ianmdrennan

Jay worked closely with them on the design parameters. He did a bunch of jumps, with their logger, under various canopy sizes (including his 71) at different loadings and different rotations. While no system is 100% guarenteed, I feel confident that Airtec did their homework on this one. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

I've been happy with my speed cypres 2. Does Argus not have a swoop mode, or model? I believe, as a general rule of thumb, that if you're doing multiple rotations from about 1000 feet - you may want to consider an ADD built for that, or not using an AAD at all - ultimately what it boils down to is: Know Your Gear This is what killed Adrian Nicholes (sp?) a few years back. Glad you're ok. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Hopefully not - nor should he be. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Heh....people are scared of that pond - making sure they get out

Just so you know, that was not a skyhook malfunction - it behaved as intended. There is a 325 pound breaking force to prevent bag strip. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Hey Swoopers! Skydive The Farm, and myself, would like to invite you out for a weekend of fun, sun and swooping. Skydive the Farm will be offering $13 hop n pops for participants for those 3 days, with the goal (not requirement) for each of us to make 8-10 jumps a day. All 3 courses will be set up (Speed, distance, and Zone Accuracy) for you to run at your leisure. Distance and Zone accuracy will be set up on one of our 400ft ponds! There will be a shaded packing area pondside, and air-conditioned bus rides to the aircraft. This is NOT a coaching event, but it is a group learning event so expect to be sharing ideas, techniques, and feedback amongst each other. There are NO REGISTRATION FEES. Camping, and facilities available. Will be coolers filled with water available too to keep you all hydrated :) Contact me if you would like to be a part of this, we hope to see all of this years FLCPA competitors, as well as a few new faces for this fun event! Blues! Performance Designs Factory Team

I would suggest contacting Al Berchtold from Performance Designs. Not only does he have the information about course materials, but he's run a lot of meets that use 10 ft gates and can probably help you with some judging questions you may have. To answer your immediate question: The thick pool noodles are typically used as gates. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

What is Ian complaining about? Hell, the last I saw, he was running a solid second in the Female Swooper poll. Next month, when they run the "Old as dirt and came off Noah's Arc AFF instructor" list - you'll have my vote Andy Performance Designs Factory Team

Born and raised in Port Elizabeth. I lived in SA until I was 22 and then moved to the states. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

If I had to pick, I'd have to say I'm partial to Russian accents (and no, Mike Shatalov a.k.a Frost, I will not go on a date with you!). Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

I always find it interesting when people find the South African accent appealing. I find our accents rather 'gutteral' and rough..... but hey.....if the ladies love it! Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Whats the most amount of jumps you've put on canopy made from this material? How did it look? Thanks, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Good post. I also agree that there's just so much information to already absorb it's not practical to put it in the FJC. Unfortunately, as mentioned, theres not requirement or emphasis (in most cases) placed on doing one afterwards by the instructors, or dz. Im fortunate to jump at a pretty progressive DZ when it comes to canopy flight and even we still have room for improvement. I'd definitely like to see, like you, people take a course prior to their B license. The issue then becomes educating those who will teach those classes....as we both know, there are lots of canopy myths out there that perpetuate to this day. I'm glad to see this is on as many people's radars. It's certainly high on mine. Side note: Until I joined the team I got formal canopy coaching on a yearly basis (I still get coaching but in a different way). Sometimes I'd take the Essentials classes to refresh myself on things, and what I'd be teaching, and sometimes it'd be dedicated coaching for competiton. The point being, that NONE of us are above getting educated on this. Hopefully that attitude becomes more prevalant - especially amongst instructors. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

IMO better instruction from AFF instructors or just after AFF. From my experience there's so little emphasis placed on canopy flight (probably due to the massive amount of information the student has received) that this gets pushed aside in most cases. Well, not exactly pushed aside, but glossed over for sure. I'd like to see it change, but it starts right from the beginning - with the instructors. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Well, I've waited to post here until I got a little more time under the production Competition Velocity. Personally, I love them - so much so that I've ordered my own personal 84 (I have a team 79 and 90 that I use)....so I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is so to speak

Interesting so far. The non-parent pro-choice at any stage statistic doesn't surprise me. I may have even been in this crowd until my wife became pregnant. However, being a parent (to be) myself, I am really surprised at those who are parents and also voted pro-choice at any stage. To me, after having gone through this experience, there is no grey area at that late of a stage (3rd trimester) you're killing a human. Sure in the eyes of the law, it's not, but then again waterboarding isn't torture in the eyes of the law either.... The fetus is aware, it responds to voices, noises, and other stimulation. It is, without a doubt, a human capable of feeling at this stage. I'm just a little surprised at the results....that's all. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

To me, nothing, but my understanding from the other thread was that some people who would be pro-choice third trimester, would be against a partial birth. It was more of an attempt to distinguish that. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Great idea for the next poll

Poll for people who are pro-choice in any way. I'm curious on this one. You don't have to explain, or comment on your vote but PLEASE only vote if you are pro-choice. One other thing - I am NOT asking about the extreme circumstances. For the sake of this poll assume a healthy mother and baby. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

I think the point has been made here, by a number of posters. It's a bad idea. Performance Designs Factory Team

I'm not sure I agree with that. It was pretty obvious my wife was pregnant within the first trimester. CERTAINLY within the second trimester. "Whoops I didn't know till the third trimester" seems a stretch to me - although I'd venture a guess that like most things in life, there are exceptions

Very good point, I had not thought of that. Thanks for the insight. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

I see there are some 2nd and 3rd trimester votes - I'm really curious to hear from those people. I'd like to know their thinking (genuinely). Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

True, which is why I support the first trimester choice. After that though I just can't find any justification for it.....it's not like it should be a surprise at that stage (IMO). I feel that while the mother has the right to make the decision, it should be made in a timely manner, not many months into the pregnancy. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

So, in light of the Tilley murder it got me thinking. I'm curious as to peoples beliefs to the above. I tried to make the poll have good options but I'm sure there are some choices that dont fit in the above, if so, please state them below. Personally, I'm Pro-choice, but only within the first trimester (and if the mother is going to go that route - preferably at the end of the first month when they first find out they're pregnant). Even then I'd far rather see the parent give the child up for adoption than abort the fetus. I find abortion after that aborrhent. That said, I find the murder of Tilley equally aborrent (but I dont want to turn this poll into that debate) Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team