SimonBones

Wow holy shit. Changing the name of my hard drive to G totally fixed the program. How freakin weird is that! APE9 won't work unless it can draw from a hard drive labeled 'G' and G alone. Thanks buddy

Wait, I think I'm figuring something weird out. My external hard drive where all the videos are stored is called H, but when APE9 tries to look for it, it insists that the address of the file is in a drive G. No matter where I copy the video file I want to use to, APE9 insists it must be found with a similar address except in drive G. I don't have a drive G and I have no idea what has gotten into this thing. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Fuck. So I've got Adobe Premier Elements 9. It was working just fine. After I had a hard drive issue and ad to replace it, I removed and reinstalled the program and now it won't work anymore with .mts files. When I try and click on the mts files in my catalog it tells me first that it can't find it and opens an explorer window. When I click on the file in the explorer window it says, "This type of file is not supported, or the required codec is not installed". Eventually I cancel out and it tells me "Could not locate some files". How the hell do I fix this? 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

During the warm ups we did some 6 way base launches, results were pretty inconsistent out of the side of an otter, so when it came time for record crunch time, we opted to stick with the 5 way sit base. There is no final decision on break off, not sure where you heard this. On these record jumps there were maybe only two people who were front flipping to HD for break off. Roughly 4-5 people were turning 180 and tracking off feet first. The rest were just turning 180 in their sit, moving forward a little bit while clearing airspace above and forward, and bellying out to a track. I'm not a big fan of the latter, but it hasn't really caused any problems yet. The video guy belly's out as soon as the first wave of folks turn their 180 to stay out of danger's way. All in all things went pretty awesome. With practice camps and warm ups, people are getting pretty damn good at launching sit formations, diving/floating on their feet through the hill, and absorbing waves in the formation. There's going to be some pretty cool sit stuff going on at Carolinafest and I'll be sure to get some more going at some of the other events I'm doing this year. Skydive Dallas is also starting to hold some camps of their own in the feet first arts. Glad to hear it, I always heard they suck on their feet up there. But I'm glad Texas is leading the feet first revolution. There are plans for a 20 way at Skydive Dallas later this year. I attached a pic of one of our 5 way base launches. Enjoy

Sorry been behind. School finals been keeping me down. More news on the National Sitfly record in August at Crosskeys: Brian Buckland and Leland Bendel are confirmed for shooting the historic event. The first ever two plane shot all sitfly formation in the history of the world, and first ever official US National Sitfly formation record. Fuck yeah. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Damn, I can't believe I'm just heard about this. I haven't seen Howard in years, but I remember him being a pretty cool guy to listen to. One time back in 2006 I talked him into bringing out some very old army surplus gear he'd saved from jumping decades ago to let me try jumping it. At first he was all about it. The day before he was going to bring it to the DZ for me he shot me an email canceling because he'd decided the equipment was just too dangerous to jump anymore by modern standards. I bugged him about it a few more times and couldn't get him to change his mind, but he sure did get me all excited with some of the old stuff he's got. I hope some of it does make it to the museum. See ya on the other side buddy. -Simon 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Check out this link: http://www.pia.com/piapubs/TSDocuments/TS-112.pdf Heard the M2 stuff second hand from an ex employee at a Florida H/C manufacturer. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

After the whole Arus debacle, US H/C manufacturers have developed a standardized testing system to give official approvals for AADs in their systems. Even Cypres had to go through these tests for approval even though they've been in use for 20 years. As I understand it, the M2 failed this test at two very major US H/C manufacturers over a serious issue with their cutters and did not earn approval for use. The company now has to go re-engineer their cutters and try again. It may be a while before they are approved in the US for use in rigs by the manufacturers. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Story is that an instructor was in the tube preparing to take some first time flyers who were sitting in the anti-chamber when an entire fan motor with blades came crashing down through the tube and through the net. The instructor ducked for cover in a corner and was very lucky to have the motor and spinning fan blades pass by. Apparently he received only minor injuries from debris and happened to end up on the only small corner of the net that was left. This could have very easily been a fatality. There is video from the driver's seat that will likely never see the light of day, though I heard this all directly from the mouth of someone who watched the video and who is very close to that instructor. This happened more than a month ago. Some measures were taken to try and keep the story from spreading or video being leaked. In my most recent trip to Florida, the official story from some other instructors was that the tunnel was down for an overhaul and motor replacement for a few weeks. One of the major discussion points in the conversation I had with some of those involved were the lack of a real preventative maintenance program with skyventure. Whether that is true or not, I can't say. I find it really interesting that when a serious incident occurs in skydiving or BASE, details get spread everywhere and incident reports are shared with the community. In the wind tunnel culture, any incident however major or minor is generally covered up tightly. Just my experience with other (smaller) incidents in the past. This information is all second hand to me, so take it as such. This is by no means an eye witness account. Consider it a rumor. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

I jumped with him a couple months ago. Seemed like a really nice guy. Damn, I'm really disappointed to hear this 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Good call. Thanks. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

I have an RSK.5 with an Optimum 126 and AAD in it. This will be the same reserve tray size as yours. It was definitely a tight fit, had to lengthen the closing loop a bit from factory recommendation. I've been getting the feeling that the Optimums don't actually pack a whole size smaller. I think that's exaggerated a bit. I seriously doubt a PDR99 would be too tight. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Since when do you decide for every resident in the state of Colorado why they live there? Perhaps there are people who live in Colorado for Mile-Hi skydiving? 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Pulled up this thread doing a search looking for a relevant thread. Washing a rig for someone and had to take the reserve of the risers. When I pulled out the soft links I found a bunch of black grime on the metal rings from what appears like melted black junk from the super tack. I couldn't find any evidence of it melting onto any of the reserve line, but it's all over the metal ring, a little on the soft link line, and on the inside of the reserve riser. Does anyone think there is any cause for concern over this? I can't think of any reason why there would be since I assume it's just black wax I should be able to just clean off the metal and reuse. I figured it was best to ask before I make assumptions. Can't help but worry there is some far off chance that all that melted waxy stuff may weaken the soft link or something. Thoughts? Maybe someone used some really cheap crappy super tack? I haven't seen this stuff get that melty and all over the place before. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Haha, no one's pissed off mate. Tone is tough to get through in type. I like the discussion. I don't think it's fair to set a standard on what some people perceive to be "typical". I've met people who have struggled with head down flying for years but were ninja on their feet for thousands of jumps. In that case, should we turn them away form a head up bigway because they're not comfortable with a pressured head down transition in tight proximity to the formation? Even if we know full well that they could perform the break off just as clean if not even cleaner on their feet? It sounds like you're of the opinion that in order to be very skilled on your feet, that you must also be already even more talented on your head. While I agree that for most bigway folks I've met that does seem to be the case, I don't think it can be made as a blanket statement. Some people just have a natural knack for doing shit on their feet and some sort of mental block with the upside down-ness. And by all means I wouldn't tell anyone they can't head down it out if that's what they're better at doing when a record is on the line. I'm sure at that moment plenty of people nowadays would prefer it. But I'm just not sure I agree that someone necessarily has to be great on their head in order to perform that well on their feet. In the mean time while an official record is not on the line, I think it's a great opportunity for people out there to push themselves to plan more feet first flocking dives instead of the traditional sunset track. Spend a summer doing that and see how the feet first flocking skills develop out there. Spend a summer doing transitions from feet first flocks to head first tracks of different orientations, it will get a whole lot easier and less awkward. I think in time with a training mentality like this, more people will let go of the security blanket of head down flying when it comes to head up bigways. Honestly, in my personal opinion from experience, I think a lot of folks are scared of feet first flying. I think a lot of people feel they've proven themselves in the bigway community with their head down flying and are insecure about having to perform up to those standards on their feet. On your next bigway event try and get some folks to take sit slots, be last divers with you, and dive to the formation on your feet, see how many people step up to the plate. As you can see from some events past: http://vimeo.com/21361181 Most people would rather dive on their head and flip to feet anyway even when it's not a record, why? 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

