dragon2

Hi, Well, partial metering that requires me to press a button each time isn't very useful in general and certainly not in freefall I may get a quick release but that doesn't solve my problem: if I want to see the lcd (for info on amount of pictures, battery life etc) I have to disconnect the camera from my helmet, not something I want to do in the plane/right after landing. And, autofocus isn't very useful in the air.... I don't really need a focus ring, I can just autofocus on somthing at the approx. distance I want, then switch to manual. but again, an annoyance.... But I held both the 300D and the 10D in my hands.... Boy the 300D is light So I hope all this is worth it! ciel bleu, Saskia

Well, ya can always pack I'm usually in need of a packer, being too lazy myself, hint hint heh heh Myself, if I'm at the DZ and can't jump, I grab a camera and start shooting! Or drive the van (a whole day earns you a jump)... Or just generally bug other jumpers ciel bleu, Saskia

Huh? I have an (old) Atom with the original RSL on it. Meaning the pin is not straight but is 9-shaped and the RSL attaches to the loop. Pro's: no need for the metal rings, also you can't loose your reserve ripcord because the pin won't pass through the housing. And no kinks in your cable because the RSL is attached directly to the pin. Cons: you need a new ripcord if you want to remove the RSL entirely (and not just disconnect the riser-end). Also you need a new ripcord if you have a regular one and want this type of RSL, so I don't think that's very cost-effective. For a retrofit RSL on an Atom you're gonna end up with 2 metal rings, and a very normal RSL, c'est tout. There WAS a double sided RSL, mainly on Racers (which are NOT french methinks). Don't think you can get that anymore, wouldn't want to either. And like sombody else mentioned, a skyhook isn't available for your rig. ciel bleu, Saskia

I've ruptured my eardrum, once. Made a couple jumps like that, too See http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=267147#267147. What amazed me, was that it healed so quickly. Maybe you could visit your doctor tomorrow? See if it's closed already... You are keeping it dry, right? ciel bleu, Saskia

Some canopies have their line attachment tabs color coded (Pilot, some Pisa canopies). I think they use a different color for each line group (never looked real close). Looks funny (too colorful) to me tho ciel bleu, Saskia

I've never jumped anywhere like that. Don't actually intend to either. Its like the last world meet in France - I know of teams and such from various countries that were required to have AADs (including for accuracy and CRW) who borrowed old FXCs and Sentinels and such for the meet and then just didn't turn them on. These days I'm inclined to buy an "expired" Cypres cheap and then just put the console in the Cypres pouch on my rig and cut off the batteries and the rest to appease people like that. W Hmmm in Gap all rigs were checked for a live AAD. They pushed the cypres button (once). I even had a problem when I was going up in the Porter for pictures, not jumping (this was during the competition and I'm not a competitor). I was told to turn on my cypres, walk to boarding area, secretively turn off my cypres just before boarding, and to turn it back on again quickly after landing They never did check me, so except the pilot and the boarding-area guy nobody knew my cypres wasn't on. But they could've, so I complied with their rules BTW One of our accuracy guys jumped an ex-student rig, student cypres included. They didn't like that very much. But he said, what, I'm I going to set it off with a boat?! Anyway, here in Europe more and more DZ's/countries are requiring AAD's, either up to a certain number of jumps,a specific license (Holland), or plain mandatory for everybody (France). ciel bleu, Saskia

Actually it´s Paratec, http://www.paratec.de/. Seen some of their rigs around, they´re okay. Not sure if TSE makes them, the paratec website says it´s a german product. Anyway I like the new Aerodyne container better, but I haven´t compared prices. Teardrops are okay too, but at least our rigger charges more for repacking a pop-top (not Javelins). ciel bleu, Saskia

Our DZ now offers DVD, for a little extra. They have a stand-alone Sony, not sure of the model. I like the idea, I like new gadgets/things to play with in general, but so far this doesn´t really seem to work. A large percentage of the burned DVD´s doesn´t work. Seems to be dependant on brand of disc, and of course mistakes like not closing a disc. They are still figuring things out, which I think doesn´t come over as very professional with the tandem students. Although some are quite happy with their DVD´s... If you want I can ask which model Sony (and if it´s + or -, can´t remember) and which brands of media work/don´t work... ciel bleu, Saskia

