nicknitro71

I know this might not be the right place to discuss such issues but have you guys thought about splitting the company in two, military and sport? I am a big fan of Stane and his products and would love to see more of his ideas implemented in newer tarps. Memento Audere Semper 903

Why spend 350 bucks to learn what Maggot can teach you for free? Maggot will be running a BASE course at BD. The course includes packing, a few packed and unpacked jumps from a 240 S and few from a 300 A and of course the jumps at BD. The course will also prepare you to make your first aerial off the famous S if you so desire. The course won't include BASE history or ethics or other non-relevant BS, as per Maggot. The course will also put lots of emphasis in CANOPY CONTROL a thing that many other instructors cannot offer because in all honesty they have no clue how to fly a tarp, as per Maggot. Maggot with his over 6000 canopy flights is more than qualified to teach you how to fly a tarp and survive landings w/out broken bones. Maggot cannot provide you with gear, you must bring your own. If interested please PM me or Maggot (http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?username=magot;). Memento Audere Semper 903

I agree 100% and then some. I'm a small guy myself and probably I fall even slower than you (5.11 by 153 LBS). Before putting the RW suit I had few episodes of potato chipping (gay FF suit) that I could not cure with anything. Other times I had built-in turns that I could not stop with my legs only, I had to use my arms too. Ever since I put the RW suit on, no more control problems at all, well besides exits and I exclusively fly with my legs leaving my arms to dick around. If you are a big guy then going "gay" with the FF suit might be OK. For all the small TI fucks out there give it a try with the RW suit and booties. Now the only thing left is for my camera guys to buy a suit with wings because they keep dropping on me Memento Audere Semper 903

A Xaos 27 Memento Audere Semper 903

I used to jump with a FF suit...once I tried my RW one and it was night and day, day being with the RW I fly mainly with my legs only so to me it's natural to have leg power with the booties and skinny arms to play with the student and camera guy that do not interfere with flying. Yes the grippers are overkilled but it's the only RW suit I have...one day I get one w/out the grippers and cordura all around for those fun landings...and the biggest booties money can buy Memento Audere Semper 903

I'm so busy trying to get stable that by the time I throw the drogue is time to deploy I am the cameraman worst nightmare Memento Audere Semper 903

Gus at http://riggingsolutions.us/b_a_s_e__zone.htm Memento Audere Semper 903

Very nice. That's how I land BASE tarps when altitude/LZ don't allow for any hook turns: Fly in deepish breaks, then front risers, and flare. Using the surge of the canopy after releasing the breaks is also used to land tandems. Anything that increases the available speed on landing is welcome in my world. Speed = lift = better landings. Memento Audere Semper 903

1) Do you guys have stores where you can buy, like, stuff? To eat and drink I mean. Just McDs. 2) What about toilet paper? Should I bring my own? We use junk mail for that. 3) How are the roads? Should I rent a 4WD car, or will my bicycle be enough? You need a harley dude, iit's America. 4) I may pop over the border and visit Mexico. Should I bring gloves? Yes, latex. 5) I'm also thinking about stopping by in Canada, should I bring shorts? Why not and have some bacon while there. 6) Do I need any vaccinations? Just the one for AIDS. Memento Audere Semper 903

Couple of more. The Tarp Swoop Team is doing ok... Memento Audere Semper 903

Wow Sam, Great piece of social psychology Memento Audere Semper 903

At every cutaway. Memento Audere Semper 903

That's a good point, the force of the S/L itself. Also on a D-bag jump when the jumper leaves the lines start to un-stow right way and at full line stretch the canopy leaves the bag and starts inflating right away without being deformed. On a S/L the container has to open first, the canopy extracted, line stretched. At this point the canopy is not in the greatest position for opening having its center cell pulled up. On top of that, as already mentioned, enough force has to be generated to break the cord. When the tarp is finally free, it "springs" back and inflate. There are just many more steps on a S/L even a short one than a D-bag. The cool thing about the S/L is that you do not need anyone to help you out and with the CWY version you do not leave anything on the object. You can d-bag yourself of course but then you must go back and get your bag unless you wish to leave it on the object. Memento Audere Semper 903

