ianmdrennan

Doesn't Paralog have a Palm interface? Check out http://www.vorpalware.com/paralog.html Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Hey Folks!! It's that time of year again when Skydive Atlanta will be hosting their Annual Halloween Freefly Festival (October 29, 30, 31) Skydive Atlanta hosts the festival where Freeflyers (or ANYONE of any discipline although it's focus is Freeflying) of all skill levels come from all over the country to do some kick ass skydives over the Halloween weekend. Last year there were over 300 registrants and we're hoping to keep making it bigger and better for this year. What's confirmed: Organizers Mike Ortiz Jon Pinyon (formerly of Wicked Liquid) Organizing and coaching will be available for ALL skill levels of freeflying. Aircraft Skyvan Super King Air Miscelanous Some free jump tickets jumps for the best halloween costume. Performance Designs will be there with some demos for all you crazy folk to test out. Super freefly dives! The Pink Mafia Ladies!! DJ Party Saturday What we're still working on adding (NO PROMISES but we'll keep you updated): Aircraft Helicopter Keep your eyes out, and start making plans.....it's going to be one hell of a ride! Can't wait to see you all there! Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Yeah I think you're right. I've seen some berger bag variants where they used bands for the locking stows as well. I asked about the reasoning behind it and I guess the original berger bag doesn't work well (stay closed properly) if the bag and canopy sizes dont match very well. From all accounts I'm hearing that the deployment is far "smoother" but I've never jumped one so I can't say. It does look pretty cool though. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Yeah it was Jay. Seeing him do that live in competition is quite something. It's a "berger bag" or similar. There are a lot of them out there now being used for regular skydives. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Depends on what they're doing. Trying to freefly, hell no. Doing RW stufF, can't see why not. Any more details on what they're actually trying to do out there? Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Who's going? So far I'm undecided on this one, but I'm definately going to Lake Wales. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Yeah, I just replaced the battery on mine after 300+ jumps on it. I know some people have had some hardware issues and those have been sorted out immediately, but I think it's safe to say that the problems are relatively few and far between. Unfortunately the nature of the beast is to only throw complaints, not praise so there tends to be a lot of complaining in the forums which makes a problem appear worse than it is IMO. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

They do. Performance Designs Factory Team

Glad it helped. Now I'd suggest not letting go of the toggles for landing but it's important to do the test with the toggles in your hand as it will let you see how much your brakelines should be lengthened. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

No need I knew what you were getting at and I totally agree that most of their canopies come off the shelf with the brake lines too short. I believe the reason they do that is because people tend to have "lazy flares" and then complain that a canopy doesn't land as nicely because they aren't finishing the flare correctly. This obviously effects their decision to buy a canopy so it wouldn't surprise me if manufacturers, in general, "helped" the jumper out a bit by compensating for general bad habits. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Yep, the Katana I jumped required zero changing of the factory setting brake lines and velocity brake lines come already bar tacked in the correct position as well (although I've heard of people lengthening them for personal preference, not because of tail deflection). Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

You'll see a a number of competitors use a braked approach to lighten the front riser pressure, get on the double fronts (helped by the canopy diving after letting up the brakes), initiate the turn by easing one up a bit and then leveling off the double fronts again for a smooth release. You will eat up more altitude edit: To the original poster...being this aggressive this early isn't a good idea. There is nothing wrong with learning more about it though. I'd sugggest refining the smaller turns first. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Thanks for the update on where you are. Damn, of all the fingers to break, you have to go and break the most useful one

Whatever gets you to sleep at night

Not a good idea. If the brakes are set correctly you should be able to get your full flare AND not need to take a wrap. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Really? You know her? Performance Designs Factory Team

You need to get a grip and lighten up dude. Why do you care so much what others do or what they believe in? If I spent all my time worrying about what some jackass said that went against my beliefs I'd have a heart attack. Breathe in, breathe out. You do NO GOOD WHATSOEVER for your point of view coming across like that. Chill. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Fly your canopy all the way to the ground, and along the ground as long as possible, to the point where your ground speed reaches zero or your canopy can no longer suspend your weight and forces you to put your feet on the ground. By flying your canopy I mean putting in just enough input to keep your "surfing" along the ground. When you start to decend or "drop" increase your input so that you maintain level flight for as long as it's appropriate. Regardless of the wind, you want to get your ground speed to as close to zero as possible before touch down. In no wind conditions this isn't possible (but usually so slow only 1 step is needed) but in higher winds it's quite possible to get the ground speed to zero. In other words don't put your feet down until it's absolutely necessary. edit: No matter how light you are, a 135 is extremely aggressive for your jump numbers. Tread cautiously. You should solidify the concepts of canopy flight on a canopy that is more forgiving of your inevitable errors. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

A common misconception but not true. I throw my turn at roughly the same altitude every time (according to the neptune). As long as the winds are steady the canopy's dive will be the same. Gusty conditions can cause disruptions in the airflow over the wing and can dramtically change things though. It's been discussed ad nausem but a quick search should turn up all the heated discussions on the topic

Seeing as she works for MS, I'd think that may be a long shot Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Hi HH, I'm sure you don't want to end up with too much info in the ratings section of a profile, but would it be possible to add a PST Pilot (there is a qualification process) of sorts to the list? Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Yep, I'd say it's a little of both. The neptune for confirming altitude at waypoints (it's all in the setup) then a quick glance prior to initiation to make sure my eyes aren't lying to me about the altitude (particularly useful at new dropzones where visuals have changed come competition time), from that point on it's all visuals. Jim Slatons thoughts Blues Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

http://www.performancedesigns.com/spectre.htm I'm sure it can be loaded higher, but here's a starting point. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Errr, photoshop and possibly some of the crappiest PS'ing at that... Comeon dude, for a "professional photographer", you expect us to believe those pictures? Performance Designs Factory Team