Zlew

Eh, not sure it is worth getting obsessed about but they have benefits outside of just pure swoop/drag reasons. It is by far the fastest and most efficient way for me to stow/bring down my slider. Dealing with my wings, ring sight, and camera gear, it is nice to spreed up that step and get it out of the way. Once removed, it has zero risk of re-inflating or getting snagged on my camera gear (Aggie Dave mentioned something about this in this thread or a previous one). On my rigs, I have the removable slider on one, and standard on the other. I use the RDS rig on my 2nd jumps on back to backs, and often times don't bring down the slider at all on the other rig. I don't lay down huge turns. I also don't have Gatorz. :)

Not sure if this is what PD was talking about with the Katana slider being different, but I know the bigger Katanas have that mesh border on the left and right edge. I think they said it is either 120's and bigger or 135 and bigger. The smaller sizes seem to have standard sliders; at least as far as I can tell.

KA over a 182 for sure. As for having 2 engines- I agree that the idea is one dies and the other will get you home. But that doesn't help with things like bad gas. There have been a few KA's (or any plane really) that landed off with no power. In that situation give me a slow flying bird, good pilot, big ass wheels, and some good luck....or 1500 feet AGL :)

As a jumper, a KA is my least favorite jump plane (turbine). Climes fast...sure... but the door sucks, and most I have been in have the worst prop blast of a side exit plane. Combo that with said shitty door, and pulling off even small exits can be tricky. I'd take a 208 any day (really like the looks of the super 900 336 conversion!) over a KA, and would take a Twotter any day over a 208. Most may not agree with me, but I think there are some advantages to being in a plane that just becomes a simple glider (and slow flyer) when power is out. Part of me likes the idea of teh worst case being me landing slow with the plane off field. I live in a place with tons of open fields, so might think differently if I lived in a wooded area. That is one thing I used to love about the Porter. Loses power...and that thing can land anywhere and crazy slow speeds. The short takeoff and landing abilities of that plane are pretty cool. off field landing in a KA....those things don't like to slow down do they (saying out of some ignorance)?

I also like high depth of field for freefall work. Esp when you are talking about clouds and other backdrops. Even if you like narrow DOF, I don't think it will be difficult to get what you are looking for from FF, crop, or 4/3rds. If you want high DOF- wide glass and stop it down a bit. Narrow DOF- longer glass, and leave it wide open. Most skydiving photography is from pretty wide angle glass, in strong light, so a big range of aperture settings are available. Same glass to same glass, I haven't noticed that big of a DOF difference (FOV...sure... but not much of the DOF front) between full frame and crop. Most of the examples I have seen that have big DOF difference with full frame vs crop are with "equivalent" glass, not the same glass- 50MM on crop vs 80mm on full frame for example. There is a difference, but IMO, it is really slight and easily compensated with glass/ and "f" settings Anyway, for me DOF is low on the list of what camera to buy because it is something the photographer has a lot of control over. What we don't have control over...and are things that help me choose what to buy- weight, general quality, frame rate, shutter lag,cost etc. For me, this is why a crop is better than a full frame, and why something like a 4/3rds is better than a crop for skydiving. The attached pics were taken with a 4/3rds camera with a 2.0X crop factor, and a 20mm lens. That works out to the equivalent of a 40mm lens on a full frame. The pics are not exactly low DOF or high bokeh. I will check the meta data if you would like, but I think these were shot around F9. Off on a bit of a tangent there... but things have been slow in the photo/video forum! :)

FPS for video or stills? The 1DX will rock out 12fps if you are willing to strap that monster (size and price!) body to your head. In many ways a sports photogs dream (just not our sport! ha) I think you will see full frame continue to get into smaller frame cameras at lower prices... but more importantly I think you will see mirrorless (or similar) cameras continue to become more capable. So, the lower end coming up may benefit us more than the high end coming down. Can get an EPM1 for under 300 bucks now...crazy!

Maybe this is too much of a tangent....but from seeing guys like this over the years, it is not just a question of if their landings look scary as shit or not. There are things to consider other than how deep in the corner they are, and other factors that get people who don't have the experience to back up their wing choice into trouble. It's usually not... 5 deep in the corner landings followed by a chopper ride. Its the unusual situations... traffic, thin air, bad winds, low light, new landing area, and the famous "oh shit" situation where experience can mean the difference. Knowing when not to swoop... knowing when to dial things up and dial them down... knowing how to save your life when not swooping and shit happens. What STA and coach types do is their own call, but it isn't as simple as just watching a landing or two to be able to determine if they will be the next grease spot of not. *edit to add- no disrespect meant to Ian or Doc in the reply... re-read it and sounded a bit dickheaded

