DSE

Not quite. If you look there, the tail and the nose are not rolled together, but rather the tail is rolled without gathering up any of the nose. He is folding the two sides of the nose towards the center cell, however. Still a little different than what I've described here. With that Silhouette, I typically roll/fold the nose the way you see Mike doing it, but then placed the separate rolls into each side of the center cell, and then push the whole nose into the center of the pack job.

Honest...you don't wanna go there (down the records vs championships road). Regardless of what folks think, Bill's been around for a long, long time. He's either the #1 or #2 guy in the world for most jumps, he runs a very successful dropzone (regardless of any opinions about it) and he's done a lot for the sport. And it's done a lot for him. If the jumpers at his DZ wish to award him the Judy, more power to em'.

If you'd sent in three pictures to my DZ.com email address, then they'd be posted. There are no emails from this user name to my account.

Tar baby: "A dummy made of tar, which cannot be struck without getting oneself hopelessly stuck to it--from the story "Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Fox" by Joe Harris, as told by his fictional narrator, Uncle Remus. " "Tar baby" has become short hand for a situation better avoided than confronted. It was a term used by one of the board members and I happen to have liked its application. A group of people spoke prior to FnD, and then met at FnD to discuss how we'd like to provide a vehicle to move forward as a community. I'll leave it to the others to talk about their involvement. When there is more to say, this forum will be the first place you'll likely hear whatever that may be. If you'd like to help, we're glad to have it.

This is a hotly debated topic with the advent of GoPro and Contour-type cameras. People with as few as 25 jumps are sticking cameras on their helmets. The argument has been that the SIM recommendations are specifically aimed at snag hazards rather than the mental acuity required to jump with a camera on one's head or body. These are recommendations, not BSR's. ~Should the USPA update their recommendations/SIM information to include these small format cameras? ~Should the USPA issue a reminder to DZO's and S&TA's with regard to camera flying recommendations? ~Should the recommendations be changed to lower numbers due to the small size of these cameras? ~Should the USPA do nothing? I do expect the results to be somewhat skewed simply because of the number of newbie jumpers that may not understand the ramifications of jumping with a camera. I'd like to see discussion as much as voting. Hoping to hear from some of the "old-timers" in the sport. The relevant SIM section.

This contest will end at Midnight tonight, apologies for not running the end date on here. Get your votes in, folks!

Thank you Lurch, for that the excellent eloquence in communicative clarity. Clarity is a _very_ important aspect of the goal we'd like to achieve. There are 8 well-known wingsuiters working towards assembling the various pieces of their individual ideas that will create the initial framework of this communal organization. Once that is complete, it'll be mass-presented to the community for input. We're somewhat close to achieving that first step. The huge variation in time zones makes it difficult to get everyone to the table at the same time. Soon we'll have mechanisms in place to aid in this process. Once that's done, we'll collectively figure out how we'd like to be judged as a competitive community. Whether or not USPA (or any other body) accepts our competition results or not really doesn't matter. We have reason to believe they will, once this organization becomes tangible. We can set our own "scores" based on a community-determined judging system, and they will stand as community-recognized events. We don't need Guiness or USPA, or anyone else to validate what we've already decided is the degree of discipline we want to invoke. I'd rather have an "Atta Boy" from the majority of the wingsuit community than have a "well done" from an organization headed by former skydivers that haven't flown wingsuits and that might not have the time nor ability to learn more about the accurate history of our discipline. Respect from my peers is much more valuable, IMO, than having an outside group telling me how cool or scary our squirrel suits are. For the moment, we're taking advice and direction from those that have started similar groups in skydiving as to how to properly build the foundation for this sort of "house" so that it can function well. This isn't an overnight process because it needs to have lots of inputs, a mechanism for determining concensus and a democratic process, and a means of communicating to everyone. Facebook ain't gonna cut it. We're also moving forward with a strong desire to respect, support, and be acceptable to wingsuiters, USPA and any other administrative body of skydivers worldwide. If you'd like to offer help in building this house, please PM me.

