OldGregg

That was kinda rough to see play out reading through it. Clicked on his profile and there was a DA profile link. Post from about a year ago shows him still in a wheelchair and another at the same time of someone (him?) standing at a scenic vista with the title "dreams." Not sure if the allusion to standing was the meaning of the title though. Makes me feel less bad about the folks I've seen get chased away from the sport for doing the same stuff. I for one would rather be shamed into exile from skydiving than end up violently crippled.

Many outdated suits still work fine. I think very rarely is the latest generation needed to do what one wants. Agreed, I would just stay away from buying ancient stuff like a Skyflyer. You'll just want to get rid of it after like 10 jumps.

Agree 100% Just just btw, I would find something cheap to start with if you're jumping a lot (i.e. used). You'll probably want to change it within 100 jumps (or less than 50). If money is no object, then sure get a new whatever. Also, anecdotally, although I do love SQ's big suits and am jumping one now, I didn't care for the Swift or Funk over their Tony or Phoenix competition. They weren't "bad" I just liked the R and S Bird and the Phantom and Ghost/Havok a lot more. IMHO the best all around first flight to 100 jump wingsuit is the Phantom3 (I havn't jumped the Phantom Edge(4) but it is probably very similar). The Phantom 2 is outdated, the P3 is still very relevant (just btw).

The "stability" is due to an apex vent, or in the case of the SkySnatch a "central" vent (e.g. every other apex vented PC), the shape is designed to create more drag more quickly with a given OD "snatch force." As a BASE jumper I would hope you would understand this. Call SQ, ask them, and then when they explain that to you, you can apologize to me for wasting my time.

That's absurd, cite a source.

I'm not

Agree with all of the above except the SkySnatch. I get the "deploy as fast a possible" in the BASE environment, but it doesn't make as much sense in the sky. I wouldn't characterize the SkySnatch as "bad" but it is "unnecessary" and has a couple drawbacks. 1- It is $200, basically double the price of most other kill-line PCs, and 3x the price of the cheapo ones. 2- Harder on gear, faster/harder extraction = more force being transmitted into everything from the PCA to the risers, it might even mean less life in the PC's ZP itself. Fine for BASE because 100ft might be life vs. death, but that isn't the case in the sky unless you're already in a pickle (should probably go straight to reserve) or you do something stupid (pulling dirty low or jump a huge suit with a 6' bridle). 3- It makes some assumptions that a faster/harder extraction is more stable, in a free packed BASE main with a tail pocket and a BASE container that basically completely comes apart on deployment (compared to a sky container) ok sure, that might be true. But when extracting a d-bag with line stows (even semi-stowless) from a container that is more restrictive, maybe not, fast and violent might mean more chaotic and more force thrown into a rotation of the bag. I do appreciate the wind tunnel stuff and comparison vids SQ made, but they are non-empirical/leave out a ton of variables and are relatively anecdotal. I've also seen plenty of back facing vid (mine included) with significant PC oscillation and a completely straight extraction with completely symmetrical inflation, PC oscillation does not = unstable extraction with a main that is in a d-bag. Case in point, CRW and swoopers haven't jumped on it (figuratively speaking), and their deployments are arguably less stable / more nuanced than WS ones, if it was a significant improvement, they would have switched over. 4- It packs big, again not a problem with BASE BOC's but sky BOC's are a good bit tighter. And there are no options for handles other than their cf tube and no tuck tab if you're into those. Again, it's not a bad thing, just unnecessary in the sky.

Well the Aurora has been discussed here, the consensus seemed to be, some improvement for performance speed comps, otherwise nothing to write home about. Link If you're just talking "fun jumper" they pretty much all work well. Some mods that seem to be pretty well agreed upon as "beneficial" are 9-11ft bridle, stowless/semi-stowless bag, and open ("dynamic") corners for the main tray. Other than that, just FF friendly, and a RSL with a MARD/SkyHook etc if you swing that way. I've wingsuited a Mirage, Vector3, and even a Student Vector, no complaints related to WS specifically on any of them. I've seen just about everything else out there wingsuited with no WS specific complaints. The only rig related complaint I really remember anyone making was a freefly pud on a tiny overstuffed rig and giant suit combo, jumper said it was hard to get a good grip on the pud. (Oh, and getting a finger stuck in a homemade PVC handle).

Way to be awesome Gabe, but like other people have said "You're telling me a highly litigious for profit company with a reputation for questionable business practices and treating their employees less than awesome isn't into added liability (getting sued costs money, even if you win) and someone else independently organizing events at their facilities?! Color me shocked..."

Basically his argument is that 5 seconds from pitch to inflation shouldn't = a 1,000ft loss in altitude, as that would be an average of 136mph vertical. I saw a video, good camera angle, deployment is at most 5 seconds (have to take his word on the altitude readings though). He thinks (reasonably so) it should be more like 500ft rather than 1,000ft. It is an interesting point and either the snivel is near terminal the whole time (he doesn't think so), or the altimeters (analog & digital) are giving false readings, likely being burbled or something. Or I guess some other weird atmospheric phenomenon at his DZ, but that is getting pretty speculative and almost impossible to verify w/o a plane and some fancy equipment. Only way to really verify if it is speed of snivel vs. altimeters being wonky would be to use a GPS like an FlySight that is indifferent to barometric pressure.

Late to chime in here, but I did talk to a tunnel instructor who said he tried a rig in the tunnel (Paraclete) to see what the difference was (he was already a competitive VFS flyer in the tunnel and sky). He said it made "a little bit of a difference" and that it was most significant carving head down or in a stand at high speed. For static stuff I think he said it just took a few min to get use to it. Anyone who frequents tunnels a lot, do you still see people wearing rigs? Other than the military of course.

I enjoyed the video on VVS and pic I was intrigued so read some articles. It would seem like there is a niche market for vertical videos but it is toward short clips and carefully controlled shots (kinda marketing centric). If you're shooting where the horizon and horizontal movement are important, then horizontal makes more sense. And in the sense of ESPN's VV SportsCenter broadcast, the audio is actually the content people are consuming, the video is just there as background entertainment. There is some use for vertical stills in pro photography, mainly shooting something very tall, buildings, mountains, etc. The only useful skydiving application I could see is for swooping, to keep the ground in frame the whole time, but again, would require a carefully controlled shot. Or, if you had a very tech-savvy DZ (lol right) they could make a short mobile only clip (or vertical slide show) for advertising purposes. But that's about it. You'd need a market analysis on how most tandem vids are being shared (and viewed) to determine if there was enough demand for VV. But my guess would be FaceBook, so horizontal would be more relevant. For tandem stills you could always offer to crop a few for Snapchat or backgrounds if you wanted. All in all, I think the disappointment of having a VV on a TV or computer screen would outweigh the convenience of it for sharing on Snapchat for most customers at this point, and doing both would probably be more of a pain than most videographers are willing to deal with. As for the eyes thing, pupils have more effect on perception of V vs H, and ours are round. But our skulls do offer more peripheral than vertical angle of view, and it would make sense that our brains are more wired to perceive the world that way. If we lived in a world where we were being attacked by pterodactyls or falling into holes all the time, then things might be different. A common example are herbivores, goats, cows, horses, etc that have wide flat pupils; wide peripheral vision provides better predator detection (pterodactyls excluded). Additional reading

Here is the link It is it's own thing, plugs into a GoPro, creates a CSV file that auto plays with the video (as a "subtitle") or you can export the raw data into Excel or whatever you like. Looks like they have gotten more sophisticated since the first generation (what I have) but the basic model is the same price ($60).

Agreed about the alti's and time calculation, and without a back facing camera would be very tricky. Also, if anyone cares enough to play with it or wants to make a decent graph I can send you raw CSV files from some jumps (you'll see the wonky altitude readings in freefall, the AltiForce is not buffered or smoothed).

This is a neat little graph I put together playing with the Altiforce a long time ago (it also has a G sensor) anyway, it isn't perfect, but lets you see that deceleration during deployment isn't linear. Assuming the device is perfect (it probably isn't), the collection method is not. Helmet mounted (so head movement) and I aggregated the G force in all 3 axises (since precise head position is unknown). The results though were very consistent in the shape of the deceleration curve from jump to jump. Parts of the curve were matched with the video. First tiny bump is PC inflation/bag extraction, second bump is line stretch, big bump is inflation, artifacts after are canopy surge/turn. EDIT: Second chart is aggregate G force experienced, or "total deceleration" expressed as a % (it took several more seconds to return to 1 G after canopy inflation which it why it doesn't reach 100% in 5 seconds). Again, not perfect by any means, but the thing to consider is that in the 1st whole second about 15%, 2rd whole second 35%, and 3rd whole second, 65%. So deceleration doubles almost every second, you get almost as much in the 3rd whole second as you did in the 1st 2nd second combined. i.e. you're retaining speed longer that a linear deceleration and most of the actual slowing down occurs during inflation, not the snivel. Also, yes I threw this together really fast in excel, it isn't perfect, and the data collection isn't perfect. Just ball parking due to nerd curiosity.

What canopy (size and model)? Short answer, use a GPS to double check your readings, if it agrees with the altimeters, your math is wrong (likely how much the snivel is actually slowing you down in the beginning), or your vertical speed is much faster than you think (I'm a big guy and my relaxed arch is about 140mph). There could be differences between freefall and canopy pressure due to airspeed moving around the altimeter or burbling the altimeter. For instance, AADs are set to fire slightly offset to make up for the burble they are in (like ~+300ft If I remember right). Also as an example, I've used a AltiForce GoPro altimeter (embeds altitude data in the video) when you watch the video, in freefall there is variation in the altitude, it even goes up sometimes, but under canopy it mellows out and agrees with other altimeters on the ground and in the plane. They just aren't perfect systems for ascending or descending rapidly; but more than "good enough" for our purposes. Which brings me to my next point, it doesn't matter beyond a "curiosity." From personal non-empirical data experience, I'm under the impression that a "brisk" deployment is

Drop the flysight into either the wing or tail inlet before exit.

None that I have personal experience with but if a T6 will do the trick these folks look like they have their act together. I saw adds for their helicopter tours when I was in NC but didn't know they flew a T6 at the time. Only downside, as with any warbird flights I've ever seen, pretty pricey. https://www.obxairtouradventures.com/obx-warbird-rides

He probably meant Protrack, L&Bs naming scheme for their products is not great; and their marketing makes me laugh sometimes (e.g. they have 4 different audibles that just subtlety increase in "features") and I'm not even sure why the ARESII exists, I've never seen one IRL. The only consistently negative thing I've heard about any of the Neptunes is that they eat batteries, but the folks I know who have them like them a lot. And the display is larger, if you usually wear glasses then that is something to consider.

No experience with the AloXs but no one else replied so I thought I would. L&B and Alti-2 are by far the most popular digitals these days. I've had the same Viso2 since I started jumping in 2010 and it still works great, some people have had issues with batteries but I've only had to change mine about once a year, maybe less. If it broke or I lost it, I would replace it with a another one or a new Viso2+. I also have a Quattro and got a Altitrack as part of a whole gear deal that I use on a mudflap mount for wingsuiting. I'm a fan of L&B all around and so far have had zero issues. I know there are some Alti-2 fans too but for a wrist mount I like the smaller/sleeker size and shape of the Viso. Also worth mentioning, I've know a few people who use a Suunto altimeter watch, and they all love them; the Core I think is around the same price as the Viso. I use a Sunnto for scuba diving and their products in that market are top notch.

For what it is worth I've had a ride on a Smart and an Optimum. The Smart got the job done but I wasn't a fan of the landing, the OP felt like a slightly sluggish sport canopy with a good strong flare. Both deployments, at least on the reserve end of things, were uneventful. OPs also flew well enough that some folks were jumping them as mains (PCA added) so they could wingsuit with their

A super tight reserve can make packing a tight main harder and the combination of the two has been implicated in some delayed reserve deployments. Also the comfort factor, a brick is less comfortable on your back than a pillow. Forget unconscious reserve landings, it is extremely rare (like I can't think of one off the top of my head where the jumper wasn't already mortally injured), and no matter what it is probably going to suck for you if you survive it. It's impossible to prepare for all of the ultra rare things that can go wrong. Don't get me wrong, I worried about it too when I was

Not that specifically, but cars aren't perfect (#recalls), and stuff like adapters may be built by a different company or after market. All it takes is for a mechanic to have broken one (maybe unlucky, maybe Chinese crap, maybe not OEM) and then have to go through the headache of replacing it for an angry customer to say "welp, I'm not doing that again." I never use locking lugs anyway, they are just a pain and the one time I changed a tire with them the adapter kept slipping off (while I was in the rain on the side of the interstate). And maybe if you live in a sketchy place and have expensive fancy rims they could get stolen; but living in GA, FL, and NC my whole life I have never had one of mine stolen or known anyone who has had a rim stolen. If I had $2,000 spinners ok maybe I would put a locking lug on them, but nobody wants my 10 year old factory Honda rims, they are alloy though I get the feeling this was more of a 1970's/80's crime wave problem. Not to mention, if someone is serious about stealing rims, I've never seen a locking lug that a "easy out" type socket wouldn't take care of. And from what a mechanic friend told me, a sacrificial 12 point socket, just use one a hair too small, hammer it onto the lug, and you're all set (he's had to remove a lot for folks that lost the adapter or used cars with a missing adapter that came into the dealership he works at).

As a seller I would never agree to that. Fraud goes both ways. I have no guarantee I’ll get the other 50%. Just like anything else in life you pay before you play, otherwise you can use an escrow service which is common. Also, COD is another option that I have used. It protects the buyer and seller without having to pay any PayPal fees. You don’t pay until you have the package in hand but as a seller I have a guarantee the carrier won’t deliver the package without collecting full payment. Yeah, I mean I see it both ways, when I've bought gear (including a full rig with extras for $5k) I did it 50/50; but we both called each others home DZs and vetted each other. My caveat was that the gear would be inspected by a rigger (whose name and contact info I gave him) and if any problems were discovered, he could deduct the cost of fixing them from the second payment, or I'd ship it back for a refund, his choice. But everything was fine. When I sold that same rig, the reverse process worked well too, as soon as the buyer's rigger "ok'd" everything, he emailed both of us and then I got the second half of the payment. The only reason I have FaceBook is for vetting and being vetted for buying and selling stuff. If someone was well known in the community, I'd be ok sending full payment, which I have done for smaller stuff like mains, AADs, and wingsuits. But I'm always very thorough about laying out exactly what happens if the package doesn't arrive, is damaged, problem is found on the gear, doesn't fit, etc and who is responsible for the cost of what (repairs, shipping, etc). That way there are no surprises or negotiation after the fact. And as a 50/50 buyer I always offer that if I do return the gear, the PayPal fee, inspection, and shipping both ways are all on me, so they are only out the time and bother of issuing a refund. No one has refused that yet and I have yet to be scammed (with skydiving gear anyway).

Yeah, I would say you're probably good to go then. I would feel comfortable making that purchase anyway.