AiRpollUtiOn

yawn "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

Allright, thought I'd give an update... Been flying the Velo for 2 months now (only 20 jumps. Did some freefly, some tandemvids and some swoopjumps). I abso-fucking-lutely love this canopy. I love the way it cuts through the skies. The Velo is a very stable chute, it never gives me a twitchy feel (unlike Stiletto's and Katana's). In deep brakes I can get back from long spots, and when releasing the brakes all hell brakes loose (speed-wise). Terminal openings are great, if you let the canopy find it's own way you're fine. Terminal openings are soft enought for my cam-flying needs (and I tend to jump with quite some weight on my FTP...) Subterminal openings are very twitchy because of the lack of speed. That's why I now prefer a 6-8 seconds delay for my hop 'n pops. I'm getting used to the harness turns for my 270 and to my set-up. Last week I actually nailed 3 consecutive pondswoops without having to make big adjustments to my circuit, and nailing the altitude and place where I want to start my last turn (740 ft now, don't see a need to go lower because it works) Got my first wet shoe with the Velo this weekend. The WOOOOOHOOOOOO's don't seem to end with this thing. If someone has the necessary experience in swooping "normal" canopies I think skipping a Katana-type canopy in the process is no problem at all. Once again thanx for your input! Safe swoops! P.s.: Looking for another Velo 103 for my 2nd rig, needs to get paid from and shipped to Europe, if that isn't a problem lemme know! Editted for typo's "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

Sunday morning. Clear blue skies, little wind and temperatures near freezing point (for water that is

I don't care much about on-heading-openings, When I'm doing video I'm in clear skies, and after jumping a Stiletto for 1300 jumps I'm used to keeping it straight or making it 360 in a crowd. Soft however i do like. Clearly any canopy can spank you from time to time, If the spanking doesn't exceed a 5% average I'm happy... About long spots, I've had many people telling me deep brakes is the way to go, and I've had lots of practise having tandems going out last all the time, and still it feels like in many circumstances rears get me further. (you know that feeling of a shallowerr angle without loosing too much speed whilst being carried by the wind). I am still wondering if there is proof of this conception that brakes will get you further. To me it doesn't make sense that the method that screws up the aerodynamics of your canopy the most will get you further. There must be some point (in relation to wind speed) where one method gets better than the other. I can't, for the sake of the easy example, imagine coming further in brakes on a zero wind day. "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

I have been getting 2 stories, not only from you guys but allso from people I know & respect in person. One group tells me to go Katana, a good preparation for going Xbraced afterwards. The other group tells me the Velo, though it has a different set of characteristics, is an option as well. After long talks about this I have decided to just try both and make a decision based on my own findings. The testmissiles will be the Ka 107 and the Ve 103. Both will be loaded close to 2.0 lbs/ft². I do realise that the extra speed and performance of the Velo might be addictive. This is why I'll be closely looking at some specific characteristics. I will be flying cameras with my new canopy, so the opening is important. Secondly I will be looking at glide-angle/distance on rears to come back from less ideal spots. Then I will be looking at control in brakes to fly in traffic. Offcourse the landing will be quite important. Dive & recovery and bottom-end flare will be very important. The dive & recovery are specific to any canopy, this is something you can adapt to. Bottom-end flare can't be altered, the right technique can help you optimize it but every canopy stops flying at a certain point. On the Katana I find there is a point in the swoop where you start to loose speed very fast and you get near the stall-point very rapidly. I didn't like that too much, but this is where maybe I can work on technique to optimize this. I'm eager to find out how the Velo compares. I will let you know about my findings. I like the experiment, gives me a Chuck Yeager feeling, difference is he didn't have a clue what to expect when he strapped into the X-1. I do however know that the speeds I will be approaching at require a certain degree of respect. Will keep yall posted. "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

I make a CD for the TM's I make most jumps with at the end of the year as kind of a surprise and a thanx for the good times. I make money off tandems and AFF students, I don't make money off other skydivers. If I already have the pics they can have them, and if they want me to jump with them for Pics then having my slot payed will do (Unless they have cunning plans that I really like, in that case I don't mind paying for my own slot) Especially TM's that you jump with regularly work with you to get better video's. I've got these kind of routines with 3 TM's, just developped by jumping with them regularly. In a way they ensure the quality of my work. So why should they pay me? Like someone said before, how much money were you going to make with those pics anyway? Now you've got the chance to make someone happy before formatting your CF-card. Smiles and good karma are priceless... "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

