TEric

Finally booked flights today from Ontario: Eric Chappel Marc Downing Does anyone know if we have to pre-register? And do weight belts need a cutaway, or is the pond reasonably shallow? thanks eric

Video!

Thanks for all the good info!

I completely agree with putting a lot of jumps on a new canopy before strapping any weights on. I put 600 jumps on my XF2 109@1.65 before downsizing to my 99@1.86. My calculation with allowable weights was more forward thinking than anything else. Until there are any major technological advances, it would seem like I could spend the rest of my skydiving career on the "same" wing, turf surfing without weights on an everyday basis, and adding weights (once I am completely comfortable in all conditions, and then in small amounts while learning) for competition. I was actually considering a VX, but am put off a little because of the rumoured harsh openings. Many of my jumps will be video jumps, and I would like to be able to use my neck for a few more years yet. I could easily be swayed toward any xbraced canopy, though, and am open to any other opinions. Most of my friends (peers and mentors) are suggesting a Velocity, but I can't help but think that that is simply because they are currently the 'winningest' canopy on the market. Unfortunately I have exhausted my supply of friends with canopies suitable to demo, most of them fly 96s or larger which I would only load at 1.77 - not really a reasonable comparison. *Note - wing loading discrepancies are due to weight loss over the winter. I was 185 out the door at the end of last season.

Ok, here are a few details My exit weight = 170lbs The new CPC weight limitations allow me to wear 35 lbs (max) for an exit weight of 205lbs. I think that I would order an 85, for an everyday WL of 2.0, and a max allowable WL of 2.4 So... I know from experience that increasing my wing loading on a XF2 from 1.6 to 1.85 allowed the canopy to dive and carry speed longer after the turn, making my setup easier. Will the 27 cell want to come out of the dive quickly by itself at a relatively light loading of 2.0? Of course, I get get a 79 - for an everyday WL of 2.15, and max 2.59, and have a firmer everyday loading, and probably not have to user the maximum weight to get to a respectable WL for speed and distance.(but have a slightly smaller, twitchier wing)

In reading through past posts about the Xaos, it seems that the general consensus in the past is that the 21 preforms well at wingloadings of 2.0-2.3, and the 27 preforms well at wingloadings of 2.4+. I've flown a FX and a VX for comparison purposes, and it feels like the 21 cell has a much quicker descent rate, making a very short canopy ride, which is perhaps not the best for getting back from a long spot (as I often have to do after a tandem vid jump) I am only looking for a wing loading of 2.1, but prefer the 27 cell descent rate. All in all, will I get better preformance from the 21? Will I still be able to get back from a long spot with the 21? And why does no one compete with a 21 cell canopy (except the velo of course)?

Hi! I'm going to be driving from Orlando, Fl to Toronto, On next week, planning on stopping at CSS for the weekend, then driving Monday to get to another DZ for a couple of days of mid-week jumping. Any suggestions? So far considering CrossKeys or the Ranch. Thanks Eric

Hey!! I know this guy!! I'm sure reports of this got greatly exaggerated by the time they got back home. (maybe because of the ambulance they called when I tried to stand up and couldn't) I tried to punish the ground just for being there - but I think that it won. Landed hard on my right hip and shoulder, sprained my back, left wrist, and right shoulder, lost some skin on my ass, and walked real funny for a while. Nothing broken, just twisted and torn. Didn't have to miss any work, but got a 6 week holiday from jumping. Tried jumping after 1 month, but it still hurt more than it was fun. (So I only did 3) I'm almost all better now, just my right shoulder is slowing me down now. Did 8 jumps last sunday, and went to Titusville on Wed after work to try and make up for lost time, but they only put up one load At least the weather looks good for the weekend

I'm looking for DZ's near Orlando that are typically busy during weekday evenings (4pm to dusk) There seem to be a lot of daylight hours during the day after work, and I'd like to take advantage!!

I've heard of people buying "tunnel suits" for doing tandem video. These suits use extra layers of material to slow your fall rate. Seems like a great idea, particularily if your disipline of choice is freeflying. If you want to freefly tandem vids, the alternative to the tunnel suit is a freefly suit with wings similar to a traditional camera jacket. It is my (uneducated) opinion that a tunnel suit would allow you to do tandem videos without adjusting your normal freeflying style by compensating with a wing. More jumps using the same flying skills = greater skills, right? Let the discussion begin....

3 times in 350 jumps #16 lineover #32 lineover #156 - first elliptical jump, spinning line twists. Didn't pack any of them - guess I should pack for myself!

I use my neptune to keep track of my jumps, then try and remember what I did at the end of the weekend. If I can remember that's great, if not, just the numbers are good for me. I lost a pro-track last year because I took it out of my helmet during a wind hold during the day to log, then stuffed it in my pocket and ran out in the landing area to catch a tandem. Lucky for me a friend of mine borrowed a metal detector 3 months later and found it, still functional! (I ended up trading him for his dytter)

I haven't been within the parameters of the chart since off of student gear. 1-40 student gear 0.76 - 0.83 40-150 sabre 150 @ 1.2 150-350 Stiletto 135 @ 1.35 - This is close, except for the 'subtract 2 pts for

My personal favorites... "MANWHORE" (this one gets some interesting reactions!!) "Your trailer or mine?" "Oh, her?.... She's just a friend" "I do whatever the voices in my head tell me to do"

Awesome - Thanks for the help!

I jump a Stiletto 135 in a Mirage G3, and my openings are very sudden following a longish delay after deployment. By this I mean that I dump, get a 3-4 second delay, then have an open canopy. The deployment sequence does not sit me up so I can look up at an opening canopy, I go from flat to standing in virtually no time at all, but after a disturbing delay. I actually had someone on the ground who watched me deploy mention that they were certain I was having a pilot chute in tow mal. My pin pressure is snug but not overly tight, and the PC doesn't appear to be overly baffed out. I would like to both speed up the time between deployment and full line extension, and slow down the time between line extension and fully open canopy. Suggestions? Thanks

Why would I have to demount the camera to dub? I went into a camera shop today and had a look at both the HC and PC - on the HC all of the plugs (Lanc, firewire, A/V) are on the right side. Couldn't I just flip the helmet open, plug in the cable, and use the cameras remote to dub, or am I missing something?

Thanks guys - keep 'em coming. I'm pretty much sold, I just need to decide if I'm going to buy a pc109, or an hc40 camera, that's why I'd like to see pictures with the side open if possible. I'm leaning toward the HC, I think there would be no need to remove the camera from the helmet to dub, whereas the 109 you'd have to pull out and put in the docking station everytime. Kind of a pain for tandem vids. BTW, Those orange helmets look wicked!

It appears from the diagrams that the LANC ports for both cameras (as well as all the other connections) are on the right hand side of the camera. Check out the thread 'skypimp helmets' in this forum http://www.dropzone.com/forum/Skydiving_Disciplines_C3/Photography_and_Video_F7/Sky_Pimp_Helmets_P744395/ I'd like to hear what your opinions are about rightsidemounting, noting that both of these camera use a touch screen menu system. I presume that the menu could be 'set and left alone', does anyone know if you have to access the screen to dub??

I'm considering a Skypimp sidemount camera helmet, and their website is STILL under construction. Does anyone have any pictures they could post of theirs? I would particularly like to see photos of PC or HC series cameras, with the helmet open and closed. (I want to see what I can get at while the camera is still mounted) Outside shots for custom paint ideas would be great too, as the examples on the website are pretty shocking! Thanks

Thanks Andyman for the Resellers web link - great site!

HC40 $379 http://www.starlightcamera.com/shopping/ProductDetails.asp?Catid=14&Sku=sndcrhc40 PC109 $429 http://www.amphotoworld.com/product.asp?id=sndcrpc109&l=ShopCartUSA Of course - I know nothing about either of these companies - just found them while surfing, could be big fat scams.

I'm looking at the following two cameras, and wondering what exactly the difference is between the them. These specs are taken directly from sonystyle.com There appears to be very little difference, except: HC is 1 oz heavier, 1/4" shorter, and 5/8" longer PC has a "handycam station", which although small, seems to me to be an extra piece of hardware to cart around/lose, plus have to go find in order to firewire from camera to camera. HC claims 7hrs battery operation, vs only 4.5 for the PC Sony DCR-HC40 Specifications • Imaging Device: 1/5" 1070K Pixel Advanced HAD™ CCD • Video Actual: 690K Pixels • Still Actual: 1000K Pixels • F: 1.8 – 2.3 • Focal Distance: 3.2 – 32mm • 35mm Conversion: 46 – 460mm (Camera mode); 38 – 380mm (Memory mode) • Filter Diameter: 25mm • Optical Zoom: 10X • Digital Zoom: 120X • Focusing: Full Range Auto/Manual (Touch Screen) • Minimum Illumination: 7 lux (0 lux with Super NightShot® Plus Infrared System) • NightShot Infrared System: Super NightShot® Plus • Shutter Speed: 1/4 – 1/4000 (AE Mode) • Viewfinder: Color, 123K Pixels • LCD: 2.5" (123K) Hybrid Color1 • Accessory Shoe: Intelligent • Video Input/Output: Yes/Yes (Multi A/V, Special) • Audio Input/Output: Yes/Yes (Stereo, Special) • i.LINK®2 DV Interface (IEEE1394): Yes • USB: Yes • Memory Stick PRO Duo™ Media Compatibility3: Tested to support up to 512MB media capacity; does not support high speed transfer function; does not support Access Control security function • USB Streaming: Yes • LANC (Accessory) Terminal: Yes (Stereo, Mini) • Headphone Jack: N/A • Mic. Input: Yes (Stereo) • White Balance: Auto/Outdoor/Indoor/One Push • Exposure: Manual, Touch Panel (24 Steps) • Power Consumption (VF/LCD/VF+LCD): 2.9W/3.2W/3.3W • Software OS Compatibility: Microsoft® Windows® 98SE, Me, 2000 Professional, XP Home and Pro; Macintosh® OS X (10.1.5 or later)4 • Dimensions (WHD): 2" x 3 5⁄8" x 4 1⁄2" (50 x 92 x 112mm) • Weight: 14 oz (400g) without Tape and Battery Sony DCR-PC109 Specifications • Imaging Device: 1/5" 1070K Pixel Advanced HAD™ CCD • Video Actual: 690K Pixels • Still Actual: 1000K Pixels • F: 1.8 – 2.3 • Focal Distance: 3.2 – 32mm • 35mm Conversion: 46 – 460mm (Camera Mode); 38 – 380mm (Memory Mode) • Filter Diameter: 25mm • Optical Zoom: 10X • Digital Zoom: 120X • Focusing: Full Range Auto/Manual (Touch Panel) • Minimum Illumination: 7 lux (0 lux with Super NightShot Plus Infrared System) • NightShot® Infrared System: Super NightShot Plus • Shutter Speed: 1/4 – 1/4,000 (AE Mode) • Viewfinder: Color, 123K Pixels • LCD: 2.5" (123K) Hybrid Color1 • Accessory Shoe: Intelligent • Video Input/Output: Yes/Yes (Mini, and S-Video (Handycam Station) • Audio Input/Output: Yes/Yes (Stereo, Special) • i.LINK®2 DV Interface (IEEE1394): Yes • USB: Yes • Memory Stick PRO Duo™ Media Compatibility3: Tested to support up to 512MB media capacity; does not support high speed transfer function; does not support Access Control security function • USB Streaming: Yes • LANC (Accessory) Terminal: Yes (Stereo, Mini) • Headphone Jack: N/A • Mic. Input: Yes (Stereo/Mini) • White Balance: Auto/Outdoor/Indoor/One Push • Exposure: Manual, Touch Panel (24 Steps) • Power Consumption (VF/LCD/VF+LCD): 2.9W/3.2W/3.3W • Software OS Compatibility: Microsoft® Windows® 98SE, Me, 2000 Professional, XP Home and Pro; Macintosh® OS X (10.1.5 or later)4 • Dimensions (WHD): 2" x 3 7⁄8" x 3 7⁄8" (50 x 98 x 97mm) • Weight: 13 oz. (385g) without Tape and Battery I would be using the camera for outside tandem video, coaching students, and freefly fun jumps. I think that for the very slight difference in weight I would go for the HC over the PC, simply for the added convenience of no 'docking station', and the extra battery time. I've found the PC109 for $429, and the HC40 for $379, so the price difference is negligable. Anyone who is using these cameras, or has info to share please jump in with your opinions. Thanks

Is anyone using a video camera for tandem videos with 340K actual video resolution? I'm wondering if I can get away with a Sony DCR-HC20 that I can pick up relatively cheaply, or if I need to get the HC40 so that I can get 690K res. If I understand correctly, VHS quality tops out at around 220K, so if my tandem vids are to be dubbed to VHS, why would I need more quality? Thanks Eric

I am starting to look for a camera/helmet combo, probably used, and am wondering what kind of lifetime, in years and jump numbers that I could expect out of a Sony camera (pc/trv). Also, I really like the look of the FF2 from 2k composites, are there other helmets out there where the camera is inside the helmet like that? How sensitive are cameras to moisture/humidity (think hot humid summer, camera inside helmet right next to sweaty head. I like how snag free it looks to be though. And... how do you align the camera?