AndyMan

Pilot chutes going through the lines is a very common "malfunction". I put that in quotes because its the only mal I can think of that usually results in a perfectly flyable, perfectly landable canopy. I teach students that they need to decide if a canopy is landable by using the "3 S's". is the canopy Stable? Square? Steerable? Land it. If not, chop it. It sounds like your canopy fit all 3. It passed your controlability check, so you landed it. I would've done the same thing, under my Stileto I load at 1.7. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I'll say it again: The price a DZ charges is, and will always be the maximum amount that they feel the market will bear. That is the nature of an unregulated business. This is tradtionally seen as a "good thing" (tm). The fact that they choose to increase their jump fees by a buck is certainly a bummer for the clients how have to pay more, but it certainly isn't unethical, nor is it unfair. They're charging the going rate, and if you're going to pay it, then it is by definition, a fair rate. Its also none of your business how they choose to spend their revenues, as long as they're providing a good service. It certainly sounds like they're pumping an adequate amount back into the business. Lastly, the new higher rates are certainly inline with other seasonal turbine dropzones. It's not like their gouging you. Their only mistake I can see is telling you that the extra buck was your charity contribution. They should have called it a "necesary fee increase", and then given the funds to charity on their own. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Google yourself different kinds of physio-therapy. Then hit the gym. Focus on strengthening muscles in your back, neck, shoulders, chest, and abs. Having really strong muscles will often take the preasure off of the joints that are causing the pain. Being in really good shape will allow you to skydive pain free. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

You've obviously never been to Chicagoland... _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Me and craichead bought a package for the year at $16... But the DZ just announced that they've had to add a 1$ fuel surcharge. It doesn't affect us because of the package, we still pay $16. People who didn't buy a package are now paying $21. Ultimately, the DZ will charge what the market will bear. It matters little how a dropzone spends the money it collects, it only matters what people are willing to pay. In both cases, people will either protest the extra dollar by heading to the competition, or they won't. Money talks, as they say. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

We're probably gonna head out there this Sunday. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Same is true with Merlin, I think. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I guess my question doesn't apply to competition... But has anyone had a Cypres damaged by putting a wet main against it? _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

My only concern is that you won't wait as long as you're planning on. If you're not going to use it, why buy it? It's like you going out and buying a real nice purdy sportscar, then telling everyone you're not going to use it. Most people won't believe you. We don't tell students to go out and buy a 79 square foot swoop monster, telling them they can jump it when they're ready. We tell them to buy a canopy that's appropriate for them NOW. Buy a helmet that fits your current needs. When you're ready to strap on a camera, then take a look at camera helmet offerings, and pick the one that fits your needs. Just like everything else in this sport, camera helmets are changing rapidly. The later you put off buying it, the less you'll spend, and you'll get a better product. That said, there's a lot of helmets that convert easily. Bonehead sells camera mounting accesories that fit onto pretty much all of their helmets. The Mindwarp takes a lot of mounts well. My first freefly helmet was a Skydanve Velocity, because it too has a wide variety of camera mounts available. I didn't buy the mounts until I was ready to fly camera. To answer your question, I have absolutely no objection to you buying a helmet that can be converted into a camear helmet by adding parts. Contrary, I do not think buying an purpose-built camera helmet now is smart. That will only encourage you to use it. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Check out the attached pictures. It looks kinda like #1. It holds something kinda like #2. __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I was worried this morning when I fired up my email, only to see two different "weekly updates" from the two chicago dropzones, both of which were in the path of two different storms. Thankfully it seems like both got off a-ok. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I don't understand "3 inches of smooth carbon fibre". I've never seen a camera mount that doesn't have snag points. I've never seen a side mount where the camera doesn't stick out and be involved with riser strikes, at least. The problem comes after two skydives, when you look at the video that you just shot and say to yourself, "wow. that video really sucks". Trust me, you will say this. You'll say that because the video WILL suck. It'll be video that you'll be ashamed to show anyone. It'll be video that you won't want to keep because it doesn't represent the skydive as you remember it. After you say this, what will start to happen is that you'll start to think about getting "the shot". You'll start to think about framing, about keeping your head steady so the camera isn't bouncing around the sky. This is when things get dangerous, and it'll probably happen on your 3rd jump with the camera. This is the point where one of two things will happen. If you're a seasoned jumper (which your not), the instincts that you've built up over a few hundred jumps will probably keep you alive. You'll still pull on time, you'll still avoid freefall colisions, and you'll still avoid a pilot-chute in the face when someone below you prematures. If you're NOt a seasoned skydiver, the odds are firmly stacked against you when something goes wrong. There's a long list of skydivers who've gone in because they were concentrating too much on the video. Many of these were people who insisted (just like yourself), that they're doing it passively just for themselves. Rather than simply passively recording the skydive, I would much rather that new camera jumpers actively become involved in what they're trying to do. Then they actually start to think about whats going on around them, and prepare for the risk that they're undertaking. You can't prepare for the risk until you understand it. Because you think you can do it passively, I know that you don't understand the risks. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Over the next few years, it's entirely likely that you're going to buy a LOT of helmets. I'm buying my 3rd right now. As for you documenting your jumps, that is actually MORE dangerous then properly "flying camera". It is most certainly innaproprite for you to even be considering it right now. Is it really worth the major complications and significant risk just so you can have your own crappy video? Yes, your video will be crappy. It always is when people do it for "their own pleasure". Don't kid yourself. Adding a camera is a major change, and it significantly changes the risks of skydiving. It is not something you should take lightly, especially if you think you can do it passively, for your own pleasure. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I think it also depends on whats at either end of the runway. For example at Hinckley, the runway is only 2400 feet. I'm not too paranoid about planes like a CASA, because both ends of the runway are plowed fields, often with small crops like soybean. While I certainly prefer a Skyvan over the Casa when there's corn growing, I'm pretty sure that if the Casa lost an engine they would only bend metal, not kill skydivers. __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I'm concerned that you're already trying to become a freefall photoghper. If your profile is correct, and in fact you've only got 10 jumps, then I'd strongly recomend that for the immediate future you focus entirely on learning how to skydive. There are so many directions you can take, I'm frightened that you've already chosen a direction. 1) Learn to skydive. 2) Pick a specialty. In that order. To answer your question, you can mount a camera to pretty much any kind of helmet. Some helmets are cutom designed for this, but they tend to start at $600. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

