bdrake529

The 4 mile figure came from using the measuring tool in Google Earth. I measured the distance from a bit South of the 10 back to the DZ. I didn't have a GPS record of the jump. Scott, if you get a usable GPS log for that jump, please let us know how far we actually flew. By any account, it was a long way back. Brian Drake

The camp was definitely not sucking. Big thanks to Scott and Ash for putting on the camp. It was a great learning experience, very challenging but very fun. Good camaraderie, good flocks, good times. Thanks to all the flockers who made this camp a highlight for me. Flock yeah! BTW, I just checked Google Earth and it looks like we got almost 4 miles on Saturday's cross-country flight. Not too shabby! Brian Drake

I don't know if it was an S3S. I don't have the video to upload. Brian Drake

I have minimal experience but I can offer this anecdote for what it's worth: I've seen video of a person trying to learn on an S3 (at around 250 jumps) and it confirmed to me the wisdom of starting on a beginner (or possibly intermediate) suit. This persons' flights were ok, but at pull time, the suit flew him all over the place (tumbling, spinning) since he wasn't experienced enough to completely collapse the wings and maintain a stable body position. It was quite scary to watch and several other people have strongly suggested he not continue on that suit for safety reasons. Brian Drake

What suits are they flying? Brian Drake

Thanks everyone. I realized I wasn't considering this from every angle, thus my post. The replies here have helped me understand a bit more. Brian Drake

What are the top forward speeds attainable in a wingsuit? Jeff N told me he can punch his Mach 1 to over 130mph. On one hand, this is impressively fast. But compared to the numbers on Tracking Derby, there are people tracking without wingsuits that appear to be exceeding this. http://www.trackingderby.com/en/trace_view_1826_miles.php Look at the ground speed graph. He maintains speeds in excess of 150mph (looks like an avg of ~175mph). The vertical speed graph shows he never goes faster than 150mph so I doubt this is a case of head-down speed converted into a short burst of tracking speed. Besides he not only maintains his horizontal speed during the competition time period, he actually increases it. Compare this to the top ranked wingsuiter (look at ground speed graph) http://www.trackingderby.com/en/trace_view_2007_miles.php Am I missing something here? I would have thought wingsuits had potential for much higher forward speed than regular tracking. Is the only benefit of the wingsuit the improved glide ratio due to slower fall rates? I imagine perhaps the answer is wind-affected speeds vs true speed. Or am I reading the numbers incorrectly in some other way? Incidentally, those two examples from Tracking Derby I picked are top rated for their logged distance in the recording time period, not the top forward speed. I suppose other records could have even greater forward speeds but overall less glide ratio due to increased fall rate. Brian Drake

I'm mainly curious as to what the Tony Suit policy is regarding experience required for wingsuiting, if there is an actual policy. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Birdman requires 500 jumps, or 200 jumps within 18 months if you've got the supervision of a BMI. Phoenix-Fly's "recommendations" are basically the same. Does Tony Suit have the same kind of policy? Are there now Tony Suit Instructors? Which of the new Z Wing line are considered "huge ones"? Brian Drake

What is the minimum required experience for the first jump wingsuit course? What is the minimum wingsuit experience required to demo the various Tony Suits wingsuits? Thanks, Brian Brian Drake

I'm trying to get my coach rating before the end of January '07 and to my dismay, there aren't any courses publically scheduled in Southern California between now and then. At my home dz, California City, they've told me they'll schedule a coach rating course if there are 3 or more candidates. So I'm looking for at least 2 more people who want their coach rating within the next month or so. The course would be held at Cal City, which is about 100 minutes N/NE from Los Angeles in the Mojave desert. Time and date will scheduled when the minimum # of 3 applicants is reached. If you want to get your coach rating, please either respond to this thread, or email me at bdrake529@dropzone.com. Or, if you're aware of another course already scheduled in So Cal before the end of January, please let me know. Thanks, Brian Brian Drake

