vesatoro

>This applies to Cutaway handles also. Yes, it does. And I have seen people who do have D-rings also as cut-away-handles. And again the reserve handle is always the more important of them, as in a event of an impossible cut-away you can hope for the best and go directly for the reserve. >This applies to cutaway pillows as well, except the >pull forces can top the 20-30 lbs. of a reserve >pillow. Which is again usually caused a poor equipment choise or lack of maintenance of gear. Cleaning and lubricating the cables, hard cable housings and cable free end housings are the way to lessen the possibility of a hard cut-away. As should the cutaway handle in the event there is a problem without sufficent altitude to take your time finding and pulling it. >Such as mini-risers, small, high performance >canopies, small reserves, exceeding max speeds >for the reserve canopy, etc? Mini risers, high performance canopies and so on are not the emergency equipment we use. They are "sport equipment" The reserve is the emergency equipment. Too big reserve loading is a result of a poor equipment choise. Exeeding the TSO'd speeds for reserves is unwise, as we have seen. >Banning reserve pillow handles and ignoring >cutaway pillows is silly. Has there ever been a >case of an impossible cutaway in Finland? No, there has not been. Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

About the ban of the soft pillow type reserve handles in Finland. It is a decision that was made by comparing both the pros and cons of the handle types. Pro:s -more snag-free during climb/jump -aesthetics and cool look, that are priorized by some jumpers more than functionality. Cons: - More difficcult to locate, especially when using thick glowes or with numb hands (Finland is no Florida). As the feel of the pillow material is the same as with webbing, clothes etc. compared with a hard steel handle. - the pull force in ideal situation versus not so ideal situation. When peeled, the pull force stays within the acceptable limits. But when extracted for example only with right hand, straight pull force can be as high as 20-30lbs. And it's not too easy to peel the velcro with your right hand. The reserve handle is very different from the main release handle. When doing a cut-away, you should not be in a big hurry if you have opened in correct altitude. And if you have done the decision at right time. But the reserve handle still is the thing you must be 100% sure you can reach, grab and pull in any altitude, condition and situation you may encounter. Do we really want to use emergency equipment with very narrow tolerance in it's correct use? At least I don't want to Vesa - "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Summary/translation of the accident in Finland http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=508246; Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Yep, I'll be coaching in Empuriabrava with Asaf from 27th Dec. to 1st or 2nd Jan. So we have two coaches. C'ya there. Vesa BMCI "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Me? Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Thanks, it was my slow ass. The shots are from Herc2002 where Jari was flying a S3 prototype and I had an old S1. Everyone else flew straight into that big cloud, we played with it :) Vesa BMCI (since Feb 2003) #845 "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Do birds compete in flying? No, they live it. Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Well, you're so far east there at the border zone. That's why it's so cold there "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Great eWave, another flying finn is born. It ain't so cold up there, yesterday it was -5C at 4k... almost like summer Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

HUGE Yes, you shold get sponsored "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

I don't see that (122km/h) is really too revolutionary. Skinny people like me can do 130km/h with normal freefly suit in an efficient de-arched tracking position. And get a very good forward speed too... Vesa #845 "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

More Atle with his smokes: http://users.utu.fi/vejuto/videos/FF+Kjerag/4-way.MPG check the other videos too.. Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

I jump an Icarus FX79 (loaded 2.0), and have had no major problems with it. Still, if I had the money to afford a rig for wingsuit use only, I'd maybe go for a Sabre2 97 or 107. For base ACE220. Vesa BMCI "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Here in Finland - 250 with a coach - 500 independently (coach still recommended) Vesa BMCI "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

I think that the Skyflyer might be fine for you for the first own suit. But not for the first flights. The Skyflyer is not recommended as a 1st flight suit at all as it's quite twitchy (like a Stiletto as a 1st canopy...) and a 1st timer most propably will not feel comfortable flying with it. So I'd recommend taking the few first flights with a Classic. If Classics are not available for you, then as you are quite an experienced jumper, a Gti might do the job. The other problem with going for Skyflyer too fast, is that it is much harder to train the efficient flying position with a suit aimed for experienced flyer than on one that is designed for beginners. In my opinion, after you feel you are fully comfortable with a Classic/Gti in all flight manouvers, should you change to a Skyflyer/S.3. Vesa BMCI "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

It stands for BirdMan Chief Instructor. Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Jari, the An-26 rulez! Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

whow, from the Felix-God's point of the wiev, that must be the new bible then... Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

I was kindly offered a flight with the Matter suit in the FriFlaj-festival Sweden. With a one flight's experience I cannot go wery deep in describing it's performance any further than Lou did, whose thoughts I mostly agree. The one things I was really impressed was the quality of fabrics and the durable look of the suit compared to BM-suits. Those suits I saw, were sewn together with wery strong thread and with a good workmanship. I also liked the fabric they used for the wings, as it had a lot less friction with air while flying, going through air like a knife. I wery much agree with Lou in the static position flying, which seems to be a must with that suit. I was able to get an average speed between 60 and 65 mph, but the suit was a bit long for me, and it was bit hard to keep the leg wing in it's optimal shape. I talked a lot with Cedric about wingsuit flying, BM's and their products and about developing the sport. It was wery nice to meet a person who, even while representing his own company, is open to good discussion with people representing a competing company. That is the way the whole thing develops and we will see suits with even more performance in the coming years. Vesa BMCI "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

I just got my Pantz, and have done two jumps with them. On the first I noticed that I didn't just have enough lifting power on my upper body to make full advantage of the leg power they provided. On the next jump I took a Drymaxx hiking jacket (like GoreTex) and was able to get the maximum lift from my upper body together with leg power from the pantz. I was able to slow down to 126km/h average (78mph) vertical speed, and was going wery fast horizontally. It felt almost like flying a Classic :) I was amazed. Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

My deepest condolences to family and friends. Rob, long flights forever. Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

There will be three BMI:s (me, Markus Saari and Toomas Talts) giving coaching at Skåne FriFlaj Festival 12-19.7. and we will bring at least four demo suits there. Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Hi Kim Hope to see you more often on this side of the big sea :) long flights Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Per, something was left undone, so I may be back there sooner than you expect "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Thanks for all who participated the 2nd SkyFly Festival last week in Gryttjom, Sweden, and for all the staff there too. More than 30 good flocking flights and one new BM instructor (Bo Weinberg) were the result of the week, hopefully Hans will make a film as soon as possible. Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)