TomAiello

That seems like a lot of "apple v. orange" to draw any conclusions from, either way. When I took my FOX 265 and put vents into it (the exact same canopy--I just shipped it back to BR and they sewed vents into the bottom skin), my experience was very different from yours. This suggests to me that the difference in what you are experiencing is not specifically related to the vents. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Pretty much. Some people like to use some kind of restrictor around the base of the pack job (I do this), while others are worried about leaving it on (a pretty legitimate concern). So, if you do this, I recommend using a large and brightly colored clamp, rather than a string or cord. Another reasonable option is to use masking tape, so that if you forget it, it will tear away on opening anyway. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

In my opinion (take note--just my opinion): The canopy opens in stages: After it reaches line stretch, the bottom skin expands outward as it catches air. In this stage, the canopy operates as an aerodynamic decelerator, and slows (greatly) your downward motion. Then, the cells inflate, and the canopy begins to operate as a wing, flying you (and itself) forward in the direction it is facing. This generates additional lift, further slowing the downward progress of the jumper. There is some lag between these two stages, during which the canopy has decelerated you (and/or is decelerating you) but is not yet functioning as a wing. The bottom skin inlets tend to synchronize these two stages (i.e. they greatly reduce the lag between them, perhaps to the point where for functional purposes, they occur at the same time). In theory, the secondary inlets would actually slightly slow the first stage (bottom skin expansion), but that effect is probably very small (so small I doubt you would notice it). The functional result is that the bottom skin inlets give you a canopy which is responsive to control inputs (for which it must have cell inflation) much sooner in the overall inflation sequence. The canopy can be turned, or flared, almost immediately upon bottom skin expansion (because cell inflation is happening concurrently). This does not mean, however, that bottom skin expansion (and hence aerodynamic deceleration) happens any sooner. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Can you explain why this is so? Won't the canopy decelerate you once the bottom skin expands, even before the cells inflate? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Can you explain how you think the bottom skin vents are going to change the opening characteristics for low stuff? The bottom skin vents work to synchronize bottom skin expansion with cell inflation. That won't stop you moving downward any faster. It appears to start you moving forward faster. In other words, I think that the bottom skin inlets have no effect on the first function of the parachute--as an aerodynamic deceleration device. They work primarily on the lag time between the use of the parachute as an aerodynamic decelerator and the beginning of it's use as a wing. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

My experience is that so long as you: 1) Maintain line tension; 2) Keep everything symmetric; and 3) Keep the lines in the middle and the fabric on the outside, You can pretty much let the rest of the details go. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'm very occasionally on AIM (actually I'm on iChat, but it uses the AIM system), where my username is just my email address (tbaiello@mac.com). I wouldn't describe myself as very experienced at the skyjumping thing, though. I've done a couple, but them danged aeroplanes scare me. I like my exits planted on solid ground, thank you very much. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

That kind of seems like overkill, since there is no container to keep closed. A more standard skydiving style velcroless toggle would probably be sufficient. What do you think? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I guess they're from the West Island? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Are you using "pin style" or "cloth stub style" toggles? I tend to agree with Faber that the main thing holding the toggle in place on the riser isn't the velcro--it's the brake setting. If you lose the brake setting, no amount of velcro (or velcro-less system) is going to help. If you lose the velcro (or velcro-less attachment) the brake setting will hold the toggle in place, regardless. All that said, I don't really see a problem with a velcroless toggle setup for BASE. Personally, I've considered using velcroless toggles, and if they were available, I'd probably buy some and start trying them out. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Not so. Some manufacturers do background checks, and ask for references before they sell gear. I get reference check calls from manufacturers more than once a month, and I'm sure others do, too. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Hey, I understand that there is now wingsuit instruction available at the DZ in Pepperell, MA (USA), with instruction from Brian Caldwell. Does anyone have any more info, or has anyone flown with Brian? Good to see the flocks growing.

Please read this announcement regarding multiple accounts. Urging other people to break the forum rules is pretty bad form. I've banned you from this forum for 30 days. I'm also going to lock this thread. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

In the US, you can jump any canopy you want as a main canopy, including a virtually identical copy (you'd have to add a few features, like a bridle attachment) of your reserve canopy. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Clicky -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Not unless he can fly halfway across the US just to mess with folks on this forum. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I wasn't thinking about legal ramifications, or what happens in court. I was thinking about what happens in backroom negotiations and committee meetings. In those cases, you might be better off to consult a lobbyist and a political spinner than to consult a lawyer. If your goal is just to get off, that's one thing. If your goal is to maintain the ability to effectively represent and negotiate in future processes, that's potentially an entirely different thing. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Also remember that some of the folks (well, more like all of them) involved in this situation are likely to meet again during the planning phase of this parks management policy. When that happens, and they discuss legal jumps and permitting, it's going to help a lot if the chief ranger (who is likely to be there) remembers them as "hey, those were the mature, professional guys" rather than "those were the guys who kept playing hard ass, and made me waste a bunch of my time." In this sense, Jimmy, Marta and Jay have really stepped up to take one for the team, accepting a bust for themselves, but retaining some credibility as responsible, professional representatives to negotiate for the rest of us. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

By bizarre coincidence, that's the photo on the official McConkey BASE cards, issued by Shane McConkey himself. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Define "BASE jumpers". How many jumps do you need to make in a week/month/year to be considered a BASE jumper? Or do you just need to have made a single BASE jump at some point in your lifetime? If it's the latter, I'd guess closer to 10,000. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Any idea how many DantheMan did in his first year? That guy appears to be on a real new object collection binge. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

You haven't been up here to visit lately, have you? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Raises hand... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Dude, you have to settle on one login name and use that. Send me a PM and let me know which one you want to use. Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Would you settle for her Swedish stunt double? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com