SkymonkeyONE

Yes, a '74 is a widebody.

You can access every bit of that information on the www.skydivingweather.com website.

It looked like him to me and the jump was carried out with about the ability of somone doing Cat H solos. In the show, he packs the urn in the main container of what looked like a student Vector 3, but that was obviously just a prop.

Like John said, you are not going to pull an inflated drogue back into an airplane.....period. Also like John said, no, the simple act of having your drogue out prior to exit does not mean that you are anymore likely to have a premature deployment. The pin that closes your container is going to remain in place until you pull either of the drogue release handles.

Anyone wanting the same concept actually taken past bare-prototype form should feel free to contact Flight Concepts and ask about the Riot. It's a similarly-braced nine cell that does everything better than an Onyx. Joe Bennet will likely compete under it next year.

I thought the group payed for his jumps? You need to post some of those digital images.

Jason, I don't see anywhere in Ed's post where he posts bias towards any one manufacturer's suit. Lose the attitude and you will go much farther in the community. For everyone elses personal edification, Jason was offered free attendance at a BMI course (by me, the US director of training, and Kim P., the US manager), but I guess he is sticking to his stance of refusing to leave his own drozpone to recieve the training. His loss. In regards to the the issue at hand though, whether people ought to be flying bigger suits (of any brand) and selling what they have, feel free to spend your money. If you wallet is deep and you like toys go ahead and do it, just don't sell your smaller suit till you have reeeaaaalllly mastered it. Skipping back and forth between the two will show your strengths and weaknesses in the air. Until you are on your game in that big suit people like my wife will be happy to blister your ass in her Classic II. I won't even get into how much range Loic Jean Albert displays in his "little" S-Fly; unbelievable. As for safety in flocking, I think that is a trait best displayed by already-very-experienced skydivers. I find a direct corellation between smoothness in flight and total jump numbers, at least when it comes to "zoominess." Anyone in attendance at either of the two past holiday boogies, the big flocks at Rantoul, or the recent bigways in Deland will attest to that. Chuck

Front loops are incredibly easy and so long as you snap them over and sort of "kick yourself in the ass" you hardly lose any altitude at all. Likewise, barrel rolls are best accomplished snappy. Pop up, snap over, settle back into full flight. Do them slow and sloppy and you will likely end up changing course quite a bit. I don't find much use for backloops in a wingsuit, but they aren't really that different than in regular freefall except that you really have to dig your knees under and throw your head back. The few I have ever done were thrown at the end of a flare following a dive when the suit was on the verge of stall. Chuck

There was a guy at Eloy last year during the Holiday Boogie that was doing that. I would not want to technically "mount" the actual cam, but hold it in my left hand so that I could point it wherever I please. I talked to Norman Kent about it at Rantoul this year and he thought it was a slick idea.

That chart was around long before Brian put it in his book, believe me. I would have to think long and hard to remember the original source, but I can promise you I have had it hanging up at Raeford since 1998. At any rate, I totally agree with that chart. Chuck

So how hard would it be for you to go find a thread that already exists on the subject and post your experience there? Exactly what needed to be said, Lisa. The smart thing to do would be to do a simple search and add your new findings/thoughts to the relevant thread. Chuck

John.....Ah! Yes! MonkeyLip! I completely forgot about the illustrious Mister Campbell.

Glen, it's simply flockadillyicious!

The Classic II is still a totally viable suit. It is extremely easy to fly efficiently, is comparatively inexpensive, and more people ought to be buying them. A fairly well flown Classic is going to fly right past a poorly flown GTI (or larger suit). Classics are also really easy to do aerobatics in. Chuck

My wife and I just bought a new 2k3 Racer Tandem with the Firebolt 350 main. I can't think of a single bad thing to say about this canopy. I generally fly Sigma 370's at work, but have put jumps on a lot of different tandem mains. Openings are fantastic. Toggle pressure is lower than a Sigma 370, but a tad higher than an Icarus/Precision 365. About the same as a Cobalt 350 Tandem. MUCH pressure less than any EZ or other obsolete crap. The canopy has a fantastic bottom end flare. Me likey. Chuck

What am I missing here? Who is Ryan?

There will be a ton of wingsuit people at Eloy. Look for Deuce, Tonto, Stacy, Aubrey, or any of the Eloy BMI staff (Ash, Dusty, etc)

Ed Pawlowski who is the newest BirdMan Chief Instructor. I certified Ed during the bigways down in Deland. Ed was the perfect candidate for the job and is ultimately qualified to take the position left vacant over on the west coast since the passing of Rob Tonneson. Ed will be running all BMI courses in the USA west of Rantoul from now on. He is a fantastic all-around skydiver and instructor and takes great care in making sure his hair is "just right". Way to go, Eddie! In other news, UK native Darren Kellet has completed the BMI course (also in Deland under my guidance). Darren is emigrating to Australia directly after his month-long holiday in Florida and will be a great addition to that country's flockers. Darren is a fine wingsuit pilot, jumps my old S-3, and is in search of some wild Australian women. Darren is an Optometrist by trade. Don't let him drive your Lotus as he has had bad luck with them in the past. Finally, we at BirdMan are about to announce new Chief Instructors for both Africa and Australia. It's a big world and everyone ought to have the opportunity to get the right qualifications without having to fly all the way around the world to do so. Peace to all, Chuck Blue, D-12501 BirdMan Chief Instructor

Fascinating....Did you make him buy beer for leaving the cable in the plane?

Actually, that was Richmond. He was on every load.

Alright! I just got back from simply driving around and checking Circuit City, Best Buy, etc. I found exactly what I needed, in stock, at Best Buy for sixteen dollars. It was technically a UV filter with a 25 to 30mm adapter, but nonetheless perfect. Total investment for my brand-new in the box PC 109 plus the diamond .3 lens I already had, plus the adapter ring: $465........NOICE! I jumped the camera all last weekend during the wingsuit bigways, but since I was flying up front and I didn't have any sort of wide angle lens you can't really see shit except Scott Bland's left wing once I am in formation. Peace, my negros. chuckie

They don't have them yet and will not for a few months. I just got off the phone with them.

Who here in the USA has 25mm to 30mm step rings in stock? I have a point three that fit a 105 that I want to use on my new 109, but simply can't find a step ring locally. PM me back with a solution if you have one. I don't want to wait three weeks for a ring, nor do I want to have to buy another lens. Chuck

I would say that it just depends on what you plan to wear on your head. If you are jumping a PC-series camera and want space for a big 10-D (minus extra flash) then an Illusion is fine. It's cheaper, MUCH smaller and tidier, lighter, and far more stylish in my opinion. I love mine. I have never been a fan of the flat-top series, particularly the PRO. If I had to have one, it would be the narrow version though.

I am pretty sure both Alexmac and Trevor made like 124 jumps there three years ago during the boogie.