Interesting to read this old thread and see how things have changed. I remember seeing my first DSLR in the late 90's. It was 6 megapixle, and cost 5 grand. It is very cool how far the full frame sensors have come, but to me the more interesting thing is what is happening in the mirror-less world. The image quality and performance you can get out of a camera that weighs less than a pound (with lens and bat) and the size of a cell phone is pretty sweet. IMO, some are %90 to the performance of the consumer level DSLR's that are (and have) dominated skydiving still cameras for years and are smaller than just the lens on many of them. Who knows where skydiving will go, but I think there is a good chance we will see more of these as they continue to improve, and less of the larger consumer/pro-consumer/pro DSLR's for the non IMAX video guys. For the type of pics I am taking now, I don't see a good argument for me to strap the canon DSLR back on, and take the mirrorless off.

I have a few hundred jumps on them, on different canopies and in different rigs (Details below). I have not noticed any change in the speed of the deployment. The only thing I have noticed is that getting to "snatch" seems more smooth. You do not feel any pulse or vibrations as the lines are unstowing. From pitch, to snatch is one fluid motion (maybe that is what you are feeling?). Jav, Vector 3, Infinity containers. Stiletto, Katana, Velo mains

Yes. Some prefer them...and they do have some nice things about them. You will never see someone fall over gearing up when they are doing the one legged balance hop to get their leg through their leg straps. Easy to remove in the landing area to walk in. The risk of twisting a strap doesn't matter as much now that leg mounted PC's have go the way of the B-12...wait...strike that. Usually see them on legstraps (chest straps seem more uncommon) As A jump master I liked them because they made gearing up students easy. The biggest drawback that I know of is just the cost and uncool factor. For the sequence- I find the rig is more comfortable if I get the chest strap tight first. Even more so if it is a rig where the laterals are not the best length for you.

+1 I started jumping ellipticals at 1.3 to 1 or so.... LOVED the way they flew and responded. Over time I ended up downsizing to near 2:1 on the same wing. I loved the same wing at 1.3, and at over 1.9. I think a lot of people assume if you go down an aggressive canopy path your end goal is being a super swooper and off the wing loading charts. They might be at the peak of their performance higher on the wingloading chart, but they can still be sweet wings at lower WL's

Similar setup for me. When I was learning to do gear checks, a buddy told me the your leg s traps and chest straps are critical. If your RSL is connected correctly or not won't matter if you fall out of the harness. When I put my gear on, I do it in one step...and without distraction. I get my chest strap and legs done up first without moving/walking/ talking/ fucking with my camera, wings etc. Even on back to backs, you will see me standing and getting those done correctly before hauling ass to the mockup or plane. I don't gear up in the loading area, or leave things loose (or off) until i'm on the plane. That's just me, and I know lots of folks who walk around with loose leg straps, or undone chest straps until they get on/near the plane (to each their own) ...but getting the harness on and not correctly and fully is high priority.

stay away from the flames! My honest, flame free take on it- 1. B-12's still have friction adapters that have to be routed right. The idea is you don't have to fully route them every time...but they still have to be routed correctly or they will fail. 2. They are not fool proof either. The springs and gates can be damaged or broken. You can get fabric stuck in the gate (the gear checks we used to do included snapping the gates to make sure you can hear the metal on metal "click" to insure it wasn't jammed with material). So you still have to check it to make sure it is working/routed properly. 3. They look lame. Like it or not, several things (even if they are safer) in this sport are associated with "old school", dino, uncool types of things. B-12's are on that list.

I saw one in the showroom...and it wasn't as small as I was hoping it would be. Compared to the APS sony's and 4/3rds cameras...it is still significantly larger. For some it might be a good upgrade and save a little size/weight, but IMO, it's not small enough to really get excited about. These guys do good reviews, and have some good info on the camera. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BG5wq-CXyQ&feature=share&list=UUuw8B6Uv0cMWtV5vbNpeH_A

The first use of the "shake" that I remember was similar to your thumbs up. It was the last guy on, or someone who could see everyone inside the plane letting the outside count know that everyone is ready. It was the green light to start the count. You still see some teams that use it similarly (but all given by inside center) with the shake, then a ready, set go. Shake, set go seems to be more common. At first, as a camera guy I preferred the outside counts. With inside counts it can be impossible to see them sometimes from the step. I now leave when I see the team leaving...and try not to pay attention to the count at all. I dont mind it now, and almost prefer it. If you are jumping with people you dont usually jump with, it can be easy to mistake someone getting their footing, or moving in the door for a leg swing or set...and end up with camera in freefall looking up at the 4 way on the plane. From a fun jumper standpoint, I like OC (or whoever is outside) giving a big leg swing..but that s just me.

