LouDiamond

oldwomanc6

I guess Deuce does matter.

Deuce does matter. Here's to you Deuce.

wmw999

Deuce matters.

Wendy P.

Yes, yes indeed.

xenomorph283

so from what i take you can only mount the gopro when using the full face? is there any way to attach it for both settings or have to go with a contour or side mounted for open face video?

As is from the factory, no. But if you drill two holes for the Go Pro base in the shell ,you can easily transfer the Go Pro mount from the shield to the helmet shell when using it as an open face.

To throw even more salt on the wound, WWF is also anti 2nd Amendment and will not openly support any organization related to hunting, shooting, etc raising money for veterans, yet they will accept contributions from these same organizations all day long.

If you want to donate to good organizations, two that are highly recommended and have helped veterans out considerably with the disbursement of funds are;

The Green Beret foundation : http://www.greenberetfoundation.org

Special Operations Warrior Foundation: http://www.specialops.org

theonlyski

GRAPHIC VIDEO!!

http://www.military.com/video/military-aircraft-operations/parachute-jumping/thai-paratrooper-lands-in-neighborhood/2835653243001/

Not 100% sure it's him, but the description pretty much lines up.

Thats not the same guy. The deceased in this video is wearing a freefall rig, the towed jumper in the first video was jumping a static line rig.

Thanks guys.

mjosparky

Scott,

Are they using the Canadian retrieval system on US aircraft?

Sparky

No, we use a system that is attached to the anchor line cable itself and is used to also help pull all the D bags in as it is next to impossible for a JM to pull in 30 bags on a high performance aircraft. Smaller airframes use a similar system, it's basically a winch system.

jono

***http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=55c_1383668264


Why weren't they trying to pull him in?

Is that possible??? Fully kitted up jumper plus wind drag would make it damn hard to haul him in on a what looks like 1inch webbing I would think.

BSBD


Yes, it is possible if you have a static line retrieval device on the anchor line cable. All US static line military jump approved aircraft have them. However, at the 3:05 mark it can be seen that said device was not present on the anchor line cable. It does look like early on those in the aircraft tried to pull him by hand. You can see this by the way the jumper moves closer to the ramp and also begins to buffet around in and out of the airstream in the same manner D bags buffet around when you pull them back into the aircraft.

To backtrack, the jumpmaster should have stopped the rest of the stick from exiting once he had a towed jumper. Instead he let several more exit the aircraft. Not seeing or knowing what was going on in the aircraft, it is hard to guess why it took so long for them to cut him away. It could be as simple as the JM didn't have a knife on him and they had to find one in the aircraft or it could have been due to human error in the JM making a timely decision as they tried to manually drag him in. There could be several things but it would be speculation at best. From what we can see, it appears the jumper didn't attempt to deploy his reserve and that could be in part to his spinning around outside all that time and being disoriented and scared.

This is a review of the new REV2 helmet from Bonehead Composites. For those just showing up, this is an improved version of the Revolution helmet which I initially reviewed HERE. If you aren't familiar with the Revolve, it might help to read my first post in that thread as I will be highlighting the areas of the REV 2 that I feel are an improvement and or change from the Revolve. Also of note is that both the Revolve and REV2 pictures shown in this and the previous thread are Prototype helmets and as such may differ from current or future production models in a few small ways.


THE FIT: Right out of the box it fits good. Of course you can custom mold it to your head per Bonehead's instructions if you so choose. What I found different from the Revolve and feel is an improvement is where you chin sits and the padding. The REV2 doesn't ride on the chin as much as the Revolve does so I didn't need to fiddle with the padding in that area. So for the overall fit and way the REV2 sits on the head, I am pleased to say that it is a welcome and noticeable improvement.

The tweaks to the helmet shape and design has not only improved the fit/feel of the helmet but it also has improved on other areas such as field of view and also the ability to see ones mouth for communication purposes even more. The shield itself has been changed, which is to also say that the hinged portion that slides up has changed. These changes are noticeable in the pictures and the benefit is noticeable when worn. The Revolve has a large FOV but the REV2 has opened it up even more both horizontally and vertically, which makes for unobstructed vision with out having to move ones head physically when in different orientations.

Of note in the change in the shield is the way air enters exits the helmet. The production Revolve has a standard "air scoop" or hole at the base of the shield to allow air in and the wearers breath out during exhalation. The REV2 has eliminated the large "scoop" and now uses a small gap at the bottom of the shield itself. What is different is that in the small gap there is a piece of spongy material that acts as a sort of valve. It is held in place with a small strip of hook type material and can be field replaced and or removed completely by the user. This small piece of material keeps excess wind from blowing up into your eyes, yet still allows outside air to enter to keep the shield from fogging up if you happen to be a heavy mouth breather. Even with the material removed completely, the air flow wasn't felt to be excessive or bothersome to the eyes. I haven't tried it in really cold conditions but I am guessing in some places where it gets really cold and or is cold at altitude, it might benefit some people to remove the material piece in the winter for improved airflow, especially to allow ones own breath to escape and cooler air in to avoid any fogging. If you wear glasses be it sun glasses or corrective, you are still good to go, as the shield doesn't interfere when glasses are worn. The distance from ones nose to the shield is neither too close or too far from ones face so if you have a large nose or are concerned with how close your nose is to the shield, I would say it is perfect, not too close and not to far away. Bonehead will also make available tinted shields for those who like a shield with some tint or the blacked out look.

Some of the hardware on the REV2 has changed, which really probably isn't a concern for most unless you were one of the ones who did take the face shield off for use as an open face helmet during the warm months. Changes of note are the way the shield hinges from on the sides. This point is now secured with a hex screw on each side and can be removed with the appropriate sized hex key. The screws that attach the clear shield to the helmet are your standard flat head screws, so you can use a flat head screw driver or a coin if need be in the field. The ratcheting ladder strap remains similar but the way it is routed on the top of the helmet makes for a smoother profile and also now allows for a GoPro mount to be mounted on the lip. The chin strap buckle has changed from the simple fastex buckle to a hinge type buckle that requires you to lift it to release the chin strap. This feature works in conjunction with the built in helmet cutaway system that comes with the REV2. Located on the right side of the helmet as you wear it, the cutaway is located by the base of the jaw bone It is made up of your standard cutaway cable material with an additional piece of tubing on it to make a handle to grasp. The cutaway system is attached to the chin strap buckle mechanism itself. So when it is pulled, it pulls the buckle itself open, allowing the chin strap to disengage. It is a simple yet effective design to get the helmet off in an emergency and is simple to reassemble if used. The cutaway itself doesn't stick out or pose a snag hazard and I was a bit concerned about its being able to be grasped with thick gloves on as it sits close to the shell. However there is enough of it that if you go looking for it, your hand will grab it.

Worth mentioning is that when new, the cutaway sits really close to the shell but after using the helmet a few times, it sits where it needs to be if you need to use it. Likewise, the buckle itself may seem stiff to un-do or open as the cutaway uses a rubber ring as a means of attaching the cutaway cable to the buckle and when new it is a little stiff but loosens up with use. The same goes for the ladder strap on top of the helmet for opening the shield. The button is stiff at first but with practice and use it becomes easy to find and use with one hand when lifting the shield.

As you can see from the pictures, the shape has changed somewhat but the range of motion you have while wearing the helmet isn't restrictive, especially when looking up or lifting ones head upward. Nor does it feel like you are wearing a bulbous motorcycle helmet. As for weight, I don't have exact numbers but its comparable to the Revolution, meaning it isn't heavy by any reach.

You might also note that in the pictures there is an audible cut out on the right side of the helmet to allow one to access/see the screen of their audible while it is in the helmet. I stress again, this is a prototype helmet and chances are the production version won't have this cutout. While it might be appealing to some users, I found it to let in too much outside noise when no audible was present and when one was inside it, if pushed from the outside while the helmet is not worn, the audible moved around and or could fall out, although that didn't happen to me, it was a concern I identified and something that could potentially happen. As such, I cannot say with 100% certainty but more like 99%, that the production versions won't have a cutout audible section in the shell on the production models. Also, the GoPro mount on the shield is an option and is not standard I am told.

OVERALL: I am really happy with the improvements and changes that are found in the REV2. It can be hard sometimes to determine if an upgrade or improved model is worth it if you're already happy with what you have. I can say that I was happy with my Revolution but the REV2 is definitely one of those upgrades that is worth it with noticeable enhancements to an all ready great product.


EDIT: I removed the inline pictures as they are too big to fit in the frame here without having to scroll left and right to read the text or see the helmet.

crwper

A while ago, someone sent me this excellent article on the difference between barometric and GPS altitude:

http://www.xcmag.com/2011/07/gps-versus-barometric-altitude-the-definitive-answer/

That's a good article. It's reminiscent of several conversations Klaus and I had about this topic back when he and I were discussing the addition of GPS into Paralog circa 2004-ish. The conclusion section of that article sums it up very well and as such, it should come as no surprise that be it GPS guided munitions or GPS guided bundles, all rely ultimately on a barometric altimeter in the scheme of things when determining true altitude.

For those of you who posted here and your post disappeared suddenly, if you continue to post in this thread with nonsense, you will find yourself banned from the forum for a lengthy period of time. So consider yourself warned, you know who you are.

Lurch, without getting into a lengthy explanation, you are on track as to the explanation of why. I worked with Alti-2 some years back on this issue and short story is that it is a mathematical algorithm issue with how the unit interprets all of the data it is gathering at that split second in time and where it thinks it will be in the next. The solution was identifying a certain set of parameters associated with wingsuiting and identifying the line in the sand so to speak on what is and isn't considered a deployment. It's a trade off as too tight/too loose a set of parameters you sacrifice reliability/accuracy. This is what lead to the creation of the wingsuit mode and fix for the issue. Now the caveat to that is that while it does work most of the time, there are always circumstances where you might see the unit being tricked into thinking the jumper has deployed a canopy while set in wingsuit mode. But these can typically be identified as they occur on exit or shortly after and or after a prolonged dive followed by a rapid slowing down (opening wings all the way).

Mentosfresh

Woo so I got it to work! I made a baking soda paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. I rubbed the paste into the "problem" areas and let it sit for an hour. The suit was then thrown into the wash with Woolite and I let it soak for 15 minutes. I finished it off with a delicate wash cycle and hung it up to dry.

Good to hear. Your fellow jumpers will appreciate it as much as you.

Is your Neptune set to Wingsuit mode?

Just a heads up. I have my prototype helmet in hand and I must say I am extremely happy with the features and changes Bonehead has made. Once I have some time with it I will post pictures and feedback on it. For those who want to know what it looks like right now, head over to the Bonehead FaceBook page as they posted up some pictures of it a few days ago.

Mentosfresh

I bought a used wingsuit and I've given it two washes, but I still cannot completely get the smell of body odor out from the previous owner. Especially in the armpit area wooo. Any advice on how to get the stench out? I'm using Woolite delicates.

Try using a solution of warm water and good old Arm and Hammer baking soda in the sink. Rub the baking soda on the pit areas and let soak while agitating the water. After soaking,rinse it out and hang it up on a non metal hanger in the shade and let air dry.

If you use a washing machine make sure you place your wingsuit in a delicate garment bag (mesh sack) so that it doesn't get wrapped around the agitator in the machine. You can potentially damage your suit if you don't use the garment bag. Use the gentle/delicate cycle and DO NOT spin it. Again you can use Arm and Hammer detergent known as Arm and Hammer washing Soda to work on the tough odors. Pull it out after washing and hang it up to dry in the shade.

Nataly

Eric Fradet.

Please don't google before you answer - just say yes or no.

Then you can google and see who it is. Please no spoilers. And forgive me, but I had no clue... So my vote was no...

Seriously, what are you, new?

peakaboo

Come on don't be shy give us some pics or at least a release date! I've got a fresh new licence and cash burning a hole in my pocket - all I need is a Revolve

As soon as I have it hand and put it through its paces, I'll post up some pictures and commentary, be patient, it should be done shortly.

I briefly spoke about this in my book in the Aerodynamics chapter. Years ago, Robert P used to post white papers on the PF website. In one of those papers I recall his speaking to the fact that at the time the "average" surface area is in the neighborhood of 15-16 sq ft which I concurred with as thats what I came up with as well. Granted the suits have gotten larger since then but generally speaking, it is safe to say that the "average" sq ft number will still be closely within those numbers. This is due simply to the constraints of the human form and the ability to add and control additional fabric/surface area. What this means is that we load our wingsuits at 10 1/2 to 12 1/2 lbs per sq ft. on "average". The key point here is to remember we are talking in "averages" across all the suit designs out there and variables involved. I say this because I know some one will measure their suit trying to determine surface area and do the math. Just keep in mind that even if your suit is bigger in surface area that all that means is the WL lbs per Sq Inch number will come down slightly.

I know someone will wonder about same model suit and small person vs big person and more material vs less material. Short answer is this, it's all relative to weight. Which should make a light go on in your head at this point. As with most topics in any online forum, we have discussed this before. I believe it was Lurch who actually played around with the incremental adding of weight based on this topic to increase ones speed in order to produce lift for BASE competitions, much in the same way swoopers add weight. And similar to swooping, there is a point where adding more weight becomes detrimental to performance, you just have to find it. I'm sure if you searched using Lurch and WL you could find his posts and conclusions, which in typical Lurch style, are quiet in depth and informative.

This is just a heads up to let everyone know that there is an updated Revolve helmet coming out in the near future. I'll be playing around with one soon hopefully and will update this thread with pics and my thoughts on the helmet. Stay tuned.

Let me remind EVERYONE, that this is a topical forum and all forum rules apply. This is EVERYONEs one warning, stop with the playground banter and name calling. If you cannot articulate your thoughts without reverting to calling people names or insulting them you need to walk away from the keyboard and this thread.

I have removed the posts that had inflammatory content in them or quoted in them. If your post is no longer there, do not repost it, do not complain about it. If your reply quoted an inflammatory statement made by another but your reply was civil, your post may have been removed for the quoted text in it and not your statement per say. Don't complain about it.

Failure to follow the rules will result in a lengthy banning from this forum, so choose your words wisely and refrain from posting if you cannot control your emotions.

Welcome to the flock.

Two screw drivers opposed to one another and forcefully moved simultaneously in a rapid scissoring motion will also work as a field expedient method.

Product Service Bulletin #9 and #10 from A.A.D. -Vigil, plus a link to the new “Multimode Vigil II User’s Manual US v II.0.6” which is available to download @ http://www.vigil.aero/wp-content/uploads/Vigil-II-users-manual-II.0.6.pdf
Please read both PSB 9, 10 and the new manual carefully.

- PSB 9 is regarding the waterproof of Vigil II. After water immersion, it is now mandatory to send the unit back to A.A.D. for inspection. Vigils that have not been in contact with water, are NOT concerned with this PSB. The Vigil II is waterproof. This bulletin is a precautionary measure in case moisture penetrates the seal of the unit.

- PSB 10 is regarding the 14 hour forced shut down for Vigil II units from S/N 26172 or higher. This is advisory, NOT MANDATORY. Customers who wish can have their Vigil II (S/N 11800 until S/N 26171) upgraded to main software 2.50 or higher, to avoid “Airborne” situations. For more info, please contact A.A.D. (Brussels, Belgium) or Vigil America (Deland,FL).

- The “Multimode Vigil II User’s Manual US v II.0.6” has some changes concerning water immersion and forced 14 hour shut down. Please read it carefully.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Best Regards,


Vigil America, Inc.

theplummeter

I recently had to take a King Air up unpressurized for a maintenance flight to check the Cabin Altitude light and a few other systems. Boredom got the best of me, so I wore my Viso II on my wrist for the ride up. We took off from 3200msl and climbed to 10000msl to check the light. My Viso read 6800 even at 10k, so if the King Air pitot static system is accurate, my Viso is as well.

I realize this isn't all that scientific, but it's something.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the aircraft altimeter was calibrated to the Hg for that day which was for 3200msl and your altimeter was zeroed to the ground, so the offset seen is expected. 6800 +3200 msl= 10,000. You are right, not scientific at all.