SullyFlyer

No problem at all, mate. I jump my Blackjack w/ fine mesh all the time. If you were to go from like 500ft I would put a big-hole mesh on it, but for a 4-5 sec from just over 1000ft I think fine mesh is the way to go. You're even getting into the range where I would use a 38 or 36 inch PC. Hope that helps. I'm sure you'll get some more opinions on the matter. Be Safe -Bill

I think Dale will still be there. Stop in to the Slickrock Campground and ask for Matthew. He's a jumper and usually knows who is in town. Be Safe -Bill

Thanks for volunteering HydroGuy. let us know if you need any help. You should have no problem finding great video of super safe jumps in from huge cliffs in Europe. I wouldn't include too much by way of carnage on the first offering. Be Safe -Bill

And if they don't bust the Hanglider for using the reserve... We should start jumping from Hangliders until they just say "OK, fuck it. You can BASE jump." Great Idea -Bill ~ Fear is the thief of dreams...

Good idea. On top of the 2k fine, loss of gear, and huge inconvenience. You'll have a broken ankle. That'll show um I would like to thank the NPS for showing us the true value of a National Park: get out of your car at the signs that tell you to take a picture, spend lots of money, and then leave. In reality they're doing me a huge favor. If they weren't prejudice, I would be living there and jumping all day every day. I'd be fit, content, and happy. Thanks NPS - fuckers. NPS sucks. -Bill

Clicky The new one is way better. See ya -Bill

It's the highest exit point, ASL. Not greatest altitude gain from exit to landing. When I was in France I saw a spire at noon that is probably the highest exit to landing. It's the tallest jump I've heard of. Maybe I'll jump it next time I'm there. See ya. -Bill ~ Fear is the thief of dreams...

I guess it is a diference of style from Nitro, and maybe because I don't have proper qymnastics training. I tell beginners that there are little tricks to speed yourself up, or even slow yourself down; but the launch is critical. I say that it is all in the launch. Not too hard and definitely not too slow. I don't want a skydiver to think they can use air speed to help the flip (a common mistake). I am all for a 2 second lay-out for the first gainer. I say launch off and lean your head straight back, shoulders square. If you launch slow, bring your knees in a little. If you launch too fast, pitch fast See ya -Bill

I did a 1.5 second single once and stopped it to fall belly to earth for about 1 more second, but this is not typical for low aerials. Ussually you just slow your rotation and fall in to your opening. Stopping the aerial takes up too much altitude, and has great risks. It might put you in a stand or on your back. Not a big deal from 1500ft but from 486ft with the ground coming up at you at 32.2 ft per second per secondit could be lights out. Again, these are ussually what happens. Really good aerialists do things that beginers will not be trying. On my doubles and triples I kick out of the aerial to slow it down to the speed of a layout without losing as much alti. But I'm still rotating and have to pitch at the rite time or I'll over rotate. Over and Under rotations are huge killers of heading performance - I would suggest not doing either one Hope this clears up my earlier point. -Bill

Yeah, that's you in that shot. Also, the Jesse's. I guess I kinda use the track-pull in the Doubles and Trips, but it's so fast I don't really devote much thought to the left arm. In doulbes, or any fast rotating aerial it is very important to keep the torso (hips to shoulders) very still while reaching and pulling. I have seen some bad axis opening caused by cheating the pull. It's a very different feeling in a tuck, than a layout. The tendancy is to reach early and leave your hand on your PC until pull time, but this could totally throw off your symmetry. You get better at moving only the arm and not the shoulder the more pratice you get. This is critical on sub-terminal aerials because you don't stop rotating until the parachute stops you. If your pull throws you off axis (and it will) you could turn sideways during opening You can extend your legs to slow your rotation, but the pull is still very important for on-axis openings. On-axis leads to on-heading If practicing in a pool or on a trampoline, pratice the pull too. ~ Fear is the thief of dreams...

The trick to being on-heading is: Relax, launch symmetric, flip symmetric, pitch symmetric Doing a twist, good luck. The above plan goes to shit and you rely totally on your experiences. Launching symmetric is hard sometimes because people are more comfortable exiting with one foot, get the other foot out there as soon as possible. Flipping symmetric is all about the hips and shoulders, don't turn them. The faster the flip (like on a tucked double or trip) the more exaggerated a non-symmetric launch or body position is. Pitching symmetric is tough because you only pitch with one hand (most of us). I have taken to a bird-man style double handed track pull on single lay-out gainers. You can still pull with one hand, just keep your hips and shoulders symmetric. I find the most important thing in aerials is to relax and trust that you have the skill to save your life. It helps to actually have said skill. I recommend practicing either in a pool or from a taller bridge (like Mile's bridge). There are 2 things that will kill you very easily. Doing aerials before you're ready, and trying to impress your friends. See ya Be Safe -Bill If chicks dig scars, they can go out and get their own. Attached Pic : See the tag in the lower left corner for photographer credit.

This sounds like a question you should ask directly to the manufacturer. Here you will get only opinions. -Bill

My single scared the hell out of me. It's a very weird feeling flipping with an open parachute in your hands. Jesse's single was pretty scary to watch on video too because of the line-over, but it cleared its self. But Jesse's double looked real smooth He has great form on his gainers. See ya -Bill ~ Fear is the thief of dreams...

I like the one signed by Eric Ryde!

Yes, I did it in Twin at Memorial Day. I did a single Gainer Tard (lines out of the tail pocket). Evil Jesse did one the next day (lines out of the tail pocket) and had a wicked spinning line-over. Then, on Monday despite my resounding disagreement, he did a Double (lines in the tail pocket). These aerials are so dangerous, I will never do it again. If people continue to do these types of aerials, they will tangle their gear and die! You are just asking to wrap. Oh, I couldn't decide on a name until Surfer Jesse came up with "Game-over". So Jesse's was a Double Game-over. Actually a Smart Double Game-over because the lines were in the tail pocket Please keep in mind that some people make things look easy because they've done these sorts of things 100s of times. I have jumped that Bridge 463 times I have 171 Unpacked jumps I have 173 Aerials Please don't use this post as an excuse to go out and kill yourself. See ya Be Safe -Bill

Broken right toe (high school soccer) Broken Nose (fell down drunk on 21st B Day) That's it. I've been really lucky so far. No broken bones on my cliff strike Be Safe -Bill ~ Fear is the thief of dreams...

I remember seeing that pic in your livingroom. I'm back in town by the way I have a bit of a twisted ankle but we should go scout-n-flick something soon I don't have many pics of me jumping but here is one my British mate Ron took of me. That first step is a big one Be Safe -Bill

Guilty as charged, but his point is still valid. I don't like talking about the bad things that I've done because I've gotten away with them with virtually no injuries. I was on the side-lines for Go-fast and Bridge Day last year because I hit a cliff and I gave myself a penalty PCA for my 400th because of the above described incident. I try to explain the lessons I learned more than just tell the war story. If almost killing yourself is the only way you have to act cool, you need to look in the mirror. Now, on the other side of that coin - I've been dead! I am a recovering alcoholic who spent 4 years in a cubical, dead! I wasn't afraid of dying (I would have welcomed it in fact) I was afraid of living. I will never live life in that kind of fear again. I can't explain what BASE is to me. But I can say, I have often thought about quitting. I have some experience with addiction. Every time my PC hesitates, or a friend gets hurt, or the wind blows; I think that life is too precious to waste by going in. I live my life to the fullest and am very aware that, "the candle that burns twice as bright, burns half as long." I backed off a jump this morning with a feeling that I haven't had in a very long time. I wasn't feeling it, and I may have forced it, but again I got lucky. As I stood PC in hand ready to make myself jump - the wind came up so strong that there was no question I couldn't jump. I waited until the elements made a decision for me and that is all bad. Nitro says I say you should ask yourself this question every day! You will never have an epic journey through your soul without asking yourself the hard questions. Don't be afraid to live life, but don't be stupid and let the lights go out too soon. Tomorrow I head to a cliff that might be my tombstone, but at least I'm sober today. Rite now I'm going to get 15 cent wings, because I'm a cheap bastard - this living life to the fullest crap gets pretty expensive. See ya Be Safe -tenacious B

Nice commercial. Tom, don't forget about Oscar's V1 jump! That bridge is totally wingsuitable. (I'm pushing to get this word added to the dictionary by the way)

I just retired a PC with 206 jumps on it. I was jumping 5 times a day with very similar 2-2.5 second delays and I started feeling hesitations - so I called it spent and got a new one the next time Marty was in town. It's aweful nice of the manufacturers to visit my home town from time to time just in case I need new gear And yes, I could breath through the ZP toward the end. That was my first hint that it was time. If all goes perfectly for a PC, I would probably retire it at 150-200 jumps regardless. For those who don't keep records like this - use it til it fails and throw it away one jump prior -tB

..and he did a stunt-man in the Outback. Note: Agreeing to things before you know what is involved = bad idea. -tenacious B

Yeah I heard about that one, Dale. "Hey, come down here." Good call, man. You were already busted. What were they gonna do come up and get you...? Be Safe -Bill

I love that laugh, especially after a sketchy jump Hope Tader-nuts is doing good, this thread doesn't make much sence Stay Safe -Bill ~ Fear is the thief of dreams...

It's Ok Abbie, I got that joke. [Obscure reference to Band of Brothers] As for you Sam, you have many issues but jumping ain't one of them Keep up the good work. Be Safe -Bill ~ Fear is the thief of dreams...

I was half way up the hill and saw the canopy flight. It wasn't good. He was very low when he made his decision. I believe he put himself low while trying out his riser turns. These tend to eat up a lot of altitude. He landed down wind on the right side (south side) of the boulder field (the path is on the left side - less boulders). He hit one hip-high boulder thighs first and rolled over it. Me and Ron thought for sure he had multiple femurs. He hit hard!!! If at any time you hit a boulder down wind with a perfectly flyable canopy, you made a mistake. I think our Finish friend will agry that he made a piloting error. Edited to add: Just saw Tree's post before me. That's a good account, I must have been mistaken about what got him so low.