Very true and that's the single biggest mistake people commit on their few fist aerials: launching way too hard ending up in unwanted doubles, off axis, or pitching at the absolute wrong time, you name it. A single gainer is the simplest thing there is, much simpler than a flat and stable exit, at least to me Granted that I only have one double at the Potato (and went very well), a slow single to me is where it's at: slow, mushy, lots of time to enjoy the view, great non-slamming slider down opening, what else can you ask? The secret is not to launch the flip on the exit: just step up and forward, lean back, bring your knees in a little, and when you see the water/ground smoothly pitch. There is really nothing to it. Memento Audere Semper 903

Ditto. Robin wrote a good article with some very good points. Let not the author's past side-tracks you from a possible very constructive thread. I personally like the idea of "casual" jumpers. My wife and I are casual SCUBA divers. We do it occasionally not a regular basis. It would be nice if skydiving could offer the same experience other than tandems. Of course we have to deal with the biggest issue of all first: skydivers' attitude towards potential solo students. Vet few DZ treat tandem students as potential long term skydivers "Just pay your ticket and get out of here, and by the way remember to tip your hauler and camera guy". This is the current attitude on the vast majority of medium/big DZs. Maybe tandems are the root of the problem...I don't know...but before the tandem era to make a skydive you had to jump by yourself and S/L was in general the preferred method for first timers. A person feels much more accomplished after a simple S/L than a tandem ride: they can go home and tell that they jumped out off a plane all by themselves on their first jump. Memento Audere Semper 903

In theory stabilizers should act like winglets. The low pressure air of the top skin when it meets the high pressure from the bottom skin curls up forming vortexes hence creating a form of drag known as the induced drag. You are right assuming that stabilizers increase drag but only in the form of parasite drag. The idea is to come-up with a design that reduces the overall drag: too big stabilizers too much parasite drag, too small too much induced drag... Memento Audere Semper 903

My comment was not pointed to Joe but to me having seen I cannot leave any tarp I own the way it is Memento Audere Semper 903

The stabilizers do several things: -They trap some air from escaping to the sides during deployment making the slider descent slower. -They reduce wingtip vorticies thus reducing drag and increasing the efficiency of the tarp. -They offer a convenient pace to put the slider stops. The vast majority of paragliders don't have stabilizers but then it could be argued that because the wing is so bowed with very narrow ends they do not need any. Also paragliders don't have to deal with the opening. In any case, I don't think that over-steering (skidding) is the major reason to put stabilizers on a tarp and if I had to take I bet, removing the stabilizers from a modern x-braced tarp won't induce much over-steer but it'd definitely make a difference in opening. I wish Joe would chime in on the subject. Memento Audere Semper 903

Very true. However for some bored souls out there butching canopies is where it's at Memento Audere Semper 903

No doubt. However many on this wonderful drokzone consider unpacked shit well as unpacked shit and not a true BASE jump. By the way, why tard it when you can tard it over? Tards are 90s man and as out as mullets Memento Audere Semper 903

Ian, When I told you about this special technique I asked you not to reveal it to anyone and now you put it on a public forum! You are a bad dogie! Memento Audere Semper 903

I got a TJN with a Tempo 150. Tight fit. I would not put anything bigger than that. Memento Audere Semper 903

Hear that Smizo...next project will be to remove the stabilizers on my Alpha... Memento Audere Semper 903

Then you should keep for yourself your set up as well Honestly if 8' does make a difference then not having a 46" anchor will make a greater difference and maybe the 3' bridle with no PC might be the better option than a knot on a bridle. By the way, If I am that low I'd rather d-bag: faster than the best S/L or PCA, no anchor, and great heading. So what if it's old school Memento Audere Semper 903

Good points. I thought too of making a 3' bridle with no PC...With two break cords not touching the object chances that things will go wrong are nil but then again that big 46" at the end is always cheep insurance. I just got to get over the psychological constraints. Memento Audere Semper 903