skydiveguy

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Posts posted by skydiveguy

  5. What about this....
    How many Birdman jumps (or better yet, what abilities should one have on a wingsuit) before they start taking passengers?

    I want to be able to perform flips and rolls and try to induce instability/recovery before I attempt to take any passengers.

  6. Welp....

    I did it! :o

    I made 4 jumps on the GTi and loved them all!

    I did it on the gear I know and fly on a regular basis with no big issues.

    All I have to say is that I am now in the market for my own suit.

    Thanks to all that posted their input here!

  8. Quote

    do not reley on this forum for your first jump instruction on a wingsuit.



    I completely agree here, I have been working with a couple local experienced wing suit jumpers and getting feedback where ever possible.

    I have also been in contact with Vladi about my first flight (on recommendation from a BM-I at Sunpath... Thanks Lyle!)

    There will definately be a lot of dirt diving and planning before I take the first flight.

    Thanks for all the feedback people!

  9. Quote

    just my advice, I would consider another canopy (more square, and less loaded) and also at least a bigger PC and longer bridle...
    but small loaded canopies with "standard" PC and bridle also work...



    This is something I have thought deeply about... the Nitron has always handled very well in line twists as far as flying straight and flat (although there is always a first time for everything), but I also look at it from this perspective:

    1) new form of skydiving
    2) borrowed gear
    3) different handle if I use another rig (I use a javelin freefly pud handle on a throw out BOC)
    4) not only will I have a suit to get used to.... I will also have to remember I am flying a different canopy.

    Anyone that understands how accidents tend to happen will tell you that they happen due to a bunch of small things going wrong to add up to one big problem.

    I would rather use the gear I trust and know like the back of my hand.

    (Rememebr that most fatalities in this sport happen when using unfamillair or borrowed gear)

    But I can agree with you on this which is making me feel torn between what to jump.

  10. I am looking into taking my first flight on a Bird-Man this coming weekend and have become a little confused about the deployment method.

    From the Bird-Man website their manual states:

    Quote

    Your legs should remain straight and closed the entire time to decrease the burble



    But when I have talked to a BMI about deployment he mentioned that they have revised the method to more of a "sitting" deployment.

    What are experienced flyers thoughts on either process?

    I will be flying a Javelin Odyssey (unmodified for wing suit flight) with a Nitron 135 with an approximate loading of 1.4 (I have about 600 jumps, 300 of which are on the Nitron 135)

  11. Melissa....

    Since you and I jump at the same DZ, I highly recommend a LOT more skydives before attempting BASE.

    Also, you might want to talk to a couple of BASE jumpers that jump at our DZ first (I'll point them out to you next time I see you).

    Also watch the Bridge Day video we have been watching for a few weekends lately, this might change your mind.

    ;)

  12. I have to agree, that at Jumptown (my home DZ) I thought this was a little extreme to limit it to 2 landing directions.

    Keep in mind the landing area in question is limited to C liscense and above jumpers...

    But as one of our most experienced instructors pointed out to me last season: "If you are experienced enough to be landing in the experienced landing area.... you should be experienced enough to handle a crosswind/downwind landing."

    if you are curious about what this area looks like... http://www.jumptown.com/images/gallery/orange-medium.jpg

    The experienced landing area is the small square of dirt at the bottom of the photo... others that want to land differently than the pre-determined direction can land in the middle of the runways and also the area to the upper left of the experienced area in that photo.
    Plenty of choices.

    To me.... it is the best way to set the landings here since so many people are coming of age/experience in higher perfomance canopy piloting at our young and growing DZ.

    my 2 cents.

  13. I got this about a month ago since I recently took a job that keeps me on the road for 50% of my week....

    I have not bought a CD since...

    This is definately not for everyone, but if you like a variety of different music and cant stand DJ's or ad's (I hate them) then it is DEFINATELY WORTH IT!

    And the Delphi Boombox is a definate travel companion now for the DZ.... listen while I pack and edit tandem vid's... and for hanging by the fire pit at night.

    Since our DZ is far away from any descent free radio stations... this is perfect (plus you get unlimited listening for the same $9.99/month)

    Sold on XM!

    :)

  15. Quote

    Brian outsources a lot of them



    and I thought the IT industry were the only ones that were worried about their jobs being outsourced.
    It seems that even the lowest form of employee is no longer safe.

    :S

  16. Quote

    I wonder how this canopy compares to Precision's nitron?


    I own a Nitron 135 and have it loaded about 1.4 and I love it... but .... I love PD canopies.

    [:/]

    I want to get my hands on a Katana 135 to see what the differances are, but it is still not released yet and there is NO DEFINATE RELEASE DATE per PD (as of a conversation with them about 1 hour ago).

    I am not a hookturner (yet) but I am wondering if the differance between the Nitron and the Katana will be big enough to scare me away for my experience level (300+ jumps on the Nitron... was flying a Saber 150 previously)

  19. Quote

    Skydive Pepperell is not charging anything above what the plane’s owners are charging for you



    Why do I find this hard to believe? The article that was posted here (http://www.dropzone.com/columns/B17atQuincy.shtml) has the price listed as $350 at the convention (I would think they would take more advantage of people going to Quincy, ready to spend money).

    And on top of that is there a registration fee? (I have jumped there in the past and things like extra fees seem to pop up once you are there)

    Also, is this a definate? or are they waiting to see if they get enough people signed up first? (Nothing is posted on their website about it)

  24. Well, first off... Loops are just small bits of music that loop over and over. You would have to mix/edit them to get a song out of them.

    There are also a bunch of websites if you do a Google search that offer free loops as well.

    If you are going to use this for doing background music for tandem vids, it might not be worth the time and money.

    The company that makes Avid editing software makes a free program called ProTools that does the same thing and is pretty much what the music industry uses. (http://www.digidesign.com/)

    The only thing here is that you (like me) are not a musician and it could take quite a bit of practice/work to get to the point where it sounds really nice.

    Then again, you might have a better ear and be able to work it out better than me.

    Another, cheaper alternative is to purchase Sonic Foundry's Acid program for a LOT less. (http://www.sonicfoundry.com/products/showproduct.asp?PID=511)

    Either way, good luck to you.

    SG

  25. Another thought on this.... what kind of camera helmet are you going to use?

    That is almost as important as the camera you use.

    I bought the Flat Top Pro from BoneHead.... love it! Single point release system.

    Ease of escape in an emergency is the most important factor of flying a camera.

    SG