Thank you all for your positive input. Pretty good when none of you have seen me land. (you could open http://www.skystudio.nl/video/VTS_01_1a.wmv and go to 2:10, that's on a Stiletto 135) I make about 350-400 jumps a year. After my pretty fast transition to a Stiletto 150 with 150 jumps and starting to "swoop" 10 jumps later I started to get some respect for the things I put above my head. In the meantime I have been talking to some friends of mine that are flying velo's. Some told me to go with the Katana 107, some told me to go to the Velo 103... One thing that has gotten clear to me (if it wasn't already) is that the Katana would be a nice preparation, or step in between the Stiletto and the Velo. Nowadays Í notice that I have mentally matured in this sport, so taking baby-steps isn't a big deal for me. I just want to fly a canopy that allows me to make significant progression. I absolutely want to go down in size, but I don't have to fly a Velo just for the sake of having one. What you all said made a lot of sense. I absolutely had loads of fun with the Katana 107, so I think I'll get myself one of those. By this time next year I'll have put 3-400 jumps on it. At that time I can decide wether to go to a Velo or stick to what I'm flying then. I'll be having a blast for sure! I'm planning on skydiving for a long time to come so there's no need to hurry anyway. Again thanks for your input! Anyone have a Katana 107 for sale? "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

Just wanted to know your thoughts... I have: -600 jumps on stiletto 150 -400 jumps on stiletto 135 -300 jumps on stiletto 120 -some occasional jumps on Katana 120 I started making swoop-like landings with the fantastic number of 150 jumps \ Luckily I managed to stay in one piece during my first 500 jumps or so. Since 2 years (last 700 jumps) my swooping has gotten much safer, where I used to call it "the cosy corner" I now manage to make safe swoops with planned set-ups and all... One day my 4-way team stopped early at Zwartberg, which gave me the time to go play at the pond (I never got to it since I try to avoid water with cameras on my head). I loved it. Flew my Stiletto 120 on that occasion. Now I'm planning on getting into swooping even more seriously than before. I jumped a friends Katana 107 (1.95 lbs/sqf) last weekend and loved it. I made clear & pulls from 5.5 and experimented with the dive. I made left hand 270's from 700 ft (bit high, next time will go down to 650 in similar conditions) and loved the recovery arc and flare. Coming from Stiletto's you can imagine the pleasure of a dive that last a bit longer. I now am thinking of buying a Katana 107. The changing to a canopy with a higher performance combined with a downsize is slightly compensated by the fact that I recently lost 20 - 25 lbs (*pats self on shoulder*) What do you guys think of the Katana as a transition to an X-braced (propably Velo)? Is it a logical step? Is it a necessary step? Does the Katana prepare me for the flight characteristics of a Velo? Any other constructive thoughts? All opinions are welcome. I'll be talking about this with Belgium & Hollands finest swoopers that have seen me fly as well. Yes this will involve beer. Thanx a lot! "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

I don't plan on getting theoretical on this one. I absolutely agree that a canopy straight above your head generates more lift due to more surface (the vector story) However, we are talking about the situation where you find yourself coming out of a turn too low, getting the canopy above your head will cost time, thus costing you altitude, of which you don't have any to spare. I'd say start flaring with the outside toggle and get the canopy over your head when possible, propably when your outside toggle is passing the level of the inside one. This way you immediately start doing something about your primary problem, being the ground approaching too fast. I've had to dig out like this a couple of times, with a stiletto so pretty low. Luckily I've slowly learned to start my turns high enough... "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

"Lollipop" by "Mika" We practised on the ground with the screen flipped open so she could tell me what my head position had to be. Looked rather stupid in the hangar... The only times when the framing is poor is when I'm looking at my altimeter. Will try to perfect this though, it was tons of fun! "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

We couldn't come up with a decent plan for the last load of the day, so we decided she would clime on my back. The POV turns out to be quite funny... http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=h9lAaInyyMI Edit: footage shot with PC-120 and WayCool .3 lens on my FTP... "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

My father was jumping one of them as well. Now I am! Just for funjumps 'cause it's falling apart. http://brick103.hyves.org/88350001-88400000/88395501-88395600/88395523_5_qBOc.jpeg For most of my video-jumps I use large wings & booties, because of the range. Going to order a new suit, want to loose the booties for elephant-pants for that one... "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

The way see it, you had a lot of contact with your customers, with a broad range of backgrounds, social standing, ... Seems to me you now have a pretty good idea on how to approach just about anyone. The beauty is that this will make your resume stand out, I really believe that this will get your resume a place in the top of the pile, and all you want is to get to the intervieuw part. Figure out how you can explain that this experience makes you the perfect candidate ffor the job (I'm sure you'll find an angle!) "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

There is a way to save energy... -face the tail -right foot in the door -right arm against the inside of the plane (the part behind the door) so that your elbow is at the edge of the door. -Pivot out, not changing the position of your right arm (putting your left hand against the side of the plane to control the pivot makes it more comfy) -once your body is against the side of the plane your left hand goes to the door frame and you take the position that gets you the best vieuw. Notice that now you are hanging from your elbow, I've done this about 300 times, works great. It doesn't require strength, which is nice with fresh TM's that take 40 seconds before exit... Good luck! "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

My baby... Here with Canon EOS analog, needed the 350D for the pic... "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

We were jumping with a lot of wind, but no problem. Between take-off and jumping the wind increased seriously. Landing went fine, flared it out completely, but when i was turning around to go pick up my chute a gust picked me up and I hit the ground shoulder first about 15 feet further. That was last year, the damn thing popped out again 2 weeks ago when initiating a 270. I managed to land in half brakes (running at top speed...). The recovery is going well now. My BOC will be changed to the left side next week. http://modulo4.rendered.startpda.net/17850001-17900000/17865028_500_500_s37y.jpeg "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

The FTP is a helmet for doing video-jumps. A coaching jump is not a video jump. For this purpose you want to have another helmet with a sidemount and a .3 lens or something similar. You don't want to have that giant on your head, you don't want a ringsight in front of your eyes, you want to be concentrating on the student and have a cam onboard to document the jump. The comment on the position and angle of your camera on the FTP makes a lot of sense, you would have to be semi-looking down all the time, not a position you want to be in. As you don't want to get into the mixing of these 2 disciplines right away and it will take you a while to get the video-flying thing sorted out, you might as well look out for a good helmet for these types of jumps. For these types of jumps I have a sidemount helmet myself. "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

About 8-9 minutes. With people paying 95 euro's for video and stills I figure I owe them that. I don't want to make 'em any longer because then they would become boring for family members on birthday parties... "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

Seems like you have a good plan, I like that. The FTP is a big helmet, but also a very nice one. Because the platform is pretty high up you want to make sure your head isn't only straight horizontally, but also vertically on opening. Don't worry too much, you're doing your homework and once you start flying this helmet you'll do OK if you follow your plan. Go with only video untill you are happy with your performance. This coud easily take 100 jumps or more. Note that video already gives you more to think about than normal skydiving. Add stills and you're really multitasking. A question you haven't asked but something that should be top priority is: Avoid tunnel vision!!! You'll propably have the newton installed, but know what's happening outside your oily-cross as well. Safety first, cool shots second. This goes for your entire camera-jumping career! For your questions: 1) this works best for me. Some guys grab their helmets, I transition to kind of a stand up position on opening to get spine - neck - head in line with the opening force. I would recommend against watching your canopy open cause some day you will get spanked. Feel the opening while looking at the horizon. 2) For all the reasons you've read against the use of RSL's I don't use them. I think all the reasons given in favour are things experience can solve. Do you feel you have enough experience not to use an RSL? 3) as long as you haven't got lines wrapped around your camera's or helmet you'll be fine, so just imagine every possible malfunction you could have and for each of them preplan what you will do. Evidently your set-up is important as well. you can practically mount a refrigerator on your FTP, so try not to have stuff sticking out! 4) every canopy can spank you. Talk to your local instructors which canopies fit your canopy-flying skills and then make a choice for a camera-friendly one. (I jumped a friends Safire 150 a couple of times and I loved the openings, while the flying in my opinion isn't too much different from a Sabre, so maybe you want to try test-jumping that, but talk to your instructors) 5) Not going into that because i would like to hit my pillow sometime in the next couple of hours 6) depends on the type of jump. Do be aware that as a cameraflyer everyone assumes that you are not even there, so you are responsible for not hurting anyone. Make sure you're flying skills are up to that job. Follow the briefing, make a plan and let the others know about this plan. Good luck and have fun! "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

