antonija

There is an update on PD website: July 14, 2009 TSO Update on Large Optimums (sizes 160-253) Dear Valued PD Customer: We have now received an update from the FAA regarding our request for TSO approval on the large Optimums. The FAA has requested some additional information that has not been asked for in the past. That information is en route to them along with a request from PD for more open dialogue toward a more expedient conclusion. As we stated in our previous announcement we submitted a request for TSO in January 2009 with all the standard paperwork supplied. We did this with full expectation of a normal turnaround time which has not taken place. At this time PD does not have an expected date of TSO approval to provide our customers. We are however, willing and ready to work with each individual who has an order with us to meet your individual needs. It is not a matter of if we will receive the TSO on the large Optimums, but rather when we will receive it. If you have an order placed through a dealer please contact that dealer to work out a solution for your individual need. If you are waiting to place an order once we announce the TSO is received, we hope you will continue to standby for that announcement. In both regards, we do appreciate your patience during this trying situation and we sincerely appreciate your business. Lets hope for the best! I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

You could look into those little thingies that people launching model rockets use to track their hardware. Or the stuff smart people use to track wildlife around. AFAIK both options use simple FM signal generator and corresponding receiver. Apparently you can make one for yourself for... well.... not a lot of money :p Here's more info: http://www.jbgizmo.com/ I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

Just one question from non(yet)wingsuiter: The number 200 jumps (within 18 months).... is that the lowest minimum of minimums that you'd suggest before even thinking about putting on a wingsuit or is it a proper "with the right equipment and good coach it's fairly safe to do it" kind of thing? I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

I'm not from US so the shipping charges will be much higher for me. And usually we get quite hefty custom and tax for anything send from abroad (even if its used, tagged as a gift, anything) which makes it even more expensive... I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

I keep checking PD website when will they be available but it still has the same text about something PD filing for TSO in January and FAA being backlogged. Does anyone have info on when will these reserves be available? I want to order new rig but I also want bigger reserve in it and optimum sounds like a sweet canopy to fly (we don't get many demo products in these parts so I won't be able to try it out for myself). I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

I live in Slovenia and AFAIK there are no proper dealers in my country (probably due to the size of population and hence market size) and everyone buys new gear elsewhere, mostly in US when they (or someone they know) does a trip there and smuggles the gear back. I'm still thinking of buying it through US dealer (they seem to be the cheapest at the moment) and having it shipped to EU, but custom charges and taxes would be huge :\ That is why I'd rather find a good EU dealer (by "good" I mean a dealer with at least updated web page, who can give good advice and knows the stuff he sells inside out), I don't mind driving a couple of hours (maybe even a cheap flight) just to get proper service. It also gives me a chance to "do something about it" if the ordered items doesn't fit well I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

I emailed Jim and here is his reply (in case someone else will find this useful): P.S.: I still haven't find a website that sells the same fabric used for jumpsuits (poly cotton, supplex). I found cordura and parapack on paragear.com but that was it. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

...are kinda hard to find :\ Lot's of hits on google are dead links or web pages that have not been updated in years. If anyone knows of a good dealer with good customer service (based in EU) please let me know! If there is a (current) list of EU dealers somewhere on the web also let me know. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

It's been a year since last reply and I decided to bring this thread back to life. Any new thoughts after a year? New favorite freefly rig? New things to look for in a freefly rig? I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

According to most skydiving suit manufacturers the material of choice for FF suit for a person that drops like a stone is _poly_cotton_. Searching with google revealed that the term "poly cotton" is not as well defined as I hoped it would be and finding the actual fabric FF suit manufacturers use proved to be impossible. Here's what I know so far about this fabric: - It's composition is 65% Polyester/35% Cotton - It comes in various weights, couldn't find what weight is used for FF suits. - Apparently it is very good and versatile material for making shirts If anyone has a link to any store that sells the type of poly cotton fabric used for FF suits (the right weight and weave), please let me know. I'd also like to get more data about physical characteristics of the fabric (compared to regular cotton cloth, parapack and cordura). I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

AFAIK the chance of those two satellites colliding should be about the same as me winning the lottery three times in a row. Both objects were travelling very fast, their orbits were at about 90 degree angle and the amount of space they had 800km above the earth is just ridiculously huge. But then again: If you have enough time everything possible will happen at least once :p P.S.: The satellites were Iridium 33 (used for commercial satellite phones) and Cosmos-2251 (old russian communication satellite). I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

It's a group of 14 people. 1st part (6 of us) arrive on 1.march, rest arrive on 4.march. We stay in Perris until 9.march and then go to Lodi. We plan to leave on 23.march. What we're looking for is basically a place where 14 people can sleep. This would mean a house with 3 or more rooms (some of us will sleep on the floor but we don't mind that) and at least 1 working bathroom. House will only be used for sleeping and briefing/debriefings. We were looking at under 1500USD per month. We'll rent the house for the whole month if we need to, it's still much cheaper than hotel rooms plus we'd have more space for briefings and video analysis. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

N/A

A group of 14 skydivers is coming to USA this march and we're still looking for accommodation in/near Perris and Lodi. I found several hotels in the area and got quotes from them, but with group this size I thought it would be cheaper (and more fun) to just rent a house for that time. So I went online to find it and all I got was loads of agencies renting houses for at least 6/12 months with 30-90 day processing delays, etc. If anyone knows where we could rent a house for 1 week in Perris and 2 weeks in Lodi please PM me!!! I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

