TomAiello

Yep, that looks like some serious stuff. I know Ed fairly well, and he's always been a good friend to me. Sucks for him at the moment, though. I hope it all works out for the best. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I was taken around to some sites in Eastern PA a few years ago, by a very friendly local. I know he's on some Fixed! video, and we found him by random BASE board posting. How hard are you looking? I don't have contact info for him, but maybe you ought to ask BASE 428, who lives relatively close (WV) and is on this board regularly. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

In short: 1) Most BASE rigs (there is one exception, but it is not widely used) have only one canopy. This canopy is packed in a manner similar (but not identical) to a skydiving reserve. 2) BASE rigs are far simpler than skydiving rigs (primarily because they have no reserve system). Traditionally, a BASE rig was a velcro closed, single parachute system. However, modern BASE rigs include both velcro and pin-closed containers. Virtually all are still single parachute systems, designed exclusively for fixed object jumping. There are lots of other differences (for example, no TSO requirements, different pack tray shape and orientation, etc), but that's the gist of it. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I think that BASE jumpers tend to push the limit other ways. In general, any experienced BASE jumper will laugh if you tell them you are going to "push your limit" by increasing your wingloading. I once made some jumps in a mixed crew of jumpers ranging from 5 to 1000 jumps. We looked at our wingloadings and found that as experienced increased, wingloading decreased. I understand that this has been the experience of the manufacturers as well. As a (big) generalization: More experience = More nylon. Just the reverse of skydiving. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I tend to mix and match like crazy, hence my Blackjack in a Prism and other non-homogenous rigs. I've found that I tend to have more trouble with a particular type of rig (see Dwain's comments on closing style combined with container and canopy) than anything else. I haven't had any trouble mixing the various manufacturers gear. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

How cheap? I got US$700 for roundtrip flights to both Moscow (you going?) and Oslo this summer. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

You are correct for 99.9% of jumps. On a McConkey, the multi attachment rings can create an extra snag hazard (I once saw a tattooed Aussie try to fish his attachment ring out of a crack that it had fallen into, while standing on the edge with the canopy below him--it took him about 10 minutes of heart-stopping tension). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Yes. It should take an experienced jumper/rigger less than five minutes to remove or re-attach the multi. However, even with the multi itself detached, the canopy top skin still includes the extra reinforcements used to attach the multi (and still costs the extra $150). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I learned to jump at Lodi. I highly recommend doing static line instead of AFF if you are learning in Lodi. Static Line is tons cheaper ($500, I believe), and you end up with about the same skills you get out of a Lodi AFF class--then you can throw the $500 you saved directly into more jumps, to learn more and have more fun. If you really want to do AFF, I'd recommend doing AFF at a different DZ (there are lots in Northern California with great programs). I've had several friends who were AFF jump masters at Lodi, and gave exactly this advice to prospective students. The mentality of the DZO (jump lots, jump, now, jump, jump, jump) isn't very conducive to a good AFF class, and fits a lot better into a static line training progression. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Thanks Dwain! For those of you who don't know him, I recommend reading carefully everything Dwain has to say. He is, in my opinion, clearly the world's top BASE jumper. I know that some very experienced Scandinavian jumpers (by virtue of their location, I'd bet they do quite a bit of terminal stuff) have removed their multis because they felt the multi actually degraded their heading rate. While I don't agree with them (I jump my multi on every jump that I'm using my multi-equipped canopy), I think this is worth noting. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

A while back, I mentioned that it was standard BASE etiquette to contact the locals when you are travelling, and looking to jump. I've received several PM's asking why this is the rule for BASE jumpers. I'm working on writing up a Tom-style encapsulation of the rule, and why it's the best way to go, but in the mean time, I wanted to re-print this BLiNC post made several years ago by Earl Redfern. Thanks to BASE 311 for finding the old post. Earl was probably the first person to complete 1000 BASE jumps, and sadly, was killed in an aircraft accident (along with another jumper) while scouting for new BASE sites. Rest in peace, Earl. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I have stopped using the tailgate for McConkey's. I did this on the advice of BASE 587, who is, I believe, the world's most experienced "unpacked" jumper (he's also recently finished TARD BASE 1 [but I heard some lousy American beat him to McConkey BASE 1]). With the tailgate in place, the canopy tends to stick together in a bundle, and is far more susceptible to off-headings, either from rotation at line stretch or from line slack during the roll over. Without the tailgate, you ought to be able to partially pre-inflate the canopy, virtually assuring an on-heading, as well as minimizing line over potential. In my opinion, this is a bad idea. I know that lots of people are doing it, but (a) I've seen McConkey's line over, which really sucks slider up, and (b) I prefer to spread and pre-inflate the canopy (see above), which is impossible with the slider. Let me see if I can email 587 and get him to add his thoughts... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

