pilotdave

Nope, their sizing chart lists examples of canopies that will fit in each size container. If they only list 7-cell 190s in that size and 9-cell 190s in the next size up, chances are they aren't going to fit. It's likely you can cram a bigger than recommended canopy in any container, but its not, well, recommended. Or fun. Dave

But for goodness sakes don't pay any attention to recommendations from other places because they don't apply at all! Right? Can you tell me what part of the USPA SIM's recommendations regarding camera jumping that you don't agree with? I mean specifically, not just the 200 jumps part. Local rules aren't always the best sources of information. Skydivers have a tendency to only learn from what they see with their own eyes. After a Vigil misfire at my DZ, they became extremely unpopular. At least one jumper actually switched to a cypres just for the peace of mind. Reading about it on the internet doesn't have quite the same effect. Seatbelts on jump planes is a lesson learned many times in the US. It's rare to find a DZ in the US that's lenient about seatbelt usage. But cross the border and the lesson didn't transfer. Too far from the source? Aside from the fact that you guys fall in the wrong direction, the physics of skydiving is the same everywhere. You don't have to follow rules that don't apply to your location, but don't you think it's important to know they exist? Like "have fun, but just realize what you're doing wouldn't be allowed in ____." I think we'll start seeing more of that when it comes to canopy types and sizes, since the US has no rules on that either. Dave

I met the guy that leads the organization searching for her. My impression is that every now and then some major new discovery comes out along with a request for more funding. Seems to have kept him employed for a long time. But so far all his theories have been proven wrong. A while back he held a press conference where he announced he had solved the mystery and found solid evidence. Every bit of it was proven wrong later on. I used to volunteer at a museum that was restoring the same type of plane as her's. I took some measurements for him to use to scale photographs. Dave

Forward CG increases takeoff distance and decreases rate of climb (very slightly). There'd be no advantage other than to bring the CG within margins if necessary. Dave

Agreed. We wouldn't need blanket rules if we could make good decisions without them. We've proven otherwise, over and over and over. But still, are your DZSOs consistent? If someone is told they can't jump a camera or a small canopy or a wingsuit or whatever at one dropzone, can they just go to the competition that never says no? That's always been the problem when it comes to leaving decisions up to one person. A blanket rule is much easier to manage. And either way, I'd still support a rule against jumping cameras before 200 jumps. I think its more important than ever as cameras get smaller, cheaper, and in the eyes of many newbies, safer. Hard to believe there was a day when they had to regulate pull altitudes, now that so many people prefer to pull at 3,500 feet or higher. Dave

The US is far less restrictive. There are NO RULES for jump numbers. But RECOMMENDATIONS apply to everybody, everywhere in the world. I'd hope that NZ jumpers with 100 jumps are well aware that the USPA and many, many jumpers all over the world believe 200 jumps is a recommended minimum number of jumps before considering adding a camera. Rule or not, it's important information. You are welcome to disagree with that recommendation, but it's no less valid in kenya as it is in kentucky. That thread is not USPA doctrine anyway. It's dropzone.com doctrine. I recommend writing a rebuttal to it if you believe it is wrong. Dave

That was kind of my point... anyone is allowed to shoot video of anything, no matter the quality. Coaches should be held to a higher standard, like paid video flyers. Unfortunately in the US, S&TAs have very little power. If someone jumps a camera at 20 jumps, an S&TA doesn't really have the authority to stop them, unless the DZ chooses to give them that power. Recently we're seeing more and more that people can't follow recommendations on their own... canopy size, cameras, etc. Everyone thinks they're better than average, so the recommendations don't really apply to them. I see no benefit to people with under 200 jumps jumping cameras, but we're seeing more and more of them doing it. They rarely take their own skill, currency, or judgment into account. Most that I've seen personally have not read the USPA's recommendations in the first place. That's why I'd support a rule against it. I hope my DZ adopts such a rule in 2011 since I don't think USPA will. Dave

I started to reply that coaching takes more mental and physical skill than camera flying, but I started thinking about when I was doing 4-way video for an intermediate team (meaning they move around the sky a whole lot). I flew my butt off, and used every ounce of focus I had to keep them in frame exactly where I wanted. Not that I always succeeded. And keeping my hands out of the frame, not turning my head to look at my altimeter, finding the best light, etc. But coaching requires you to be able to fly as needed to observe the student, remember what they did, and figure out what to debrief, without thinking about your own flying. In my opinion, you should be able strap a camera to your head and deal with those distractions before you should be jumping with students. You can be an amateur video guy, but as long as you're getting paid as a coach, you're a pro. There's no excuse for crappy coaching, but crappy video is just fine. Dave

