BrianSGermain

I have really been enjoying doing the "Safety First with Brian Germain" recurring segment on Skydive Radio and would like to put a shout out to all of you to ask Dave and Stump for a little more time on the show. This is easily done from your standpoint. Just conjure a really good question, one that leads the discussion in an interesting direction, ideally one that others will benefit from. When they see that there is lots to talk about, they are sure to give us a little more air time. Please email Skydive Radio with your Questions at: dave@skydiveradio.com or send them to me directly at Brian@bigairsportz.com See you on the air! -Brian + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Yes it does! Keep in mind that I had my own low pass, so I don't think it was immoral. Rules are meant to make worried people less worried. It usually doesn't work, and the rules usually just rob the human spirit of full expression. Worriers do not get alleviation from suffering through the rules anyway, that requires inner work, not outer controls. We will never get everyone in the world to do what pleases us, so we might as well let them do what makes sense to them, and do what makes sense to us. That's what freedom is all about, isn't it? Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

It is. I am flying the new Sensei in both the 101 and 91 square foot versions. Way, way fun. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Did you like the music? Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Sorry Brian, I wasn't trying to imply that your video was pointless. Just a personal peeve of mine -- I like to see a brief description of what a video is about, before I decide whether to click through to watch it (no matter how well known the author is). I understand. Your time is valuable. Knowing this, I only post links to my favorite videos, the one's that I believe folks will enjoy. Did you enjoy it? -Brian Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Some of us got good at our deployment position and don't need to practice it a whole lot more, then there's the others..... I always thought of flat flying the whole time like eating in the bathroom, waiting for the inevitable conclusion. :) The truth is, I love flat flying. There are things you can do only on your belly. Skydiving is wonderful, no matter where the ground is! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

It is your choice where you want to look during opening. I personally get a better idea about my canopy's heading if I look at it. Not to mention, every jump I make is a test jump, and I am collecting vital data about the parachute's opening characteristics. That being said, I agree that looking out for other canopies after opening is very important. -BSG Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Haha. Does it really have to be about something? Hopefully it makes you feel good when you watch it. That's really all I am every trying to accomplish when I make a video like this. It is about sharing a series of beautiful moments, and the incredibly positive feeling I get when I throw my body at the planet and miss. -BSG Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Yip, it is the best design I have seen. I can hook you up. Just PM me, email me at brian@bigairsportz.com, or call me at (703) 349-2639 Brian Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

That sounds like Cathy. She is the hardest working person in skydiving, and has a lot of heart. You can see it in every aspect of her DZ. It is a truly great place to jump. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Yup, I made another one to get you through the snowy winter! Enjoy!! Brian To watch, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0nLelXWodw Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

These are all very common questions. All I can say is, you need to actually try it. The whole point is to learn the ACTUAL length of the base leg. That part, unlike the Downwind and Final, is NOT a variable. If you get consistent with the distance from the B to the A, you will learn the angle that the target will lie as you look from the B point view. I understand that this is not a complete formula for accuracy, but it is part of the formula. Let's face it, most people do not have a formula at all, which is why most people do not land on the target. This gives folks a place to start. Something I neglected to mention in the article is, you can have and "E" point too, just up wind of the target, on the windline. This will help put things together for you. If there is no wind at all, being at 1500 feet above the target, using 1200 for D, 900 for C, 600 for B and 300 for A, you will land on the target, bingo. Since there is usually some wind at altitude, even on a "no wind day", we need to expect this and compensate for it by placing the E point upwind of the target. The windier it is, the farther you need place it be upwind. Eureka! As for the breakdown of the pattern point in uniform increments, it is essential for a scientific inquiry. It is a math thing. As for your question regarding the amorphousness of the location of the D point, it is not amorphous at all if you know where you were. If you crossed the windline that transects the target at the correct altitude (1200), you simply notice where you ended up. Did you land long, or need to make maneuvers (such as S turns ) that prevented this? Your D point was too far upwind of the target. Next jump, make it closer to the target. If you landed short of the target or needed to rear riser to make it there, or cut off the corner somewhere to prevent yourself from landing short, you were too close to the target. Next jump, make your D point farther upwind of the target. Wallah! Brian Germain Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Wow, that was a fantastIc question. I think it is ultimately both of these solutions that get us to th target, and neither will alter the data coming in from the pre-base leg. Watching the angle is always necessry for flying a good approach, as is making changes along the way if things look wrong. A few pure approaches, with no modificatin the flightpath can yeildnsome very valuable information. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