My standard "near" object avoidance routine follows Karin's Boyfriend's guidelines. If you see the object, grab the toggles and turn. If your body is tensing for impact, go for risers. Grab both rear risers to kill forward movement. Release one rear riser, and cross that hand over to grab the other front riser (you should still be holding this rear riser down). This should generate the best turn, with minimum forward movement. It will, however, cost a lot of altitude, so be sure to keep an eye on the ground. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Given Skylark's location, I'd say Norway is a great choice for what he wants. He can show up, hike out, film, talk to people, hang out, etc. There's a big crowd there for most of the summer, and anyone can show up. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Actually, the fatality at that bridge occured the weekend after Memorial Day. The accident on memorial day involved a low pull on a round. The jumper in question made a startlingly quick recovery (especially considering he required spinal surgery). I believe that Hookitt was present at the accident, and knew the facts. ExtremeBaser: I dislike the tone of your message. I encourage you to be a little more polite to others in this forum. Consider this your first, last and only warning. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've found that doing a few crunches also helps maintain abdominal strength (to hold the de-arch more easily). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

To keep it on the tailgate. Disadvantage: potential for hang-up on PCA Advantages: don't have to keep replacing rubber band, don't litter (I'm not joking, one popular U.S. cliff has thousands of rubber bands underneath it). I've never noticed a difference with any kind of delay. With zero delay, and especially with PCA, it can be quite noticeable. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I heard bps was trying to get this started for the AF team, too. Damn it, what's next, Golden Knights BASE jumping for demos? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've seen a McConkey done with a VX at the bridge in the potato state. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Probably best to start that over at BLiNC, though, since the level of experience there is significantly higher. I think I've seen it go by on that board. Let me see if I can find it. Edit: I found the old thread, but all the votes had somehow been cleared out. So, I've started a new poll at BLiNC. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Me too. I remember blazing down the dirt road back toward civilization at 70 mph, my truck bouncing up and down, stopping every few minutes to stand on top of the truck and see if I had cell reception yet. It's not an experience I want to repeat any time soon. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Here is a great BLiNC thread, that I strongly recommend to every BASE jumper--especially students. Give it a read, if you get a chance. The life you save may be your own. Thanks Skreamer! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The BR tailpocket also has a noticeably wider opening than either the CR or Morpheus tailpocket. It's a design consideration that pivots around preventing line dump while allowing the lines free travel. I wonder if the fifth line just adds the right amount of additional bulk to create abrasion on the tailpocket mouth (and possibly blow it open). Maybe we ought to see if anyone has jumped a fifth line with a wider-mouthed tailpocket. Time to send out emails seeking expert opinions... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Many BASE jumpers have never experienced a BASE lineover, so there is very little practical response available to your question. Also, many BASE jumpers don't carry hook knives (although pretty much all the manufacturers recommend it, and I know I've used mine, I only know of one other case in which one has been used to clear a lineover in the BASE environment). It totally depends on what is happening around you. If you are low, you may not have any time to deal. If the object is close to you, your first consideration is object strike. If the ground is close, your first consideration is landing (or, more likely, ground strike). On my lineover, I pumped the toggles twice, saw that it wouldn't clear, stabilized the canopy in flight away from the object, then used a hook knife to cut the toggle. You can see the video on the skydivingmovies.com server (it's pretty busy right now, but I'll try to post a link once I can get into it). Completely--as well as other things. How fast is it spinning? Can you land it? Can you steer away from the object? I really like Faber's summary best--hang on to your hat, and deal with your sh!t. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

This may be the simplest, best encapsulation of BASE emergency procedures I've ever heard. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com