri I've ever jumped was a 175, way too big for me to comment on that one. Although I loved the Spectre 190 just off student stuff... It seems to me the Spectre is a tad more responsive, but the steering lines on the Tri 150 were too long so not really sure. I think with these 2 canopies, it really just comes down to personal preferences, and personal packing preferences (the older Tri's are made of easier-to-pack ZP). ciel bleu, Saskia

I have only one jump om a Matter, but I found the Matter much easier (more intuitive?) to fly then the Classic. And I didn't have any problems with the Classic either, it's just that the Matter seems to take less effort to fly, don't know exactly why. Getting the suit around my rig took me forever tho.... We dubbed the Matter suit 'Komo' (which is a well-known brand of garbage bags ) because of the fabric. I kinda like the look, just wonder how long it'll last from the reviews here... ciel bleu, Saskia

Yeah I realise that... I'd like to see the software too, and the price. However the advantages for me are worth it: logging CRW jumps is something my pro-track can't do, and I'd like to know if I can get past the 119 secs on a BirdMan jump. I don't need another visual alti, I don't even like digital ones, and I already have 2 audio alti's, but I like my pro-track on my leg for BM jumps, so there's room for the Neptune on my helmet. So, for me it IS just a gadget, nothing critical. I can live with being a test dummy, in this case... ciel bleu, Saskia

I love gadgets, as anybody who knows me can attest to This unit has me wavering, but I already thought a lot about this and I bought a used cypres to replace my soon-to-be-useless one. I love gadgets, but this is somehow different. However, my Neptune is on the way

Yup seen 'em around here in Holland. They come in a nice metal case. Seen one turned on and off; the programmer must have been feeling silly; the unit says hello and goodbye etc The menu structure is something to get used to. They look slick, like a Cypres but somehow really high-tech, but haven't seen 'em in a rig yet. Probably will this weekend tho. ciel bleu, Saskia

Well I finally put 2 videos up: My first video ever, of 3 training jumps I did with the Belgian CF Team at Gap, aka 'Keep your camera still stupid' and a video of a swooping competition. I looked at your site, takes a while (too long!) before anything starts happening... Also, the aspect ratio doesn't seem right (I had the same problem, the hardcoded size for the video apperantly includes the control bar). Direct link to the videos: www.12000ft.com ciel bleu, Saskia

All the sh*t that can go wrong? I myself had like 400 jumps when I started flying a Classic a couple months ago, I have >20 BM jumps now. I'm current (190 jumps/last 12 months). For me, nothing went wrong (knock on wood). Had major line twists on the first coup-le jumps, canopy flew straight and mostly untwisted itself. After a couple jumps I had a few unstable exits, but no biggie. The last jump I did tho I borrowed a Matter suit and did a poised exit from our Caravan. Saw way more Caravan shooting by after exit then normal wow watch the tail! Main thing for me was, I'm not afraid of the less freedom of movement thing, I've had a couple cutaways already, and I freefly so 'unusual' positions aren't new. I know and trust my canopy. I trust my BMI. And I did all the prescribed excercises (exit, flying in de-arched delta, checking alti, heelclicks, dummy pulls, real pulls from de-arched delta, keeping hands low after pull, pretending to unzip the suit etc) without the suit first for a couple of jumps, learned a lot from that. I'm not afraid to land out (see recent thread in accidents ) although of course I try to keep my heading . Like my BMI says, it isn't so much the number of jumps you've done, it's what you did in those jumps. And since I was mostly filming CRW at the time, I was told to start freeflying again or else I couldn't BM. If you're not afraid of a bit of linetwists, don't freak at a bit off spinning or unwanted barrel rolls in freefall, and can deal with the restriction of movement, you're halfway there, IMHO. But if you are, good luck ciel bleu, Saskia

It´s an expert cypres, and 1 or 2 pins doesn´t matter in this case It´s supposed to deploy your reserve at 750 ft. If you open at terminal at 1k I think you will be ending up with a lot of chute above your head... If it was a subterminal opening, ie an emergency exit, maybe it won´t go off, but below 1500 ft i´m going for my reserve, to be sure. The cypres will only turn itself off (well not really but it won´t activate anymore) at a hight too low for it to do any good, which is 130 ft. All this is in the cypres manual, try and get your hands on one? It´s also available as a pdf file online somewhere. ciel bleu, Saskia

