Jonesy920x

Technically you can't ground loop a Lake, but I'd be interested if he belly landed it or put the gear down. Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

You can't go wrong with either one. A couple things to think about, resale and construction techniques. The PD will have a lot better resale. Some of the Optimums don't actually pack smaller than their PDR counterparts (Call Nancy and ask her she sells all three). I ended up buying the Angelfire because of the way Jumpshack attaches the lines and tapes the seams. I only jump PD mains and loved my PDR reserve. The Angelfire offered what I believed was a better fit for what I was looking for. Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

Life...None of us get out alive. It's all about the journey not the destination. I know we all are willing to take the physical risks by conquering that fear, but who is willing to take the emotional risks to leave our "Comfort Zone" in our everyday life? Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

Ditto I'm a bit biased since I flew at Deland for a season. Jack Jeffries Tom Piras Irve Callahan Rickster Powell Mark Hewitt (Base #46 Naked Base #1) Jerry Bird Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

https://www.facebook.com/pages/iFLY-Austin/250624501701033 Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

Man I like cookies.....but I love Pole dancers !! Hmmm Holland it is Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

I'm going to attend a first flight school this winter and was wondering everyone's thoughts/opinions on where to go. I'm very mobile and was thinking about either Z-hills with the new Wicked Wingsuits school or Elsinore for their course. Any other thoughts ? I'm in the Chicago area but it's too friggn cold to jump here now. Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

I just came back after a 17 year hiatus and wanted to get an airlock canopy. I picked up a VN 170 loaded at 1.4. The canopy was a blast. I had read the reviews on the canopy and was scared to death on my first few openings. Yes this canopy can give you a surprise but I would attribute that more to body position and packing. Personally I believe loaded lightly it's a great intermediate wing. I downsized to a VN 150 loaded at 1.6 and what an amazing difference ! Much more responsive and a lot more forward speed (DUH). However if you work through your canopy skills you'll find it glides very well in brakes. I've made it back from some long spots with that technique. But when you let it loose it's a ground hungry bitch. Coming out of half brakes it gives a pretty good surge that could get you in trouble landing out if you haven't practiced it. All in all I love this wing and I am a true "Airlock" groupy ( :

I'm new to full face helmets, because I've been out of the sport for 15 years. However I've raced off-road motorcycles for 35 years so I'm used to full face helmets in general. I love the visibility and easy locking mechanism for the visor. They got the visor changing system from motorcycle helmets and it works flawlessly (why try to re-invent the wheel?). I had no problem opening the visor under canopy and it stays open. One very nice feature is the the audio altimeter pocket, I can't even tell my Optima II is in the helmet until I hear it. The only problem I had was the sizing chart said that a 23" head could go L or XL(I have a round face). I ordered a L and it was too small. Square one was awesome with the exchange and I had my new XL in 3 working days !

Definitly no ground effect. Ground effect greatly diminishes after 1/2 the wing length or 3/4 of a rotor length. I estimate the wingsuit length at 4-5 ft so no real ground effect until 2 ft about the GROUND. Not much pressure wound be created off the boxes. That just leaves the SKILLS part ! Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

Sometimes the best solution to a problem is the most simple. Props to Gary ! I can see the classified ad now. Base rig for sale or possible trade for 1800 cardboard boxes Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

? Any wing will stall when AOA is exceeded. I thought the idea of the "air locks" was to help with canopy collapse in turbulence. Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

I've been using the "search" function and haven't found much about airlocks after 2008. Brian Germain isn't even making them on a regular basis. Are cross brace canopies superior? Are airlocks too expensive to manufacture? Or is it simple economics ...not enough customers to justify production ie; we vote with our dollars. Just thought the engineering was sound (I'm a pilot and tech geek). Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

Thanks ! That's exactly what I've heard about them. So I guess it comes down to customer service. Do you have any preference ? Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

Ok I know I'm resurrecting a thread that was started 8 years ago, but I was wondering if anybody has some more input now that the nitro and nitron have been around awhile. From what I've found they are pretty much the same canopy but the Nitron comes in more sizes. The price is pretty close and the Nitro is actually cheaper. I guess it comes down to customer service. I'm just wondering now that Beezy is gone is Hiper's customer service still as good as Precision's? It might just come to a coin toss between the two Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

Yes that's exactly what I was thinking. I'd END UP with a 180-190 main and the same for the reserve. I have access to a vector with a 210 reserve and up to a 210 main. I'll take your advice and jump that for awhile. And yes I hope I am smarter.... I'm also not a "fat" 210 I'm 10% BF so losing weight isn't much of an option. Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !

Hi All, Been out since 1994 but looking forward to getting current again. History and stats Age: 45 Weight: 210, exit~235 same as 94 Jumps:+600 Canopies jumped: Started on a Clipper then, PD 170, excalibur (sold due to harsh opening) Sabre 1 170, and last a Sabre 135 I flew the Porter at Deland where I was introduced to swooping! Watched Rickster swoop the ditch in his ZP Excalibur. I was hooked from that day forward and swooped the 170 and 135. So now I'm 45 and the canopies have changed sooooo much. I'm not stupid enough to think I'll be able to surf for quite some time or even fly the elliptical the way they should be. So I'm stuck...I'll need to get a transition canopy and get current without breaking my legs, back, etc I know it all depends on my relearning curve. One shop suggested I jump at least a 235...ugghh I didn't even jump that big as a student. A trusted friend and current jumper suggested jumping student gear for a couple jumps then get a pilot zpx 168 or 188 and fly that for a year or two until I can wring it out. My container is a 98 Racer with a smart 160 reserve. Any suggestions? Experience is knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do !