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@ksaylor1 - thanks - what's the reason for the 90 degree turn? Was it to see your target without raising your head & then backsliding like you mentioned? Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

@Joellercoaster - thanks for the tip - hadn't heard this one, but it sounds very useful if I can get it happening... Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

(just an in between trips to the DZ question) Still doing some coach lessons (2-way). Looking back at the video I see in the first part of the dive I was trying to fly forward to the instructor, however I was a little below him so I was also trying to "hug the ball" and get a bit higher. End result I didn't make much forward head way as I was stretching my arms out in front to get some height too. Instructors said it was like I pushing the accelerator down while pushing the brakes at the same time :) Just wondering in retrospect now: a) in a normal 2-way would it be up to the higher jumper to come down to the lower jumper? b) what's the body position for gaining height but driving forward a bit at the same time? Just less arms relative to straightening out the legs I guess - no special tricks here? Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

Metric support now added in version 2.0 (i.e. can choose to see a metric altimeter face, and set various height in meters now). http://itunes.apple.com/app/skydive-altimeter/id463197450?mt=8 Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

Ok thanks. I'll put them on the todo list http://www.skydivingaltimeter.com/?page_id=32 Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

Oh. Probably should have thought of that one. Will add it to the list to update. Re non-iPhone: if I had the time...took me quite a bit to get the hang of programming in objective-c for iPhone/IOS :). Pity there's not a magic button to compile to whatever platform you want. Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

At the risk of being labelled a geek (oh well) I admit during AFF I knocked up a practice skydiving altimeter (not a real altimeter) for the iPhone. I lost altitude awareness on AFF stage 3 and was really nervous for the next jump. So I knocked this up to practice with. I think it did kind of help, going through the dives & remembering to look/read the alti, but with hands that were moving/mimic'ing the actual dive. This won't of use to anyone beyond AFF/AFP, but during these first 9 jumps this might be of use. Anyway had some fun learning how to put it up on the app store. http://www.skydivingaltimeter.com/ http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=463197450&mt=8 Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

thanks champu - thats seems to align with what I've been noticing - so on the low-wind days I should aim lower in the circle then.... a recent jump in no-wind I was aligned perfectly, then in the last 5m vertical as I flared just kept going and landed 1m outside the circle....I was saying nooooo to myself as I just missed it

Thanks for all the advise/info guys. So I'm gathering if I turn onto final on a no wind day and need to adjust (large canopy) some brakes will help adjust the approach but it may not be that noticeable. Actually on a non-wind approach (shallow angle) will the "accuracy trick" work well for judging where you're going to land? I think I've got then sense of it on a low-medium wind day, but not so much on a no-wind day. Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

Just curious - I'm still trying to consistantly land in the 25m radius circle & getting a bit better - I'm kind of finding that the days where there are low-medium wind are a bit easier than the no wind days. Would kind of make sense based on the smaller angle you glide in at on a no-wind day perhaps? Am I correct here? Is this what others/experienced canopy flyers find too? Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

Can you actually jump with friends after you do B Rel but before you finish the B License itself? Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

thanks for the advice & links guys - I think in summary what I'm hearing overall is focus on pattern setup into final as the main technique for accurancy & try to limit any need for major corrections on final, however a little bit of correction in the early stage of final is probably ok if done carefully re this "The D Point" article and adding another checkpoint prior to the entry into the Downwind Leg, what do you think. Probably best not to try taking this on board at my stage - rather just stick to the standard pattern. Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

@almeister112 - thanks - so you don't use toggles yourself on final sometimes for adjustment? (I'm assuming at my level I'll need to leave use of front risers, and perhaps rear risers too?, on final to further down the track) Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

Still having a few problems trying to land in the 25m circle consistently...just wanted to clarify my understanding of what techniques one can use here (i.e. clarifying what I've learnt from my instructors, but also I think it's good/interesting to listen to other experienced people on the forum here, inbetween times I can make it out to the DZ). So my high level understanding re landing accurancy techniques is: Prior to turning final (coarse grain) - all about preparing your circuit to match the winds, looking at the windsock, flying into wind at 2000 and judging ground speed etc - aim is to get yourself turning into final at roughly the right height/location... On Final (fine tuning) - this is where I really wanted to clarify, maybe I should note I've been flying circuit at full drive too - the main two techniques to fine tune I know are a) sashaying - only on basis no other canopies around (and I'm landing in the student landing area) - seems to give me a medium grain level of adjustment...haven't been confident enough to do large enough sashays on some jumps as I have the "no big turns down low" drilled into me, and have overshot on these occassions b) toggles - applying some toggles to steepen approach, if looks like you'll overshoot, but make sure you go back to full drive for the last 1/2 of final (well before flaring) - kind of feels like this should give more of a fine grain adjustment, but admit I haven't tried/practiced this technique too much to date So overall I guess feedback I'm be interested in: Q1) have I got this correct above, re for flying Final leg these are the two accuracy adjustment techniques available? Q2) would it be ok to focus on use of "toggles" as the main technique on final? i.e. then this is available to you in the case there are other canopies around, and I'm guessing once practiced well it should give one the ability to really fine tune the landing into the circle? Q3) should I perhaps be starting to fly first part of final say in 1/4 brakes, so I have room to go either way depending on whether it looks like I'm overshooting or undershooting? thanks Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

@sundevil777 - thanks - so you just made a cutout that roughly held the audible, and then with your head in it can't fall out, correct? Hadn't thought of plugs, so I'm guessing you think they're worth it during freefall then? (noted paragear can't ship this product internationally unfortunately) Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

@theplummeter - oh, so in fact do you think the Ozone's extra quietness could be a negative in fact in this respect? Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

Background - just trying decide on a first helmet for myself (as a novice) to not rely on rental gear - throwing up between: a) cheaper option - Benny http://www.chutingstar.com/newgear_en/benny.html to get started, or b) not so cheap - Ozone http://www.chutingstar.com/newgear_en/cookie-ozone-helmet.html I'm kind of ok with the idea of going with the Benny for the moment (leaving coolness at DZ out of the equation), but wanted to ask the following Q1 - re Noise during freefall - would the Ozone be better for reduced noise during freefall? And if so is this some worth paying extra for? (so I've just used cheap rental helmets to date) Kind of hard to image freefall not being noisy in any case and is just part of the deal skydiving.... Q2 - would Ozone be any better in terms of ease in inserting/removing an audible (e.g. Optima)? With the rental gear I'm having to get tape to make sure it stays in, so would be good to have a helmet where you don't need to do this.... Or in other words, can I insert/remove an audible in the Benny without having to use tape to keep it in place? Q3 - re in the future (down the track) getting a go-pro, this could mount on either of these correct? i.e. so no reason here to not go for the Benny here...correct? Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

lol - didn't see beginner in the profile thing so put wingsuiting :) Ok thanks for the feedback - I'll look for 200+ mains & chat with my instructors. Feels like the right way to go too I think. Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

Sorry....forgot to mention my weight, which is 81kg/178lb. Pattern is just ok, but not getting within 25m circle regularly. Just getting a good flare in the last couple of jumps. Probably assume for my question I get say upto 20 jumps before wanting to go over to my first 2nd hand rig. Ie so question being what to start looking for, or if a 190 main came up whether to consider this or not. Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

I'm going to be absolutely discussing this with my instructors, but interested to hear your comments.... Question: Is a 190 main ok for a novice first rig? So I'm talking a used/2nd hand rig here. I've done 12 jumps so far on a 230. Ie would this step down be om, or too big. The reason I ask about a 190 is that I'm getting the impression there may be more chance of finding one around this size than over 200... No doubt in the process of looking I could still get a few more jumps on the 230 rental gear...or more than a few if recommended. Guess my point here is I'm keen to get off then rental costs earlier rather than later. Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

not planning to start using it till after AFF (couldn't resist ordering it now though) Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

thanks bofh - for me (i.e. beginner) do you think I should turn them off then? or leave on and start getting used to them as another aid when flying circuit? Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

Picked up an Optima II. Understand the high speed and low warning indicators, however what don't understand is the "Guide Tones" you can set. Manual says "unique set of guide beeps sound when flying from the 2nd through the 3rd selected Canopy Descent Warning altitudes"... Question - Anyone able to better explain/clarify what these guide tones are, how you would use them? My guess is that it gives you an indication of how quickly you are descending from the 2nd to the 3rd indicator via means of how often it beeps and frequency...this being the case how would you know what sort of beep frequency/rate you'd be targeting anyway? Still a student so still coming to terms with getting glide angles right in my head for different wind strengths. In fact thinking about it I'm not sure whether the decent rate on final for different wind strengths would change, should be the same no? Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

any links to video of people doing a track via starting with the "dead spider"? Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT

Haven't done a calculation on this yet (as I'd have to get a handle on gear depreciation to do) so wanted to ask people general feel/understanding of how many jumps per year would you typically be better off either (a) buying 2nd year, or (b) buying new year, as opposed to continuing to rent drop zone gear. QUESTION: How many jumps/year would be the threshold to take the novice skydiver from being better off financially NOT renting the local dropzone gear, but rather buying their own gear. In fact for the cases: a) used gear (i.e. would still be financially better off buying 2nd gear than renting) b) new gear (i.e. would still be financially better off buying new gear than renting) I'm assuming here that if you were only going to say 2 jumps / month you might be better off renting gear perhaps, but more than this at some point you'd hit being better off buy 2nd hand gear. Then part b) is kind of more, at some point if you like the idea of new gear, you could convince yourself the additional cost of new gear included you'd still be better off than renting. My assumptions here (and jump in and correct me if I'm wrong) is I'm assuming there will be fixed costs with your own gear no matter how many jumps you do such as the below. * inspections * reserve repacks * etc Again just interested in some really rough idea based on experience people may already have if you've gone through the process of deciding if/when it's worth for you to get/buy your first rig. Parachutist Game IOS Android YouT