Weed makes me all sleepy and lazy... not the state I'd like to be in when I see [insert high speed mal]. Althogh I do have some friends who look like energizer bunnys when they smoke it, they might do it before the jump I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

They used a very old rig on me... worked well... I think :p I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

So F111 is actually just like ZP if both are new? After how many jumps does the difference between the two start to show? I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

* Ability to upload jumps from digital altis. * Ability to import logbooks from current electronic logbooks (ParaLog, JumpTrack, etc.) I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

I do understand how people like the idea of being able to defy statistics if they choose so... even I like it. But if that was the case we have a very easy solution to make skydiving (and driving) accident free activity. But somehow despite its simplicity this solution does not work and people are still getting injured. One might ask himself why? We all read about accidents and try to find best way to solve them (others hear it from their buddys or coaches, but eventually everyone learns how to make skydiving safer). With this knowledge anyone with half of brain should figure out what the solution is. And yet many still fail at it. This is why we are exactly like plutonium atoms (figuratively speaking of course). There is so many factors involved in an outcome of a skydive (or a skydivers career) that it is impossible to describe (or predict) these events using analytical methods (figuring out the factors influencing the outcome and calculate/estimate the result). This uncertainty is of course very different from that incorporated into nuclear decay of plutonium (quantum physics mumbo jumbo), but it affects the result in the same way. Because of some weird, unexpected, unexplained factors the outcome is that from statistics. But again: Taking statistical result and applying it to your next jump (or 100 jumps or whole career) is wrong. The actual results is best interpreted as "if indefinite number of skydives are made under current conditions, 1 in every 30.000 will end with fatal injury". So you need lots of jumps (much more than 30.000, preferably indefinite amount but that's not going to happen in this universe). On the other hand if you were to plan on sending all skydivers in US do 1000 jumps each.... you'd probably get the statistical result, even if every single one of them is coached prior each jump on how to make it down alive. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

Every second of plutonium atoms' life is isolated event, just like our skydives are. You do get a feeling you can control the outcome by making sure you minimize chances of things going wrong, but I'm pretty sure that at the same time you realize that you have only minimized those chances, not eliminated them. That is why you can't tell when that atom is going to decompose... no one can. The same goes for the next skydive. And unfortunately it only takes one mistake/coincidence to die and no one said it has to be your fault. Drunk driver killing a pedestrian is a good example of that. Crossing on green light, looking left and right, making sure you cross the road alive... You could have some one falling through your canopy and killing you, you could run into some weird winds before landing and land on a sharp, pointy object, or you could have the best skydive of your life. You just can't say what will happen; except that after 30.000 jumps or so there will probably be another dead skydiver. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

You are wrong. While each skydive is separate event (like a single lottery ticket), the statistics of many skydives is very solid piece of information. It can not in any way predict an outcome of a single event, but then again there is no other way to predict future. Lets consider this example: We have a truckload of plutonium 239, which has a half life of 24100 years. Half life value is a statistical information. It means that after about 24100 years half of that plutonium will decompose into smaller atoms. That is what statistics does really well. What everyone here is asking is "will I die on my next skydive?". If we translate this to plutonium this would be equal to having just one (1) atom of plutonium 239 and wandering when it will break down into smaller atoms. The answer to this question would be: "We don't know." Statistics only works on large amounts of events and fails miserably on single events (as does everything else). While you could consider your skydives as isolated events, you are still very much a part of skydiving statistics whether you like it or not. Although this statistics can not determine the outcome of your next jump (or your next 1000 jumps for that matter), yours (and mine and everyone else') skydives are the very foundation of that 1 in 30.000 number. Statistics was "invented" because people found out that in some cases it is impossible to consider every factor to determine an outcome of an event. Skydiving fits this description fairly well. No one up to date was able to prove statistics wrong (statistical results can easily be misunderstood and politicians take good advantage of that fact), so until you (or anyone else) finds a better way to analyze this kind of data... we're stuck with 1/30.000 I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

Got the unit, teste it on the ground and it works perfectly. Now I have another request: Is there a way to download data from WBT without using computer? I have a symbian phone I was hoping to use for the download (it has bluetooth and is running symbian 60v3), however I couldn't find any software that would allow me to do so. So if theres anyone that has found a way to download the data (no data stripping or anything like that, just download raw data files from wintec) onto a symbian phone... please let me know!!! BTW, the phone is nokian n95. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

My opinion is that if anyone wants to open low, it's their choice to do so. They should just make sure to tell everyone else that this was not skydiving (with all it's regualtions and limitations) but their own version of playing chicken with the planet. P.S.: Planet wins each and every time :p I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

I step into leg straps first. Honestly it does make me look like a dork, but I'd rather look like a living dork than a dead cool wingsuit flyer. But then again I'm still a n00b :p I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

It really doesn't depend on person. Stomach drop is physical process and is irrelevant of what you or I think. It happens if someone is watching or not. And it happens every time, all the time and according to the laws of physics. On the other hand our perception of reality (which is heavily distorted when we jump out of an airplane for the first (few) time(s)) might be different... but that's just us, not the universe we live in. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne