nicknitro71

Oh my! I saw the commercial last night but did not realize who the guys were! I guess Jeb plays the bad guy this time around! Memento Audere Semper 903

Not true, I heard this straight from the FAA after having some doubt on my own! As riggers, we are allowed to miss-match approved components using our own judgment. Of course though, it's always a good idea to get the manufacturer's blessing Memento Audere Semper 903

If I can't hook it, I ain't jumping it! Lov the pic, thanks to all for the needed laughs! Memento Audere Semper 903

Too true and too funny bro. Happy flights to all! Memento Audere Semper 903

To all, News is NOT truth by any means. Please do not speculate ANYTHING until more details are known. Nobody really knows what happened at this point but Scott and Mike or anybody else who was at the scene. I think there is already enough drama in this, it's no time to start being keyboard happy. Memento Audere Semper 903

Please re-read what 440 wrote. I could not care less if the authorities call it a suicide, actually even better because suicides do not make any news. About two weeks ago a guy jumped off our local S with no gear. We thought he burned the site. Nothing in the news and newspapers. Please take my gear with you and do make it look like a suicide! Memento Audere Semper 903

Ditto, 110% And pretty please, take my gear off! Memento Audere Semper 903

Actually it counts as two: 240-100 = 140' FF S and a 100' T (as for tree) Where's my log book? Oh right I don't have one EZactly, I got 1/2 jump The Ace is got too long lines for TARD overs off cliffs Deal! Because they don't really know you! Memento Audere Semper 903

Now that I know this I'm putting my ACE on e-bay and try to relocate and buy back that bruiselite I once had and maybe get a Strato-Could for the super low stuff. Memento Audere Semper 903

Chuck, I think you misunderstood Yuri's point a bit. It's not about BASE vs SD WS flights, pilots, or skills. It's about the primary driving force for expanding WS design, IMO. Many of the most moder WSs on the market including your S3 came about due to BASE needs rather than skydiving needs...and you can hear this straight from the horse mouth... Skydiving is now for me more like a gym than anything else, a fun gym nonetheless. I am training hard in this gym because I know one day I might have to max out for my life...in SD maxing out at the end of a flight might be fun but your life does not depend upon it...that's why some of the best trackers and some of the best WS pilots in the world are just not skydivers... Memento Audere Semper 903

Hey Maggot, Talking about gear, this is something you might want to invest in, so next time you try to cross a river in the middle of the winter you won't drown like you almost did last night Memento Audere Semper 903

Sure, when FF a 240, those pants really give you lots of separation Memento Audere Semper 903

This is a very good post and those are questions I ask myself on daily bases. Lift and drag being so simple in theory they are like a chameleon when applied to real situations. Reducing the induced drag is going to be a real bitch because it is strictly related with the AR of the wing. We can add wing tip spoilers, reduce the flapping of the trailing edges (I've done it with great results) but in the end we are limited by our natural wing span. I foresee great advances in the reduction of parasite drag with the use of stiffer, smoother materials, different constructions, containers, helmets, yada, yada, yada. As somebody already posted there are few who are really interested in those advances and skydiving is not the environment they have in mind for this type of performance gain. Memento Audere Semper 903

It's my understanding that there are basically two forms of drag, parasitic and induced (both have multiple components). Parasitic AKA parasite drag is due to skin friction, lines, wrinkles, the pilot...the induced drag is associated with the production of lift. The latter is mainly present in the form of vortices at the trailing edge and wing-tips. You are right Chris, induced drag IS the horizontal vector between the lift vector and the "lifting ability" vector but it's direction opposes thrust. I understand that given two canopies with all things being equal including trim, pilot, WL, and parasite drag, the one with higher AR will produce more lift due to less induced drag. Memento Audere Semper 903