So by your thought, we isolate the availability of head up bigways to only those who are rockstars on their heads because of the assumption that it's simply not possible people out there are that good on their feet. I disagree. I think those two options are easiest and most logical only if you're great on your head but suck hardcore on your feet. Except not everybody out there sucks on their feet. So yeah, turn 180 and then either front loop to head first belly down, or cartwheel to head first belly up. I don't think it's more "chaotic" at all, in fact I don't even think it's difficult and do these transitions regularly to break off from sit slots. I challenge you to spend a weekend practicing these things instead of nay saying. I think the mentality you're presenting is that it is not possible to do anything and everything that anyone can do on their heads while on your feet, I simply reject that idea. I would agree in my experience that it is certainly more difficult to pursue that direction, but I wouldn't dismiss it. It simply requires a higher skill. There was a time when belly flyers looked at head down flyers and warned about it being unsafe, uncontrollable, and laughed at the idea of conducting safe breakoffs while tracking on your back. The evolution of the sport has obviously laid those concerns to rest. There is a time right here and right now, where folks talk about feet first break offs as too difficult, ineffective, and too "awkward", but I have seen evidence out there in the sky from great skydivers that says otherwise. Apparently doing so is neither awkward nor ineffective for some at all. The effectiveness and cleanliness of your transitions are not limited by an absolute physical law, but limited on how much you've practiced them. Naturally most bigwat folk have spent more time practicing head down formation break off procedures and so HD flock/track feels more natural amongst the head down bigway crowd. I agree the development of wind tunnels across the world has allowed more people to become proficient at flip transitions to their heads, but again, if we restrict the new frontier of head up bigways to the idea that only highly experienced head down flyers can participate because *they're the only ones* who can possibly break off safely, we essentially cop out on the idea of pioneering new techniques of flight by falling back on the old school. I reject that. I think it's awesome that "most will find feet first very ineffective and transition to head while in that awkward forward motion will be difficult", it just means that now we have a standard to separate the kids from the adults. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Like I said above, feet first tracking can leave you pretty blind in the direction you're tracking, but as far as initial separation from the formation goes, you can turn 180, clear the air above and radially outward, then flock to achieve that initial separation from the formation. Too many commas I know. For that first initial separation you're moving into an airspace you've cleared. After the initial separation from the formation feet first, call it 30-40 feet or so, then you could continue on in a more visible head first tracking position whether that be on your back or ::gasp:: belly. I've done this on mixed orientation formations as big as mid 30's and it seemed to work just fine. But then again, we haven't really explored having dozens of people all on their feet doing this simultaneously. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

We talked about it, but it doesn't clear the airspace behind you as you start sliding out. Let's say you were a first or second stinger on the base in a 5 way closed pod, there is a bridge connecting pods as well as stingers on your pod. Trying to backslide out here as a standard breakoff procedure would just run you into other people. You'd have a few dozen people around a formation just backsliding out radially without looking where they're going and a collision is going to happen. Once the collision happens, one or more in that collision cork and the photographer above who is shooting the formation has several bullets coming at him. Don't want to be in those shoes. At a minimum people would have to clear the airspace both above and behind (radially outward) before going anywhere. The breakoff logistics for doing bigways head up is going to be a tricky pickle. It will probably be the most determining factor as to who has sufficient skills to participate, since it starts putting lives at risk. We'll be faced with a pretty hairy choice. Do we simply require that anyone doing large head up formations be a bad ass head down flyer so we can ensure safe break offs? Do we mandate that everyone has to be able to flock feet first like a rockstar? Both? 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

For a national attempt head down flying would definitely be allowed. There's nothing in the rule book that says you can't and when it boils down to a record being on the line, your job is to get to your slot as fast as you can however you can. SOME people out there don't need to approach on their heads however. I have definitely seen people on their feet pass up head downers in a dive to a formation and beat others to slots. Vertical is vertical, upright is harder, but some have those skills. It's just fun to talk shit. The break off thing has been the hot topic of some debates lately. There are different schools of thought as to what is best, pros and cons to each. Some are in the camp of front loop to head and perform a normal HD bigway breakoff. PROS: Properly clears airspace and generally results in most efficient horizontal separation from the formation. CONS: Requires asking people to do a HD transition right next to the formation while pods are breaking up, dytters are going off, etc and the consequences for mucking up that transition even a little are pretty nasty. Some are in the turn 180 and flock out on your feet camp. PROS: Properly clears airspace for initial breakoff, less severe consequences for performing a little sloppy. CONS: Feet first tracking is pretty blind in terms of what you're tracking into so eventually you'll have to transition to a head first track anyway. Doesn't achieve initial horizontal separation as efficiently. We've been playing with both all weekend, I don't think there's really a clear winner. Some people are not rock solid with your HD transitions in tight traffic while under pressure. Some people are not very good at flocking feet first. The answer may come down to having people do whichever one they're better at (and they will take some practice on smaller ways). I can't see why both can't be out there on a jump, any configuration I can think of allows for each orientation to have clear visibility of others breaking off with a different method. It would be really interesting to hear some other opinions, experiences, etc for the best way to break off from a sit bigway. I feel like we've debated all the scenarios and combinations, but it's hard to know what you haven't thought of. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