Please flake that canopy cleanly? There are no line burns on it. With the particular canopy you're jumping, rolling the four cells on each side of the center cell before "centering" the nose will help for equalized inflation. You shouldn't be rolling the nose into the tail no matter what. I can show Aaron or Jose what to show you for this weekend if you'd like. Or you can just get yourself down here before I leave again. Be sure the slider is completely against the canopy as you cocoon it. Be sure the lines are straight/taut as you're flaking and rolling it. Cleanly quarter the slider. Don't roll the nose into the tail. Although any canopy can open hard, that one shouldn't. The Silhouette is known for soft, on-heading openings, and yours is a little different than others. The four layers of bottom skin make it open even more softly. Since you're experimenting with freeflying, also be very sure to slow yourself before deploying. Going from a sit straight to belly with no pause might be responsible for harder openings due to higher speed. Ask Andy or Mel for tips on grabbing lots of air before deployment? Be sure to be squared up before deploying as well? That may square up your opening.

Travis, I'm in agreement for the most part. Of course the raw data belongs to membership of USPA. They're there to lobby on our behalf, whether they're lobbying the FAA, PIA, IPC, or local government. They're in place to help us protect ourselves from ourselves and other influences. Yet for someone to demand the curtains be opened (let alone suggest there is something hiding behind them) after only the foundation has been poured is a huge stretch, IMO.

nope. Still is i-frame based.

NOTAMS for specialty jumps, clearances for any areas you'll overfly (especially if you've got wing weinies), Clean up crews preps for the landing areas such as mowing, watering in advance Paying organizers? Giving slots? How many for how many? Manifest....mentioned, but needs to be mentioned more. If you have a hot chick, make sure she can think too. Make sure that manifest won't be overloaded. I actually make up special manifest sheets for the groups, it's helpful, even if it's just a 4-6 way with org. Parking? Even if it's an on-airport location, you'll prolly end up ferrying some folks from the local commercial airport to the DZ. 22 miles round trip from SLC International to Skydive Utah adds up fast. Entertainment? Special safetyrules for the event? Special/designated landing areas for the event if the loads are large enough or multiplane? Ramper who knows skydiving safety to help check folks as they board and helps make the process go more smoothly? Relief pilot? Marketing? Advertising? Local support/donations for prizes? Manufacturer support for any prizes/awards? Get Starbucks...I hear they love skydivers now. Sony sure does, but they require a 4 month lead time.

Here ya go... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErhE0FTQFlY It's 62 mins in length

Pat, This is already underway, and as soon as some of the details actually are details, a vomit of info will be forthcoming. Yes, the concept was discussed with a few BOD members and EC members prior to the symposium, just to be sure that it wouldn't be a problematic thing. The goal is that there would be a collective voice of wingsuiters, so that USPA tar babies may be avoided in the future, particularly as we move into other sub-disciplines.

It's not *that* bad. Get yourself a big kettle. Fill it with cool water. Put it on the stove. Jump in. Gradually turn up the heat until it boils. That way you won't feel the pain coming. Seriously, get help. Find people that excel in the various aspects of producing ANYTHING. Are you bringing in outside aircraft? If so, ask about tach time, starts, ferry fees. Remember that even if it's a skydiver-owned aircraft, it's a business, so the owner/leasing agent is out for the most profit they can achieve, and in that...you might find yourself hosed. Weather insurance?what happens with outside aircraft if the plane doesn't fly? Do they require you to use their aircraft as the primary? What sorts of events are you wanting to offer? Got organizers in the various disciplines? You can't do it yourself, after all... Videographers for the event? Food? Promotional attendance ie; PD, Aerodyne, or other large manufacturer gonna be there as a draw? Plan on working with local businesses to promote good prices on lodging, maybe food, etc. Can people get to you easily? If you're in Podunk and the nearest large airport is 300 miles away, you''ll likely not attract many non-locals. Are there enough locals to support what you're wanting to achieve? Will you be running tandems during the boogie? If not, where do the profits for the event come from? Will you charge a registration fee to help offset lost tandem profits? What do folks get for those fees? Hopefully more than a wrist band. Security? Toilets? secure area for gear? Packing area? Activities outside of skydiving in case weather is crap, or for after jumping? Beer license required? Airport permission required? This is the quick list. There's a lot more... Scared yet?