My understanding is that when compressed air is released, it cools. The contrary is that when air is compressed, it gets hotter. Thus the flying chamber would be hotter then the ambient temperature, just outside the vents would be the coolest. I could be wrong, tho... _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Welcome to the club... It's a good place to be. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I vote for Toshiba or IBM. Don't go Dell, Gateway, Compaq, or HP. Buy the extended waranty. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

You have been given outdated advice. The Spandex pouch used with new BOC systems are very good at containing the pilot chutes. New modern rigs have flaps that cover and protect all but an inch of bridle at the most. So, contrary to the advice given to you, both systems contain the pilot chute nicely. If you want to be really safety conscious, you'd buy a new Vector from Relative Workshop with their new "Spandura" pouch. Spandura is a new Dupond fabric that's half Spandex, and half Cordura. If there were any concerns of prematures with spandex, surely this solves it. The downside to Pull out is that you have other new complications, like a floating pud to deal with. Not a major problem, and certainly one that you can deal with, but I'm just illustrating that they have a downside, too. Honestly, there isn't a big safety reason going for either system. Both work pretty well, most of the time. Both have minor drawbacks, most likely, neither one will kill you. I mostly spoke up because of the firmness of your post, and it seemed like you were unwilling to consider other opinions, and the justification you offered was invalid. Buy what you will, they're both half decent. If you ever want to sell your rig, you might have trouble finding buyers if its a pull out, without having it converted. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Your best bet is to take your tape to the DZ, and bribe one of the video guys to copy the video to his camera, then to your pooter. I'm 90% sure the S-video port on your laptop is "out" only. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Mine get replaced when they look worn. This has tended to be roughly every 300 jumps. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

What does a Pull Out have to do with prematures? They can easily happen on both systems. Make your own choices, but make sure they're well informed. Based on what I've read so far, I'm not sure they are. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I am roughly 260 OTD, and I jump mini-risers. My risers do tend to age quicker then lighter jumpers, so I do keep an eye on them and replace them long before the end of their life. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I understand there are ongoing discussions for an recirculating indoor Tunnel north of Chicago. Suposedly its for real. Time will tell. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

You left out a big poll choice: Depends on the Parents!!!! I have no issue with parents who bring their kids, as long as they properly supervise them. I don't know of any dropzones who offer babysitting services. I object to parents who bring kids, then expect other jumpers to care for them. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.