brianfry713

I've got a Garmin Foretrex 201 and Paralog with the GPS license. It works really well and computes all the data for you at 1 second intervals fairly easily. It is also cheaper than the other options I looked at. Paralog will also track the flight in Google Earth for you. I usually turn the GPS on while I'm on the ground and make sure I have at least a 3-D GPS lock. Sometimes I just leave it logging on the plane ride up, other times I turn logging off in the menu but keep the unit turned on (don't forget to turn the logging back on ['blush']). Usually I can get a signal during the plane ride by keeping the unit next to a window. I think it reacquires the satellites quicker if you leave it turned on. It definitely locks on quicker if you haven't moved hundreds of miles since the last time it was turned on. I wear it on my right wrist underneath my arm wing. On jump run, I'll zip up that wing and then keep my wrist near the window on my way to the door. It usually keeps a GPS lock while I'm doing this and gets a log of the entire flight. I use two Neptunes with Paralog as a visual and audible. I'm also interested in checking out the Titan and accessories once it is released. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

That's weak . Ski hard, go big, charge the steeps. Most of the time the snow is soft enough from doing much else than bruising. Take chances, push yourself . BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

You could always pack yourself a step through to make it more interesting. Or, to make it really fun, release one riser (not the RSL one of course). For one more, try hooking the canopy up backwards or with a twist in a riser. Or hook up the lines randomly to different risers. You can wrap your steering lines through different lines, or cross each one to the wrong side. Try passing the P/C through different lines and see what happens. Switch the left and right risers. I'm sure there's more . Edit to add: One more, try tying your toggles in knots and try to get them out, or disconnect one and land on rear risers. Of course, I'm only listing possible packing errors, don't try any of these unless you know what you're doing. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

Are you using the Neptune firmware V2.6.0? The battery meter is much better than some previous versions, which would read low after only a few jumps. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

A good WL chart is at http://www.bigairsportz.com/pdf/bas-sizingchart.pdf There's a long thread about it on here somewhere as well. The chart gives two different values: a) Top Number: Middle of Range {Square Feet} *Not an absolute figure. See Relevant Variables (below) b) Bottom Number: Minimum Size Allowed ( In Brackets) *The size of the reserve canopy is dictated by recommendations from the manufacturer. *The chart is based on Total Exit Weight: [ jumper + all equipment] (average + 22 lbs) BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

Yes I was holding the left riser when I cutaway, I agree that was a stupid thing to do, and not something I was really thinking about. That, and my crappy body position and de-arch and lack of any attempt to get onto my belly led to my reserve deploying while I was on my back, and probably the line twists on my reserve. It also puts you in a bad position to pull your reserve handle (especially without an RSL). So since I know I need the practice on EPs. Option 1 (2 hands on each handle) - Look, reach, look, pull, reach, pull Option 2 (1 hand on each handle) - Look, reach, look, reach, pull, pull hookitt, thanks for the advice on getting out of line twists quicker, I'll have to practice that. I think I'm done being Mr. Bill for at least a few months until my reserve is getting close to being out of date again

The latest episode of Skydive Radio featuring Chris Salcone of the Guano Freefly team. I burned it to a CD so I could listen to it during my work commute. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

I'm not one of them, but I think there are people who ground launch in Pacifica, Marina, and Hollister. I haven't heard anything about Fremont. I wouldn't recommend it though without any training and someone to show you around. I know some people have gotten hurt badly doing it. I've heard people say that you're more likely to get hurt doing it than skydiving or BASE jumping. There's some info about it here: http://www.bigairsportz.com/art-groundlaunch.php http://www.groundlaunchcenter.com/ I'd recommend to stick to jumping out of a plane and landing in big open fields until you know what you're doing if you don't want to get hurt. You could always just kite your canopy as well if you just want to play with it. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

I thought about the RSL for a while after this. I think I'm still going to use it, but I'd probably disconnect it if I ever am Mr. Bill again . I'd also recommend not to do one from such a low exit altitude. I jump a FF2 camera helmet, so there isn't a big snag hazard I should probably buy the extra cutaway hardware, and I will before I add a ring sight or still camera. Sluggo (I think that refers to the guy holding on, but I've seen it debated both ways) did yell "Let go" right before my pin was finally pulled. I heard it, but it isn't audible over the wind noise on the original video. We had towed my P/C to low enough that he wanted some time to pull his own. Sluggo also shouted "Nice" and I let out a huge sigh of relief after I was on the ground. He was unaware that I had chopped until I landed. Lisa also was bummed she didn't get the actual cutaway on video from the ground and my girlfriend on the ground sounded pretty nervous for a few seconds. Of course, if you've reached your pull altitude, deploy your main regardless of stability. If you've reached your decision altitude and don't have a main you can land safely, cutaway and pull the reserve. Most of the time parachutes work regardless of stability, but it helps. I think the instability probably led to the line over, and the reserve line twists. There's also the possibility of a packing error or just sloppy packing or sloppy line stows, although I didn't purposely do anything different for this jump. If you look at the video frame by frame, you can see that both risers appear twisted, like a step-through. Also neither the right lines nor the main appear to inflate cleanly, although this jump is somewhat different from normal deployments. The exit was bad. We had discussed me trying to swing him in front of me, but that didn't happen. We should've climbed out in the opposite order. I know it's a bad idea and I don't recommend anyone try a Mr. Bill, but I had two somewhat successful that same day as both passenger and rider. I guess the ultimate goal is to climb up onto Mr. Bill's shoulders, but we didn't have the alititude for that with the low clouds. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=3269 We had low clouds on Monday, 1/16/06 at Skydance in Davis, CA so I tried a few Mr. Bills. Don't ever try one, they way too often end bad, this one ended with my first chop...BEER has already been delivered. On this one we exited at 3,700ft, I pitched right away and the bridle and P/C went under my arm and around Sluggo. He eventually cleared it and the main started to deploy around 3,000ft. I didn't like what I saw on the main, so I quickly cutaway at around 2,300ft. The RSL fired the reserve while I was on my back and I kicked out of the reserve line twists by 1,800ft. Helmet cam video and Mr. Bill - Brian Fry Sluggo - Steve Sanderson Ground Video - Lisa Briggs Short in the plane video - Crystal Mr. Bill was a clay character on Saturday Night Live in the 70's created by Walter Williams. Lessons to be learned: Don't ever try a Mr. Bill. Practice your EPs and do them right. Jump priorities: Pull, pull on time, pull stable if possible (main or reserve). If you're going to do a Mr. Bill out of a Cessna (we had better success out of other airplanes), it might work better if Sluggo climbs out first and faces the tail. edit to add video...oops second edit to remove bad advice. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

