gzimmermann

Carving and tighter flocks, that will take it to a new level. Love it!

When we jumped in Perris in April there was a big note at the entry to office/manifest: "Apaches are grounded until a modification by manufacturer is available..." I should have taken a pic of it, but still I wonder why they seem to let jump people with Apaches right on the only one DZ I've seen having this note. We were told to wear helmets until 1K explicitly in the plane there and not having them attached to the chest strap plus a TI thought I had my Skyhook shackle attached the wrong way. So a safe DZ overall I thought...

It's of course the 1000 m window of the PPC, Paralog Performance Competition. And yes, 70 sec is not impressive. Although it was rather easy to achieve with the X2 on less than 15 flights experience with it. With the V4 I was not able to get this time. A lot has been said. I would like to add: When flying with S-Bird, R-Bird majority flocks with my Phantom 2 or Ghost 3 I always get the feeling that these suits fly slower. I have to fly dirty much more than when I fly with other Phantoms. So yes, Tony WS and Phoenix-Fly suits seem to have some differences by design and across the brand range.

I agree. I am the proud owner of both suits, X2 21 jumps, V4 about 40. For me, and this may be personal, coming from other Phoenix-Fly suits, the V4 is way easier to fly. Precise movements to do transitions with others just work with this suit. Sharp, precise turns, dive and flare out, deploy... everything feels way easier and more natural with the V4. The X2 flies slower, seems to glide better (I get 70 seconds from 4K to 3K and know I am not at the limit yet). I (still) do not like to fly the X2 very much though and prefer the V4.

Looks like a good modification to me. The one concern I would have: Maybe there is a risk that after deployment when the jumper sinks into the harness, leg straps, the handles might disappear into the shoulder area of the suit. Probably make sure you keep your knees bent throughout the whole opening sequence and until the leg wing zipper is open. As others I am still wondering what actual effect and benefit the integration of the shoulder part and chest strap of the rig into the suit brings. The risk taken in case of a malfunction seems rather high to me.

They just said in about 20 minutes, so about 14:15h UK time.

I love this helmet and now have more than 100 jumps on it. The fogging issue has not been that bad to me because I got the modification at purchase already. What I do not like: The visor was "cracking" and showed mate spots event though I only cleaned it with a micro-fiber cloth and water. Let them fix it, really! Today one of the rubber bands broke which makes it difficult to have the visor closed on jumps. Seems these are common spare parts, they sell them in six-packs for USD 15.... Suggestion: If they are spare parts, make sure you pack some of them in every delivery, they are only worth a few cents and the owner can at least replace them with common tools. Plus please fix the coating issue, immediately, and let us know when!

I just went through the questionnaire briefly. I will participate and I for myself very much appreciate Rich's way in gathering more opinions. To me it is not at all about USPA and potentially fees involved. It is about avoiding tragic accidents in a discipline that is growing rapidly. Just to mention some recent issues and rumors: - Tail strikes due to improper exits. They seem to grow to an extent that the community does not even share all evidence anymore. Like: Was there an incident in Germany with a Pac recently and is there even some footage around that nobody wants to share? Do we dare to talk to a colleague who is experienced but jumps out of a Caravan with open leg wing? Does a DZ moving from a Porter to a Pac take ideas on how to implement rules for Wingsuiters to exit more safely from the new jumpship? - Is there a need to separate WS flightpaths and deployment zones from Tandems? - Is it ok to turn 180 in the flightpath used by other wingsuiters? Happened to me more than once... - And my most recent one: A fatality reported in Hungary which seems to have some reason in lacking proper training to get out of instability. I believe that the most important organization in the world representing "our" discipline should take all actions needed to make it even safer. Not by bringing unnecessary rules but by taking it at the roots: Basic safety requirements and a mandatory introduction. Just like they have done with canopy flying for B-license only recently. If this involves a new rating for coaching/instruction, then YES! I very much like sharing the sky with a growing number of fellow wingsuiters. I make my mistakes and take feedback. Let's make sure, newcomers have a good start!

A friend of mine just recently paid 80 USD. She packed 3 times under coaching, more or less 4 hours work. Rather cheap if the instructor does a good job if you ask me. I heard that in other countries almost every spare minute is spent with practicing packing on the way to the license. Unlike in the US where you can pay a few bucks for a packjob and progress to the B or 80 jumps without having a real clue of packing (like myself). I was happy - and also a little regretful - to learn how to properly check for lineovers and some tricks to get regular on-heading openings (body position given) only after some 500 pack jobs from a good friend having suffered from proper packing training in his starting days...

Maybe a quick hint here to avoid zipper sliders to be damaged: I always pull the sliders with my fingers on the attached strap, never the pull tab itself. This makes sure the pull tab can adjust its angle to the slider and no force is applied which could make the tab break. If it breaks and the slider is still good a small key ring does the job too and the strap can be attached to this ring.

You could be right for Switzerland. Just checked FB: Tony has close to 4000 friends, Robi close to 2000. Some of them are family and non-skydivers, so let's take 50 away. Brings us to about 5950 ;) The big questions: How many are friends of Tony AND Robi? How many of Tony's friends are not wingsuiters? How many wingsuiters are not friends with them or fly other brands? though cookies....

Just please think about the person handicaped with his/her legs potentally jumping your robot constuction and others being there in the same airspace. Never mind about legal issues. Sorry, had to say this.