Anybody has any tips on streamin video? So far I tried exporting video to quicktime and windows media. The QT download vids turns out great but are fairly big. QT streaming is great audio-wise but video quality is lacking. WMV streaming is great video-wise but sound is weirdish. Haven't tried exporting RealPlayer vids yet; personally I don't really like RealPlayer that much. I'm using Cleaner XL to export from a Premiere Pro avi file. Anybody has any tips? I want to have say 240x180 px streaming video on my website that can be viewed with a modem too... So far I get this: source: 2.15 min Avi streaming: 112k.wmv 1,6 MB 112k.mov 3,3 MB 256k.wmv 3,5 MB 256k.mov 7 MB 56k.wmv 0,6 MB 56k.mov 1,2 MB download vids: medium.mov 7,9 MB small.mov 4 MB small.wmv 4 MB I think the 112k streaming WMV is oka-ish, except for the weird sound. Is 1,6 MB too much for say a 56k6 modem? I've been spoiled with ADSL for too long ciel bleu, Saskia

Seen one used for tandem filming with a topmounted TRV19. Nice! Also seen some with side mounted PC's. All had chincups added. I like my own freefly helmet better (not flexible) but these helmets are way cheaper so a lot of freeflyers have them here. But I'd want my helmet to take a still camera too. And be more rigid I suppose, but if the helmet fits you really good I don't really see a problem with that. But I'm not an experienced camery flyer by a long shot... ciel bleu, Saskia

Maybe try contacting these guys: http://www.xntric.com/ Email adresses are in there somewhere, else use the webmaster address. Or maybe try contacting Henny Wiggers http://www.basejump.nl/ or through this site Hope the weather here will improve soon; it's been either windy, misty, wet or a combination. I only made 2 skydives in the last 4 weekends, both of which there was a bit too much wind I'm getting uncurrent and no BASE jumps to take pics of either ciel bleu, Saskia

Ehm why? Like it was said a number of times on this forum, the canopy has no idea of the wind. If you land downwind of an obstacle, your forward (ground) speed will increase when you hit the obstacle's 'shadow'. (broke my nose when that happened to me earlier this year; I wasn't going to flare because of a closed cell but the speed spooked me into flaring anyway and I flared myself almost 90 degrees off course, bam, ouch) But why would the canopy dive? Unless the canopy experiances turbulence (which is likely in these circumstances), it has no reason to, IMO. So, did he encounter any turbulence? ciel bleu, Saskia

I wouldn't point the speaker the other way. In freefal the 'loud' setting is okay (preferebly don't test this on the gound tho, speaking from experiance ). But I have no idea if you'll still be able to hear it if it's facing away from you. Why would you want to, anyway. If you mount it with elastic bands, a pouch or just drop it in, it is no more trouble to read the display or push some buttons; I'd think you'd have to remove it from your helmet even it if was facing the wrong way... ciel bleu, Saskia

Guess you could ask any australians here: I was just browsing the Australian parachuting regulations. It says there in a section about CReW: 6.5.2. PREREQUISITES TO CRW: Before commencing CRW training the candidate should: (a) Have at least an APF Parachutist Certificate "A"; (b) Have a sound knowledge and understanding of the flight characteristics of the canopy to be used, demonstrated by the ability to - Land consistently in the pit; - Perform front riser turns; - Steer the canopy with one brake on and one brake off; - Fly the canopy backward; - Use stall and recovery techniques; (c) Have completed a course of instruction covering the basic aspects of CRW, and has had his/her log book so endorsed by the Chief Instructor; (d) Have equipment that is suitable for CRW. ciel bleu, Saskia

I used to tie 3 elastic bands (for student gear, the larger ones) together. Then stick both ends through the gaps between the bars at the earhole and put my pro-track on the inside, secure against the plastic bars, held there by the elastics. This only works if your pro-tec has ear holes with bars tho, if they are entirely open, you'll have to figure something else (buy another pro-tec ). My pro-track usually stayed put without the elastics as well but after landing I tend to hang my helmet on my chest strap and I dropped it that way, once. Too expensive...... And 3 elastic bands don't cost nothing

Check out this site: www.cfworldrecord.com ciel bleu, Saskia

Are they? I made that suggestion in jest, earlier today when the 64 jumps weren´t offical yet Anyway check out this site: www.cfworldrecord.com ciel bleu, Saskia

The only thing that USB cable is good for is tranferring stills and the tiny video´s you can shoot on your memorystick. Yeah you need firewire for DV. ciel bleu, Saskia

No it doesn't, at least, not by itself and not a electronical one. The camera does have a mechanical remote, and you can buy ($$$) the grip to get the electronical remote (which also makes the camera bigger and heavier unfortunately). That said, I believe the picture quality of Nikon lenses is better then Canon, at least better then the lenses I have. But Canon D30/D60/10D or 300D are good too. (I had a D30 and have a 300D now.) However I wouldn't want to go jump with the extra grip and all that, although Norman Kent and Cabana do I believe. Henny Wiggers jumps one too (Team Captain of the camera crew for the next FS Wold Record, Thailand). So yeah, it's a good camera ciel bleu, Saskia