My mistake, Phil. What I heard may not have been what you said. We all know that happens, right? Perhaps it was an unfortunate typo.

Read the advisory again. A group has been charged with _gathering_ data. There *is* no report. As far as fear of what is to be found, read the last couple of year's incident incident forums. The information is there, and even collated pretty darn well, if you know what you're looking for.

Due to the darkness required for a PowerPoint, didn't make sense to spend time shooting it. However, I did record the audio, so in the next day or so, I''l put the PowerPoint with audio online. Was a good time, good fun.

I agree, a mic in the room would have been ideal. However, it wasn't my idea to record it. When we learned that it was going to be recorded and edited, it made sense to have a copy separate from that copy. Helps keep everyone honest, y'know? T'was a last minute decision courtesy of Scotty's camera in his truck. Thanks again to Scotty and Zach.

Thanks for taking the time to encode and post the unedited meeting, Zach.

From the 50's, youngster! Depending on the type of 3D you're after, you can do this without anything special except 2 cams and glasses. Anaglyphic 3d can easily be achieved right now, get some glasses and play on YouTube. Coincidentally, VASST is soon releasing a DVD on 3D authoring.

John, I'm very confused. I've just had 2 phone calls and one email conversation with 3 different manufacturers. All are clueless about this "top secret" report-hiding conspiracy to which you allude. Everyone else I spoke with at PIA is equally baffled about the "secret report" you consulted on. As a PIA member, I was aware of this advisory and it's just that; an advisory. re;Dynamic corners=cut corners. You had a lot to say about it via one of your sponsored skydivers, who went out of their way to say they're dangerous, and even provided a copy of an email from you saying they're dangerous. Folks that think about em' know they're not. Whether the Racer is on a list somewhere or not doesn't matter. If it were on the non-existent "top-secret" list, you would have a lot less to say?

Your vitriolic reaction suggests you're worried about what might be found. Releasing raw data without conclusive information is more likely to generate unmerited panic than to provide useful information. Collection of data without drawing conclusions means exactly that. Collection. Until all resources are utilized and analyzed, there is little that can be done with the information. Most of what you're seemingly worried about is already available anyway. It just takes a little work to collect it. Perhaps you dont' want to do that. I'm a member of PIA, I know you are too. We both know their resources are limited, funds non-existent, and the lay skydiver has no right nor power to demand anything of them. I for one, am grateful they're taking time to do this. They owe it to no one. I think you're spreading fear and panic unnecessarily, much like the BS you spouted about dynamic corners killing people. Sorry, just ain't buying it. I'll be grateful to the PIA and USPA when they complete their investigation/report and share it with the world. Otherwise, a pithy call for "Check your gear/know your gear" certainly isn't harmful, but it's also not a cover for conspiracy, IMO.

not at all, but there will be a teeny amount of crossover information.

Reading between the lines and then adding these posts, it's clear as mud at a number of levels. It's an advisory, saying "Check your gear." The bulletin says this to me.... A-PIA has tasked its Technical Committee to collect and review relevant data, to work within the industry in order to identify any trends or specific causes and to make any relevant recommendations. Why get defensive or worried about said collection of data? It's just data. Can't hurt you, but might "identify trends or specific causes" which could hurt you. Is there something a manufacturer should be worried about and would like hidden? Collecting data is far from deriving conclusions about what the data may indicate. B-Review the BSR's. Seems reasonable enough? C-Pull your own handle on a repack. Again, reasonable. You'll know what it feels like if you haven't done it before. Then have a rigger check the deploying parts, either on your back or on a flat table. I see equal issue with either method. Maybe standing on a ladder above the container when extracting the freebag will tell a more accurate story? D-RTFM for your gear. All of it. Know your gear, know what it does. Be informed. Reading between the lines, all I get is "Refresh yourself on the rules, check your gear, know your gear. I also read (between the lines) that maybe someone at USPA or PIA could stand a few less cups of coffee.

if it's just a standard 4:3 DVD, then they merely need to have it output from Handbrake as 640 x 480, 10Mbps max.