Scott, Thanks for the recommendation (and all your help). I just ordered a low-cost setup similar to what you posted (with an additional recharging battery pack). It's got a re-transmitting range of 2m which I hope will be enough for my purposes. If that's not quite far enough to cover all the seats, I can always get 2 to cover each half of the plane. Or I could install the one within range of the door and then rig up a basket/pouch or something for jumpers to put their receivers in on the ride to altitude and then retrieve on their way to the door. I'll be able to test what I bought in a few weeks and will post my findings. One concern I have is that since my GPS receiver will be getting its multi-satellite signal from the repeater (singular location), will it maintain the signal upon exit, or will it lose the connection and have to reacquire in the air? Unfounded concern or unfortunate reality? Anyone know? Brian Brian Drake

I received the following email from the PC-Mobile, the company that sells the "cheap solution" - http://www.pc-mobile.net/gpsant.htm So it looks like I'll have to pursue the "pricey" options. I'm still on the look out for someone who has first hand experience doing this (or knows someone they can refer me to) so that I don't have to reinvent the wheel. I've already contacted Tracking Derby via the form on their site but haven't heard back from them. Does anyone know an alternate method of contacting them? Thanks, Brian Brian Drake

I'm looking for a solution that allows satellite reception from any seat in the Otter on the ride to altitude. Ideally for multiple GPS receivers. Will the low cost option provide this? If so, then of course I don't want to "invest a lot of money". But if not, what are the "pricey" options and how "pricey" are we talking? I was originally thinking of paying for this myself, but if a costly solution is the only one that truly works, I may have to solicit financial cooperation with other jumpers (trackers and wingsuit fliers) at my DZ. Brian Drake

I searched Scott's posts and all I could glean was that I'm looking for a "re-radiating antenna". No specifics on a recommended product or instructions on use. I did a Google search and found this For about $50, I'm tempted to just buy it and see if it works. However, I don't like to reinvent the wheel when there are others out there with experience to share. Thanks, Brian Brian Drake

Does anyone here know anything about obtaining and installing a GPS repeater in a Twin Otter for use with GPS freefall recorders? I've recently begun jumping with a Garmin Foretrex and have been frustrated by the difficulty of getting a consistent satellite link. I can get a signal if I sit in the co-pilot's seat, directly behind the cockpit, or right by the door. Other seats = no signal = no jump data. The pilot/dzo said he'd let me install a repeater so now I'm on the hunt for info. Where do I get one, how much do they cost, what is involved with installation, tips for consistent results, etc... I've heard that Tracking Derby brings repeaters to their race events. I've sent an email to them via the contact form. Does anyone here have any personal experience with the technology they use? I like the idea of a portable solution so I can take it with me to other DZs. Thanks in advance, Brian Brian Drake

Agreed, and I do take advantage of coaching, both in the air and in the tunnel. I'm mainly interested in how MA can give me an ideal skydiving body (mind-body connection too). Obviously, skydiving training is what will make me a good skydiver, but I'll always reach limitations if my body isn't properly conditioned. One example that inspired this line of thought is learning that Jeb Corliss studied high-board diving to take his BASE technique to the next level. Brian Drake

I've recently ended 5 and a half years of studying traditional Japanese martial arts (budo). My goals for martial arts training have changed and I want to try a new direction. I'm currently "shopping" for a new style to pursue. I'm also a new skydiver (started jumping in February) and I'm hooked. I want to do this for the rest of my life. Are there certain styles of MA that would directly contribute to my progress as a skydiver? I'm sure all MA can have a general impact, what I'm looking for is specific correlations. For example, I'm not very flexible. The arts I've been studying required minimal lower body flexibility. As I watch expert freefliers, freestylists, and skysurfers, I've observed demonstration of effortless mobility, balance, full-body control, and flexibility. To put it bluntly, I want that (and I'm willing to work for it). I'm going to check out a capoeira school this week as what I've seen of that art lead me to believe it can contribute to the goals I've expressed above. But I'm curious if anyone here has any personal experience with the potential symbiosis of martial arts training and skydiving. Thanks, Brian Brian Drake

