CygnusX-1

Pockets are always nice to have. You don't need to use them only for a hook knife. Some suggestions are: Money - for cab fare or phone calls back to the DZ if you land off. Ear plugs - if you decide to wear them. Condoms - if you ever decide to get freaky in the air...

I want one - I want one - I want one - I want one I'm glad that it has more memory than just one jump. Their website always said "the last jump" whenever it talked about storing detailed data. I was like WTF - what good is a one jump logbook? I'm sure that by the time they release it to the rest of us unlucky souls it will have downloading capability. I want one - I want one - I want one - I want one

It seems to be only a ONE jump (detailed) logbook, though. Their website also doesn't say whether you can download this info to jumptrack or whatever software program you may have. We will have to see what they finally decide to come out with. It is just a matter of code writing and available memory to add additional features to it.

That is exactly my point. I have never jumped out of a cessna but have from a porter. I'm pretty sure that both of these aircraft have a seat configuration less than 20. I for one won't be the 20th person to squeeze into either of these aircraft. I'm sure with these smaller aircraft jumping from them is covered some other place (maybe part 135). I'm too lazy to go searching for the real answer anyway - as I personally don't care. This is one of the reasons why I personally don't like the way the USPA license exams are organized. For the average skydiver, does knowing this fact make you a better skydiver? How about hot loading (or whatever it's called) fuel on a plane? Now I know I have not been involved in skydiving that long. But not once has the DZO pointed to me (or any skydiver getting ready to board) and told me to fuel the jump plane. I don't expect or desire anybody to respond to these issues. I really don't want to hijack this thread. I bring these points up as just something to think about.

But aren't you exempt from Part 119 if your aircraft has a seat configuration less than 20 seats or payload capacity less than 6000 lbs? The way I read this is that you can drop any distance as long as you don't have 20 seats (etc). I could be missing something since this is only a portion of part 119.

I wish I had door fear again. That is one of the reasons I kept going in skydiving. I loved that feeling of apprehension as I walked (or whatever) toward an open door. Now that is gone and I miss it.

I totally agree. Sometimes the hands type faster than the mind can think. I forgot that this thread was started by a student.

It's called ear plugs - instant reduction in loudness.

That sucks that there is no feature to connect to a computer. I was hoping you could download data via Bluetooth like they advertise with the altitrack. Hopefully that function is there (in hardware) and the have chosen not to implement it yet.

Yes it does. That's called "survival of the fittest". And to Liemberg, all of these things are technically possible (see below) for sake of discussion. But I agree it would be pretty hard to sell such a system to the general public, myself included. Hey, I don't even have a RSL. 1) register an opening shock on the main Easily done with an accelerometer. Inexpensive ones are sub $5 (US). 2) followed by a spinning mal Could be done using the same accelerometer or a simple digital compass $15 in parts maybe. 3) and cutting the loops on both risers Standard-type cutter. ($30-40) 4) above (say) 750 feet and automatically switching off below that altitude All just software. So we have a system for $60 in parts + about $100 in engineering labor to design.

Not that it really matters, but: 20 meters = 65.6 feet

I would check out http://www.skydiveu.com/. Although, right now they don't seem to have anything up on their website right now about the "Fundamentals" Camp From: 03/24/2006 To: 03/27/2006 @ Deland, Florida. But I have been to a couple of these type of camps and have learned a lot. It really did improve my skills and they are a lot of fun. (Rob, you should be paying me for this type of advertizing.) After rereading you original post, if you are only interested in freeflying, that specific camp is probably not for you, but I'm sure skydiveu has others you may be interested in. Just another source to check out for information.

Does anybody know if Pia returned to ERAU this semester? It has been a couple of weeks and I have not seen her around and was just curious where she was. Thanks Jim

That all depends on what you mean by "land on instruments". I've had to land several times without the use of an altimeter due to my Neptune acting up. I only use an altimeter to better judge where my set-up points are, i.e. downwind - base - final turn points. Sometimes I can land (without alti) exactly where I want within 20 ft. Other times I am way off. But that is just part of my learning experience. If, however, you are implying that I use my altimeter to determine when to start a flare, I don't even know how you would do that. There are too many things happening too quickly to even consider looking at the altimeter.

Here is something to think about. I’m not going to recommend what you should do as I don’t think it will matter. You will do what you want anyway. However, I have 192 jumps in about the past 4.5 years so I know what type of progression you may have had in the past with regard to frequency of jumps. I also did something that people don’t recommend, but I did it on a bigger canopy. I downsized from a Saber I 190 to a Firebolt 146 – square to elliptical and reduced in size. Although before I tried the Firebolt, I did put about 10 jumps on a Saber II 150 and about 5 on a Spectre 150. I’m loading my Firebolt at approx 1.2 btw. Anyway, I digress, the point of this post is to say that on my FIRST jump with the Firebolt my altimeter gave out on me. I had to land a canopy I never was under without the use of an altimeter. By the way, I never landed without the use of an altimeter either. I survived, brushed myself off, and got back up in the air. On the third jump on this Firebolt, I had my first off-DZ landing. I had to attempt to place this canopy down in and around many obstacles. Neither of this events were planned (obviously). You just need to be aware that shit does happen. I believe anybody can land just about any canopy given ideal conditions. How confidant are you that you can land the Stiletto off safely on your first jump? With or without the use of an altimeter…

A pilot chute is what you throw out into the air stream to pull the main parachute out of the rig. 1) Yes you had one on your tandem. 2) If you got video, no it is not the drogue you may see trailing behind you while you were in freefall. 3) Welcome to the world of skydiving. I hope you don't plan on having any money for anything else in your life.

I couldn't agree more. However, one reason might be that they can now tell potential advertisers that they have x number of subscribers - which would make them think that they have a larger number of potential viewers for their ad. They might be getting in more money coming in from ads than they are wasting by sending out duplicate copies in the mail. Why else would you choose to waste money on printing and mailing?

What is the point of getting a B license? I have no desire (right now) to do a night jump. I make a jump at least once every 60 days anyway. Do I really need to be trained on how to get out of my rig in case I'm in water over my head? I'm sure I'll figure it out real quick. After all, I take my rig off after every skydive. I know how it works. And finally, I could not case less about status symbols. Does having a piece of paper (or an ink spot on your USPA card) make you a better skydiver? I think not.

I can't believe you all have got it wrong. BASE jumping is incredibly cheap. Here is how you do it: honeyjigga said he was in good shape which is good because in order to do this you need to be in shape. In order to save money on traveling costs you will need to hike around and find all of the good base jumping cliffs. He might even want to consider some that are not known good ones. That way there will be less people around for witnesses. You don't want to feel like you are putting on a show for everyone on your first jump. Solitude is the key. Now I say forgo the rig. They are heavy, bulky, and just a pain to carry around. They also cost too much money and you won't need it for very long anyway. I'll explain later... When you find that perfect cliff face, take a running start and jump off. It is the most incredible feeling in the world to be falling a few feet from a rock edge and flailing around. Your jump should last from 15-25 seconds. Then everything will go black. Now here is the key: Resist the urge to walk into the light! You don't want to be there. After a few minutes, the darkness will fade and you will find yourself back on top of the cliff. Don't ask me why. You just are. But here is the best part. You can now jump off that cliff and your freefalls will last for several minutes. There is no need for wingsuites. And you can do this for an eternity. Total cost: $0. Problem solved. Disclaimer: Individual results may vary. Some of the facts stated above are based on speculation of what could happen and have not been tested or verified to be accurate. I do appreciate honeyjigga's attempt to learn to skydive for a reasonable cost. However, my personal belief is that risking your life should not be done with the belief of, "How cheap can I do this?" Safety should be your #1 concern not cost.

If all I had to choose from is a Neptune, I would trade it with someone on the DZ for a Protrack (audible). Of the jumps I have had using both devices: Neptune screwing up: 7 times. Protrack screwing up: 0 times. I'm getting real good at landing without the use of a visual altimeter. Thanks Alti-2.

Here is another tip, which I didn't think of (you probably doing this anyway). If you have a spandex BOC, take the pilot chute out when storing the rig. No need having the spandex stretched out all winter when you don't need to.

Add that plus the ability to tell you if you are going to make it back to the DZ on a long spot. That probably would give you a higher altitude to choose an alternate landing site when deciding to land out if you needed to.

Well, that all depends on your frame of reference. My last canopy was a Saber1 190, so of course everything opens softly.

Another canopy you might want to try is the Firebolt (Jumpshack). I've been jumping one and am really impressed with it's performance, although I'm loading it at closer to 1.2. It has most of what you are asking for - snappy turns, soft openings, good flare (these are the characteristics that I was looking for in a canopy). I can't comment on recovery arc or front riser pressure as I haven't bothered to pay attention to them - I'm not doing HP landings.

Why do you want to come to the DZ and give the rest of us your cold?