rapper4mpi

Thanks for all the advice. It is going to cost about $35 to ship ground via FedEx w/ $5,000 in insurance. Mail Boxes Etc. charges $5 to receive the package, not too shabby! -Rap

I'll be shipping my gear via FedEx with full insurance etc... My question is this, what do you recommend for actually packing the rig in a box to protect it and the Cypres from abuse? Any suggestions would be appreciated. -Rap

Yeah, you are right. I'm just as angry as the next person and I don't have all the facts or the answers, nor do I wish to take a side. My only intentions were for people who want to help. have a place to go. -Rap

If you believe there is an alternative to war, check out this website: www.patriotsforpeace.org On the website you can show your support by downloading a PDF of a poster to hang on your car, or in your house windows. The guy that started the site was just on national TV and his cause is gaining momentum. What i like about his site is that he is not an extreme left winger at all, just a guy that doesn't want to see bloodshed. I'm sure everyone has their own oppinions of whether or not we should go to war. That discussion is for a different thread. Anyway, show your support if you can. -Rap

This was sent to me via the Skydive Sebastian newsletter regarding the freefly record attempts: "With all the talent at the Drop Zone this past weekend, The Freefly Training Center’s Big-Way World Record attempt definitely stole the show with an unofficial 24-way head-down formation. They are still awaiting confirmation to make it official. Weather was a major deterrent this weekend, and with the group even attempting to make the drop over a neighboring DZ in order to find a hole, and having no luck, returning to Sebastian to find one here. Organized by Mike Swanson and Rook Nelson, the freeflyers, in a meet that lasted 9 days, pulled off some really awesome head-down dives, and drew quite a diverse crowd of international talent. We’re keeping our fingers crossed about the record-breaker, guys." Hopfully we will find out soon. -Rap

Yep, just heard yesterday that they completed a 24-way, but one of the judges was undecided about one grip, soooo, we'll have to wait and see. I also heard that they went down to Pehokee because of bad weather and got a 29-way, but that is not an official record (I think). Does anyone out there know first hand? -Rap

Hopefully somone at the event will keep us updated here. Again, I wish them luck! -Rap

It will be interesting to see how they do. The same organizers (Mike Swanson, Rook Nelson) for the attempts at Summerfest last August are some of the same ones that will be organizing this one. Last August they got the 20-way, but it didn't hold long enough. The other thing, was although they had incredible talent there, there was still some major "players" missing from the attempts. Anyway, wish them luck! -Rap

Credentials: 750+ jump skydiving instructor with 8 years in the sport. The first piece of advice is to talk with your local instructors who know you best. Second, don't focus on downsizing just so you can get a deal on a good rig, there are many rigs out there in your canopy size range that will be perfect for you. Regarding a Sabre Vs. a Spectre. Well, Sabre I's are not as forgiving to sloppy packing as the Spectre, BUT I have found the Sabre to have a flatter glide, great flare, faster turns and decent power in the flare. The Spectres are more docile, open much slower (usually equals softer), and is very forgiving to all kinds of mistakes. Be safe and good luck! -Rap

Oops! Didn't mean to delete my above post. Anyway, whoever reads this, just be safe when you learn freeflying, or any flying style for that matter. Have fun, and do what feels comfortable, no matter how you go about it. -Rap

Again, I guess I have to make it clear again. It is better to be good on all axis than to be just good at say headown, and not very accomplished in a head-up position or on your belly. The top freeflyers in the world are flying in all orientations. I'm not saying there is a magic number to start at, but just take your time and get comfortable on your belly before going into head-up position, where things happen faster and their result can be worse. And this advice is coming from a "Young-aged" freeflyer. -Rap

Wow, a few people giving advice in here, that, well, maybe should be taken with a grain of salt. Of course, there are also a few that are MORE than qualified to be giving advice. Anyway, that's another debate alltogether. However, keep this in mind, throughout your entire skydiving career. Versatility will make you a better jumper, will make your jumps more fun, and will keep it interesting. The best freeflyers in the world are quite accomplished on their bellies, and the ones that aren't so good on their bellies will be the first to admit that it limits what they can do in the air. Freeflying is about flying your body on all axis, belly, back, side, headown, head-up and everything else inbetween. So the short answer is get accomplished at all types of dives, including on your belly. Good luck, be safe and always ask for help from local jumpers at your DZ who know your flying skills best! -Rap

I would have to say that pant's are quite popular these days, but in colder climates, suits are better. I have 2 Michigan Suits (www.michigansuits.com) . They hold up quite well and are VERY well made. Turnaround time has been quick (under 3 weeks for my latest one) and the customer service is excellent. -Rap

Have you looked into a Vector 3/Micron? They are definately worth a look. www.relativeworkshop.com -Rap

I own a Michigan Suit, but the principles are the same. If you are already a slow faller, I'd recommend less drag (tighter fit) and thin material. If you are a medium to fast faller, you can sometimes get away with medium drag and heavy materials. If you are a rocket and cannot seem to slow down, then baggier is better. However, you lose a little bit of immediate response from input. Did this help? -Rap

I've got one of the earliest version of the mindwarp. It has internal audible placement. These were made BEFORE the external pouch ones. Anyway, it has held up great for over 6 years! Love it! -Rap

