sundevil777

My final destination is my old home town, Phoenix, and of course Eloy. The Spaceland DZs are convenient along the way. If weather sucks, I won't be stopping at all.

Both Spaceland DZs are good candidates for a Christmas break road trip stop, which would you choose? Is there another option I should consider nearby?

Rob Jackson finally came out of hiding (he contacted me)! Hasn't jumped since the old Kapowsin days, but he's still going strong.

Please explain.

Slider stops. I do not remember anyone having premature brake releases back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and sliders stayed where they were supposed to stay. Does the slider being able to interact with the toggles on opening cause releases? Along with mini-risers/3-rings, allowing the slider to come down past the links is a fad in which I quite intentionally do not participate. A bit of a tangent - regarding the use of "snap toggles" such as Racers have, the 3M company makes a product called "Dual-Lock" which is a great alternative for velcro. Instead of hook and loop (velcro), the dual lock has little mushroom cap molded shapes that mate together and de-mate in a very orderly and secure way, with none of the fabric damage of hook velcro. Some people are big fans of the "tru-lock" pin style toggle keeper design, but I don't see the advantage over other designs.

My understanding was that the wingsuiters had concluded the Storm was lousy for wingsuiting, despite it being a 7 cell.

Didn't PD stop doing tensile tests when a reserve is sent in for recertification? My understanding was that within the rigging community (of which I am not a member) there was agreement about too much risk for unintended damage or whatever.

https://www.chutingstar.com/skydive/altimeters/audible-altimeters/sonoalti-3v-speaking-audible-altimeter Great competition to the VOG, less expensive, small size, and it is available!

Should be mentioned that a "flat pack" is a vague description. The method called "factory pack" back in the day is very close to the reserve packing method - not propacking. The "roll pack" as it was called back in the day is much different.

How will you get the greatest risk takers to not push the envelope? Of course results would be much better. The canopy coaching market should survive on its own, without the subsidy of the current USPA B license requirement. Nobody has talked about that. I'm very skeptical of the overall benefit of the current canopy course requirement.

The canopy course requirement should be reconsidered.

Looks as though you came close to loosing it completely, or did that rib not break in freefall? I know of 2 lost cameras due to Vmag failures.

That stuff is such a smelly mess when putting it on, and not easy to make an even thickness. I decided to not use it and see the wear that would result. After approx 700 jumps on the suit they are in great condition, hardly worn. I minimize the walking around with the booties on. The shoe goo is awful.

Perhaps an apple watch fits this description. Mine isn't set up with my carrier to enable it to act as a phone away from home, but I can add that to my plan/account, perhaps without having my watch in hand? An old apple watch version 3 cell capable or later is good enough to be used with the "find my" app.

Several hundred jumps since I've been doing this, and the loop still looks like it did 2 years ago in the earlier post. Midwest grass landing areas of course help it stay clean, but the loop looks to be in great condition, just darkened and slick. I still lay it with the loop facing down on packing carpets, so this is a reasonable test of whether my idea will wear out my risers - myth busted in my opinion. The question of whether my idea actually reduces the cutaway pull forces more than what is normally done to lube the cables isn't answered, but I do know I've done no harm. It would be interesting to know how the cutaway pull forces are distributed - how much is due to housing friction, how not pulling straight in line with the housing contributes, and how much is due to the loop friction. I also know there was VERY little drag when cutting away a spinning line-over a month ago. Big 3-rings and a well lubed system yields good results. You kids with your mini 3-rings can keep it. Especially for those pushing 200 pounds without gear. The graph I posted earlier in this thread should get some jumpers to consider the choice.

No need to recharge it so often, especially when new. Might get better long term battery life also. I've had them return emails about a couple different questions, but they took a day or two. The price is nuts, but an Ares does so much less. Deals can still be had on the used market if you're patient and consider the N3 or Neptune 2. The Skylife Vega/Sirius/Orion available from Rockskymart sure looks like an attractive option.

The IBA should at least publish a magazine if they're charging dues. I believe there's a fair chance of it being reconsidered, or maybe that is just wishful thinking.

SSK in Ohio services them. https://www.sskinc.com/about/

Likely similar to reports of lines breaking during a high g swoop load.

The Viso/Ares can't flip the display for more convenient right side use - button vs screen placement. Of course it is a minor point.

Whether it is an AAD, camera, altimeter or whatever, I appreciate knowing if it is not reliably water resistant as claimed by the mfg.

It could be worth it in terms of extra fun. Just don't fool yourself into thinking it is practical.

Most of the VOG website seems to be working, but not if you try to buy it. One wonders if the company is in trouble when you can't buy something. The extra features of the premium version are of very little value to me. Is it a teaser? If a person orders a basic version, does it get delayed until you upgrade to the more expensive version they want you to buy? Never have I spotted a basic version in the wild, and wondering if they exist. Maybe it takes twice as long to get one, and I don't expect the manufacturer to admit it if true. Wishing for more competition in the talking altimeter market. There is the SonoAlti (and old N3A), but it requires earbuds. The VOG is the only new alti on the market worth buying new in my opinion. They don't show up available used, likely because of their popularity. The large number of Altitracks on the used market indicates the opposite. IMO none of the new visual/digital altis offer substantial advantages over getting a used N3, or even N2.

The Tempo had a reputation for being relatively low pack volume, isn't that correct?

Quite right! Even the earliest Neptune behaves that way. How could L&B invest money into a new and more expensive model without getting rid of the useless blur of a tens digit in freefall? As you mention, even the earliest Neptune could show extra details such as climb rate, and the user interface is great compared to L&B products.