DougH

I thought it might be fun to revisit this subject. I know there was a paratelemetry system that was out there in the past, which involved a tracking setup for the DZ, and units that were installed on the canopy/ risers. I think Galloway was the inventor/manufacturer? I think the challenge with every setup is: 1. $$$, it needs to be affordable. There is a huge ROI to finding a lost canopy, but it that initial investment is 500 bucks it probably isn't cost effective. 2. It needs to be small enough to install on a canopy so that it doesn't impact regular function. 3. It needs to have a decent battery life, and decent function. Maybe falcon and dog tracking collars that use radio telemetry aren't the way to go. What about putting a pocket on the main d bag that will hold cellphone with data and GPS. Phones with data are getting pretty small, it isn't a huge amount of weight to add to a d bag. It would be cheap, cost of the phone, and minutes. You can use a prepaid, or you can use your existing phone. It is only in there for the jump itself. Using an existing phone means no extra equipment or monthly service cost. Because it is on the d bag you can open a container to remove and charge, and drop it right back in before you make that next jump. Not as effective as a setup that activates only when the canopy is chopped, but it is always on, and not a huge inconvenience to open a closed rig, since the canopy itself doesn't need to be repacked. Chop the canopy, can't locate, use a find my phone app to hopefully get the rough GPS coordinates. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

That closing loop is just plain nasty! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

As a low time jumper you shouldn't have to say something, his fellow TI's should be stepping up when this instructor crosses the line. They are peers, and in a better position to say something, and I would go as far as to say obligated. I would express your concern with the DZO, or the chief instructor. This guy is making students uncomfortable, and putting the reputation, and business of the DZO at risk. We joke with tandems, this isn't an accounting firm, but there is line that shouldn't be crossed. You shouldn't be making students feel uncomfortable in any way, safety wise, or sexually. As a TM your behavior shouldn't be the highlight of the show. A skydive is larger than life, and a instructor should be exciting and funny, but should never be bigger than the student and their jump. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Wow! That must have been a big surprise! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

This story sounds like a big pile of bullshit to me! He bought the car, then called the news agencies, and now is hoping to cash in on the stunt. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Thinking out loud here. It looks like I need to have the removable mount on the side of the flat top. I found some pictures of other setups like this. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=34071; I wonder if I could mount the bracket on the inside of the helmet so that I don't loose the smooth snag free sides of the helmet. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

I finally have a flat top pro in my possession thanks to an excellent deal in the classified that I was very lucky to get. The camera came with the front still porch with a quick release plate setup. It also had a orange lollipop sight on the setup where the post is coming out of the front of the helmet and the sight is on a clamp that attaches to that. I think I am going to remove the porch and top mount both the stills (Rebel XSi which has a RRS L bracket) and my CX760 which is going in a box that I got from Exit Equipment, which will then be mounted on a really right stuff universal mount so that I can swap it between this setup and my smaller helmet. My existing helmet has the larger width 80mm RRS clamp, instead of the standard width clamps. For those with two RRS, did you opt for two of the larger clamps, or did you go with the smaller sizes? I also want to finally get around to using my Brent concentric ring site, and I have one of those removable ring sight brackets that is spring loaded and can turn out of the way, and almost remove all together. When trying to mock it up it almost seems like using the post arrangement might be a cleaner install, and I guess being rear entry you really don't need a articulating removable ring sight bracket. What is the best ring sight setup for these helmets? Any pictures and advice would be awesome. I want to plan this out in order to avoid turning a currently nice helmet and top plate in to swiss cheese. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Impossible. If they were jumpers there would be an annual free "Airbus boogie" They run an airplane company and can't spare a few easy flights for jumpers? If he is a good CEO he wouldn't be spending shareholders earnings for an annual free boogie that opened the company to liability with almost no ROI! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

The Really Right Stuff clamps are amazing in this department. The brackets for the Rebel still cameras are built such that they already allow access to the battery doors. No grind, cutting, they are a super clean and well designed setup!! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Yes, I have booties on my Tony Suit Camera Suit. Big fat vented mega booties. I love them. I tend to shoot more flat formations, and I am not much of a freeflyer, so I like the booties.

That is too bad. I like the form factor. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

That looks pretty cool! I think two would fit pretty nicely side by side on a dual handicam glove! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Love flying with booties with tandems, probably because I am stubby circus midget, but I have been sweating my ass off for far too long with my Tony Comp Suit. Ideally I would like to end up with a pair of pants that have a good set of booties on them. Long wearing with codura booties, knees, and seat. I think padded knees would take the cake (182 use) but that may be added a little too much to my wish list. I seem to remember at TM on here whose wife made a set of pants like this, but I can't find the post with the search function. So does anyone have a pair of these from a certain jumpsuit manufacturer, or bad ass seamstress, that they like? Blues! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Come back in 5 years and let us know if your still jumping. The odds aren't in your favor. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

I am 5'6 and at 160lbs down from 175 after some tuneups to my diet. I have taken students as big as 6'7 240 lbs. I am sure it would be easier if I had longer legs and arms, longer arms would be much better for handy cams, but you deal with what you got! I do fly with booties, I think the extra power on my legs makes up for being stubby. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Ninja slippers... You couldn't make this shit up if you tried. Bwaaaahaha! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

The 28th, that's my birthday!!!

Whuffo you post this stupid ass thread? I guess you haven't grown past the "don't you know who I AM, I AM A SKYDIVER" stage. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

You transposed the sizes. A 220 at 4200 will fly similar to a 190 at sea level. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Mine says "Dave", My name is "Doug". It was a freebie that I got when a team rig I bought showed up without a cutaway handle. "Dave's not here man" "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Well, I'm glad you are able to keep operating. I was part of a small club that struggled for several years before we gave up and closed. Without the tandem income, we would not have lasted anywhere near as long as we did. I think I already said that above? You don't NEED tandem income, but you NEED a high ratio of higher margin student income, tandem or IAD S/L. The problem is if you don't offer tandems, you may not get much in the way of students if you have alternative DZ in your area within driving distance that do offer tandems. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

They want an ipod skydive. Sanitized, low pressure, "as safe as driving their car", instant gratification. I think it is an overall cultural shift, but also how we have been marketing tandems. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

I think a key part of the question is the ratio of low or no profit margin licensed jumpers, to higher profit margin student jumpers. At a smaller DZ right now tandems can way outweigh the number of resident fun jumpers. With tandem being the market demand, will you invert that, and end up with more fun jumpers than active students? I think that you would lose business to other tandem drop zones in your area. You would still get students, but not nearly as many. Profit margins are thin thin if it was mostly fun jumpers. It would certainly take a lot of efficiency, and some economies of scale if the student numbers dried up. A club with a 182 or other lower expense plane can work, because there isn't a profit motive. Maybe a big drop zone would work but in my opinion you would need full loads, and limited inefficiencies. Tandems help defray the cost of a light load here and there. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Actually I was responding to the other person not qualified to be jumping camera, giving advice on jumping camera. Good over reaction though! I heard summers eve, gets the sand out, and it keeps your body clean. Keep it sandy! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Nope, that would violate the TSO. But I hear they're working on something called the Strong Sac. I am laughing my ass off over here John! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P