TomAiello

I believe he used the word "unprepared" as shorthand for "below average (for that admission class) test scores and grade point average." -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Dude, did you mean to post this in SC? Seems more like a Bonfire post... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Hopefully, they'll just toss out the bums who decided to spend public money that way. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Exactly. Fear of something usually springs from ignorance of that thing. You can see it in people's weird fears of homosexuality, religion, even skydiving. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

What about cannons? Any idea if the original intent of the framers was to include cannons or siege guns (which weapons had no civilian application)? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Usually, that's it. Internal and floating handles both have the handle "wrapped" (however temporarily) in the fabric of the PC. This might increase the drag (and hence chance of a premature). Using a standard PVC handle (with just the handle exposed) actually increases the chance of the PC (and handle) disappearing entirely within the pouch, if only just. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Please use the search function to find the original thread. The jumper comments at length regarding the accident. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Floating handles are made by Asylum as standard on some sizes, but you can make your own fairly easily. There's a fair bit of discussion in some old threads in this forum, so if you search you can find it. For terminal, with max track, I'd probably use a 36 or 38, but I'd feel pretty comfortable with a 32, too. If you're just trying to keep the number of PC's down, a 36 f-111 should be fine for wingsuit or track jumps. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

You might try doing a search of this forum. TM posted a good review of the Rock Dragon a while back. My short opinion: if you are in Australia, go with the Rock Dragon over the Troll. If you are in Europe, go with the Troll over the Rock Dragon. If you are in the US, it depends on where you live. In my opinion, Rock Dragon has less penetration and a bit worse glide angle. But, I think it has better openings, and is a bit more stable in deep brakes (and allows steeper approaches). It might also be helpful to look at what your mentor or other experienced jumpers in your area are using. What they know, they can provide more help with. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I will hold a BASE First Jump Course on March 18th, 19th and 20th (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) in Twin Falls, Idaho. Course will begin at 8am Friday and conclude at 6pm Sunday. There will be no charge for this instruction. The course will focus on basic BASE skills, with an additional emphasis on the history and ethics of BASE, and the teamwork necessary to many BASE jumps. I will also allow a maximum of two non-jumping auditors in the course. If you want to audit the packing and discussion segments, I will also ask you to help out with some of the other parts of the course (such as ferrying cars). Auditors should be people interested in BASE who have not yet sufficient skydiving experience. Course requirements: 1) Gear: I have some spare gear I can loan out, but it’s best if you can come with your own. Contact me for help finding gear, if you do not own it. 2) Mentoring: You must make a reasonable effort to find an experienced jumper local to you, who can help you with your jumping when you return home. You must provide me with contact information for this jumper, so that I can talk with them. If you cannot locate someone, I will assist you in doing so. This requirement will be waived for jumpers in an area where I am unable to locate a suitable mentor. 3) Prerequisites: You must have appropriate canopy experience, as evaluated by me. I will ask for details of your experience when you contact me, as well as contact information for people able to verify your experience. Course Syllabus: Day 1: Packing Discussion: The risks of BASE Exercise: Letter to family Packing Discussion: Differences between skydiving and BASE cultures Day 2: Exits Exit Training Discussion: Logging jumps Landing Area Preview Discussion: Jumps, landing, flight patterns PCA BASE jumps Discussion: BASE History Day 3: Deployment Discussion: BASE ethics BASE jumps: Hand held, delay nomination Discussion: BASE community BASE jumps: Delay nomination, stowed Space is limited, so I will accept the best prepared applicants. If you want to come, you must contact me via PM here or via email (tbaiello@mac.com). If you have any questions, post here, or PM or email me. When you PM or email me asking to come, please include: 1) Your total number of skydives. 2) Your total number of CRW and Accuracy jumps. 3) Your primary skydiving discipline. 4) The names and contact info (email of phone) of: (a) any BASE jumpers in your area who know you, (b) a BASE mentor who has agreed to help you progress, (c) any skydiving instructors who are familiar with your skills, (d) either the DZO or S&TA of your home drop zone 5) Any other relevant experience (paragliding, rock climbing, etc) 6) Anything else you think I should know about you, or your preparation I have spoken to several people about this course. Unless you are one of the people I have just sent an email or PM to confirming your attendance, you need to email (or PM) me details of your experience so that I can continue student selection. I'll also try to send this via email to everyone I've talked to and have email addresses for. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I don't really think there is much agreement on this. Your spread of PC's (36 f-111 external handle, 42 AV external handle, and 48 no handle) sounds fairly good. Given a wider choice, I'd probably go with an unhandled 42 and a floating handle on the small PC. A ZP apex vented small PC will likely last longer than the 36 f-111, but functionally (when newish) I don't think there's going to be much difference. Personally, my "full spread" is (all PC's are ZP): 32 A/V (external handle) for terminal. 38 A/V (floating handle) for wingsuits and subterminal long (5+) delays. 42 A/V (no handle) for most things. 48 (no vents, no handle) for low stuff. I'll probably switch the 32 to a floating handle soon, but haven't done much terminal non-wingsuit stuff lately. Definitely have a look at the floating handle, as I think it's a good improvement to PC design. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I am at a loss for words. I had only met Josh recently, when we hiked up (and walked down from) a cliff with DexterBASE and Kmonster. I had looked forward to getting to know him better. Now I never will. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Ok, some thoughts: As Robert said, the best choice for a aerodynamic tracking/wingsuit rig, and a low/bad landing rig would be to have two rigs--one for each application. If you are looking for wingsuit/tracking gear, I think the WS-Xtreme is the way to go. The WS-Xtreme is the most aerodynamically sound of the BASE containers. This is especially true if you are flying PF suits, because the WS-Xtreme was essentially designed to work with a PF wingsuit. Second choice for an aerodynamic container (perhaps even better than WS-Xtreme for regular tracking, but not so good for wingsuit, would be the Merlin). In terms of canopies: The modern versions of the Troll do not have the opening problems that I observed with early versions of the canopy. The current (re-trimmed) Ace/Blackjack appears to have addressed the slider up opening inconsistencies that some people were experiencing. For terminal use, you probably want a canopy with minimal pack volume. So, I'd probably go with an unvented canopy. The only unvented canopy on the market that I like (in fact, the only one that I think has really acceptable openings) is the Ace. If you decide to go with an unvented canopy, to minimize pack volume, I'd probably say that an Ace is a good choice for your (mostly terminal) jumping. Put it in a WS-Xtreme, and you get low pack volume in a very aerodynamic container, with good, consistent openings. If you want to also be able to make low jumps (and hence want bottom skin vents), the canopy game opens up. The Rock Dragon, as somebody earlier mentioned, appears to have a tad worse glide angle than some other choices. It's also exceptionally stable in deep brakes, and sinks well. These are great characteristics for many jumpers, but probably not so important for you, given where you will mostly jump. The Troll DW looks like a nice choice, and as an advantage, you can buy it in a package with a WS-Xtreme. Pack volume will be slightly higher than an Ace, but not unacceptably so. My personal favorite slider down canopy is still the Blackjack. I've made many terminal and wingsuit jumps on this canopy, and feel that the openings (with the small mesh slider and the new line set) are great. Also, it has great sink, powerful flare, and good glide ratio. So, what does all that mean? If you were going to get two rigs (one for low, and one for terminal) I'd get an Ace in a WS-Xtreme for the terminal stuff, and a Blackjack (in whatever) for the low stuff. If you're just looking for one rig for both things, I think I'd go with either a Blackjack or a Troll DW in a WS-Xtreme. Because of the ease of ordering, and perfect (designed) sizing, I'd give an edge to the Troll DW. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'm going to lock this thread. Let's keep the discussion in the one original thread. Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

There is a real non-zero chance for a slider up line over, even assuming good pack job, body position and deployment. The chance is small enough that we're only now getting to understand what the odds are like (perhaps 1 in 1000?). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's all about the right place for the right time... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Not if the vent is correctly sized. The air has to escape somewhere (either around the skirt or through the vent). With a correctly sized vent, the air is just re-directed, with no additional air escaping. I'll try to write on the theory of vented PC's at length later, but suffice to say that while the advantages seem real enough, symmetric attachment is far more important. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Sure. If money's not an issue, then you can just use it when you want. If money is an issue? I probably wouldn't bother. But, it could be nice for the long delay stuff. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Rest in Piece, John. You gave greatly of yourself to a group of people who you had no need to help. Your efforts were greatly appreciated, and your selflessness was an example to be followed. Jason, I'd like to send a card to the family, if there is an appropriate address to do so. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'm running late today (have to make it to Boise by 2pm). And this will take a longer answer. I'll try to get to it soon. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

My personal experience has been that the difference is negligible. I have around 350 jumps on a multi-equipped canopy, and around 200 jumps on the exact same canopy with the multi removed. In practice, I honestly can't tell the difference. When the difference isn't noticeable, I'd say you ought to err on the side of simplifying the system, and just remove it. Note that none of the complaints/arguments (theoretical or based on actual experiences) about the multi have any bearing on terminal jumps (which is what it was originally designed for anyway). I've pretty much just left mine off, all the time. But if I was going to do a bunch of terminal jumps (say a Norway trip, or an elevator weekend), I'd consider re-attaching it. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'd consider getting a WS-Xtreme, from Morpheus. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

JP's got the explanation. If you have a multi, try this: Pull the bridle off to one side of the container (as if jumping in a crosswind). See how one side of the multi goes tight (the one you are pulling away from) and the other stays loose (the one on the side you're pulling toward)? Imagine what will happen if a crosswind pulls the PC off to one side. One side of the multi going tight first is a bit like loading one riser first. It will have a significant chance of spinning the canopy as it moves to line stretch. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It depends on the canopy. If you have some wind to land into, and a big canopy, you can pretty much just step down when you land. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Cafe Press will let you upload the image and make just one t-shirt for yourself. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com