TomAiello

As there are no laws about base in Greece I hope this post is ok? Please read the Before You Post! guidelines, linked at the top of the page. The main reason to avoid discussing specific sites is not legality--it's safety. The potential for fatality is just as real in Greece as it is in California. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I learned to pack without clamps. I now pack with clamps, not because it's better, but because it's easier. I find it easier to get an acceptable (to me) pack job using clamps--I use less effort, I take less time, I sweat less. And that's the whole point of being a tool using animal, I suppose. I also teach a heavily clamped pack job because it's been my experience that beginners already have enough things to worry about while learning to pack, and the tools help them focus on the pack job, rather than the wrestling match. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Hey, I saw this smoke bracket in the classifieds. I realize that the creator of the bracket posts here, and can answer some of these questions (and has done so in the other thread), but I'd love to hear from anyone else who has used this bracket. What's the total clearance from the leg to the smoke cannister? How do the foot straps fit relative to the booties (wingsuit or otherwise)? Inside? Outside? Do the brackets clear the outside of the big GS-1 style suits? Anyone here used them and have any in-flight feedback? Thanks. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Wouldn't a wingsuit start flying later with a tailwind? Sort of similar to the way a slider down opening consumes more altitude in a tailwind? I'm just theorizing, but wouldn't the wing blowing backward up the wings mean that you need a greater fall rate to "un-stall" the wing and start flying? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I haven't done a rollover with a wingloading that high. However, my experience with high-ish (but lower than yours) wingloading on rollover jumps is that they will open slightly faster, all else equal. My guess would be that your 230 ft jump will be fine. Be aware that a wingloading that high is going to land you fast and potentially hard, so you'll want to get on the landing as soon as you've got the canopy flying. I'd recommend packing in shallow brakes (if the object allows it) so that you have more forward speed after opening, to make for an easier transition to full flight (less "dive" when you pop the toggles), and also to allow for a better riser-flare-to-PLF if you end up too low to grab the toggles (which I'd not expect, but being prepared can't hurt). Bottom line: I think I'd be more worried about the landing area (and the object) than the altitude or the wingloading. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've jumped canopies with wingloadings up to about .87. In my experience, you will land faster, and perhaps a bit harder. The thing to watch out for has generally been the additional forward speed at landing, more than the downward speed. Be aware that this also translates into a higher stall speed for the canopy, so that you will have less ability to sink into tight areas because the canopy will stall earlier in the control stroke--meaning that you will have to maintain a flatter glide to make the wing fly. In general, my strategy with overloaded canopies is to fly straight in approaches at full flight, and flare hard. I usually look for a "runway" type landing area so that I don't have to stress so much about overshooting and hitting something while moving fairly fast. I've seen some people who like higher wingloadings for swoop approaches. Personally, I'm not a fan, but there you go. Higher wingloadings will also probably open marginally faster (all else being equal), and may will give you better penetration in wind. According to Brian Germaine's article (see the front page of DZ.com) on turbulence, the higher wingloading (hence faster speed) also ought to give you more resistance to turbulence, but I'm not sure how well this applies to a BASE type canopy. My personal experience with large F-111 7 cells has been opposite of Brian's advice (but note that he's generally talking about very different canopies). I tend to think that BASE canopies are made to ride out minor turbulence (and resultant "partial collapses") fairly well because of their large size and quick re-inflation. With that in mind, I'd rather have a larger canopy for turbulent conditions, but I definitely recommend reading Brian's article and trying to come to your own conclusions. In my experience, yes there is. And the main difference is in what kind of landing areas you can routinely take. I think so. But also note that the type of canopy probably makes a greater difference than a middle range variation in wingloading, so if you change to a different model of canopy, that might change things, too. I definitely notice the difference. Not really. I've regularly done back to back loads on a 240 and 290, and although I can tell the difference, and make allowances for it, it's not too difficult to deal with. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

You might try here. Oh, and just to correct your misconception, BASE jumping is perfectly legal in the state of California. It's been outlawed in National Parks, and, of course, trespassing on private property is unlawful, but BASE jumping itself is legal aside from a few specific localities with ordinances prohibiting it. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

