ianmdrennan

I am taking the Essentials and Advanced class this june for the 3rd time. There's always something to learn, or remember. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

I'm not sure, but I'm curious to see. Honestly, I'd be surprised if it didn't. Lot of new people, in a new environment, in a party/excited mode. Still, I'm just looking to see what's out there. Definitely. I first thought of Roger when I started this train of thought. To the best of my knowledge it was a regular weekend. That said I'm very curious to see the 'event' statistics. You'll get no argument from me there. I do believe there is a big mindset issue to deal with. So far though, I'm not convinced we're going about it the right way. Now I'm not talking about seperating landing areas or whatever. What I'm refering to is how people think that it'll make everything just go away. It won't, as long as the type of mentality we're referring to exists, it'll be a problem. IMO, that right there, is the biggest part of the problem. I agree 100% but it all comes back to a mindset and how do we rectify that mindset? Seperate landing areas solves SOME of the problem but does nothing whatsoever to address the root of the problem - peoples mindsets. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

"Linda" doesn't have any friends...... Performance Designs Factory Team

I'm curious. Does anyone have statistics on these fatalities and how many of them happen on a 'regular' weekend vs boogies/bigways or other events? Lets say, over the last 10 years? Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

To be clear I wasn't saying memorizing people was a good solution, just that people seem to be forgetting the basics of "Remember, everyone is trying to kill you up there. Treat them as such". Performance Designs Factory Team

"Linda" Nice meeting you. Performance Designs Factory Team

It's your responsibility to watch EVERYONE on the load under canopy. Just like it's theirs to watch you. Seperate landing area or not. Not heeding that will produce the same amount of canopy collisions. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Dan, Is the rib height smaller than a velocity? Looks like it from the picture but it can be deceiving. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Dan, What were your design considerations/goals when you produced this wing? With all the x-braces on the market, mind elaborating on what makes this one different/special/etc? Not looking for the sales pitch mind you, just trying to figure out what makes this canopy different to other x-braces. Thanks, looking forward to the info

And students will continue to break that. After all they're students, they're going to make mistakes. Wasnt' the last AZ collision with a low time jumper? Anyway, the notion of '180s' being ok it ludicrous. It's a FAR more intrusive pattern than a 270. Now do I think the 270 is ok...no, but lets be reasonable here people, 180's aren't any better. Education is the key IMO. Not some kneejerk reaction. Smells like a witch hunt to me. Performance Designs Factory Team

Hahahaha, sorry Brian, but I'm sure that statement isn't true anyway!

Nice start Brian. Can you give us some metrics on how you feel it compares, not only to the onyx (distance for example), but to other HP canopies too. The more info the better. I'm like a kid in a candy store with this stuff

I think I'll make a showing

It will not 'fix' the problem. You cannot mandate bad decision making. These efforts, imo, would be far better spent on steadfast education, and enforcement of acceptible landing practices...whatever they are determined to be for the dz/area. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Nice to see another HP canopy on the market. Choices are always good

I asked that yesterday, to no avail. Mods.....??? Currently Sangiro is the only one who can do that in this forum. Sorry Performance Designs Factory Team

Art, Perfect response, seriously. And a reason why I look forward to skydiving at your dz again. It's great to hear that you don't limit the problem to a particular canopy or approach type, but rather to a mindset that is a killer. Any DZ and DZO that enforces strict landing patterns and canopy practices has my support. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Will someone please post service info when it becomes available? Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

http://uspa.org/publications/parachutist/online%20archives/2007/03.07/safetycheck03.07.htm Is what I based that observation on, specifically: edit: I am in no way, shape or form advocating 270's in traffic. What I AM advocating is that we be careful to not spend so much time pointing fingers at others that we don't stop to realize any one of us are not above the same mistakes. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

But if someone is on your level then where is the vertical seperation? We can't all land at the same time. There just isn't enough room in the landing area. At some point, just like aircraft, we have to stage our approaches. Following that logic, at some time, someone is going to be above you. Swooper or not, they have the potential to turn into you. If they're the type of pilot who thinks they'll never do it then who knows how hard they'll be looking or what they'll do. This is why I keep going back to general canopy awareness. Unfortunately there's no guarentee though that any of us will always exercise good judgement even with the best training Blues. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Agreed 100%. But, what I keep wanting to point out is that this is not only a swooper problem. General canopy awareness is a HUGE problem. Just look around. Hell, if I remember correctly the stats on collisions were mostly NON high performance (although that number is rising for sure). Whatever DZO's decide to implement I hope that they enforce good canopy practices PERIOD. I continue to hope that people will see past "the turn", and realize this is a problem across the board. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Thanks for those pictures. I can't descibe what I feel when I see them..... Performance Designs Factory Team

Danny, I love you man and I'm really going to miss you. I always had the utmost respect for you, whether I agreed with what you were saying or not, it was always the truth as you saw it. I will always remember you. Your friend, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

It's a pleasure. Oh, and I realized I didn't actually address how they fly in comparision. From a characteristic point of view - similar but also differently (not helpful I know). Both have long dives. The KA opens a little nicer and the front riser pressure is a LOT lighter. The KA is more fun to fly around on the toggles than the same size VE. The VE is faster. Interestingly enough even with the differences I didn't find the 107 KA I flew much differently (besides altitudes) than did my VE-90 which is why I say 'similar' in flight characteristics. Each one does things a little differently (sometimes better) but neither feel so far removed from one another that the skills don't translate well. I find the KA more fun at the light loadings (I've flown the 89 and the 107 and love the 107). At higher loadings I prefer the VE 96, 90 and 84. For your loading the 107 will be much more fun and a perfect canopy for getting you ready for a smaller VE (IMO). Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

As someone who is a similar weight to you, I think you'd hate the velo 111. It'll feel like a dog. Based on your current canopy selection I think you'll FAR enjoy the KA107 more and then the next step after the KA 107 would likely be a VE-96 (not knowing jump #'s or coaching I can't say when either of those would be, but that would probably be the most fun choice). Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team