The first ever sitfly formation state record has officially been set at Skydive Spaceland in Texas, now recognized as official home of the best sitfliers in the state. Picture is attached below. We launched a 4 way base and had three stingers to make a 7 way. Record was built after two official attempts. Joe Getty was the photographer and Henry Butler was the certifying judge. There was absolutely NO head down flying on this jump. So which state will be the second to set their first state record? I hear Ohio is planning something soon. I'm stoked that we got this going as a starting point to what I predict will be a lot more head up bigways in the future. This is a first stepping stone for much much more to come. I'd love to see this formation size beaten, and soon, but who will do it? We're formulating plans to break our own record within the next month and set the bar even higher. Maybe Skydive Dallas can do it? I heard none of those flailing monkeys even know how to sitfly Skydive Crosskeys is reserving two turbine planes for the first US National Sitfly Formation record in August. I hope everyone starts practicing your head up exits and head up level slot dockings now! 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

It's official, attempts at the first major Sitfly Formation National Record are scheduled for: August 24-26th Skydive Crosskeys, NJ. Contacts: Stephen Vogdes ([email protected]) Dan Ortiz ([email protected]) Myself (Simon Bones) contact info linked below 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Ultimately that is up to the judges, but I would think yes. Modern VFS has incorporated lots of knee flying, daffy flying, full/partial stand flying while upright. Quite a few of the Airspeed crew are actually extremely talented freeflyers. Some are record holders in various head down formations and medalists in VFS. I certainly wouldn't put it past them, though wearing booties can make knee flying a lot easier 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Defined by USPA: C. Orientation: 1. “Relative wind” is defined as the direction from which the air appears to be coming due to the relative speed of the competitors in freefall. 2. “Head down” orientation consists of the competitor’s head having advanced further into the relative wind than the competitor’s feet by a significant amount, i.e., the length of the competitor’s torso; all distances and lengths are in terms of what is shown on the judging screen. 3. “Upright” orientation consists of the competitor’s head trailing behind the (average) position of the competitor’s feet by more than the length of the competitor’s torso; all distances and lengths are in terms of what is shown on the judging screen. 2011 SCM 9-1.10:C The 2012 update will be released earliest May which will include the USPA winter BOD changes. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

The new record reporting category is titled "Freeflying/Vertical Formation Skydiving, Largest Upright Formation" and will be judged by the same guidelines held in those to respective sections of SCM. What that means is that judging doesn't care how you build the formation, so long as you obtain a judgeable snapshot of the formation built all in the defined "upright" position. In other words, building the sit formation starting from the belly would be legal and it does not matter if it is a round or some fancy formation. The ruling judges have not yet clarified whether the formation can include both "grips" and "foot grips" as defined, still waiting on that one. Now it's not really my place to tell any of you guys how you should build your new state record formations, that's a judges job, but I can give you my predictions on what will probably happen. In previous events when we've messed around with experimental upright formations, we've had exit and approach rules. But there was no real record to be had, so it was all in fun. Some required launching a sit base, and some (not naming names) went as far as ALL (purity) sitfly, ie exit/dive/approach all in sit and then turn/track all feet first. Now THAT is a lot harder and the ultimate goal was simply personal challenge. There aren't many who can be last diver to a formation, get to it purely feet first, close a pod on your feet, then track off feet first. But it's possible and has been done. Should we go that far to require that of our sit records? Sure, in the beginning, I know people will be building belly rounds, flipping a sit, getting your defined snapshot and calling it your new record. Some won't like it but now that a real record is on the line and it's legal, I guarantee you people will do it. But for how long? There comes a point when doing that isn't feasible anymore. Sure you could belly->sit a round with 10 people, 15, 20...? But what about 30? 50? 80? At some point there is just no way doing a belly->sit flip will work anymore. That's when we will eventually separate the kids from the adults. So I'm not worried about it. I think it's much cooler to make it more challenging and build it purely vertical, and eventually that will be the only option anymore. I think when the new SCM gets released, you'll see a wave of initial records being set of people doing belly->sit rounds, once that wave is over, the REAL action will begin. Hell if it were my world, I'd ban HD flying on sit records! Feet first flight for the future, fantastic! 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

I just happen to have a few bags lying around that came from PD. We bought some new canopies last year and PD usually sends you a bunch with them. Just did a test yet again after reading your post. Still made it to 55lbs with no break or damage to the rubber band. Tested the rubber band was both in a larks head knot configuration and not knotted, no breaky. Not sure what supplier you've gotten rubber bands from, but I've never once seen a brand new rubber band break in 40lbs. I've seen plenty of worn/used ones break low, but never a brand new one. And given you've also got the same test result I have from multiple bands, I think it's safe to assume there are plenty of rubber bands out there circulating in use that will not break when new with any reasonable force. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook