AndyMan

In the United States, you simply can not beat Bonehead. Take a look at what the video staff at SDC is wearing. Remember 2kComposites is based out of the UK. Customer Service and replacement parts may be an issue in the US - much like Americans sometimes have trouble with Parasport Italia. (makers of the Z1) Craichead and I got a chance to tour the Bonehead factory last weekend. What was really amazing was when I mentioned "what I'd really like is...." Chris (the owner) wandered into the back, 10 minutes later came back with some custom made carbon fiber. There are ways to get steep discounts at Bonehead, especially if you're not in a rush. If you're willing to wait six monthes you can even get %50 off. Call and ask about "BoneBonds". Avoid the notion of taking a Freefly helmet and adding camera parts. I did that my first time around and in hindsight it was a pretty ugly hack. Last time I talked to Peter P, he's replacing his Mindwarp with a real camera helmet. If you're buying a camera helmet, having a good cuttaway system is critical - a "must have". Ask to see the system on my FlatTopPro next time you see me. Don't worry about ring-sights for now. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I own both an Icon and a Javelin. The Javelin simply does not compare to the engineering design of the Icon. SunPath has a lot of work to do to catch up - I hope they're paying attention. The Icon is not a common rig since it's new. It came on the market last summer, and is aparently selling well. If I was to buy yet another rig and had to rule out the Icon, I would take a hard look at a Mirage, I think. I would not consider another Javelin unless Sunpath steps up their redesign efforts. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Dude... Post pics! _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I also wanted to step and say that I was really impresed with your confidnce last time you showed up at Hinckley. If your flying has improved at a comparable rate, I know you'll have no problems flying a camera. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Not necesarily. That used to be more the case with the TRV's.... There's no reason why someone can't top mount their PC camera, and many of the HC cameras can be sidemounted perfectly well. I top mount my PC120. Heather, the HC series and the PC series are both perfectly good for skydiving. Many of the more expensive ones offer features that simply aren't applicable to skydiving, such as higher resolution on still pictures. My advice is to go with the HC20, the cheapest Sony model. Make sure to buy a Sony, since many of the other manufacturers simply arent' good enough. Canon, Panasonic, JVC... they all usually suck, and rarely last more than a few monthes of skydiving. Buy a cheap Sony, because even Sony cameras do break down, and repairs can be expensive. Plan ahead, and if in two years down the road you find yourself needing a $300 repair, well - if your camera only costs $300 in the first place then you've got a great excuse to buy a new camera! I jump a PC120, a long since discontinued model. When I bought it, it was one of the more expensive cameras. In hindsight, spending all that money was silly when less expensive models would have worked fine. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I suspect there might be something funky with the Icon. I think it might be the smaller ZP pilot chute, combined with the "bridle tab" on the right main main flap holding the bridle back for a short time. I almost chopped my first jump on my new Icon, it was a hop&pop and I pulled right out the door. After a few seconds the airspeed built up and it opened. The first thing I've noticed is that the hesitation has gone down as I've done more jumps on the rig. I don't consider it a major problem, but it's certainly something I'll be keeping an eye on. I may swap to a larger "F1-11" pilot chute. Definately more observation required... _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

The drag of the baggy suit is hurting you on exit, since the relative wind will blow you backwards faster. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Mine generally doesn't. Adding a grip rarely results in "better video", when judged by a first jump tandem. It may result in "better video" when judged by experienced skydivers. Remember who the client is, and make the best video you can - for them. Impressing your freeflyer girlfriend does not make for a better first-jump tandem video. Adding a grip can be a crutch for people who can't perform without it. In that case, that person shouldn't be doing that kind of exit with a tandem in the first place. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Every manual for every microdrive ever produced lists a maximum operating environment of 10,000 feet. I can certainly understand that there are exceptions to the rule, but be sure to clearly understand - microdrives should be expected to fail if used much above 10,000 feet. When I use the work "fail", I don't just mean "stop working". I mean catestrophic media failure. I mean the heads impacting the spinning disk surface and doing major physical damage. It's very likely that not only will you not be able to save data, you're likely to never be able to read data already stored on the disk, even when you're back on the ground. IBM/Hitachi Microdrive functional spec: http://www.hitachigst.com/tech/techlib.nsf/techdocs/6EF902390528609A87256AC000679FD3/$file/dscm_sp40.PDF. See page 21. I believe you when you say you've used it at altitude and didn't damange your drive, but understand that is only because you were lucky. 15,000 feet MSL is %50 over max. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Start by reading every article on Quade's website: http://www.futurecam.com/skydive.html When you've got more specific questions, you'll get more specifit answers. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