I did not have any problems with Asylum, CR, and PF. Memento Audere Semper 903

I stand corrected, induced As for parasitic drag and lines...HMA if drag is really a problem, then RDS, sew-in risers, spandex...I was told that a really close shave can give a pilot 1 extra foot on the swoop The Mamba comes with HMA but unlike PA's canopies, they are cascaded. I would love to see data on let's say two identical velos or so, flown by the same pilot, one with thin cascaded HMA and the other with thick Dacron lines! Memento Audere Semper 903

If those executives at Wally World just knew what we do with their products they'd probably invest some money in quality control Memento Audere Semper 903

Actually it is a pretty high AR to skydiving standards. The Velocity for instance has a AR of 2.69, the VX 2.73, and the Stiletto 2.68 as a line of comparison. As for drag the higher the AR the less the parasitic drag, not the other way around. Unfortunately in skidiving going over 3 is a bitch at this point in time due to opening "issues". Memento Audere Semper 903

No doubt The Jacket will last. A hard landing on the pants...I don't know. On one pair I put cordura knee pads, just in case! Memento Audere Semper 903

You got your numbers wrong The Mamba has a 2.7 AR, the Spectre 2.14, big difference! Memento Audere Semper 903

Here ya go. The Jacket also has the "Norwegian" swoop cord. I have two pants, the one in the pic have intakes running the whole length of the inside inseam. The other pair have two smaller intakes on the sides of the legs. It takes me at least 8 hours of butching and sewing to make the suit. If I had to charge for it, it would end up costing like Robi's suit! And in the end even if I'm very pleased with the performance, it's still a made-in-China, butched-up suit! Memento Audere Semper 903

I see your point and Tom's about not having a S close by to experiment things out. I guess here in the US we are a bit spoiled in that department for better or worse. However @ 420' you can take a solid 3 sec before going for the PC. This added airspeed should take care of PC hesitations and also add a bit more of grond rush to the mix! By the way what size PC were you using? Stay safe. Memento Audere Semper 903

Less than 50 bucks at Wal*Mart and a sewing machine will make you the best suit money can buy! However it takes some skills and lots of patience...if you have neither I stand behind Robi's products. Memento Audere Semper 903

Lasek Memento Audere Semper 903

Jaap, even though I agree with you 100% let me give you an analogy. About a decade or so back, buying a Stiletto was an adventure. You had to mail in PD your license, jump number, and a verification from the DZO or S&TA. 500 jumps were considered the bare minimum. Nowadays I would not be surprised some DZ doesn't use Stilettos as student canopies and anyone can buy a X-braced loaded 2+ with no question asked. As BASE is gaining more popularity, for better or worse, gear will become more readily available. Also even if everybody was as ethical as you we still have some problems... Let say I'm Joe BASE Smoke, a spoiled bored kid. I got 150 skydives, 0 BASE, and a very bad attitude to accompany my bad breath and pimpled face. I want to buy BASE gear from Jaap. Jaap does a little BKG check and tells me to fuck off. So I called in a manufacture going "Hey, can I enter in one of your FJCs? I'll buy a brand new system too, five PCs, boots, and every single gadget you guys sell and I'll throw in an extra 1000 just for the fuck of it!" So I go and make 10 jumps off the Potato. Next thing I'm in Moab going stowed, shooting videos, throwing gainers, unpacked jumps, and just having plain fun. While there I meet Jaap. "Hey dude, are you that crazy Dutch Canadian who did not want to sell me gear?" "Fuck you man! I can teach you how to BASE now, look at my videos, am I the coolest or what?" Do you see my point? No matter what, "they" will have their way. I got back from Italy where I had the pleasure to witness some old school mentor-mentoree training. It's the only way there, as far as I know. You want to BASE, first let me know you for ONE YEAR. You come with me, watch me, learn all the technical stuff, pack, buy me lunch, let me hang out with your girlfriend, well you get the point! Then after one year I'll see if I teach you... The system is solid and produces world-class BASE jumpers, hands down. In the end ,no matter what, nobody can prevent morons from entering the sport... Memento Audere Semper 903