jdatc

What does Robi think. That's the question which I want answered..... I think I'll just buy a ghost instead if I feel the need to flock that badly with a bunch of bigger suits..... Or flock with like / fast suits. Then again, flocking a V2 seems like a waste anyway..... Cool idea though.... I guess.... _justin

V2, Phantom, Birdman Impact

Maybe you should make your own thread then and see the wonderful responses you get? Perhaps you could title it ALMOST ALL NEWER JUMPERS SUCK and KNOW NOTHING judging by your posting style? Sometimes I feel the great Dropzone.com elders have lost touch with the masses.... Each post of yours seems to contribute more towards belittling other jumpers in the thread then it does towards furthering an important issue/situation.... That's sad. Perhaps what the 'newer' jumpers are doing is putting their trust in a system and the fact that someone was trained and certified to do a job, and will actually do it correctly? I mean, it's what they are suppose to do right? Otherwise why do we need a license-ing system? I don't get it.... So your saying we should not trust people who are trained, certified and licesnsed to do jobs without a multitude of references and observation of their work? When you get on an aircraft, do you check the pilot and his license everytime? When's the last time you asked to watch your 737 captain in the simulator before your flight across the country, or do you put your trust in the system? I mean all you want to do is get there safely and on time right? Is that the same thing? _justin

Here's a little more info, basically what you stated. http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atbarc/04-4.htm Which goes back to this: If we are all responsible, it works out. This can't be emphasized enough. That said, I jump at a dropzone which frequently gets 'capped' by ATC... And being an air traffic controller, I understand. That said, if you want more freefall time, get a wingsuit. _justin

My upgrade from my FF2 and pc1000. -Cookie Rok topmount -Sony CX7 in a blackbox -Extra plate for using my digital still, or CX7 -Painted matte black I wanted a more base friendly helmet after I took a good riser strike on my FF2, and the camera on the side beat up my neck a little more. _justin

Yup. On the one suit I got from birdman.... When it was delivered I had to pay customs..... My 2 suits from PF on the other hand..... small print at the bottom of the birdman site: _justin

NO, buy buy buy! and then loan them to friends..... I have a V2, a phantom and a birdman imapct. Right tool for the right job I say. _justin

So does my Xaos or Stiletto. You think they are cheaper? Let me know how that goes when you have to replace it every 300 to 500 jumps. So you'd rather take your Xaos / Stiletto to 2000' in a wingsuit deployment than an optimum? Seems fine to me to use a reserve-like canopy if what you like to do is deploy a little 'lower'.... Seems like a personal choice in terms of canopy longevity, reliability and pull altitudes... It's definetly not the approach for everyone. Then again, I have a Flik 182 ordered for my wingsuit rig. _justin

I think the base pouch also has a place in the skydiving envirmonment when you fly right down to deployment altitiudes and fly a lot of solos against yourself for distance and times.... As for the base pouch sizing, it isn't really tailored for a skydiving pilot chute, that should be obvious to anyone. I use a larger appropriate base pilot chute, and if you fold it correctly it holds pretty well.... No where near as good as a spandex pouch of course, but that discussion has been hashed out before. The tracking pants arguments is silly. I based my impact using my BOC, right after the go fast games.... I have made zero skydives since approximately may/june using the boc, but I have made a bunch of base jumps using my BOC..... going back and forth isn't that hard in terms of jumps. Come on now, you were kidding about that right? For me the benefit is the following; 1. When I finally get the cojones to base the wingsuit, and not chicken out with the impact, I am ready and current with the pouch; 2. When I fly my suit down to deployment altitudes, I don't miss my PC.... I don't worry about the burble, and I don't fumble with it.... Plus a base pc and bridle has a little more 'snatch' force... 3. I think the risk is rather small in the scope of things using the pouch in the skydiving environment. There will always be the chance of prematures, but using the right pc, packing method, caution and flying appropriatly should minimize that. There will be risk in every part of skydiving. It's risk management.... I may be relatively inexperienced compared to some of you guys, especially Jarno and Scotty, but I will continue to use the base pouch skydiving unless I am involved in something where someone objects, or the situation dictates. It's right for me, and for some others deending on their goals I think .. _justin