Really nice job. What'd it take to mount the visor? I really want to do that to mine. Looks like you did a nice job of cutting the top plate too... looks professional. I don't have any pics of mine handy... I'll have to remember to take some. Dave

"Elliptical" doesn't really mean much. Don't buy anything without speaking about it with someone you trust, like an instructor. Show them the exact ad you're looking at. There are a lot of scams and completely crappy gear for sale out there, and you might not recognize it yet. Edit: I got my license at the same DZ... lots of great instructors there to talk to! Dave

Hate to change the subject, but 200 jumps sounds about right to me, based on my experience. Though I had more like 700 when I got my coach rating. I'd completely support upping the coach rating requirements... I think 100 is ridiculously low, and I think it's insane to let someone jump with a student that you wouldn't let jump solo with a camera. I think USPA has it wrong... bigtime. The difference is that a coach course exists. Theoretically, nobody that doesn't have the skills should get the rating. But I haven't seen anyone fail yet. Dave

That'll work great. The 70-300 IS (the $500-something one, not the $1600 one) is a little bit nicer, but I bet she'll be happy with the 75-300. Hopefully you also got the 18-55 that sometimes comes with the T2i? The 75-300 is fine for taking pictures of landings, but won't do much good indoors at birthday parties or whatever. If not, a decent wider zoom lens can be next year's birthday present.

And you would have never survived to 6500 jumps if you had waited till 200? Unfortunately most people think they are competent whether or not it's true. I personally don't think anyone with under 200 jumps is competent to jump a camera. At 200, that's where the S&TA should be deciding whether or not that person is ready. 200 is a decent minimum for competent jumpers, not a point where just anybody should be strapping on a camera. Just my opinion. Dave

Yup, that's the next step! Well, there are a few different ways to learn to skydive, but taking the AFF course is one of them. Your height may be an issue. Go to your local DZ and chat with the instructors. They'll probably have you try on a rig and see if it can be adjusted to fit. We had to get shorter risers and different toggles installed on one student rig and for a short student because she couldn't reach the toggles with normal risers... and she was quite a bit taller than you. If you are very light, your fallrate might also be an issue for your instructors to deal with. Dave

It's basically a dot. I mean, you can make out the plane, you can see people exiting, but it's not very big. The attached shot is cropped pretty tight. That's taken with a Canon 70-300 IS. Don't have easy access to an uncropped one at the moment. Dave

All depends how steady your hands are. I wouldn't buy a camera and telephoto lens just for watching. But it'll take better pictures than a pair of binoculars. Dave

I find it much easier to keep the subject still in the frame with image stabilization. Very hard to keep a jump plane 14000 feet above sitting still in the viewfinder at 300mm without it. I also shoot helicopters at low shutter speeds... definitely couldn't do as well without IS. Dave

There is no digital image stabilization on DSLR cameras... that's only found on video cameras. Canon (and nikon i think) cameras don't have built-in stabilization... it's a feature on some lenses. Sony makes DSLRs with stabilization on the sensor itself, so it works with any lens. But in-lens stabilization has advantages. In my opinion, stabilization is only really needed in longer lenses used without a tripod. It works GREAT on telephoto lenses... very effective. Dave

I had ~800 jumps when I filmed my first tandem. I did break UPT's rule though... it was my 99th camera jump. I was going to go without a camera for one more practice jump, but the TI asked me to bring the camera so the student, who had been waiting around all day, could get video (for free of course). What's everybody in such a hurry for? Dave

My DZ requires 500 jumps and 100 prior camera jumps. It sounds like the right numbers to me. USPA says 300 jumps. I see no reason to lower the standards that the rig manufacturer calls out. Dave

USPA sets minimum requirements and recommendations. Dropzones may set their own rules. As soon as you say "just" a gopro, you are missing the point of the 200 jump MINIMUM recommendation. It has nothing to do with the size of the camera. Read that section of the SIM. Dave

No biggie for me... I'll happily stick with fun jumping and thank the UConn guys for convincing me to come out there.

I recently sold an XTi with 18-55 lens (and nothing else other than a spare batter and memory card) for $250 after looking at some prices on ebay. I had 3 people ready to buy and more came asking after it was sold, so I'd say you should be able to do better than that. Dave

Anyone know how video works at collegiates? The registration form for teams says video will be provided. I'm going there to do video for one school. Is that not allowed? I won't be too disappointed... there's a little boogie going on at the same time.

Whuts film? Oh is that for the new cameras that don't need a computer? I saw an ad for those on tv. No complicated wires! Dave