IMHO, the best way to solder a small connection is through lots of practice. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I personally think the Honda Element is far more practical in terms of the DZ lifestyle. AWD, rubber floors, lots more cargo room.... Still good fuel economy and affordable. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

The DZ.com user agreements is pretty explicit that the poster retains all ownership, but HH is granted a few priveleges. A reporter who quoted someone from their posts without permission would be breaking the law, and the reporter would understand that. Whether you're able to do anything about it is another issue. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

IANAL - although I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Under the copyright laws of the US and most of the industrialized world, copyright is automatically given to an author when they write something. Generally, if you write it, you own it. Under the terms of service of DZ.COM, HH gets the right to use some of the stuff you write, under certain circumstances. Even if that happens, you still own the rights to what you post. Since you own the rights to what you post, it's against the law for someone else to copy what you write without your permission. People can give permission for copying in various forms. Permission can be granted explicitly in printed contracts or in oral agreements. Sometimes those agreements are explicitly defined to grant permission, sometimes permission is buried in a complex document like the "terms of service" here on dropzone.com. Sometimes permission can even be implied, such as permission for another poster to quote you when they post a follow-up. Usualy though, permission really does need to be explicit. This would be one of those cases. Reporters tend to be very conservative when it comes to copyright, because they know that their newspapers could face a lawsuit if they were to break copyright laws. Less legitimate reporters of less legitimate newspapers can be less careful. Generally, legitimate reporters who value their careers seek permission. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Whitewater kayaking without a PFD is beyond your risk threshold. Are you wrong? _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

You criticised Sunshine for always using an AAD on coach freefly jumps, even though she is fully qualified. Clearly, skill level is not part of your equation. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I understand. A Kayak is like a Harness. Required for participation. An AAD is like a PFD. Not required for participation, but strongly advised and required by law in some places. Why is someone who Kayaks without a PFD unsafe, but someone who jumps without an AAD simply demonstrating they don't depend on it? Why is "I always wear a PFD and helmet while whitewater kayaking" different than "I always use an AAD while freeflying"? _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I'm surprised Ron missed this, since he loves the SIM so much. Section 6-2.C-3 "Automatic activation devices are recommended because of the high potential for collisions and loss of altitude awareness associated with freeflying." http://www.uspa.org/publications/SIM/2004SIM/section6.htm#62 The USPA recomends AAD's for freeflying. Under which conditions should a USPA coach ignore a gear recomendation on a coach dive? Should a coach teach students to ignore USPA recomendations? _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Interesting. Is someone who refuses to shoot class 2 or above without a PFD less safe than the person who's cocky enough to leave it on the dock? _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I'm just curious if this person actually bothered to go to see the hunt. Most of the images on the HSUS's website are taken directly from Corbis, a stock photo clearinghouse. It seems like most of the "reports" I've seen have enough factual issues they seem more like fiction. I'd like to read one I can trust. So far, this comes closest. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Congrats! _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

What makes this person an authority? _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Pack volume charts are notoriously inaccurate. What size/brand of container is she trying to pack it in? _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I see this claim a lot. I had a chance to play with one a few weeks ago, and I saw tons of distortion around the edges of the frame. I think it's incredibly misleading that none of the advertising shots show straight lines in that section of the frame. They are great lenses compared to what predates them, because there's no vignetting. There certainly is distortion, though. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

And you missed mine. Long runway requirements are just one of the reasons that Citation isn't a good jump plane, the same reason a CASA isn't a good choice for a short grass runway on a hot day with a full load. If a jumpship appears to be having trouble clearing the fence, a jumper would be wise to say "gee, that plane sure is using a lot of runway. Maybe I should go ask someone..." _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.