Heh heh I don't think being blown backwards is what's meant here Although, I know the feeling Some canopies are actually capable of flying backwards a bit. I'd think this would be most easily accomplished with a big canopy that also has holes in the bottom, like a Classic or similar accuracy canopy? That way it would stay inflated better I presume? ciel bleu, Saskia

I hit 48 mph minimum on my first ever BM flight, same suit. Mainly I fly about 55 mph avg on my own, just flying around (my turns are way steep). Problem is, if I buy a S3, I won´t have anybody to fly with Heh heh I´m not tall (1.72 m) but I´m not really heavy (130 lbs or so). Most people here have a GTi, only 1 S3 and 1 skyflyer I think. It´ll come....... For now, I´ll stick with a Classic (I only have like 20 BM flights so far). The Matter suit was cool too but haven´t had the oppertunity to really fly that one yet. But I do see a S3 in my future! ciel bleu, Saskia

119 secs according to my pro-track Was jumping a loaned original Classic BirdMan suit from 13k to 4.5k. I´m getting a Neptune now, see if I can/do get past those 2 minutes! Esp since my own suit (Classic II) is on the way. ciel bleu, Saskia

My first night jump, 3 weeks ago. Was cloudy so I never did see the airport but I did see the highway which was an okay spot. The winds had picked up bigtime which we didn´t know. My sense of direction failed me utterly so in freefall I spent all my time belly down staring around, under canopy I flew into the wind in half brakes, looking around. No idea where exactly the airport was, never mind the lit T. Too bad, I ended up too much downwind that way (east), and also to the north or the airfield (I found that out later). At 2000 ft I was over a lot of buildings, wow, get outtof here! At 1000 ft I was hanging above a very nice large field near a road. Too bad, the wind blew me backwards over it. Option 2 was a veryveryvery big field on the other side of the road/trees/ditch. I landed as close to the trees as possible, there´d be no barbed wire there. Indeed, when I walked across the very big field I had to climb some barbed wire.... While walking I phoned the DZ to let them know I was alive and well, just very lost. Then another veryvery big field, a road to a distant farm and the other way I say cars driving by. So went that way. Passed a castle (CASTLE?? Never saw one around here!) and walked some more, looking like a christmas tree with all the breaklights, flashlight and blinking lights. I really had no clue where I was, not even on which side of the airport... I was picked up eventually by a nice guy in a car, still having no idea of my location. It was a loooong ways off, to the one side of the airport I seldom (never) see. Turned out 4 out of 10 jumpers made it to the landing field, I was the furthest away.... ciel bleu, Saskia

Wel at least you are warned :) I've seen a couple SL progression students that needed to do the unstable exit dive get told: 'Nah, not this jump, We'll do it the next one'. Riiight..... Then they get pushed out unawares as soon as they get near the door. On the plus side: no time to get worried ' bout it! I was told to grab my ankels and sit on my butt in the door, then I was kicked out. Way fun! Had to hold my ankels for about 4 revolutions then arch. No prob, and a big grin on my face!! Hadn't been unstable either, before that. I asked another jumper to give me a shove the next jump, to do it again! And now, sometimes we do a two-way freefly exit sorta like that, but with linked arms. Just tumble for a bit then stabilize and do the rest of the dive. ciel bleu, Saskia

I have 3 rides on my 128 reserve now, loaded at 1.2 First one ended in me braking my nose (threads are around somewhere, 'Not happy with reserve' or something like that). Not really the reserve's fault tho. Second I did an intentional (also, see thread) half a year later, was under it at a little under 3000 ft and practiced flaring a bit, landed it tippy-toe. Then 4 weeks after that (my last repack so far knock knock) I had a lineover on my main, I was last out and had pulled at 4 k so again, enough altitude under my reserve. It set me down quite nicely again. So nice that the other 20 people didn't even notice I had a reserve till I asked for my freebag! The thing lands much better then my Lightning 126 does! I mostly jump 7 cells, which was why this reserve was okayed for me at 50 jumps, with a Spectre 150 for a main. I must say I'm glad I didn't have to try it out when I was still on the 150 tho. I think flying all those 7 cells (noticiceably the Lightnings) helped me a lot. Right now it is a good reserve for me I believe. And everybody said it was at 50 jumps, too. I'd consider a PD 113 or 126 now, or stick with this one or a Techno 128 (newer version of mine) for my main rig. But now I know better what I'm talking about. My other rig (CRW rig, maybe soon to be BirdMan rig, too) has a 175 reserve, man that's big! I'd much rather land that one if I end up unconcious or something... No rides on that one yet tho, knock knock. ciel bleu, Saskia