DSE

Agreed. Packers at most DZ's make the jumps more fun, allow more time for debrief, and allow back to back video loads all day. Gotta thank Justin and T-Mo at SDU for keeping me in the air, Eric at Pepperell, Nylon City, and the folks at Eloy for being fast, professional, and capable. Hey Betsy, don't you think it's time you guys put in air conditioning for the packers? Wonder if the above buys me any discount?

Your one warning. CorradoVR6, your registration date suggests you've been around for a while...some disciplines are better helped if folks have an idea of your experience/skill levels such as where you jump, jump numbers, and disciplines of choice.

I actually argued with a guy at Z-hills about my deployment sequence roughly one month before my brake "oops." I was sure I was right in deploying brakes last. He told me a couple stories, and finally said "Whatever. You'll figure it out on your own soon enough." Well..I did. I frequently release my toggles once I know I'm flying straight and stable, and use my legs for minor corrections in direction. For very long spots back, sometimes I need my hands to change a song or volume on my iPod (here come the flames) after a wingsuit jump. Sometimes I need my hands to release my legs, and sometimes I don't get the slider completely stowed, so I'll release for that, too. On some jumps, I've had to finish stowing the slider with toggles in my hands, while others I'll release the toggles to stow/wrap my slider. Hands are always in the toggles by 1500 per my audible first warning. I've not experienced a cutaway yet (did I just jinx myself?) so I'm not sure how my methods may or may not save my life one day.

I'm one of the seven that chose: "stow slider, release brakes, release wings, loosen chest strap" as I had a brake problem on a jump where I held rears on a long spot, then deployed brakes at around 1500 or so. Dumb move on my part, as I had a line jam up when I lifted the bottom of the toggle out of the keeper. Besides, you can generally run farther on rears vs stowed brakes and rear risers. Had I not experienced a brake problem earlier, I probably would still be undoing everything and then going for brakes. This'll probably re-spark the debate of "once you've released your brakes, never let go of the toggles." I happen to disagree with that thought process.

Great answer.

Then you haven't looked hard enough. There have been *many* discussions of copyright, illegal use, and value of skydiving photos and copyrighted music being used in skydiving videos. you might not complain, but in re-using the works of other people, it devalues that work for the person that owns the content. Although I'm opposed to people using copyrighted music in tandem videos, the impact on the owner of the music is generally negligable, as it's a one-off DVD, and it's a broadly distributed product. Skydiving and BASE vid isn't so widely distributed, and therefore the value of that footage is rather high in some/many cases. Using this footage without the owners permission is no different than walking into a DZ, putting 100 jumps on someone's rig, but not telling them you've jumped their rig. Placing "credits" at the end of the reel isn't anything more than thanking the person from whom you stole, for shooting footage sweet enough that you wanted to use it, yet not at least ask your skydiving brothers and sisters if that would be cool. I'll admit on a few very rare occasions I've used copyrighed music to illustrate a point on a one-off, non-distributed nor replicated video. On most of those occasions, I've used music from an artist that is published by the same publishing group I'm part of, such as using Nickelback on a presentation piece. In my case, not illegal, but certainly not necessarily ethical, as I didn't ask the band nor their representation for specific permission. Digital or analog copies....doesn't matter. Theft is theft. For some reason, it seems more eggregious to steal from another skydiver as opposed to stealing from Tom Petty or Van Halen. There are three issues at play here, IMO. 1- The content's value has been diminished as a by-product of re-use. 2- The original work's intentions have been modified, as the artistic expression by the director and editor of the original content has been altered. This includes sync license, mechanicals, master, and way down the scale...branding. 3- It's theft from one of our own by another skydiver who could have easily asked (and perhaps received) permission. It's a small community. I'd be pissed if someone used my footage or music in a skydiving video without my permission. That's why most professionals watermark online images, to protect the value and protect their investment in the work. Even if the video isn't for sale, it's a violation of copyright, and more to the important point; it damages the value the original owner of the footage owned.

nothing quite so dramatic as a vector file (I assume that's what this is, with the svg extension) It wouldn't open in my browser or graphics app. If time permits, I show the pilot a plot on Google Earth, as I store my flights there if they're anything but the normal 'exit west, turn south' flights. I always share flight plan with DZM so he knows where to look for me. Pilot likes to know. Our pilot is so cool to work with, I can give him GPS info and he'll put me/us out on that coordinate after dumping the tandems and fun jumpers. He gets a bang out of what we do anyway.

