SkymonkeyONE

You are not in the pub.

My general rules (which I have only rarely broken): Don't move in with a person you have not dated successfully (not broken up or not fought with constantly) for at least six months. Don't marry a person you have not successfully (same criteria) lived with for at least six months.

I have a tall/skinny demo suit, but doubt seriously I will have a "new" suit in that size by then.

Matt, Perry Trowbridge is the PF "Examiner" (like Scott, Ed, Fergie and I are "Chiefs"), but he is also a certified BMI. All of his training suits are BirdMan Classic II's and GTi's. A wingsuit instructor is a wingsuit instructor...period. I would find it very hard to believe that the PFI instructor course has more than ten words changed from the BMI course text, but then that is as it should be; why fix what is not broken. Ultimately, either instructional course is going to provide you the tools you need to have to get the job done. Likewise, both courses will, I am sure, validate your airskills and let you know if you truly are ready to take people on first flights. As Ed stated, the rigging of the suits (minus the PF trainer) is the same. Personally, I think it's fantastic that Robi has created his instructional program. Perry is very personable and a great teacher; he will do well in his capacity as "examiner" there. As to which rating to get, do what you like. Personally, I think you already have the airskills to pass the course. Chuck

The meet is ON this weekend in St. George, so drag your butts over there and compete! I am sending the course materials down there in the plane we are sending (Dog House/Barney).

My freefall time is logged on my Neptune. I transfered my then-current total onto the device (along with my jump numbers) when I started jumping it.

I think "battle of the wingsuits" is a taking it a bit far. Any very-experienced wingsuit pilot in a lesser suit is going to smoke the piss out of lesser experienced jumpers in "better" suits. For what it's worth, I have made a LOT of wingsuit flights with Perry. He isn't getting away from me and I am not getting away from him, no matter what we are jumping.

That's not exactly true. Mark Lancaster (aka "MEL") of SkyWorks will reline your Velo with straight or cascaded HMA anytime you like. He will be doing my next reline.

Just under 4300 skydives. Velocity 84 for swoop comps, AFF, video, fun. Sabre2 97 for wingsuiting, backup. I can land both canopies to a complete stop on rear risers whenever I choose to and am also PRO rated on both canopies. Chuck

Not bad for a canonball, Kris! Noice job.

Classic II's, GTi's, and S3's are still made in Slovenia. Phi's and S5's will all be made in Estonia.

My wife and I have sent two sets back for lens replacement at no charge. Katie mangled a set and got them completely replaced for like $45 dollars.

Nice post, Ray, my brother. Ian too. I am happy that I am not the only one who has taken the time, repeatedly, to put it into words. Just a note here: ALL of us who have been skydiving for any length of time, particularly those of us who regularly fly HP canopies like they are meant to be flown, have dead friends. I mean ALL of us. Likewise, all of us have best friends who, although extremely talented at swooping, have femured in and busted themselves up badly and are now sporting permanent titanium hardware in their bodies. Modern HP canopy piloting has become science in nearly exactly the same way four way RW has. There is a right way to do something and a wrong (or at least very-inefficient) way to do it. Unlike four-way though, taking shortcuts in swooping is far more dangerous. Manufacturers have minimum-jump/experience requirements for HP canopies for a reason. Likewise, those of us who learned in the stone age and those of us who have paid the price for fucking up tell you these stories for a reason: we don't want to see anymore of you dead on our DZ's. End of lecture, Chuck Blue D-12501 AFF/SL/TM-I, BMCI, PRO rated demonstration skydiver, PST PROFESSIONAL for five years

Lots of inappropriate responses here, people; quit it. To the original poster: you have no business even thinking about a HP canopy, much less a crossbraced one at your experience level. Shame on the person who loans you one to try. To the others: don't assume "troll" here. This might very well be a person who thinks a large Velo is an appropriate choice (it's not by the way). And again: don't egg the guy on; this is a serious forum. Keep it clean, fools! Chuck

I have a LOT of "real" freefall time due to having a lot of jumps (over 4200) and a ton of wingsuit jumps (over 70 hours freefall time), but I have 254 hours of tunnel time in the Matos facility (the Bragg tunnel).

I have been promised both my new S5 and my new Phi by SkyFest, so let's hope nobody drops a bomb on Slovenia. Anyone who fits in a stock size "M" can fly any of my personal suits at that boogie. Chuck

I totally agree! While I only very rarely do low passes, I absolutely think they are fantastic for training. Jay Moledzki regularly goes a full minute from 5 grand (with very-legal skydiving openings). You can maintain a maxxed-out position for the duration of those low passes. Chuck

I will do everything humanly possible to get at least one example of both new suits to that boogie. Seriously. Chuck

I am missing it this year but cannot express in words how great they treated me last year.

I missed the title of this thread before it was deleted, but I am assuming it was talking about landing canopies backward. We used to regularly do that to each other in the early 80's in Alabama where I jumped. Likewise, we did it occasionally to each other at the Green Beret Parachute Club as well. Last time I ever landed one it was a Laser 7, but I also landed my Pegasus backwards as well. Chuck

They have been using them down at ASC for several years now and those guys loved them. Great openings, very-light toggle pressure, fantastic swoop landings, inexpensive.

There are actually quite a few Rages around here. People seem to like them quite a bit and the one I jumped flew like a Crossfire/Cobalt. Jump it and see what you think.

Veeeldblau just said he wanted to wrassle.

I need to figure out a way to drunk dial Billy. That boy ain't right.

You have to at least give it the old school try. Our boy Keith seemed to be getting a lot of action off your hubby! Looks like you guys had fun. Someone drunk dialed me this weekend, but it sounded more like Erk.