If you're worried about reading the dial, you could always go with a digital altimeter. Some, like the Neptune, also glow at night and are supposed to be good at 30k-40k AGL or more. Some people prefer an analog face others, a digital one. Remember, your primary altimeter is your eyes. You shouldn't be trusting your life to any device besides your rig. Even on a night jump you can see lights on the ground and should be able to judge altitude based on the runway or landing area length. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

I found Apex's delay-altitude-equipment chart in the manual on their website at http://www.apexbase.com/portal/content.asp?contentid=33 It's a huge file, and towards the bottom. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

Skydance's PAC Cool plane, cool DZ. The Otter does have a bigger cabin and bigger door of course, but the PAC is supposed to be more cost efficient to run. I also like the step and handles in the door of the PAC. Skydance did some mods to the engine or exhaust to make it climb even faster. It can also fly a nice slow jump run. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

At least they put this fact in to make skydiving seem safer than crazy sports like ballooning. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

OP, yeah, I'll be at Skydance tomorrow, I owe beer

One out of the money in the loser's tourney. Maybe one week I'll get home early enough from work to play in the main tourney. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

Congrats on finishing AFF. Have some fun and start working on that A license. Don't worry if you're landings aren't perfect yet. It takes some practice. Trust your toggles and use them to land, it'll be softer that way

I've seen and done it in Nor Cal. It's usually a summer thing. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

A major breakthrough: someone landing a wingsuit. There already are wingsuits for different applications, such as the V1 or S3S for glide ratio and forward speed, and the GS1 for slow decent rate. There are also other types of suits like the Prodigy and tracking suits that are good for BASE and beginners. Some of the newer suits are also designed with acrobatics in mind. The high end suits will see improvements in speed and glide ratio through more lift generation and drag reduction. Maybe a wingsuit with cross braced cells or something like that? Although it seems to be growing recently, I don't think the sport has been around long enough with enough fliers to have seen the end of major innovation. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

Thanks a lot for doing this Lisa and Keith and Perry and everyone else who watched and helped give me advice. It's also good to watch the videos of the good swoopers and hopefully pick something up. I was one of the ones who hopefully learned some things that will keep me from killing myself by making a low front riser dive. While doing it, I knew I was low, but it's a whole different experience watching it from an outside perspective. Watching my canopy diving at the ground without altitude to recover on the video made me realize that I need to start a lot higher. I'll do my best to improve and not have to rely on being able to dig out at the last possible second. I also learned a valuable lessen about avoiding the wake turbulence of a landing parachute in front of me. While it happened, all I felt was a sudden lack of flare at a bad time. After watching the video I could really see what my canopy was doing, diving close to the ground without any input due to the turbulence. The videos also showed us how dangerous and chaotic it can be when some jumpers are landing South and others North on the same load on a no wind day. I've been lucky to escape serious injury so far and always welcome any advice people have for me. Thanks again Lisa for the firewire copies of Monday's jumps as well. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

That sounds like some one who wants to be pied. I think I did my 100th during the American Boogie and there were a few of us that day who did milestones and had never been pied. I was exited to get pied and was waiting for it, and a little disappointed when it never happened. Well, a little while later when I was least expecting it, a dubious plan was set into action. A premature reserve deployment was apparently been shown in the team room and I dropped what I was doing to go see it. The second I stepped through the door to turn and watch the video, bam!, pies hit me from all around. If you deserve to get pied, it'll happen for sure. If you don't, it'll probably happen anyway. Take off any jumpsuits and gear at the end of the day and don't look like you want it to happen and maybe you'll get pied eventually. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

I'm guessing he'll get around 1,065. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

You got me, I try to keep my profile updated . I'm working on the video edit right now. I'll post it and start a thread soon. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

This seems like a good idea if you can find and convince someone. In BASE it's pushed more strongly to find a mentor to teach you from the beginning. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative