TomAiello

I think they put zippers on the wing (between the leg and the wing), and unzipped it for the "action stance" bit. They discussed it in the (generally wildly inaccurate) USA Today article, which has been the topic of such lively discussion over in the wingsuit forum. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

That's because they were using BASE rigs for the (BASE) jump in the movie. Per, and crazy guys just like him all over the world, uses single canopy rigs, popularly known as "BASE rigs" for fixed object parachute jumps. edit: Sorry, I didn't mean that to sound quite so snippy. It just seemed like a weird question to me, and it's been a bad day. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

There is a little more info on BLiNC. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

This is my third attempt at this post, so I'll be brief (before this machine crashes again), and leave out the discussion. I would set the DBS at the top of the mark. I'd use that DBS for slider down solid (i.e. cliff and building) objects. I'd use the old (factory) DBS for wind-through objects (like your A). I'd test out the factory DBS slider up (off a bridge over water), and see if it worked. If it did, I'd use it for my slider up setting. I'll try to edit my reasoning back in when I get to a more stable machine. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Awww, c'mon. Per said they were getting delays as deep as six seconds. Surely that's enough time to fly 3 miles? They are Swedish, after all. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Actually I think that Perflare and Martin did the jumps, but I could be wrong, as he is a dead ringer for Angelina Jolie. As I recall they used S3's and Flik's in the 280 range. You could just PM Perflare and ask. Edit to add: Here is the march thread from the wingsuit forum discussing it. P.S. Check out his excellent web page. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

[BASE Nazi Rant]This kind of thing is the height of foolishness. It sounds like the skydiver who told me "well, I'd jump from a plane at that height." Sure, but would you jump from a plane at that height, then track for 18 seconds, then dump next to a wall? Making a BASE jump from a 4000' cliff might be safer than some other BASE jumps. But doing it on a skydiving rig would be significantly more dangerous than making a standard BASE jump from 400' with a BASE rig. Personally, I'd be willing to freefall a 200' building on proper gear long before I'd take any skydiving rig off any object, under any conditions. It's a cliff, not an airplane. That means there are a lot more things to worry about, that you never have to think about on a skydive. Unlike skydiving, danger in BASE is far more dependent on other factors than on altitude.[/BASE Nazi Rant] Sorry to rant, but thinking that altitude necessarily equates to safety is a good way to become a statistic in a hurry. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

this might help looks like the same pair of trousers to me It's also a good technical shot of (a) nose first inflation, and (b) tail pocket slump. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

...um, because it's a photo of a guy BASE jumping (with an iron, of course). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Any word on the schedule for the record attempts? I was planning on being at Pell City that weekend, but since I have no desire to participate in a record attempt, I'd like to avoid the times when they are monopolizing the airspace. Also, do you know if the king air will be there? I'd hate to show up and not be able to jump at all. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

This just sounds like a gossip and rumor thread to me. To Talkback with you! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Do you think the mylar is helping with the mucle fatigue problems? A friend flying a similar suit to yours mentioned that he thought the mylar helped maintain the wing position even when he was getting tired, allowing him to max out the suit longer/better. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

This might be a topic better discussed via PM, email, or (best yet) in person. I'd not really be comfortable discussing most of that on the internet. The best way to get answers (and develop your own "style" of access) is to go along on jumps with several different experienced jumpers, then hang out for beer afterward, and pick up things from each of them. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Try checking out Ted the Tool's Lockpicking Guide. The last time I was locked out, I downloaded it, printed it, and used it as a guide to start practicing. Eventually, I was able to get back into my house. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Almost always. When I scope a new object, I want to know how high it is. At the very least I want to know how high it is higher than. So, if I can't laser to the ground for some reason, I laser to something (a ledge or whatever) above the ground, to get a minimum number. I'd hate to be the guy who thought it was 150' for sure--and had it turn out to be 70. I've seen way too many of these estimates be totally wrong once you broke out the laser. I once jumped a 27 story, 408 foot building, for example. Ceiling heights just vary too much from building to building (and country to country), as do the section heights on towers, the spacing between lights, etc. The only things I'll trust are a laser or a sectional (um, or the builders diagrams that I just happened to find). Other than that, it's about establishing a minimum height, and then making repeated jumps to get more delay and find out what the actual "reasonable" delay is. What is a safe altitude to do a hand deploy 0-1 second delay? "Safe" altitude is an illusion. Each person will have a different comfortable altitude (depending on experience, gear, conditions, and personal tolerance for risk). For example, I know a guy whose comfort range for free fall (go and throw) extends down as low as 156', and I also know people who won't freefall under 400'. It's one of those things you just have to decide (and re-decide) for yourself as you gain experience. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Disclaimer: I am not a rigger, so please forgive me total ignorance of rigging, proper rigging terms, etc. Would each of those loops still snug down tight when you pulled on the line (like a regular tailgate placement does)? If so, I can't see how it would create any problem for the slider. If not, then it looks great to me. Of course, many jumpers are too lazy to even customize their DBS, so asking them to switch tailgate placements may be too much. Will you put it on mine, though? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Hmmm. Where's the "evil cackle" smiley? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'm not sure there is a best method to PCA. Basically anything that allows you to release the PC just as the jumper reaches line stretch should work fine. The key is to practice from something relatively safe and friendly, and practice enough that you have the technique you use under perfect control. You'd hate to be the dunce who drops your friends PC on a nasty 210' cliff with a big ledge in the middle (I'm still sorry about that one). Here's a method that works for me (I'm right handed, you might want to switch hands if you're a lefty). A friend taught it to me just after I dropped his PC on the aforementioned low cliff. 1) Take the bridle from the rig, leaving a little slack (especially if it's a pin rig). 2) S fold the bridle into your left hand. Be sure that the bridle both enters and leaves the bottom of your hand (so it doesn't wrap your hand). 3) Grasp the crown of the PC (don't use a PC with a handle, or you may find yourself less a few fingers) with your right hand. 4) Check your footing or safety gear to make sure that you won't follow the jumper over the edge. 5) Hold your left hand in front of you, about chest high, with the bridle in it. Hold your right arm straight out from the shoulder, with a 90 degree bend at the elbow, and your forearm (with the PC in hand) pointed straight up. 6) Have the jumper count aloud, so that you are ready for the exit. 7) Allow the bridle to unfold out of your left hand as the jumper falls away, so that you end up with a tight bridle (and it has stayed tight at all times) running from the rig to the PC (still in your right hand). 8) Open the container and extract the canopy by maintaining tension on the PC and bridle with your right hand. 9) As the jumper reaches line stretch, their momentum will pull your right hand down, straightening your elbow. This will give you some warning that you've gotten line stretch, and it's time to let go. 10) Release your grip on the PC as your hand travels down to a straight arm position. If done right, this ought to allow a release of the PC just after the canopy reaches line stretch, without putting any extra force on the canopy that might strip the top skin around the bridle attachment. Your results may vary--be sure to practice. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've put tailgates there as a field fix before. I had to wrap a rubber band around it to hold it in place. It worked pretty well for me. It's important to remember, though, that the location of your tailgate is going to vary depending on your (customized) brake settings (which will move the control line attachment points up and down relative to the C line attachment). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Adam at Consolidated Rigging added this: -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

From the line burns thread: We were discussing the proper location for the tailgate. I emailed BR to ask for confirmation. Todd at BR edited my response to read: Thanks BR! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

They did send me a new one about a month and a half ago--at no charge. I love L&B. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'm trying to remember who told me this. It was either Marty at CR (who was working at BR when they developed the tailgate) or someone at BR. At any rate, my understanding is: The tailgate should be mounted as high as possible on the center 'C' line. So, when your canopy is in it's deepest brakes, the lowest (on most four line canopies they're all the same anyway, but on most five line canopies there is a lowest) line attachment point should be just above the tailgate. The idea is to constrain the tail as closely as possible. The farther down the line the tailgate moves, the more "wiggle room" the tail has to expand prior to the tailgate blowing open (and hence before the nose is open, and hence out of sequence). I've just sent an email to BR. Hopefully, they can verify this for us. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

With a properly tailgated canopy (where is your tailgate? does it snug right up against the line attachment tabs?) it ought to be impossible to get those kind of burns after line stretch (because the lines stay in the tail until they're tight). Assuming that you are jumping mostly slider down (by your location), and aren't doing any unpacked jumps (which would give the lines all kinds of opportunities to burn the fabric), the burns have to be developing on the way to line stretch. Are the burns growing? Or have you just noticed them once (so they might be the result of a single freak opening)? The only way that the lines would be able to burn the stabilizer prior to line stretch is if your tail pocket is dumping them (unlikely unless your velcro is pretty worn out, or you aren't closing it tightly, especially unlikely because Vertigo has the better style anti-slump flap that wraps the outside). My two best guesses would be: a) line dump on a single freak opening caused all the burning (did you have a weird/bad opening recently)? or b) your tailgate is too low, leaving significant distance of lines above it (most likely steering line), that can snap around the outside before the tailgate is blown (then, when the tailgate is blown, the fabric has to pull fast through the loop of steering line). Neither of these ideas accounts for it only being on one side, though. I dunno, what do you think? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I agree. Having a camera halfway down the object yields very cool video. You can either just pan the view, and let the jumper fall through, or you can follow the jumper as he falls down "into" the lens, then past. It takes a quick cameraman to get the second shot, though. We've also done a variation on the second where the cameraman is also a jumper, and exits just before the jumper reaches him. That way, he starts falling, and the jumper passes him, but stays in frame a bit longer. Another cool shot (you can see this on Fist Full of F-111 on Karin's boyfriend's footage) is to have the cameraman and the jumper rotating at the same rate--so that they appear to be hanging still while the whole world rotates around the outside of the frame. Be warned, though, that you'd better have a cameraman who is a world class aerialist (see who shot the footage I'm talking about) to get this kind of shot. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com