diablopilot

Not all of us feel we need an AAD. For me it's the expense, and maintenance costs. I have 4 rigs, to equip them all would be on the order of $5000. Here's something to think about, no mater if you decide to use one, or not. An AAD is just another piece of equipment, and it is susceptible to failure. With that in mind, you should NEVER make a jump thinking "I'll be all right, I have an AAD." Apply this thought to every skydive you make, and you're on the road to having safer skydives.

I've seen hundreds of Temops, and never seen a "trend" of problems with them. Maybe your rigger is just a fan of another brand. Have it inspected, and if needed test jumped. On another note, if "it's looking for another home" should you really be selling it to someone? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

U R Rad, Kewl, an l33t! ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Oooops. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=601 http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=603 Some more options. And there are a couple inland options here as well...... ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

http://www.santabarbara.com/activities/camping/jalama_beach/ http://www.jalamabeach.com ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

That I'd agree with. No small feat!

What record? Largest sequential? That's been surpassed. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Very well stated sir!

The answer above is a good one. Occasionally I get it right. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

STEAL THIS THREAD!!! ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Ears can pick up the change in airspeed, kinetic feedback (a term I just made up) can give input on what the canopy "feels" like it's doing, the load factor can give an indication of angle of attack...... It might sound like hippy bullshit but I "feel" my way through a swoop as much as I "read" it. There is nothing wrong with the device, only how it's used. With analogs, since they do have an inaccuracy factor, they are used for gross reference points, and then an educated guess based on instinct, evaluation of conditions, experience, timing, is used to start a turn to landing, and then the process continues throughout the turn changing turn and dive rates and angles to complete the swoop. It's through refining this process that people learn how to "read the picture" not the instrument, and learn when to bail. The digital instrument seems to provide more accurate data point, and there for seems to lure some into "flying by the numbers", leading them into trusting the device to be accurate within a much tighter margin and therefore believing that the turn will be "perfect". My advice to you would be jump whatever instrument you like best, but if you find yourself trying to use it's accuracy as a performance point, watch out. I jump analog, digital, and audible, sometimes on the same jump. None of them agree and always think of them as being AT LEAST 100ft inaccurate, if not more. In addition my last visual referenc of the altimeters is at least 15 to 30 seconds before any performance turn. The time after that check is spent on a scan of my airspace, path, outs, and "picture". I've no idea, but I don't "trust" any of them, in freefall or under canopy. They are all just reference devices. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

And that's not a problem. That's what forced us to learn how to read the picture before the advent of "accurate" digital devices. We're not flying IFR, we're VFR pilots, who occasionally reference instruments to confirm what we're seeing. A digital alti should be used no differently than it's analog counterpart, as a set up reference for downwind, and maybe base legs, but from there the pilot needs to be transferring their attention outside the cockpit. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

You'll probably learn more on the Sabre2, and will have an easier time reselling it. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

You have just saved me from typing out a reply!

Well stated. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

I'd like to thank the poster of this bit of video for pointing out the trouble that people learning high performance landings are going to be encountering. The instruments that must be trained and used first and foremost are your eyes, ears and other senses. If you wouldn't throw the turn having left your altimeter on the ground, you shouldn't be throwing it at all. To the OP of the video, glad you're safe, and thanks again for sharing a lesson learned the hard way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyEydS6T2QI&feature=related ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

http://www.southwestbowl.com/DC/41706.htm http://berninabillings.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/1232 ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

If you're getting out last, keep your weight forward. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

How fast can you run, and how high can you jump from without injuring your legs? Modern ram air parachutes are designed to arrest vertical descent completely and bleed off energy in a horizontal glide across the ground till that velocity is negligible (fast walking speed). ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

The "spine" curves down wind and ends up horizontal when it terminates at the top of the blade, so it's just a bit longer than the 10 foot finished height. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

This may begin to help some people: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fkOmW66-W0 ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

http://www.kcltackle.com/6647501.html http://allwatersfishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=10005 http://all-in-general.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=279&products_id=11478&osCsid=6a9fafe35d2f47907c6c1be36365d32c The 13' model is what is used for a standard 10' wind blade. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Well said Nick! For the OP I'll add this. The student is looking down most of the time. You can't stop a turn you that you can't see starting and if you're not looking out towards the horizon, you're not going to see the turn begin. Take your time and enjoy the skydives.

Forgot about that. This was worse! ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.