jmfreefly

Based on info I had gotten from Aerodyne's old website, and other sources, the Techno and the SMART are of the same 'bloodline' (closely related). A handful of the designers that worked on the PdF Techno moved to Aerodyne Intl. and worked on the SMART design, and incorporated many of the design features of it into the SMART reserve. j

Yeah, I can empathize. SRI usually has a reasonable track record, but I know of several rigs (one of mine) that arrived with errors. That being said, they were good about follow-ups when complaints were given/ errors uncovered. But, like I said, I am pretty sure that the only difference between the mod and the normal main pack tray is the stitching in the corners need to be picked. SRI may want a bartack at the bottom of the corner, but that is a question to pose to SRI. I know other rig mfgs have retro mods out there for their containers, and in general that is all that is involved. I think with Wings it is even more straightforward Hope that helped. Can't really say about the bridle length though.. I don't remember what the spec is. If I recall, my bridle didn't look any longer either. j

Very cool.. Lots of good visuals. Man, watching the cloud flights got me smiling from ear to ear. I love that. j

I am with you. It is pretty inconceivable that this mal is possible that way -- maybe I am just missing how. I have, on the other hand, seen several pics of mals that are due to freefloating excess looping over the toggle, and as the toggle is released, it ties a knot. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=470530;page=1;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; EDITED TO ADD: --- Direct to pics: http://www.skyger.de/article.php?sid=159 --- I stow my excess that way, and there are only 3 downsides that I see: 1) it makes a funny wear point on my lines where the lines go around tip of the toggle tab 2) the keeper elastic gets stretched a bit funny (and if you have someone else pack the rig and they don't do that, you have a higher chance of a break being dislodged. But, I almost always stow my own toggles for a packer) 3) it makes that a 'thicker mess' to try to pull the slider over, if you pull the slider down past the toggles. j

Yeah, I agree with Chuck -- That looks like normal corners to me. I am pretty sure that you can just un-pick the stitching and add a bartack (If I remember correctly). But SRI should be able to fix this easily. j

A few folks at our dz have cookie boxes, for the smaller cameras (9,101,105..) The newest design is a good refinement over the previous one, with a better lip for the two pieces, and a captive (and low profile) knurrled knob. Cookie makes some pretty good stuff. Haven't seen anything for the bigger cameras like PC100,110,120 and 330.. You may want to email him.. I kept hounding him to make a PC100 box, but that was a year ago and havent seen one yet. j

Depending on your size, there are a few of us down in VA with more than one suit, and a couple of BMIs. If you are willing to travel down to CSS over easter, I believe Chuck is going to be there with demos.. j

CODEC - COmpressor DECompressor.

Yes, lots of good freeflycoaching. Both in the sky and in the tunnel. Tunnel was mostly chatting with Rook and Mike Swanson, not really hands on tunnel training because of schedules. Gotten formal coach jumps from all of the Monkey Claw tribe, except adam, Bobby P, Max Cohn, and Mike Ortiz. Mostly no about videoing landings. All involved pre and post briefings. All camera framing was good. No on pattern and separation, but I think pretty much each helped ensure proper separation. Yes, would get coaching in the future. Always more to learn, and coaching is a key part in learning. j

My first flight instructor, the late Rob Tonneson, http://www.skydiveelsinore.com/photo-gallery/new-photos/birdmanrob.html, told me that he would intentionally try to become unstable up high to practice recovery. He did it on many jumps (even did it on our first flight) to practice. The key is - up high. This gives you time to recover normally, or if needed, time to chop your wings and recover. Think about it this way: How do you know you will be able to cutaway and pull your reserve on a normal jump? Well, because you practice it in your mind, practice it in a hanging harness, and hopefully practice it when your reserve is out of date. Recovering from instability is part of AFF training, that is the real reason they teach you front and back loops -- to ensure you can recover. Planning a dive flow that includes these things, and executing that dive flow up high (and probably solo) is a good idea, imho. I think if you don't have confidence that you can recover, then you are jumping with a big question mark -- someday you will become unstable unintentionally, as you have seen already. There have been a few articles / blurbs about recovery from flat spins, which are a good resource, along with some posts here on dz.com. And I am sure Scott will point you to a BMI for in-depth discussions.

Well, Scott, even BMI's take layoffs sometimes. Also, there are plenty of great wingsuit fliers with good knowledge that aren't BMIs.

Well, I have seen people (even certain instructors) fly with shorter than full-length cables (using cables from different suits). The only downside is that your flight may not be 100% as fast (maybe 99.5%) if the cables comes out of one loop. If it comes out assymetrically (one wing but not the other), this might give a bit of pause, but I think that is pretty unlikely unless you cut them significantly different. I think it shouldn't really be a concern, but it isn't 100% perfect. Agreed, whipping the ends is importnat. His prior post in G&R was actually asking about that. j

man, nobody else has thoughts on a wingsuit-slanted saftey day? I guess everyone on dz.com is jumping their wingsuits year round, eh? No layoffs? j

No matter how fast you pull it out, the force you are overcoming is always the same. Some may say that 'jerking' the loop out might give you better leverage, and therefore allow you to apply more force to overcome the friction. I personally don't really buy it.. I generally don't cutaway fully pressurized wings I am usually cutting away wings that are partially deflated (as the canopy is opening,etc.). So in general, the forces are lower during deployment are lower than that of full flight. My experience is that the greatest force to overcome is actually the velcro, and that isn't a problem at all. I don't think that the little 1-2 inches of play in the loop makes one iota of difference. I usually am peeling the velcro, as opposed to tugging along the axis of the cable. Once the velcro is free, I am stripping the cable out to the side. At that point, the extra 'snatch' length really won't matter, imho. heheh.. he said 'snatch'.. EDITED to add: Show it to Jari, but I bet you he will tell you it doesn't matter. j

I leave mine in SLO mode all the time. The only issue I have had is when we have to land with the plane, and the pilot is a bit overzealous in his descent, the protrack sometimes registers this as a jump. If so, just delete the jump. j

Have it on both of my suits, haven't used them. No BASE jumping. Reasons I got them: Resale value, and the 'oh sh#T I am low and havent gotten my legs undone and need to worry about landing' factor. Hopefully during flight, you are assesing altitude, pattern, taking into account ground winds when you took off, but mistakes do happen. Focusing on finding an out takes priority, and I would chop the leg and focus on landing if I thought I couldn't make it back. Kicking out of line twists is another benefit previously mentioned. j

on the birdman, do you have 2 cutaway handles ?? Yes, birdman suits have 2 cutaways, one for each wing. Thinking about flying with one wing released is for both a cutaway coming dislodged, but also zippers blowing out. Not sure about Sfly, Mtr-1, crossbow,etc. suits, as I haven't inspected one in person. I guess there is no possibility of assymetric wings on these suits? Birdman suits have an optional LQRS (Leg quick release system), which basically opens one leg with a cutaway. This -pretty much- removes the issue of trying to land with both booties on (i.e. can't run). The suits without them, that would be a concern I guess. My advice is to PLF and roll it out if you had to. As for that, what are people's hard decks for getting their suit undone? (at least the legs) I have in my mind about 1200-1500 feet, unless I am in good practice. Lower than that, I will chop my LQRS and just worry about setting up for landing. Recommend, all the while after opening, to be assesing the winds, drift, landing direction,etc. while screwing around with the suit. Nice thing is that birdmen often dont have to contend with a lot of traffic, save for tandems and maybe other birdmen. As for cutaways with leg wing, yeah, I figure they would suck. archarcharcharch. I bet that it would push you head down, even with your legs on your butt, given a bit of freefall. Anybody experienced a cutaway like that? I would assume that is very rare unless there is canopy damage. j

I started thinking about extra things I should be doing for Safety Day, as a wingsuit flier. The stream of thoughts started with the hanging harness.. Myself, I am planning on getting in the hanging harness both with my wingsuit, and without, and practice cutaways. With my wingsuit, I figure I would practice two cutaways, one without releasing my wings, and then a second, where I release my wings, and then eventually cutaway. I have only had one instance where I have had to cut away my wings on a jump, and depending on the suit (and the rig), the cutaways may be slightly different than where you expect them. By practicing cutting away with my wings in place, I am also training my brain to ignore the wings and just cutaway. (I also do this mental exercise on the way to altitude a few times). Other topics that came to mind: * Reviewing the wing lacing procedure (if you have had a cold winter and haven't gotten to jump the suit in a while) * Talking about wingsuit flight patterns with the other wingsuit fliers, jumpers, and the pilot. (Ref: the various articles published here, and in parachutist, most authored by Scott Campos) * Checking your wingsuit over completely, looking for wear/stitching issues (right Kevin?

Yep, at this stage of the game, it would. I now own two sets of Firefly pants that have bled its colors all over itself, and that was from following the 'care instructions' on the label. j

I have seen Panasonics in use all over the place.. (our dz uses panasonics) and I have worked at a place with cheapy radioshack sound mixers (boy what a pain -- no video effects or still captures). It all depends on what effects you want to use.. For most, a simple Panasonic WJ-AVE5 or 7 will do the trick.. Can go up to WJ-MX50 or 55 for a few thou. j

Yes, messing with your gear is the ultimate issue in that scenario. And it is similar in mine. It isn't that the cypress is on or off, it is that it was 'changed' without my knowledge -- via a malfunction. In this scenario, you come up and find your cypress-2 'off'. what the heck.. who turned my cypress off.. or... maybe.. is it the screen going blank? Anyway.. next topic. j

True, I usually breeze past this kind of stuff, but it is sometimes hard to weed out posts about the thread's subject vs. other stuff.

Don't charge for re-jumps. Wow.. how many other dz's do that?? Not ones I have seen. Very cool for your students.

Say what?? I think you are mixing apples and oranges here. 1) Backup devices are not to be relied upon during normal course of business. (i.e. not pulling the reserve because your aad should fire) 2) If you have a backup device, you turn it on, you maintain it, and ensure that it works for the JIC situation. If not, why have it??

One item of note, Wings has more expensive replacement parts if you chop.. At least for my configuration/handle combo. (compared to Jav and Mirage at least) j