Travman

I went from a Katana to a JFX and love it. The biggest difference is the openings. Katana openings I always found to be a bit aggressive. It feels like a throughbred horse on the start line ready to go. The JFX is much more smooth and feels quite docile on opening, but once you release the breaks its very zippy and responsive. I found the JFX takes a bit more skill from the pilot to get the performance out of it, but once you learn how to fly the canopy its a great wing. Katana is a fantastic canopy, I had 3 Katanas over my jumping career. There's not really any reason to move from it if you are happy with it. But that JFX is amazing, I am very happy I went to it. So worth trying to fly one if you can and see if you like it.

I'd definately recommend a JFX. Went from a Katana 107 to a JFX 94 and love it. Openings are incredible, much better than they are on the Katana. Overall the JFX flies quite differently to a Katana but once you get used to it you won't want to go back. The katana is a very divey canopy, from the second it starts to open it feels like it just wants to turn and dive fast. I found the Katana was a very easy canopy to fly and learn to swoop on. The JFX feels a bit more reserved. When it first opens it feels like its on pause. But once you pop the breaks you'll find it far more responsive. Also the turns start a bit slower than a katana but hold it for a moment and suddenly they build up speed quickly. The JFX feels it has more range, you can make it dive or fly it casual depending one what you feel like on the jump.

How do you see your handles with a VR headset on?

I had a L4/L5 herniated disc and was jumping a Katana at the time. I was jumping two weeks after I did it, had to have my teammates put my rig on for me because I didn't have the flexiblity to do it myself. Doctors also told me to give up weightlifting and 2 years later I won a powerlifting competition. Ideally find a doctor that knows the sport, which might be hard.

There's an article about a skydiver/developer that has written an app for the Microsoft Band 2 to turn it into an alti. I am personally firmly against using altimeter not purposed built for skydiving such as Suuntos, but it's an interesting project none the less. http://www.windowscentral.com/someone-has-made-microsoft-band-2-altimeter-app-help-skydivers

I did a few years ago and loved it, worth every cent. Remember the price is all inclusive once you set foot in Kathmandu. I did multiple jumps across two locations including Amazon Dalblam base camp then did the hike to base camp.

I can't comment on the lotus, but I do have a lot of jumps on his airlocked Samurai. I like the Samurai, it was a good progression before stepping up to the Katana and always served me well. If you are asking about thoughts on the airlocks, I am fairly indifferent about them. They will help prevent wing depressurisation but that is only part of the problem, as you also need airflow for the wing to generate lift. Having airlocks would never have enabled me to jump in conditions that I wouldn't have otherwise jumped in, but in the unlikely event of entering air the causes depressurisation they might be beneficial. The drawback was taking extra time to collapse the wing on landing and squeezing air out during packing. Having gone to the Katana, I haven't missed airlocks and I haven't encountered a situation where they would've helped. If there was a canopy with the flight characteristics I wanted that happen to have airlocks then I might get it, but they weren't enough of an advantage for me to limit myself to the small set of canopies that have them. You're better off recognising poor conditions and staying on the ground. If you like the flight characteristics of the lotus, then it'll probably be a great canopy for you.

I flew almost every weekend in Australia with my rig for about a year and checked it in every time. Packed it in a hard suitcase. I've been with friends who have rigs going through security and sometimes they get hassled and sometimes they don't. I know people who have had to open their reserve before and they have every right to ask you to do this.

I don't know about the US, but in Australia you must use an "approved altimeter", that is approved by the Chief Instructor or DZSO. Also I know in at least some Suunto manuals they tell you NOT to use it for skydiving. You say you can write a customer app for the FENIX 3 to alarm at prefined altitudes... just like a Neptune? So still not seeing the advantage here.

I honestly don't understand the desire people have to use Suuntos or Garmins as skydiving altimeters. They weren't designed for this so why use them? There are plenty of purpose built digital altimeters available such as the Viso and Neptunes. A common design parameter is to automatically enter freefall mode when it detects the skydiver exit the plan and provide a large, easily readable altitude display. Why use something that wasn't design for the purpose you intend to use it?

Do you really want the fabric connecting you to your parachute to be cheap?

For training he will be opening up Google Earth and zooming in real fast.

I have a split bag in an M4

My first 4 AFF jumps were fine, but from jump 5 I started to get anxiety all of a sudden. I just broke it down into steps. Drive to DZ. Manifest. Wait. Gear up. Walk to plane. Jump. Debrief. Manifest... After manifesting, every time I heard a load call I'd be relieved if my name didn't come up but when it did I just stood up and went to the gear up area. It certainly past in time, once I got my own gear really.

The fitter you are, the more you'll enjoy it.

I know Dr Karl, a famous Australian radio scientist wrote about this many years ago. Found a youtube video on it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwtKNMAYRag

"Gravity powered gliders"... Not to be confused with those gliders powered by engines...

I use Paralog which I can export to a CSV at anytime.

Try speaking to an instructor at the DZ instead of your mate...

I used the chart and I came up with an XL, which I thought would be a bit big so I actually went to the factory and tried on an L and XL and found the XL to be a perfect fit. XL and XXL are the same shell size, so if you purchased an XXL and it was too large you could buy a new liner, not ideal but an option. As others have suggested, if you can try on someone else's that'll give you the best indication but FYI a used helmet will feel a bit looser than a brand new helmet.

John Le Blanc is PD's lead designer, no doubt he was involved in all of PD's canopies to some level.

I have a Neon Orange and black Mirage, and yeah the Orange faded heaps.

I used a 260 navigator for solo landings. I can't remember exactly the tandem size...I'm thinking 360ft but might have been bigger. Wendy used a 190 but she is tiny.

For the design pick inward facing formations! Forget about a donut. Do something like star - open accordion - crank.

I often use F's with a new group to emphasize flying your slot. H is an old favourite as a solid exit. E is highly reliant on the OC nailing the exit, which as others have said can be hit and miss. I've always been taught to take the first point as the exit but are more teams are focussing on tunnel as their training tool I see them using a handful of exits and transitioning.