this past weekend, Skydive Utah and Salt Lake City hosted the reunion of the Pioneers of Sport Skydiving. So many folks came out, it was an incredible experience at a personal level, and a terrific story for our industry. There were world champions from 1949 to 1968 present at the event, with some sweet presentations from Ted Strong, Jack Guthrie, Howard White, and a few others. One of the special guests (who made his first skydive as a freefall jumper this last Friday) was former Senator Jake Garn, who is also the only astronaut who was in the Senate before going into space. He flew on Discovery. Senator Garn came to our DZ unnannounced with his entire family and did his first freefall skydive, and first jumps since training as a Naval Aviator back in 1954. Senator Garn was so impressed by the Pioneers, he came to the dinner at a last moment invitation, and hung out listening to Ted Strong, Bullit Bob, Loy Brydon, Bill McCarthy, and others who had some great stories, including the history of the development of the tandem system. Lotsa photos to sort through, as this was a super group to be with. We put together a quick video of their jump. Many of those on the jump have not jumped in 2 years, a couple hadn't jumpd in more than 5 years. From the camera perspective, I was a little surprised to see how low these folks went, but everyone landed safely, most everyone landed on their feet. I was in the saddle by 2100, and I was by far the highest puller. It was pretty obvious that Ted Strong has some serious accuracy chops, based on how he landed and where he landed. Impressive group of people. I learned more about the history of this sport in one night than I could have imagined. Some super stories. Howard White also has some rare Carl Boenish footage he shared, along with many, many old photos. Many of the early pioneers are no longer jumping, but some are. Jim Arender looks about the same today as he does in the World Meet photos from the late 50's and early 60's (he's also the guy in the Camel ads on the back of Life Magazine back in 1963). super guy, fun to talk with, as was everyone there. Many thanks to Howard White, Linda Miller, and the others that made this event happen, and for allowing me the opportunity to be a small part of it.

Looks a lot better than it did when I saw it a few weeks ago, but that weave sure is a strange mate to the other side. Looking forward to seeing the next version of the helmet; it looks like a sweet setup. I sure like the one you've been jumping.

*** So, I really think it has a lot to do with HOW the items are used and to what lengths the items are forced into the script. Is that something the government needs to get involved with? No. Is that something the WGA and DGA should get involved with. Yeah, I think so. We're on the same page. When films are used solely as marketing vehicles, IMO, the DGA needs to say something, because it's clear the artist's 'vision' has been compromised. But that's not a gov't issue, doesn't violate the public trust, and costs taxpayers nothing. If Sony wants to do a heavy placement in a film...they're essentially paying the freight for the film, so if product placement helps... "Casino Royale..." Sony employees had an online game (internally) to see who could spot the most placements of product. [edit] "Dystopic"...learned a new word today. Thx Quade

"Embedded," "Pop," "Placement" ads are _finally_ receiving notice (duh) from the government. "Integrated" etc ads have all become part of a new investigation. Small enterprises have been complaining about this practice for a long time, as they cannot possibly hope to compete against the "big" guys in this channel. The issue of product placement, in which brand name items are used as props in shows, is not new and has not generated much controversy. It is the practice of insinuating products into actual plot lines, known as "product integration," that has raised concern. For example, episodes of the family-oriented show "7th Heaven" included plot lines revolving around Oreo cookies. Other examples cited by critics of the practice include episodes of "The Office" in which characters work at a Staples office supply store; a "CSI" show in which characters promote features of a General Motors vehicle; and a "Smallville" episode in which the dialogue included the line "Acuvue to the rescue," a reference to the contact lens maker. Is this a non-issue or is it a big deal to you?

I won that in a contest for an injured skydiver's benefit fund, and part of the deal was that I had to wear it for an hour.

It's a good program. Imagine being able to buy a helmet for camera flying when you only have 30 jumps, but you can't get it for at least 6 months...nice deal.

I don't understand where all the 'body type' comments come from. I was told this past weekend that "with my body type" I needed this or that suit. Scott Burns isn't exactly svelte. He hangs longer than most. Same with Justin. There is a kid that I jumped with at Sebastian who is for want of a better word "huge." HE SMOKED in a Phantom. His forward speed outran everyone on the load (as did his vertical) but he ran fast and clean. I'd like to try the Tengu, but from what I've seen of it, I'd prefer to stay w/my Blade.

No one would have issue with the pic in question, nor the fingers-point one. I think the entire wingsuiting community not only deserves to see that photo, it should be mandatory.

that is NOT the pic everyone wants/needs to see... see ya in slc, Howard!

Bomb420

Vimeo is almost done converting http://www.vimeo.com/1222870 Sorry for delay, been sick as a dog in Bethesday. NIH is a block away, but can't get a doctor to see me

oops, failed to attach. Here ya go

No clouds in this shot, but here is a screengrab from one of the video cams

Otherwise known as AVCHD. see www.thefullhd.com for more info

I won't steal Lurch's thunder...but it was a super fun jump. That sucker FLEW! Video to be found here. Give it time to load, it's HD on Vimeo...If you don't have a fast connection, it won't stream smoothly. Just let it buffer.

sailin' puffies....t'was fun

I played with it at CES, if you search the threads you'll see pix of it. Plastic, no remote control...and they're not known for their AVC, but it might be better for some uses than OIS cameras.

whether back or poised exit, no issues out of our King whatsoever. We have several wingsuit pilots at our DZ; one person did their first jump course just yesterday in the King (wearing a GTI) and his instructor wearing a Vampire. No issue for them. I've jumped a Raptor, Blade, GTI, Vampire, Phantom, Mach1...I can't recall what else. We did a high speed day before yesterday with the pilot putting the door in the burble, it worked. It answered my curiosity. High speed exits aren't something anyone wants to be doing in a King Air. It can be done...Risk vs reward, and there is little reward, IMO.