I looked it up, and it looks like I was wrong. SIM says PCIT is a "total". When I started, a total was "nothing" was out...but that was also in the days of spring loaded student main rigs where you could "pull" the main rip and have nothing happen. Might just be semantic...but probably me just being old and out dated :) a) A total malfunction includes deployment handle problems (unable to locate or extract the main parachute deployment handle), pack closure, and a pilot chute in tow. Edit to add- To me though, what I would do in the situation where I couldn't find my handle and had nothing out...would be different than what I would do in a PCIT.

Might want to clarify- Are you talking about a true "total" with nothing out at all, or are you talking about a PC in tow? A true total, like just not being able to find you hackey, for me there is no reason to cut away. The debate is usually around PC in tow (or similar) since something is out but your container is still closed...and it may or may not deploy at some point. For either...whichever game plane you come up with, execute it quickly. :)

A good friend of mine saw the paragliding pilots doing helis and wanted to try it on his Velo. He did a few hop-n-pops and g ave it a try. He had a few times where the helis started, and was able to keep it more above his head, but flying backwards (as opposed to going to the horizon in more of a sat). I don't think he ever got more than a revolution or two, and they still looked pretty....um... abrupt/crazy compared to paragliding wings. He tried it for a few jumps and decided it was best left to acro wings. Not something I would try, but I can't knock guys for trying out new things or pushing the limits a bit. I'll see if i can find his videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u5w5ihIps8 Edit to add URL

Not sure about that, but can we start up the who stole/copied what from who argument again? :) just kidding

One other thing... you are doing GREAT for exiting a Caravan. I still usually trail exits from 208's because I can't get as far back as I like to...and on many exits it is hard to go one handed unless you are getting a major break from the prop blast from Tail/OC.

Overall really good! some feedback- jump 1- the proxy (shoe checks as I like to call them) with tail is usually caused by 2 things- Not getting far enough back on exits like H's and A's, and also by stepping out (left) too much, and not back enough. If you exit at the same time like that and think step BACK, not OUT, it also helps prevent the second problem of you getting in their burble. If you let the team go left, and take the clean air to their right, and then make a 90 degree left turn when you get on top of them...you are in clean air the whole time. If you are inline with them and pop over them, it is easy to end up right on top and in the burble like in that video. Jump 2- a leading exit, overall not bad if that's the style of exit you want. Maybe a hair early...but not bad. 3- not bad (esp for a blown exit). If you can, might try letting go of the left hand right before you think it is time to exit. Usually not hard if you have some wind break out there. Also, might try looking down (many say to look at the wheel) before exit. This exit shows the 90 degree turn over the top noted above very well. 4. over all good. same risk as jump one by exiting more left than back, but you flew it just fine. 5. not bad 6. might have left early...but hard to tell how it would have looked if they didn't blow the exit. 7. hair early but not bad 8. nice. I keep thinking to exit BACK and not Left...but that's just the way I like to fly mine. Looks like what you did worked for you there 9. ok... it didn't work for you on this one :) again, think about getting BACK on the step and with your arms. letting go of the left hand right before exit might help you get back a little more. also just think exit back, and not out/left. take the clean air next to the plane and let the formation rotate out of your way to the left. Ideally (for me) on H's and P's if you go back and not left, 1 second or so into the exit the entire formation tail/inside center should be a few feet to your left and not inline with you Overall you are doing better than most video guys out there! Thanks for posting these, and I hope the tips help. I know everyone has different styles and different advice, but hopefully you will find something that works best for you and your team.

Can be lots of things. Some times canopies just like to turn.... elliptical and more loaded wings are known to do anything from a little hunting, to radical turns on opening. As your canopy becomes more high performance, they tend to be more responsive to any inputs (harness, body position, grabbing your risers asymmetrically, trying to "fly" the opening,...just about anything). Even a moderately loaded tapered canopy can take you for a tour of the horizon once in a while. How is your line trim/line-set? Sometimes new lines will make a huge difference.

you can take a stock school bus, station wagon, mustang, viper or F1 car to the track to race. they will all do it... but that's not what they were all designed to do or do well. I saw a video last week of someone swooping a Pulse. Looked like a good pilot and they got a nice swoop out of the deal. I've seen similar on almost every modern canopy. They will all do it... some just better tools for the job.

What main is that at 1:10? I had an old sabre 150 that used to open like that... where it almost seems to open into a stall before it starts to fly. T he slider was down but the wing didn't seem like it was really pressurized yet. It would open like that... and or it would knock the living shit out of me. :) Nice edit. Look forward to seeing more as you keep learning over the summer.

It's a sellers market for sure. My team just went to all one AAD manufacture. The "other" AAD's we replaced all sold very quickly. Didn't matter if they were really new, or heavily used. High demand, low supply.