Will there be some sort of broadcast coverage of the competition? What about official online updates? The Skydive Arizona website only links to registration forms and USPA's site has practically nothing. Any tips on how I can stay up-to-date on this event from afar? Thanks, Brian Brian Drake

The VISO is perfect for anyone desiring a solid digital altimeter. It's cheaper than the Digitude and Suunto Vector and has a better display as well. Beyond its primary purpose, it comes with some great bonus features. But here is where L&B started to cut corners that keep it from being a true contender to the Neptune or Skytronic GFX. For example, for the last 200 jumps, the VISO stores exit alt, deploy alt, freefall time, max freefall speed and max canopy descent speed. Would it have been that hard to include avg. speeds (freefall and canopy) or time under canopy? This information can be inferred by the realtime (.25x, 1x, 2x, and 5x) playback feature (very cool) but this only works for the last jump. The interface is not intuitive but it doesn't take long to get the hang of it. While navigating the interface, the VISO beeps through a speaker that is just as loud as the OPTIMA or SOLO, so why weren't canopy alarms included? The wrist strap and attachment strategy presented are a joke. I can't imagine a single skydiver taking it seriously. To make this instrument truly usable, you'll have to buy instrument gloves or the additional L&B wrist-strap/finger loop combo. That adds roughly $30 to the price either way. The other downside is it does not have a computer interface. This means it can't be updated (save perhaps a recall to L&B) and jump data can't be downloaded. For the average jumper, these complaints may be unwarranted since the VISO works great as a visual digital altimeter. But for the data-hounds among us, the VISO falls short compaired to the Neptune or Skytronic GFX and the extra cost of either may be worth it.

I got mine at Chicks Rock this weekend too. I had pre-ordered it from Square1 but they keep telling me it's at least two weeks from arriving. A buddy saw Ground Zero had one (or two) and bought it for me (I arrived late Sat afternoon, in time for the DC-3 jump). The wrist strap is a joke. I drove over to Square1 and bought their instrument gloves. Very nice. Irritating that I had to spend an extra $30 for a usable mount (I would have got the gloves free if I had waited for my order with Square1, but I'm impatient). I checked Para-gear and the wrist strap and finger loop L&B shows in promo pictures is $26 combined. The VISO's interface is not inuitive, but it doesn't take long to figure out. I got my training on the SOLO and OPTIMA so it was familiar in the odd L&B way. I've only jumped once with the VISO so far and at that time, I put it in my pocket since I didn't want to mess with the included wrist mount. Just wanted to try out the jump logging/data features. The playback feature is cool and I "re-jumped" my jump once I had it mounted in the glove. From this I feel confident it will be perfectly visible in the sky. For the price, it's good. More features and a better display than the Suunto watch or Digitude (and cheaper). If cost isn't a factor and you like all the features (PC connection for data logging and updates, more speed data on previous jumps, ability to flip the display, canopy alerts, to name a few) Neptune is the way to go. But if all you want is a digital altimeter, the VISO is it. Brian Drake

I just received my OPTIMA and I'm curious if anyone here has experience using this audible, specifically the canopy warnings and guide tones. As a new jumper (just got my B license on Sunday), I've resolved not to begin canopy swooping until I have significantly more experience. I do however want to begin training for that goal (swooping) to make the most of every canopy flight from now until I'm ready. As I understand it, this means lots of drills at high enough altitude to be safe. Having read quite a bit on high performance landings (Brian Germain's book, the BPA canopy piloting manual, various DZ.com articles), I've got some guidelines on how to train. With this new altimeter (the OPTIMA), I'm eager to see if it can help me learn to set up my trial "landings" with increasing precision and consistency and expedite the learning process. Ultimately, I've been led to believe that internal timing and mastery of sight picture are the main skills required for swooping, I'm hoping the OPTIMA can help me develop those skills (like training wheels). Can anyone save me some time and propose some tips on using the canopy warnings and guide tones on the OPTIMA to aid my training? Thank you, Brian