Has anyone out there had any experience with shipping their rigs via FedEx to their destination DZ? It would cost me about $35 to ship my Cypres equipped rig from Vermont to Florida (well worth the cost, if i can avoid any possible problems at the airports). I spoke with SSK today, have done all the research and basically it all amounts to this: problems at area airports and airlines is hit or miss, and COULD result in not getting to where you want to be, not a risk I want to take. Of course, shipping FedEx has its risks too... Any thoughts out there? Thanks. -Rap

His name was Mauro "Mago" Tannino (mah-go) and was an incredible flyer. Below is a farewell previously posted here, written by Stefania. -Rap Remembering Mago - The Magician of Rome Posted Sunday, September 10, 2000 For all who know Mago, This Sunday we will remember Mago in our hearts We'll Fly at sunset thinking of your Dream, the dream of Flight, Pure Human Flight, which is also our dream in which we truly believe, instinctively. We'll think of the Dream of the Flying Crew, your Dream, our Dream. We'll think of the beautiful energy that you brought to us, like Magic, and you still bring to us. We'll keep your Dream Alive. This is our commitment. Thank you with all our heart for everything you did for us as a group and you will do for us as a group. You are in a new dimension now and can see and feel things far beyond our own perceptions. Right now you Are, you truly Are. We miss you a fucking Lots MAGICIAN OF ROME in the Air and on the ground! There's a phrase that I was reading in a book, for coincidence, or not, right the day before you Flew a away in your new dimension. It is from The Book : The Vision Quest from Thomas Brown, even if the phrase comes from Marcus Aurelius: "Man should fear not dying, what man should fear is Not Having Lived at All." You lived your life at the fullest and always being true with yourself, always bringing Good Energy, never giving a chance to the bad energy to be fed upon bad feelings or week feeling of your own or the others around. Foreseeing much deeper into Reality and the Future and of course the Past, always seeing people for what They Really Where, without being driven out of track by the appearance or by the outside stories.... your reaction to this instead have been feeding us the Dream of Flight with your Art, your Music Art, your Flying Art your Video Art. In this you've been a great teacher as you you will always be. Ciao Magico ! You are Strong ! Stefania and the 1st School of Modern Skyflying, The Freefly Circus, The Flying Crew Love you for ever ! Keep the Dream Rise to the Top to The Top ! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Italian freefly champion Mauro "Mago" Tannino died at Ravenna in Italy on August 12th. He was filming a student when he expereiced a mulfunction. Unable to cut away he deployed his reserve and died on impact under resulting the main-reserve entanglement.

Check out this picture of Dave Brown: http://www.freeflytrainingcenter.com/photogallerys/main/vvpic04.htm It is a perfect example of what I call the "new-school" style of the "sit-fly". Basically, we don't refer to this position as a sit-fly, but more of a head-up feet flying position. Notice how far apart the legs are. The forward and backward movement is created by driving (pushing) the hips forward and backward. The wide stance gives great stability and frees up the hands for docks, freefall rate changes etc... This is an excellent position to work to and should be the goal before moving on to head-down techniques. Good luck! Nevers top learning. -Rap D-21553

Clouds Edge is excellent as well, but at this point, could be a little outdated at 2 years out. Try Evolution from Alaska John! -Rap

Unless you can get the video directly from the team (which I doubt) you'll have to order the video from Omniskore.com. OR you can wait and stay tuned for a possible video release from the team itself. There is a thread below about this. -Rap

First, when you order new risers, they always come with toggles. Secondly, do you have soft links? If so this is probably while you are having these toggle fires. Relative Workshop makes the best risers on the market and their Trulock design in supperior. Consult them before you put anything in your container and of course, consult your rigger as well. -Rap D-21553

It is quite possible to make a Vector II safer for freeflying. If the velcro on the risers is good and the flaps stay closed and you have a BOC, then I consider this safe. However, if at any time any of these things changes, you are risking a malfunction or a premature opening. I have done about 450 freefly jumps with a very secure Vector II in excellent shape. It should be known, that once I could afford the V3, I bought one. We all owe it to ourselves to get the safest equipment we can afford. If that means refraining from freeflying for a while, I would suggest that. -Rap D-21553

Rob, I totally agree, if you pack sloppily, no rig is fail-safe, and secondary riser covers can help make sloppy packers, safer, but in the end, you're better off learning to pack correctly. However, the bigger concern is the use of soft links on mini risers, with highly loaded canopies, and toggle keepers that do not hold the toggle as secure. This leads (and I've seen it first hand) to the slider coming down quickly on fast openings and pushing usually one toggle out, thus unstowing it. This is a new cause of many cut-aways. Wings, Vector and Mirage all addressed this problem (some before it was a problem) by making their toggle keepers more secure by covering the tip of the toggle. Anyway, SunPath if not doing so already, should not be far behind. I would ask about it if ordering a new container from them. -Rap

I'm not sure about the conversion to tuck tabs, although I bet not. However, with new velcro that is a bit beefier than the standard size, you will be just fine. I did about 300 freefly jumps with my Vector II, however, it never came open, and if it did, I would ahve stopped jumping with it on freefly jumps. Just keep an eye on it and don't get lazy with the maintenance. As for the closing tabs, that is more difficult. In the long run, if you plan to get serious about freeflying, don't risk it, and get the best possible rig you can afford. Your life is worth the investment. -Rap