The point of this is not necessarily to do it on every single jump. It is a data-collection method that helps us discover the canopy's glide ratio so we can create accurate altitude-location checkpoints. Once you know the proportions, you can go back to flying a more "normal pattern". Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

It will help somewhat, but since upper level winds rarely reflect the direction and magnitude of the ground winds, the information will most likely be erroneous. If there is no wind at all, the information will be invaluable. I suggest running through a pattern on a now wind day up high. You will learn the distances necessary for a good pattern, and be able to extrapolate from there. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Bingo. It essential that the landing be into the wind for this method to work. However, it is not really necessary to fly this kind of approach on every single jump. Even if you only do it once in a while as a refresher, and when you are landing at a new location, you will reap huge benefits. When you are landing crosswind, you will need to compensate for increased distance across the ground when you have a tail wind, and the reduced distance when going into the wind, but at least you have taken the time to create a base-frame understanding of the scope of the pattern. Try it. You will be surprised how far you travel on your base leg. It is an eye-opener! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

You will. Until then, remember to appreciate each and every step of the way. There is no destination, only the journey. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

It is true that it makes things easier to place the "D" point the correct distance upwind of the target, but it is not essential. As long as you are in the ballpark, you can alter the angle of one of the legs (any of them, in fact), and you can get back on track. If you choose not to compensate, you will collect exactly the data you need to hit the target on the next jump. Just notice if you are short or long (high or low on the approach), and adjust the location of the "D" point accordingly. The whole objective here is to learn how long the base leg needs to be, which is something of a mystery for most canopy pilots. This is usually the reason why folks overshoot or undershoot. It may seem backwards, but by taking the time to learn the gliding-distance for 300 feet of decent, we can create a good approach that required minimal corrections along the way. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it. I look forward to many more courses in the coming year! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

One would think so, but if the pattern is flown correctly, hitting the points at the appropriate altitude, the east/west component, (what I call "depth), requires minimal correction to hit the target. If you are high, just extend the Base leg, and if you are low, just cut off the corner a bit by turning final early. If your base leg is not the correct length (the "B" point is wrong), there is a great deal of correction necessary to hit the slope that leads to the target. The goal here is to put ourselves on a flight path that is perpendicular to the Final, and wait for the angle to look right. Then, we simply turn final and reap the benefits of a good plan. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

We are testing the 71 now. It is opening and flying great. We expect to have it available shortly. Here is a pic of Stacy Carl flying it at nationals. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I would like to begin a thread here to discuss the recent article I posted entitled "The 'D' Point". I know it may be a lot to digest for some, and thought it might be a good idea to further the conversation so everyone understands what I was trying to say. Did it make sense to everyone? Brian Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Bingo. I couldn't have said it better myself. You have to start a long way from the entry gate when going downwind, and remember to account for the very slow progress in heading upwind to the initiation point. Practice makes perfect, and focusing only on the center-line for starters will help prevent the "Entry Gate Trap". Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Amazing! Now quick question, do you have any videos / talks for guys and gals who have less than say 50 jumps? Or talks / videos for people coming back in after an injury?

It is most likely that the extra drag from a small round canopy, if attached to the jumper, would increase the decent rate of the system. Remember that the flight path of a parachute is based in part on the balance of drag between the canopy drag (D1) and the pilot drag (D2). When you increase the drag source at the bottom of the equation (D2), you effectively keep the canopy in the dive. If it is already spinning, it will continue to spin, but most likely on a different axis. If, however, a larger round canopy was deployed, say 20-30 feet in diameter, the spin would have stopped and the second canopy would become dominant. That assumes that the reserve avoids entangling with the main, which is not a certainty. Tossing the canopy itself, in a bag, in the direction of the spin can reduce the risk of entanglement however, and there are lots of people have done this successfully. This is, in fact, how paraglider reserves work, although I would take a cutaway and reserve deployment over that if I had the choice. Hope this clarifies things. BSG Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com