TomAiello

The first bag or the second bag? Remember, the first one had a 90 left resulting in wall strike. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I have a spinal fusion, which is probably somewhat similar to the two fused discs you are describing (mine involves 3 vertebrae). I've been jumping with the fusion for several years without any real issues. As long as you're careful, and work into things slowly, I don't see that you're likely to have any big problems. I have pretty much constant back pain. Packing makes it worse. Be aware that your spine will not flex as well as normal, which is one of it's natural ways of absorbing shock. So, you will be more susceptible to future injury, and hard impacts that wouldn't injure a fully healthy spine could injure you (I broke my back a second time largely for this reason). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

.5 or less has really been no problem for me, in terms of canopy flight and recovery. There are some slider down inflation issues that start to kick in at very low wingloadings, but many of them are greatly reduced by bottom skin inlets. But for the flight, stall, and recovery issues that the original poster was asking about, it's my general opinion that bigger is better, not worse. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Looked like it to me. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The link is on the CBS web site (it's the little red tag in the bottom left corner), but there is no other information given. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Hey, Does anyone know anything about this show? Anyone in SoCal recognize these guys? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

When I said "we" I meant "we, North American BASE jumpers." I was in no way discussing, or attempting to "look down" on, or in any way denigrate any skydiver, group of skydivers, or participant in any other sporting activity. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Don't forget to do some skydives focussed on tracking. In North America, we often forget the terminal part of jumps, and as a result we have, on average, much worse tracking skills than most European jumpers. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The WS-Xtreme from Morpheus is also available in this configuration. I think that the Gargoyle might be as well, but I'm not sure. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I think they're both simply about the numbers. If you want to keep it related to "real" BASE jumping, you'd have to define "real," and you could argue about that forever. In my opinion, the only way to "limit" this kind of record would be to make a "class" where you did everything yourself, with only 1 rig, and only equipment you carried yourself. No packers, no elevator, no cars, no boats, no giant lights, etc, etc. You'd have to bring your packing tools, if you used them, and could stash them somewhere on route during the first lap. If you're going to go for the "unlimited" kind of thing, I say get rid of all the restrictions. Use packers, elevators, winches, giant rings hooked to towers, or whatever else you please. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I believe Gary has been planning this for almost a year. I know for certain that he had already set up this event before he learned of Miles plans. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Point very well taken. On the other hand, if you're not going for maxed out flight, what's the point in struggling for the last 2% of performance that the aerodynamic helmet might give you? It sounds to me like this might be another one of those places where BASE and skydiving flights are diverging. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

More or less, yes. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Perhaps my body/head position is strange, but when I am maxing out (which is the only time I'd expect helmet aerodynamics to become important), I have my head tilted much lower, looking down and perhaps a touch back, with my chin on my chest. The photo you posted shows the pilot with his chin pushed way out, looking forward. When I am trying to max out, I don't think my body position would be compatible with that helmet. I suppose that if you max out with your head forward, then the helmet would be useful. I'm not sure how various people hold their heads when maxing out, but I assume from your posts that you do that, so I'd guess there are other people who might also find that helmet useful. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The 3 way footage was mislabelled on the BD DVD. The 3 way jumpers were Mark Krasinski, Russel and myself. Collin did the 2 way with Russel, and was supposed to do the 3 way, but we ran out of time and he had to work the exit point. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It doesn't look like the aerodynamics are designed for the direction of airflow you'd have in wingsuit flight. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Try Number of the Beast or Time Enough for Love. Honestly, aside from Time Enough for Love, which I consider to be his masterwork, I liked Heinlein's "simplistic" works the best. They weren't actually all that simplistic, in my opinion, and the "deep" ones sometimes seemed a bit artificial to me. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I can think of 5 or 6 people who might be. They're the same people who saw noticeable performance gains switching to wingsuit BASE rigs (i.e. rigs that are specifically designed for their aerodynamic performance, often in conjunction with the wingsuit design). I'm definitely not one of them, but at least one of those top end flyers has decision making capacity at Phoenix Fly. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I believe those folks were called the United States Army. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

After FJC training (and additional time at the bridge immediately thereafter), it can help a lot to find a few experienced jumpers who are going on a road trip and go along with them. I did this when I had 5 jumps, and I got to see, and learn from, a whole bunch of different objects and more experienced jumpers, and also got to watch and participate in the scoping process for several new (to them) objects. It was amazingly educational. It cost me two weeks of vacation, and several thousand miles on my vehicle, and it was well worth it. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Also, the spine protector can slightly move the PC position. If you are going to do low pulls, or low stowed jumps, I'd recommend doing some practice touches and throws, and probably a fair number of stowed jumps while wearing the body armor, prior to the critical one. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's pretty much a time honored tradition for jumpers to complain about the Bridge Day video. People complained when Will Forshay did it, because it took him "too long" to release it, and because it wasn't edited together nicely. People complained when Martini Shot did it because it took "too long" (despite them losing most of their equipment in a hangar fire). People are going to complain no matter what gets done with it. That's just the nature of the thing. I wonder if the producers ought to offer a "money back less shipping" refund policy if you return it in "as new" condition. But I'd bet that people would still complain. It's just what we do. If you think you can do better, I'm sure that Jason would be willing to consider a competing bid. In fact, he might just let you produce your own video side-by-side with Triax (or whoever does it next year). Personally, I think the video keeps getting better every year, and that the producers keep learning things. If you want to help them produce a better video next year, write them a letter with some suggestions. I've found that they respond well to customer input, and really do try very hard to produce a quality product that people enjoy. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Climb? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

My last deathcamp had a student with more than 5000 skydives. It's just a label. Use it as you wish. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Yes. It's on the ABA 2004 video (I think it's 2004). Look in the Rob Fry section. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com