I like the impact (own one) and think it is a good stepping stone to wingsuiting... I have skydived it and based it little a bit. I averaged in the high 70's with it in the skydiving environment and made decent tracks with it in base. However, the quality disapointed me. 2 different zippers on each arm zip? Cheap fragile mesh on a 'supposedly' base specific suit... missed stitches..... A lack of attention to detail IMHO.... And I like it still enough not to try and sell it and will continue to jump it...... In terms of tracking suits specifically, I liked the Phoenix fly tracking suits I have seen much better. These were a few of the reasons I bought a phantom for my 1st real wingsuit, and now am purchasing a V2..... They (birdman) lost me on the 1st suit they sold me, though it flies well. Definetly try some entry level suits and tracking suits, as they are a lot of fun, and make an informed decision.... Also, don't rush into things, wingsuits aren't going anywhere.... _justin

I have about 200, 170ish with the base pilot chute 9' bridle and pouch, only 30 from the boc with a collapsable earlier on..... All but around 10 were full flight pitches. As soon as I changed out my bridle and pilot chute, I stopped jumping the BOC.... Before that around 40 skydives on my impact suit, with better than half full flight deployments. I haven't made a normal skydive since early may, damn you wingsuits! Possible, and I was using the boc early on. Maybe it was more the bridle and pilot chute change though.... Good point. You're right. I was thinking more from the point of going from full flight and finding your pilot chute. Which are you more likely to miss? The possibly obstructed BOC or the leg pouch.... I bet the average jumper will occassionaly miss the boc, if only for a second, where the base pouch you would miss much less... so your average deployment time from starting the reach would be less.... Probably not.... But then again, what is the sport without video? So I can't say yes or no. I am however a pretty stable jumper at pull time in both sports. Fair enough. How many jumps have you made with the base pouch vs the boc? Mine were made early with a different pilot chute and bridle, so maybe that was part of it. But I get zero hesitations now and have a lot more positive openings. Obviously I am biased to one because the majority of jumps are on it. Or what if you like to decrease the odds of missing the pilot chute, or having any part of your wing block it? Probably both. More likely the latter. I think it just fits into the whole scheme of risk management. When you saw the premature happen, was it a base pouch? Also, how many people have had premature extractions with the base pouch that you know of? _justin

Hmm.. I think I've seen something close to that.... http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=6148 Fair enough. If it was an issue to others on a jump, I would switch back. For me it's personal preference to use the pouch. As a side question, would you agree that the leg pouch is a better option for consistancy, or full flight openings / deployments? I hadn't though that to some a base pouch is just that, something for base which has little or no use in skydiving.... _justin

Cool. good answers. As for me; Actually, I have every intention of base jumping my wingsuit, however when I was in the swiss valley in September, it didn't feel right, so I stuck with my impact suit... it was fun and gave me some good experience. My next trip in the summer (norway and the valley) I will move up to my phantom if I feel good about it.... In response to the pouch size, I actually use a non-collapsable base pilot chute which is larger (but still appropriatly sized) and am changing out my sabre2 for a flik 182.... I like the base setup for fast openings. It fits pretty well in the pouch, but not super tight nor super loose. Fatigue is not a problem, never has been. I have done quite a few long flights in a day and while it was a workout, I never failed to find the handle.... Also I don't backfly either, and limit my aerobatics to barrel rolls... I did a few jumps (30 some?, I'd have to look, at work now) without the base pouch and they were fine, but the deployments were no where near as consistant with the base pouch / setup. I like a full flight opening, where i can just flip the thing out. My next suit I am getting is a V2, and I will use the Base pouch on it as well.... My question is, would you avoid flocking with someone who uses the base pouch? We only have 2-3 wingsuiters here, so it has never been a problem. I love the thing. _justin

Out of curiousity, has anyone ever taught a student just using the base pouch right away, not the BOC? Or do people think that it would be too much on a 1st flight? I love the base pouch on my Phantom, won't skydive without using it... But still like the set up of my impact suit for base jumping.... _justin

I got a look at it... I'll reserve my thoughts till I see it being regularly jumped but say at some levels it may be a good idea.... Of course, the same was said about the Sorcerer.... Which has its place for certain types of jumps/styles..... But I'd prefer to stick with major established base manufacturers for that type of gear for now... just a personal preference. But if I got a chance to skydive it, I would so I could have an informed opinion.... The Front mount reserve though seems like it would be a hinderance to good wingsuit flights.... The camera is a pc1000 with a .45 lense in a ff2, sadly I forgot to check the mounting angle. so I got some frame the 1st jump... Congrats again on winning it.... _justin

I have around 450ish skydives with approx 200 wingsuit jumps, the wingsuit jumps are all since May of this year..... Before that another 40 jumps on my impact tracking suit... However my Paralog hasn't been kept up to date since my neptune died, so I need to get printouts again from the DZ. Simply put, I want a relaible low pulling skydiving rig. I have no problem pulling full flight at 2000' with my sabre2 (and if that's all I ever wanted to do I'd keep it), and keeping with the USPA guidlines... If it mals, well I am current and practiced. But what if I am getting out of my friends plane, and want to drop the d-bag all together and say to hell with pull altitudes since they are not a legal requirement by the FAA? I know I could use a base rig, but that puts the pilot at risk. So here is a middle ground. Plus, it's something I want to do and try which is really the most important thing. Besides I am buying another skydiving rig with a smaller canopy to not be my wingsuit rig... Then I can go hang out with the free-flyers and be cool again... I don't know since I don't swoop, but I do ok with my BASE canopies... sadly I didn't win the accuracy contest at BD (you did!), but I put it down a foot off the disk in the white circle to a standing up stop... So I told Sparky I am protesting.... _justin

I fly a Sabre2 170... It's reliable to a degree, as any canopy can be in a d-bag. I however am in the process of getting a bit of a custom FliK for my wingsuit skydiving rig after having a few discussions with Todd at Apex. I know a lot of people ask, why, a base canopy in a wingsuit rig? Simple, a less malfunction prone, docile 7-cell canopy in a wingsuit rig will be my friend in the times I may very well need it... _justin

I have lived in long island for 5 years now. Skydive Long Island is a good dropzone, my home one as it's 20 minutes from where I currently live in LI. I regularly go there during the summer before or after work to get in a few jumps. If it's a weekend and I have to leave by 130pm to be at work, I can easily grab 3 jumps. Same goes if I show up after 3 on a weekend. If I have the day off, I've knocked out 11 jumps on one day, and only 1 was a hop and pop. It does have a good fun jumper community, a bunch of free-flyers and some RW club guys that are there on the weekends. However there are very few wingsuiters... and one of them has a base jumping problem and might be dangerous. Plus you can always jump during the week in the summer because there are always some tandems showing up to get the plane in the air... Nothing better than having a caravan to yourself with 2 tandems... AHHH sweet room to breathe.... The island sucks (IMO). Most of the population is rude, and the cost of living is high. But there is a lot to do, from dining, biking, kiteboarding and other stuff... and the city of course. I am pretty active outdoors and it is acceptable.... The hardest thing about long island is leaving it... Not because you don't want to, but because all the bridges and tunnels back up and traffic is a nightmare. So if you want to go skiing, plan on the extra bit of traffic for the drive... Same for climbing, the same for, well you get the idea... _justin

I don't know what most people think is correct, but.... I just drop the grippers, bring both arms in symettrically, fire out the PC, and then go right back to arms wide open and try to keep flying at my max glide rate angle, or so I feel.... I never close the leg wing. Usually, immediatly, I get stood up after retrurning to full flight, and while staying symettrical get those zippers down..... I jump a camera, and you see lots of leg wing in every opening. My pack job is a pretty normal skydiving pro-pack... I don't flare the suit at all. I just accept the fact I will have a little more swing and get beat up a bit more. _justin

Any jump that lands you safely on the ground is a successful one, no matter what anyone else says.... I used to have a lot more hesitations when I started flying my wingsuit with the standard skydiving setup.. short bridle, collapasable PC, and hacky handle. On my impact track suit I could even get funky hesitations, and on my phantom the same sometimes..... To me it just wasn't acceptable. So I switched it up, and the last 100 +/- jumps on my phantom I use a 9' bridle, a non collapsable f111 32" pc made by a base manufacturer (pvc handle), and the base pouch... The difference is night and day for me. I pitch full flight and have no hesitation, and for the most part beautiful openings.... Taking very little altitiude most of the time... Not to say I don't get blasted now and again (sabre2 170), But I prefer that over any hesitation.... The other thing is since, since I tend to fly my openings and not 'go vertical' to deploy, I give it a bit longer before I start punching handles... as this buys me a little more time with the lower full flight fall rate. _justin

I jut got mine the other day but haven't had a chance to jump it yet.... while rather, i did take it on a 420' base jump last night, but won't get home to dump the data till saturday when I get back to my computer... Sunday will be the 1st time I get to take it out of a plane I think. I remain cautiously optimistic...... A quick test before leaving revealed it fit ok in the audible pocket of my Z1.... However reception is up in the air..... I'l know more in another week how much I like mine. _jusin

Yup, That's my garmin, minus the gps repeater... When I have it on the chest strap, poof, nothing from leaving till canopy.... We have a grand caravan and a king air.... I will be very excited when I get this new one, to see what happens.... 3 day fedex shipping! My current plan is to mount it to the back of my helmet.... We'll see when it arrives how that goes... I'll keep you all advised. _justin

I placed an order for a BT - Q1000 today.... I had to! After seeing the post earlier, and doing some research, I thought wow, if I could just turn it on to log and forget it.... The size was a major factor 72 X 46 X 20 mm.... My neptune is 60 X 40 X 10 mm.... So I figure I'll either fit it in the audible pocket(s) or drill some holes in my Z1 and use a few zip ties as it's the helmet I use mostly wingsuiting..... Plus at 5hz logging, WIth an average of 2:30 flights, plus 2 min canopy time, I could do quite a few jumps before filling it up, then go home and dump the data..... Then later throw the data in paralog when I get home and see how I did.... I like numbers sometimes.... Quanitfying, a 'that felt great!' flight would be cool.... AT any rate, I bet it'll be better than and smaller than my garmin etrex vista c.... and it wasn't that expensive.... _justin

Not paralog, I find that the program is great. It's my recording device.... I often lose data, getting from the front of the plane to the door with my gps, and I don't like it's size.... I want a small logger I can mount to my helmet, push a button and be done. Also I want data better than 1hz...... There are so many great things I could try.... Besides the wingsuit, and my tracking suit. I'd like to get some quantative data on my BASE parachutes.... I feel that my flick gives me a better glide than my rock dragon, but how much better? I just think it would be cool to get and see that data.... _justin

vidiot, I am very intereested in getting a smaller / better logger... and am intrigued..... Currently I use paralog and a neptune with a garmin GPS and am somewhat disapointed in the system... Mostly the gps / neptune data points.... How do you like the WBT-201? OR is it worth it to get the BT-Q1000 that you said you have on the way? One that'll log a 5hz internally.... ALso, how does the one you have perform in the airplane? Good reception, or have to leave it up near the pilot? thanks_ _justinn