TomAiello

Sometime this past fall. Maybe October or November? I can't remember precisely. If you want I can dig through my calendar and see if I can place it. Since it wasn't my gear, it's not going to be in my log book or anything. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

What browser and system are you using? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Yes. I believe he was notified (and possibly shipped the PC) about the problem I saw. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I know of many, actually. As I said before, I like it having it's own, independent place. I think that Nick is the correct keeper of the list, and I don't think it ought to end up attached to any other site. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've seen similar, but less severe, damage, on an Asylum PC, resulting from a freefall delay (definitely not from PCA). I'm pretty sure that this is possible on any brand PC, but more likely on a vented PC. The possibility of such damage is only one reason why we ought to carefully inspect all of our gear before every jump. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's his standard sig line. It's on all his posts. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

MT's spreadsheet does a good job of summarizing the incidents by type. It's easy to tweak the categories for any set of data you are trying to extract. I've been trying to keep my copy of it updated. I wonder if a downloadable, current version of it might not be a good thing to keep somewhere? I don't know that putting the List on DZ.com is the best idea. I kind of like it having it's own, independent life. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Dennis, You do make some excellent points. But you are sabotaging your own arguments by slinging a bunch of nasty pejoratives around in the midst of them. I'm going to clean that post up a bit. Consider this your only warning. We need to be able to discuss important topics without resorting to personal epithets. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Balloon jumps give a similar feeling--I'd try a couple of those to get an idea. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Donk, What about people who are not yet part of the "BASE community" but are considering BASE? I really think they ought to have access to the list. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

All products take time. We've got an industry essentially composed of small and one man shops. Remember how eager people were for the V-1, and how it ended up taking a month or so longer than anticipated? If I recall correctly, Robert originally wanted to start selling them at Bridge Day, but they ended up not being available for a little bit longer. It's silly to get up in arms when products are later than expected, because it happens all the time. It's not like anyone in this industry (wingsuits) has bigg budgets and research staffs. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Directed to all, just replying to Zeemax because he started the thread: Let's not have this degenerate into a "my gear has a bigger thing than yours" thread. You don't see Robi and Jari on here slagging each other off. I think their example is one that the rest of us ought to pay attention to. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I disabled the poll part, because that looked like an accident. Thanks for keeping us updated, Stein! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I pretty much think that's going to be the central issue. Personally, I've got no clear solution, but a couple ideas. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I believe the List is an important resource, in it's current form. I believe the list helps to (a) dissuade overeager young jumpers, (b) spread valuable information, and (c) humanize and memorialize fallen jumpers. I don't think restricting access is a good idea, because that would reduce the dissemination of potentially life saving information. I don't think de-humanization is a good idea, because that (a) reduces the memorial value, and (b) reduces the "sink in" on young jumpers reading. I can't count the number of people I've seen in the last year who are just starting BASE and _really_ have no concept that it might, just maybe, be more risky than skydiving. If the list saves even one persons life (by, say convincing them not to take up BASE), I think it's worth it. Even if it is the only thing that prevents legal access to National Parks in the US. In my view, saving the lives of BASE jumpers is more important than gaining access to National Parks (or other legal objects). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

What body position were you in when you tested it? You were wearing it, right? Testing it on a table yields radically different numbers from testing it when worn, and especially when worn and curled into a tight tuck. If you got less than 8 pounds with it all tightened down, I'm curious what the tension was like on a table. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Weather in Twin is good. This week had plenty of jumpable conditions. The windy season shouldn't yet be kicking in, so you should have better (but a bit colder) conditions than Memorial Day (for example). PM me if you want more detail. It's pretty easy to just walk outside and look. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'm going to unstick this. I think it's in the process of finding a permanent home somewhere with the skydiving manufacturer safety bulletins. Once it's there, I'll post a link to this thread. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'm going to sticky this for a while. BSBD, Josh. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Nice, dude! Pics? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Seeing a jump done (on video or in person) does not indicate that (a) it's a good idea, (b) the jumper does that regularly, or (c) they'd use the gear off anything other than a nice span over deep water. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Yup. Incredible. If you're looking for experienced opinions, unless Yuri and Robert get on here, I don't think you're going to find a more experienced commentator than PerFlare. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

That's a giant can of worms. Short answer: borrow or buy each suit, fly them for yourself a bit, and see which works best for you. Long answer? Do a search of this forum for all the discussions about it. Everyone's got an opinion. For what it's worth, my opinion is that the big monowing (Matter, Sugar Glider, S-Fly) suits get lots of float, but not so much drive, resulting in worse overall glide angle (but longer flights and quicker starts from dead air exits) than the multi-wing (Birdman and Phoenix Fly) style suits. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Happy Birthday to both of you! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Regardless, back to the original question (sort of), do have a look at this thread, where the Phoenix Fly beginner suit is discussed. Honestly, I think I'd look into that suit for a lead-in, because after you "outgrow" (in terms of flight skills) the suit, it'll still be useful (hence salable) to lots of BASE jumpers who want to be able to control the risers immediately after opening. I think we're going to start seeing suits like that (and like the Access, which I'd also recommend you investigate) serving dual purposes--as "intro" suits, and as high end BASE tracking suits, where people want to have instant arm control. In terms of skipping suits, with what is currently on the market? I'd probably do a FFC with a rental classic, then buy a GTi, fly that a whole bunch, and then buy a top-line suit. Getting into a GTi after your instructor signs you off as safe is probably going to be ok, and moving from a couple hundred jumps on the GTi straight up to SF3 (probably SF5 by then) or V-1, or some other high end suit, ought to be equally reasonable. That way you only need to buy 2 suits to get to the top end. Note that I am not a BMI or any other kind of wingsuit instructor, so take this advice with a largish grain of salt. Definitely investigate the Access and PF beginner suit, though, as options. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com