Honestly, knowing I am on thin ice and in no way I want to offend someone: After 270 WS jumps, close to 500 jumps overall I am just starting to know what I don't know. I am not an engineer but have some experience what can be done and not. No way I would say technology could substitute for human capabilities. And by this I mean physical and mental. I for my part would not jump even feeling a little dizzy, a sore shoulder or hangover! For the sake of myself and others... Let me be more specific on my position: As a 6 year old boy I wanted to become a pilot. Unfortunately I was diagnosed as shortsighted and had to wear glasses and contact lenses for the rest of my life. My visual capabilities with lenses are as good or even better compared to the average >40 years old right now. Still I would not be admitted to fly a commercial or military jet plane. Sorry...

Matt, I pmd you with a friend's name. We will be in Elsinore for training March 29th onwards. We might go to Eloy, Mesquite and have fun and cool jumps for 2 weeks afterwards. 4 Swiss Shadows and Phantoms, would be nice to have you joining for some.

My take: you are tall. You have the money saved for trip, stay (hopefully coaching for FJC) and a wingsuit that fits you, smells freshly and acts like the Swiss army knife. Order a P3 to start and grow with it! Go to Elsinore, DSE and fellow coaches or try the new WS school in Perris (heard of) 20 minutes away. Drive to Eloy once bored to enjoy a new scenic flight. Do your jumps with some tracking before. Rent an Intro, I-, T-bird on your journey and decide later. Selling a P3 with your measurements would be easy. Getting one short term not so much.

P2-G3-V4-X2 and Shadow, on order. I try to keep the amount of wingsuits and days jumped them in line with my business suits. Doesn't work always though. Oh, and why the Shadow? It is nice to have a free hand to dock with friends after the trick.

My previous container was an I5, Smart 160, Pilot 168 ZPX. With Skyhook. I changed the Pilot 168 ZPX for a Storm 150. All I can say is the container did not feel loose in these configurations.... But as others said: Ask Aerodyne.

The PF guys would have to step in here. I can imagine that there is indeed a difference between the Ghost3 and the Havok (if this will be the name and the new suit at all). Just like there is also a difference between the Shadow and the Phantom. The Havok might be a new generation for acro competitions. Better glide, more time to do the tricks but probably also less agile than the Shadow. Just my speculation but will be interesting to follow. Here's a nice vid from Benoit and Jarno, if I am not wrong powered by the Havok: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvYittpUPXM&feature=player_embedded

Interesting. I remember having read somewhere that the Optimum in fact behaves, scales like a bigger than advertised canopy size. Eg the 143 like a 154. I remember something about a PID standard to measure this? Could someone clarify please?

I recently switched from an Icon to the 310. Optimum 160 and Storm 150 are fine on mine, were tight-tight on my friend's rig. UPT has the WS mod with corners, longer bridle an 30-PC. The semi-stowless is really great, I had 1 180 line twist on my last 40 jumps, the rest straight. I consider myself as average packer at best... To consider: the 310 is shorter than other rigs carrying these size of canopies. If you go with Tony wingsuits, this fact is relevant. Not so much with PF, it will just unzip your arm zippers higher at deployment. Most important: do not take the largest Micron just because of the name and consider your wingload on reserve and main as others have said. Difficult openings and potential outlandings are more common with WS than with FF!

I've been there pretty much exactly only just recently. In addition to Spot I would point to: - G3 has the same ground and safety handling (attach to rig, release cables) as the P2. - G3 certainly has a higher range and flies differently because of the "connection" of arm and leg wing. Really using this range and manage the suit on your back is a great next challenge after the P2. - If you don't want to make use of that extended range (for some flocking tasks e.g.) you may still and always go back to the P2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8YPPjseegA Recently discovered skydiving? Youtube or jumped already? Friends who aggressively wingsuit? And looking out for the cheapest DZ near you. The answers are simple: 1. Lodi 2. Hollister 3. Consider your goal and the monetary, personal and other's safety cost associated with it. Renting and owning a rig, jump suit, wingsuit gets you to 5-10k (not feet) before your first jump. Do you have healthcare, liability insurance? Do you take the risks for yourself and others seriously? 200 jumps minimum to go into wingsuiting times 10 USD makes 2000 USD. That is the difference between the cheapest to an average cost dropzone. The cheaper one may be ok for the experienced skydivers but probably not for newcomers. Please make a good choice for the sake of yourself and your fellow jumpers. I forgot to add: Cost for helmet, altimeters, gopro or contour. But more important: Cost for coaching. This is VERY important and prices are pretty much equal in the US. The instructors/coaches do make the difference, no matter how much you pay for the jump.

If you just want to contact PF, then info@phoenix-fly.com as per their website. If you want to ask general questions about their wingsuits, you may want to ask Jarno, under mccordia in this forum. If you want to get into wingsuit flying, a good address might be DSE. Among others he sort of represents PF in the US and provides a great first flight training program, can measure you and rent you suits for the first steps. If you want to order a suit for the US (you are in Florida based on your profile) Morpheus might help you. Some of it is mentioned here: [url]http://www.phoenix-fly.com/products/dealers DSE and mccordia can be found in the thread about the US performance cup just below and PMd or Emailed to.

You're right, one reason for it. And KrisflyZ: yes, blinking. Edit to add: How many of you have turned off the FlySight while under canopy, turning off the camera also because you knew that of the 16GB space a lot was used already and you have had so many landings filmed already? I have, I admit it and I know there's a lot out there that I know not yet!

I know you had Klaus from Paralog involved all the time. I recently tried to download a week's data from Lodi, Hollister and Elsinore into Paralog and had a lot of failures (about 50% or more) although I had clear audible feedback and green light on the FlySight during the jumps. When looking at the files with Explorer they showed reasonable size and table data but Paralog still would not accept them. Just saying, not wanting to blame the Flysight-Paralolg link.