TomAiello
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Everything posted by TomAiello
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Wouldn't it be better to encourage practicing (in a relatively safe environment, before you have to do it for real) the use of this (or any) safety feature, rather than eliminate it? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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I've got good video of a tailgated lineover. Are you using line release toggles of some kind? Or a hook knife? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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I don't think the difference between direct bag and PCA is very great, in terms of opening speed. I think that heading can be controlled more easily with a direct bag. It can also be screwed up more easily (just twist the bag) by an unskilled assistant. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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Sooner than what? Are you wanting to compare to PCA? Or to freefall? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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When I learned (2000? Maybe 2001? Perhaps Diablopilot remembers better than I do) it was very hard to find a bona fide BMI. The program was so new that instructors were in short supply. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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Dwain wrote a very detailed post on this topic. If you search the BLiNC forums, you can find it. I'll look later if I have a little more time. The upshot was: Tailgates do not slow inflation. In fact, by promoting nose first inflation, they can actually speed up the process. I believe his line was something like "it's not tailgate = no line over", it's "tailgate = nose first inflation = reduced lineover and many other benefits", or something like that. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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D-Bag's also deform the pack job less, since it's under zero tension after line stretch (where a static line or PCA still creates some tension from the bridle attachment point). This may lead to slightly better inflation. Since the canopy is already at line stretch when it leaves the bag, I'm at a loss for what an additional inside attachment would achieve. Does anyone have a theoretical explanation of why such a setup would be desirable? I'm curious also if it's been observed to create faster openings in practice. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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Jamie lives about 200 yards from me. So I can just go knock on his door, if you want. Send me an email if you want his phone number. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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There are hundreds of legal options to experience the sport,so you can find out if you want to participate at a deeper level. Bridge Day, Twin Falls, Lysebotn...the list goes on, but those are the top three. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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The Alliance of Backcountry Parachutists is Here!
TomAiello replied to TheAlliance's topic in Archive
This is a growing pain, and we're working on it. Somehow these things came out to the forums before getting vetted by the forumites amongst us. The powers that be in these forums are not poorly disposed to the ABP. Nor are the powers that be in the BASE world. A short review of individuals involved ought to convice you that a lack of respect from the general jumpers public is not something to worry about. A short list of the Alliances initial financial donors includes: (1) Robert Graeber, (2) Tom Aiello, (3) Padraig Browne, (4) Jimmy Pouchert, (5) Marta Empinotti-Pouchert, (6) Todd Shoebotham, (7) Collin Scott, (8) Gary Begley, (9) Max Tkatch The "about us" page also shows Jason Bell, Gardner Sapp and Jason Dawson. I don't think the BOD names are public yet, but you can see the that various ABP supporters named here represent a pretty serious cross section of the BASE community, particularly in the US. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com -
This is in three different threads now. Let's keep the discussion down to one thread. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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Jimmy, Have you considered holding a "Lodi Film Festival" or similar? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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Also, chadkal, do you have 4 or 5 control lines on that Troll? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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It depends on the specific canopy and manufacturer. It also depends on the jumper. Short, fat guys like me are going to need to push the toggles up more and/or use a canopy with 5 control lines. In some cases, pushing the toggles up will cause a tail deflection (i.e. you'll never be able to get the canopy into full flight, even with your arms pushed up as far as they can reach--beyond the toggle placement on the risers). This is generally quite rare, though, since it implies very short arms. John, are you doing your testing in a slider down (i.e. no guide rings) configuration? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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I'd say you have the toggles set wrong. Have you tried moving them up the lines? Toggle placement, like brake settings and tailgate location, ought to be customized for each jumper/canopy combination. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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And yesterday was a good day. Aside from a few hours of wind in the late morning, we had good conditions all day. We're averaging about half the days good, at this point. Keeping fingers crossed for the weekend... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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What for? Mac OS X is where it's at. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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No, not really. Pretty much all the hikes are big (3-5 hours, more if you happen to be a fat American like me). In general you have to hike from the landing area, so you end up climbing 5 or 6 thousand vertical feet to earn your altitude. As far ask I know, you won't be able to get permission to run a helicopter there. Read BASEheimen's post. He lives there. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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Ok, I was clearly wrong here. TM and I layed canopies on top of each other today, and his Blackjack 310 is almost exactly the same size as my Troll 290 (the BJ is about 4 inches longer, and the Troll about 8 inches wider). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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Bigger walls, especially for wingsuit flights (more talus underneath). Real towns with grocery stores instead of tiny little tourist traps. Fewer people. Better feelings. The hikes are harder, too. That may keep some people away. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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Big difference between brains and balls. Water landings under round canopies are _far_ safer than squares on land when the winds are high. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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I'm guessing it will be typical idaho spring weather. Calm or light winds until 9-11am. So if you want to crank out jumps, show up at 5am, and get as many as you can, then rest and party all afternoon, and repeat... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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Today was another "grounded after 10am" day. I think there were 3 or 4 loads before that, but the day pretty much ended then. We tried to sneak in a sunset, but ended up drinking beer at the Outback because the wind wouldn't die. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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I'd recommend emailing Robert and asking his opinion. He's about 100 times more knowledgable on this kind of thing than the rest of us put together. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com
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I'll just say that having been to your area, I doubt I'll be going to Lysefjord at all on future trips to Norway. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com