TomAiello

From what I can see, the container looks fine. I'd recommend trading up from that old Fury, though. Have you guys found Dead Steve's exit out there? The one where Steve M. had a wall strike, put himself in the hospital, and consequently avoided being on an aircraft that exploded in midair? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Something I wrote earlier, in another thread: If you find yourself starting a thread specifically about another poster, I strongly urge you to reconsider. Personal threads are silly, usually pointless, and mostly devolve into flame fests. Such threads are viewed with the utmost skepticism by the moderators, so be prepared for them to be removed without notice. If you want to start a general discussion about underage BASE jumpers, BASE jumpers without previous skydiving experience, instructors and students becoming romantically involved, or any of the other issues in that case, please feel free to do so (or revive any of the older threads on the appropriate topic) in general terms. To me, this post looks like a rather transparent attempt to bait flames and start a shouting match. I'm locking it. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The suits I've replaced zippers on were a Classic II and a Skyflyer 1. I suspect that BM upgraded their zippers at some point, because this used to be something I'd hear about frequently, but it's not that way anymore. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

They're good people. We see Scott down here every month or so BASE jumping. SARLDO, the web site is JHParagliding.com, or you can email Scott@JHParagliding.com or call (307) 690-8726. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Local. I just went to a local sewing store, and looked through their selection of zippers. They had some luggage zippers in various lengths that worked well. I don't know. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've replaced the entire zipper on three occasions for this problem. I also went with a burlier zipper than the one that came originally on one of those suits (I used a luggage zipper). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Yes, assuming that you have an on-heading opening. This is because the overall magnitude of the acceleration is less, because the canopy with the shallower brakes is moving faster (and in the same direction as the jumper) than the canopy with deeper brakes. As a radically oversimplified example: If you are tracking forward at 20 mph, and your canopy opens flying 10 mph in the same direction, your acceleration is -10 mph (you end up going 10 mph slower than you started). If you are tracking forward at 20 mph, and your canopy opens flying at 5 mph in the same direction, your acceleration is -15 mph. The deeper brake setting then gives you a larger change in velocity (i.e. more acceleration). It's important to remember that acceleration has both speed and direction components, though, so as soon as you're talking about motion in different directions (which is pretty much every real world case), the changes in acceleration become significantly more complex. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The copy on the SnakeRiverBASE.com web site is more recent than the one posted here (I am not in direct control of the articles posted here, so I can't keep them updated as easily). That copy of the article (here, as .pdf file) includes a section on canopy sizing. For the original poster, I'd say a canopy in the 300+ size range is appropriate (Ace/Blackjack 310, Troll 305, Flik 322, Rock Dragon 313, etc). Do not be confused by the various size numbers. Many of these canopies are very similar sizes despite a few feet either way in the placarded sizes. Just try to demo the various offerings and pick the one that works best for you, without thinking (for example) that the Blackjack "310" is going to be noticeably larger than the Troll "305," or whatever. For what it's worth, my personal preference is the same as Dave O's (Blackjack 310), but everyone has different personal preferences (that's why they're called that), so you'll want to try to demo various different canopies for yourself, to form an educated opinion. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It is my opinion, based on my own perceptions and talking with others, that an opening on a canopy with shallower brake settings (relative to the jumper's weight) will be perceived by the jumper as "harder." I believe this is because the jumpers body is accelerated in a different direction. What we perceive as a "hard" opening is basically the maximum acceleration (at any single point) in the opening sequence. If that point occurs because you are being spun around, or surged forward, or pushed backward, it's still the maximum point. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

That was my first thought, also. My second thought was "how are your deep brakes?" If they are too shallow, the off heading can feel like a hard opening because the surge moves your body in a different direction (giving a feeling of acceleration as your body changes directions). This can also make on heading openings with shallow brakes feel "hard' even when they are pretty much the same as any other opening, but the effect appears to seem greater with off headings. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've split several posts discussing the value of The List off this thread. You can find that discussion here. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've split this thread off the Jimmy Hall fatality thread. Let's try to keep that thread as a positive condolences and memories thread for the deceased, and discuss other issues in separate threads. Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

All, I cleaned some posts out of this thread by request of the photographer and poster. In order to do so, I also had to remove the following photos: Posted by Xomato, photo by Xomato (Starting Point of No Return) Posted by Tobiasz, photo by Tobiasz (Another perspective) Posted by Bowie, photo by Atle Dahl (Favorite from last summer in Norway) Posted by Tobiasz, photo by Tobiasz (When the weather is bad in MB) -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I doubt very much that people who are actually out making real, physical world BASE jumps are the target market for any BASE jumping video game. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The only people who moderate each forum are the folks whose names are listed at the top of the main page for that forum. In this case, that's just me. So, if moderation action is taken in this forum it was either done by me, or by Sangiro, who, although he's not a BASE jumper, is the guy who pays the bills around here. If you have a complaint about the moderation generally, or about my removal of Nick's thread at his request specifically, I suggest you direct it to either myself or Sangiro. Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's working fine for me. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Is it physically attached to the house? If it's not, down in Twin Falls you don't need a permit to alter it. Not sure about up there, though. I've done a huge amount of renovation on our house, so I've pulled several permits, and I've asked the various inspectors about future plans (which include back yard alterations) as I went. Basically, the rule here is that if it's not attached to the house you can declare it "temporary" or something like that, and you don't need a permit. Structurally, the best way I've found to remove that kind of support pillar is to replace the beam it's supporting with something strong enough to span the distance. In a house, that means it has to support the roof, but I'm assuming with your patio that's not the case? If it is structural, then 20' is a pretty big span, and you're going to be into either a very large laminate beam (or more than one) or a steel I-beam. Either way, probably more trouble than it's worth. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's very easy to pick out the single thing that got to you the most, and characterize that as indicative of the entire culture of the forums. It's very easy. But not necessarily accurate or fair. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The purpose of using two different lengths of cord isn't to prevent a hangup, it's to prevent a premature breakage. It essentially gives the break cord, which usually works, a second chance in the event that it fails the first time. The reason to make the two engage at different times is so that if there is some unusual circumstance that prematurely breaks the first cord, it is no longer taking place when the second one loads. Without subjecting me to math, can you tell me if this line of reasoning is or isn't supported by your calculations? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Which makes it all the more amusing that the moderators' job is to make people behave like they're not in kindergarten. "Damn it! I'm an adult! I have a right to act like a child! You can't make me act like an adult, because I'm an adult, damn it!" -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

CR standard is a small mesh slider. Sail (F-111) slider's are also available as an option. Kris, are you using a deployment bag, or freepacking the canopy? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'd say around US$1500, at a rough guess. It depends on the condition, the size of the canopy, and also on the specific characteristics of that Odyssey (they varied a lot from one to the next). I'd say the canopy is about a quarter of the way through it's life span, maybe more (again, depends on wear). It cost roughly US$1600 new (again, depends on the size). If we say that Odyssey is worth US$500, and the canopy is worth US$1000, that puts us around US$1500. I'd say the Flik is the more desirable part of that system, since the Odyssey has no manufacturer support, was from a small manufacturer to begin with, and is velcro, which is in less demand these days. You might be able to get more money for it if you sold the Flik separately, or picked up a 2nd hand pin rig to put it into, but you might also get stuck with the Odyssey that way. If I was selling it, and wanted to move it quickly, I'd price it around $1500. If I wanted more money out of it, and was willing to take a little more time, I'd price it around $1800. In either case, I'd prepare to negotiate. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Have you done this on a slider down jump? It seems like too slow of a rotation for slider down. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I do not believe so. If memory serves, Stitch hung from a tower in a more typical BASE fashion (following an off heading opening and object strike). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'm not aware of any cases of this happening on a BASE jump, but I agree that it would be a tremendous physical shock. I do know of some cases where a similar thing happened on static line jumps from aircraft, but in those cases the jumper would have travelled less distance before stopping (because they were closed container incidents). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com