My logic for using a cypres for any type of jump, including CRW (besides the fact that since I don´t have my C yet, I´m obligated to use an AAD anyway): If the cypres fires I´m way low. In that case, I should be happy about any extra inch of fabric above my head. If I´m at 750 ft with enough speed to fire a cypres, I´m out of time to do much myself. Note: I´m not worried about a cypres misfire. But I DO jump a cypres, and not say an FXC because I have less reason to trust those, besides the fact it´s a snag hazzard. Note 2: If I would do jumps without an AAD, CRW, accuracy and h&p´s would be my first choice. I´m not really afraid to jump without an AAD, but since I have one (err two actually) I use it. ciel bleu, Saskia

I just ordered a 300D. I toyed with the idea of buying a 10D for a time but couldn´t really afford one. Then I got to play with one, damn, I gotta have one.... Still, couldn´t justify one because the reason I´m not jumping my D30 is it´s weight, and the D10 weighs even a little bit more. So I opted for the 300D, with the 18-55 mm lens. Pro´s: - weight - price - lightweight lens - wide angle lens - no adaptor needed for biteswitch Cons: - lcd on back of camera (where my helmet is) - accompanying lens has no focus distance ring - no partial metering mode - less speed What I´d like from people already jumping this camera, is feedback on the metering mode part, and if my other cons are bothering you. ciel bleu, Saskia

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=440387#440387 ciel bleu, Saskia

You´d fit a PdF harness size L1 (smallish) or L2 (maybe better). ciel bleu, Saskia

After last weekend, during which I made my first 7 BM flights, I was longing to fly again. Last weekend I did 2- and 3-ways, but now I didn´t have anybody to jump with, so the first jump I just dodged some clouds. Summer´s really over now The wind was kinda bad too, I jump a Spectre 135 for BM which is my biggest canopy, came straight down on final... The second jump I tried a diving exit for the first time: ehm I see the plane? that´s not right... heh heh. Went okay except I did a layout loop. Third jump: did the diving exit again, didn´t go fully over this time... Tried some barrel rolls! Way cool. Landed way out, everybody did, except I had less of an excuse having a suit Who spotted? We all did, for half an hour, and we DID see green. And highway, which is a long way off but because of the really high winds it could have been do-able. And we didn´t want to go down with the plane... The fourth and last jump I made I went tumbling, first time I ever was unstable in a suit. Lost my bearings for a moment, spotted the tandem again so I knew where I was again. Flew my circuit, avoiding the clouds, but ended up in HAIL . Damn that hurts (I have an open freefly helmet). I WAS gonna try frontloops and backloops but decided on the spot to do something about the hail. Did a half barrel roll and actually flew (well, fell, mostly) on my back

I do that too. Problem is, some people don´t know how to use a laptop, and start rotating pics and stuff (which are then saved = compression which I don´t want!) and I´ve even had a couple pics vanish (deleted?) , and have (sometimes multiple versions of)programs closed/started, which sometimes results in data loss on my part Also some people DO know how to use a computer and those can be just as bad..... ciel bleu, Saskia

Note: I'm not an instructor... I was taught to only cutaway in the event of a downplane (WTF? Sensory overload?). If the 2 canopies are flying in a side-by-side or biplane, no biggie, you can steer a little bit, and don't flare. Do a search on 2-out here, been talked about lots. Had this happen to myself when I was on student stuff, ended up with a 230 and a 253R (150 lbs exit weight). The flew in a biplane for a loooong time, but at 1000 ft they started to downplane, so I cutaway. No problem!!! But if you cutaway a main when in a stable configuration you could make a reasonably ok situation turn bad: the risers of the main can snag your reserve. So don't cutaway if the canopies behave, or if you have more experience, an other option is to force a downplane, then cutaway. ciel bleu, Saskia

Yeah but what if they have a mal and there is no drogue to slow the pair down before opening ciel bleu, Saskia

The Lightning is a CRW (Canopy Formation) canopy... Ya don't want to go terminal if you want to build a formation quick So all you do is c&p's. Hey, freefall is for pussies heh heh CRW canopies open QUICK, and are usually packed different too (with a tailpocket instead of a bag). You CAN freefall with the larger Lightnings (F111 or hybrid) if you put a big slider on it and put it in a bag. Seen it done. However, taking my ZP Lightning 126 (with bag but with a spider instead of a slider) to terminal equals OUCH . Just might make a decent BASE canopy (just kidding)... ciel bleu, Saskia

And of course he's only concerned for you.... A reserve may or may not be 'good', but a lot depends on who's going to have to fly it..... Personally I bought a rig with a Spectre 150 and a Transfair 128 reserve (pre-Techno) when I had 75 jumps, giving me a WL of 1 for the main and 1.22 for the reserve. This is a common configuration for an Atom size 00, however you can also fit say a Merit 170 in there (also common!). The step down from a 150 to a 128 didn't seem to worry anybody (riggers, instructors, fellow skydivers), because the transfair is a good reserve. I'd not have been allowed say a tempo 120 as easily, I presume tho. I was allowed this reserve, because I mainly fly 7cells for a main (tri's, spectres). However, the first time I ended up under my reserve, I had already downsized to a spectre 135 and a safire 135 (126 sqft). Really, the reserve was no problem. However, I was glad I didn't have to use it when I had only 75 jumps, and was only getting used to a 150, never mind had I been coming from a 9cell 170... Right now, at > 400 jumps, I can land my reserve tippy-toe, and have, twice, no prob. Problem is, you may or may not get enough jumps/experience in before you have no choice but to use that PD126. ciel bleu, Saskia

Hi, Ask your instructor if you're even allowed to switch. In Holland you need your A to switch from ripcord to handdeploy, if you weren't trained on it from the get-go (AFF students are trained BOC, usually). Even if you can, switching back and forth may not be allowed; may be hazardous at worst and may cost you a bunch of ripcords... ciel bleu, Saskia

Hi, With your weight, a 1.2/1.3 WL would mean a 120 sqft canopy. I weigh the same as you, and over here (Holland) you need 500 jumps to jump a 135 let alone a 120! Also you'd need 100 jumps for anything smaller than 170 sqft. There's a reason for that.... Now I myself jump a 135 and 2 different 126 sqft canopies, and they are small. I bought a spectre 150 for my first canopy, at 75 jumps, after downsizing from a 280 to 230/190/175. Man did I biff the first 8 or 9 landings! A WL of 1.0 on a semi ellip 7 cell was way fast for me, at that point. But the canopy lasted me a long time (what you are looking for). My 2 cents: get a relatively docile 150 or preferably a 170 sqft square or semi ellip (like a spectre/triathlon/sabre/sabre2/safire etc), you will have your hands full I promise. I have never jumped a round so I can't imagine the differences, but I very much doubt the transition to a smallish square will be easy... Do you have to start out on a 150? (don't they have anything larger??) After you've flown and landed the 150 a bunch of times, re-evaluate your canopy choice, see if you still want (dare?) to go smaller...... By then you should have a better idea of what you want. ciel bleu, Saskia

ONE of you?? I was aiming for the entire 3some...!!! How´s Ilse??? ciel bleu, Saskia

I was there as their team manager, I only jumped as a substitute-Belgian heh heh (a couple camera jumps during training). And yeah, that´s a dutch gap in France, heh heh ...... ciel bleu, Saskia

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=682933#682933 ciel bleu, Saskia

Yippy!!!! Made my first 6 (!!) wingsuit jumps yesterday!!! This friday night I attended a seminar, given by Henny Wiggers & Jean-Louis Beckers. Next morning, I was on the first load, wearing a borrowed Classic I for a video-ed first (oops) BM jump with Jean-Louis. Man that smile didn't vanish for the rest of the day

Here are a lot of (mostly ground tho) Gap shots too: http://www.xs4all.nl/~dragon2/chuteswk.html ciel bleu, Saskia