There is another way to tackle this problem (I jump an FTP loaded with too much heavy and expensive stuff as well Edit: and I'd love to add more!!!). When my pilot is gone I start kind of a transition where I get my back, neck and head in vertical position, and aligned with eachother. This way the shock will be absorbed by your spine, and you won't get the pendulum-thing anymore (and the pendulum effect can cause serious pain on hard openings) I also NEVER look at my canopy opening, I just look at the horizon and feel what my canopy is doing. You might want to give this a go, it works really well for me (been doing that for 700 jumps now) I usually jump Stiletto's and Katana's loaded between 1.4 and 1.7, for your reference. "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

People don't know what they want under their tandem-videos, you do. They haven't seen 100's of 'em, you have. Every tandem-vidiot has his routine (you know like all tandem videos look a bit alike because you take this shot, than that shot, ... Not saying you won't be creative, but you will have pre-editted the video before shooting the first shot, and most of your videos will be around the same length with a beginning, a middle and an end) I think the best thing is to pick music of which you know 99% of your customers will like. Make a selection where you have options, so if a group of 4 comes in you don't give all of them the same music. I'm still doing old-fashioned analog editting because this is the fastest, and I have a Minidisc attached to my mixing panel. I have 2 Minidiscs filled with 4-song series (I use 4 songs for every video). I made this selection so that I can look at someone and decide which 4-song sequence I will use (for example you want to give an 18-year old different music than a 55-year old because chances are their taste will be different) When shooting tandems professionally you want to be prepared to work quickly, and still give each customer a high-quality and semi-personalised product. With my modus operandi I am able to do that (or at least i presume to). Example of a 4-song sequence: (this one you can almost use for anyone, hence a bit corny ) -Counting crows: Mr Jones (everything up to boarding) -Lenny Kravitz: Get Away (in the plane) -3 Doors Down: Kryptonite (freefall) -Moby: Extreme Ways (under canopy and landing) "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

Just came back from Marche, I loved the place. A part from one small plane for training that flies for like one hour a day there is only skydiving at this field. The landing area is located next to the packing hangar and is easy to spot from under canopy. With the Adriatic sea on one side, and the Appenines inland the vieuw is awesome. Skydive Marche is the home-DZ of Marco Tiezi and Gigliola Borgnis (Frick Freefly and the founders of Atmonauti). During our stay we received extensive coaching from Marco and his enthousiasm was really catching. The Tiger-Porter takes you to 13500 - 14000 ft in less than 15 minutes. in the restaurant the food is home-cooked, and the menu is changed every day. The food is so good you might gain a few pounds before going home! The only thing I didn't like so much was the shower in the bunkhouse, but the people at Skydive Marche are working to set u a great skydiving center (and I personally think they have all it takes to become one of the greates centers in Europe) so by the time I go back next year I think that will be fixed. I would recommend this place to anyone, and especialli to those who want to improve their Atmonauti skills! After your stay you will be nice and synchronise, and flye de body really nice! Guys @ Skydive Marche: Gracie mille, and see you next year. Tom

1) which group of people do you refer to when you say "we all"? 2) Only when they want to hug after landing... In your defence: I was jumping tandemvideo with 200 jumps, that went well but... if I couldn't level the speed properly I kept some distance. That's how "we all" keep it safe. Your docking to keep up story shows me that you don't really understand the game yet... P.S.: I would recommend getting a .5 so you are a bit further away when you fuck up. (notice that I don't use "if", cause you will) "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

Deep... I care more about timing between video & music than transitions. And the problem with the I-movie transitions is that they look a bit corny... Just got a new Windows PC, going to try pinacle, see if I like that. "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

Got an example of the abrupt change thing? "Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio