JohnnyZ

The Cookie MXV: http://www.cookiecomposites.com/shop/helmets/5/index.htm and the Bonehead Optik http://www.cookiecomposites.com/shop/helmets/5/index.htm are two good ones for top mounted video cameras. If you need to be able to mount more than one camera (like an additional still camera) you should look at Boneheads other helmets. Cookie and Bonehead both make nice boxes that will protect the camera and reduce snag points.

I've seen a few guys with a big pocket sewn on the back of their pants/shorts with elastic at the top to keep it in there... It's looks like an easy and inexpensive solution.

I'm getting ready to put together a new camera system myself. Cookie, as far as I know, is the only one out there with a box designed just for the HC5/7... That's what I'm planning on getting. I e-mailed Bonehead and they said that they're using the box for the HC3, but I'd have to Dremil out some holes to make it work. As far as lenses go, Liquid and Diamond both make an .045 lens with a 37 mm thread. That's what you'll need for the HC5 or HC7. I think that the Liquid lenses are about $30 cheaper than the Diamond lenses. I'm going to go with the HC5 because I'm only planning on using the camera for skydive video. I know that the HC5 and HC7 both record 1080i HD quality video... The HC5 will take 4.0 megapixel stills and the HC7 will take 6.1 megapixel stills... The HC7 also has jacks to plug in external mics, but that's no use to me. I'm pretty sure that you can't shoot stills while recording without there being a pause in the recording. I hope this helps...

"Be careful of forums; there's a lot of garbage out there and you need a basic understanding at least before you're in a position to make any sense of it." On the same note... Be careful of who you choose as a coach. Not everybody that calls themselves a coach and has a coach's rating really knows what the hell they're talking about.

We've got a little buzz going in the Illinois CPC forum on canopypiloting.com. It lookis like we'll probably have it here in Illinois this year. If there are any other Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa or Missouri swoopers interested in competing this year, speak up.

We're in danger of not having a CPC in the Illinois region this year. If you're a swooper and you want to compete in a traveling, low pressure league... Then speak up! Our organizer is talking about not having it due to lack of interest. We have somewhere between 5 and 7 (or so) competitions at different dropzones. Last year they were at Skydive Chicago, Chicagoland Skydiving Center and Sky Knights. If you're interested, go to canopypiloting.com and speak up in the forum. Thanks, John Z.

What about people competing in the Intermediate Competition and/or the Skills Camp? Do we have to pay the $45 fee? I'm cheap, so I hope the answer is no...

I was asking the same questons a few weeks ago. From what I understand, the JVX flys a size bigger than a Velocity... Meaning that a 96 JVX would probably compare to a 103 Velocity. Also, many questions about the JVX can be answered at www.canopypiloting.com in the "Forums" section.

This thing is gonna be huge... We've got at least 10 of us heading down from Skydive Chicago (all trouble-makers)... Only 3 or 4 of us will be doing the swoop comps though...

When I was editing my profile, I notice that the "JVX" is not an available selection under the "Main Canopy" section... Just throwing it out there...

I like the looks of that... Simple and effective. I might have to drop some money on a pair of those.

I've been doing that for a while. I'm trying to see what ways the loops can be modified (stiffened or sewn).

I ran a search, but wasn't able to find what I'm looking for. I was wanting to find out what ways I can improve my dive loops. As many of you have experienced, dive loops tend to get more plyable and want to lay flat after a couple hundred jumps. What are the best ways to stiffen up the loops so that they are consistantly in an easy to grab position without making them too bulky for regular use. I've seen the "wedges" some canopy pilots use, but I'm not crazy about those. Thanks... John Z.

Are pros going to be allowed in the Intermediate Comp? Male or female, doesn't a pro have an unfair advantage in an intermediate competition.

I'm going to be there... Did they figure out how much hop & pops are going to be? Can we buy a block and save some money?

I've done 5 jumps on a Neos 98. I usually jump a Velocity 111. The 98 was a bit fast for me at this time. I'd really like to try their next size up form the 98. I will say that it does perform. It opens very much like a Crossfire 2, very smooth and predictable. You don't really need to pack it as carefully as you do most x-braced canopies. It was not an easy canopy for me to land with a straight-in approach, but very nice when I built up some speed with it. From what I've been told, this canopy is available now. Icarus just isn't pushing it yet.

It's on there (about 6th from the bottom)... I have one on my current Micron. I had a chop with it last summer and was really impressed with it... FAST. I was spinning on my back, pulled my cut away and by the time I touched the reserve handle it was already opening. I think that I'm a pretty fast grabber too. We were hop & popping at the pond that day, so I wasn't wearing my video camera (to time it).

Micron Container System V319 $1641.75 V-Split N/C Deluxe Backpad $75.00 Freefly Mod $10.00 Ring Cover Embroidery-Left $10.00 Ring Cover Embroidery-Right $10.00 Sidewall Embroidery-Left $15.00 Sidewall Embroidery-Right N/C Hip Rings (N/C before 12/25/05) N/C 21” Risers (w/mini rings) N/C Trulock Toggles N/C Riser Housings N/C Skyhook RSL $185.00 Nickel Hardware N/C Soft Reserve Handle $35.00 ZP Centerline Pilot Chute N/C Freefly Handle $35.00 PD 126R $920.40 Total: $2937.15 Down Payment: $600.00 Balance due: $2337.15 This is what it cost me to get a Micron ordered. 20% down was nice. This rig is basically loaded, except I got nickle instead of stainless.

"justinb138" wrote: "With the Skyhook, the collins lanyard should release the other riser and activate the reserve." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To my knowledge, the lanyard is connected to the right riser of a Skyhook-fitted container system. If somehow the cable pulled out on that riser, releasing from the rings, how would the left riser be released? In this circumstance, I'd imagine that the reserve would deploy and you would still be conected to the main by the left riser. Am I wrong?

I'm not a rigger, but your idea of getting longer cables sounds about right to me. My cables go up into the hard housings about 6 inches or so. Two inches above the retaining loop definitely sounds a bit unsafe. I'd definitely consult a qualified rigger before jumping that rig again. If one side of your risers releases and the other doesn't, you probably won't like the ride... especially if you have an RSL or Skyhook and that's the riser that releases. I hope this helps... And I hope my opinions are correct. John Z.

Thanks for the info... You answered all of my questions.

I'm looking to order a new Micron for next season. I'll be jumping a Velocity 111 with 750 lines for at least he first year. Does anybody out there know if I can stuff that canopy into a V316 (or V306) with a PD 113 Reserve? Would switching to the 500 lines make much difference? I'd like to keep this container for several years, and I'm sure that I'll eventually end up on a Velocity 103 or similar canopy. Any input will be appreciated. JZ

Anybody know how much jump tickets will be if we just buy them when we get there?

I know that there is no registration fee. How much are jump tickets going to be? Thanks in advance. John Z.

My dz of choice is Skydive Chicago. You won't understand until you go there. They have everything you can imagine and more. There are friendly people of all skill levels, and they will jump with you. Just say "hi" to a few people and somebody will be asking you to jump in no time. The landing area is huge and really easy to find (if new dz's make you a little nervous). At night there is a tiki bar on the pond and a bar in the main building with a deck, pool table, jumbo projection tv and several leather couches. Skydive Chicagoland is a nice place too, but their landing area is kind of small. Other than that, I've heard that they have a really good RW scene. I hope this helps you out. John Z.