He's not banned. He PM'd me about the same time he made this post, and I've suggested some things he can try to sort out why. I suspect this has to do with someone at a large DZ, using DZ computer access, who was repeatedly creating "fake" accounts to circumvent bans last week. I may have ended up banning an IP address that was a public one used at a DZ, and Johnny may be trying to get on from that same DZ. As of now, I believe the situation is resolved, and he ought to be able to post again, but I'm still waiting for his PM response to let me know. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Mark Hewitt created a similar system in the early 90's for the Sorcerer BASE rig. He even manufactured and sold it, and then Vertigo (sans Hewitt) did so, and I believe that Apex will still make them. Pictures of this may still be floating around somewhere on the Apex web site, but I haven't looked for them recently. Almost no invention is ever totally new. Almost everything is a refinement, or built off of, or improving upon, some previous idea. The skyhook is no exception. However, the skyhook is a damn fine improvement upon what was previously available. In fact, it's so good that I've seen BASE jumpers using skyhook equipped Vector 3's for both reserves (unusual) and intentional cutaways. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Regardless on your views about RWS or their marketing system (I personally think they do a damn good job increasing jumper safety overall--not just on RWS rigs), this statement is demonstrably incorrect. Re-phrase it like this and you can see what I mean: ***It's much more profitable to sell a complete computer system with skyhook windows and all than have another company build everything and pay a small royalty for your invention operating system. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I think the question is "how does one justify giving some jumpers more flack than others over ethical abuses." I think, then, that we are perhaps having two different discussions. The question I was trying to answer was this one: "I have observed that different jumpers engaged in similar actions get widely varying reactions from other jumpers regarding the ethics of such actions. What is the explanation for the variance in reactions I have observed?" The question you are trying to answer is this one: "Do I think that different jumpers ought to get different reactions from other jumpers, when engaged in roughly similar activities?" The latter (you question) is one about what we "ought" to do. The former (the one I attempted to answer) is about what is really happening, and an attempt to observe and explain why the reactions are different. I had read Jimmy's post (which has various statements about what "is" happening) as an attempt to explain the observed phenomena--rather than an expression of a desire to discuss what any of us would like to observe. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Jimmy, can you give us a rundown on your BASE progression since then? In other words, how many jumps did you do in 1989? In 1990? In 1991? And so on? It seems like your BASE jumping activity has picked up a lot in the last 2 or 3 years, and I was wondering if that's the case, or if it's just that your visibility has increased recently? Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Can you restate the issue for us? As I understand it, the issue is: "Why do some jumpers get more flak for ethical abuses than other jumpers?" I think that several people have taken pretty good stabs at that, including (most recently) Tom, about 4 posts up. BTW Tom, despite my ADHD, and perhaps because I am a big nerdlinger/geek/dork who likes to (gasp!) read, I enjoy your posts, and appreciate the fact that you don't try to compress them into a sound bite that will fit into a 10 second break between music videos. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I don't think he's made a skydive either. But he's looking for more information before he gets further involved, which is definitely a good thing. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Thread here. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Have you looked at Glacier Gloves? I've never worn gloves for jumping (even in subzero temps, I find my hands don't have time to get cold--but my jumps are probably a lot shorter from exit to landing than yours), but if I was going to, I'd start with the Glacier Gloves, which I've worn for ice climbing quite a bit. They give you quite a bit of dexterity (I can tie and untie knots one handed in them), but are still very warm. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

i wouldnt use a velcro rig sub 200ft,reasson? I do belive that setting the right pintention on a set of spectra loops will open the container faster than ANY velcro rigs will no matter if you prime it(which i also does to my pins sub 200ft.. Note that he specified for PCA and static line. Done correctly, a PCA or static line makes the opening force required for the container pretty much irrelevant. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Closing loops wear out too. It's just that it's very easy for most jumpers to change out closing loops (I carry an extra set in the pocket on the back of the mud flap), and much harder for most jumpers to change out velcro. I've actually found that this works the other way around. Velcro gives you notice that it's going--you hear a ripping sound, you have a chance to stop and fix it. If pins get snagged on something, they just go--pop--and you're done, with a canopy falling down the ladder. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

There is absolutely no way to tell at this point. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

In my opinion, highly skilled jumpers on dodgy gear are safer than folks with little or no preparation jumping state of the art gear. In the beginning, BASE had a high percentage of the former. I think we are moving toward the latter. I don't think we're there yet, and I definitely see folks trying to stem the tide, but I do, personally, wonder if it's just an inevitable movement that can be postponed, but not reversed. I wasn't around on dropzones 30 years ago, but I've heard that something similar has happened in skydiving. Inevitable? Perhaps. But I'd like to think not. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I only have the one account. Can you explain what makes you think otherwise? Huh? I'm really not sure what you are angry about here? I haven't banned you, or your IP address. I only use the one account I am posting under now. Seriously, dude. I'm really confused about where this is coming from. Can you give me a call when you get a chance? Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've seen this twice in the last 2 days, from you and TruckerBASE. I'm very confused about where this has come from? Can you elaborate? I have only ever had one account (TomAiello) here. I have had two accounts at BLiNC (first, I used "tbaiello," then I switched to "Tom Aiello"). Where are you getting this? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Being a moderator does not mean you're not allowed to have, and express, opinions. Without resorting to paid professionals, it would be impossible to find someone interested enough to follow these forums, but who had no personal opinions on any of the topics discussed. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Pete, Would you be willing to start a new thread with the photos, and possibly a diagram of the slider. Also, an address for you where folks interested in purchasing one could get it would not be a bad thing. Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

That's not appropriate here. Consider this your one warning. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com