mbondvegas

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Everything posted by mbondvegas

  1. Hey Aerodyne! The Pilot is an awesome Mid-Range Canopy! The openings are the softest (and SMOOTHEST) I have ever experienced. The smoothness factor is a big deal...some other slow opening canopies seem to snivel...snivel...snivel and then open rather quickly once the slider takes off down the lines. The Pilot seems to have a really progressive opening that is like no other. I demo'd all of the likely suspects and decided the Pilot was the best mid-range canopy available...but alas, I bought a Safire because I got a smoking deal on a lightly used one. The Sabre 2 had swoopier landings and more off-heading openings...but was still very similar to the Pilot. One word of advice....PLEASE...make a deal with Gelvenor to get their old style ZP back on your canopies! I have a 1998 Triathlon in my Wingsuit rig that I am going to hate to give up one day when it finally wears out! I love that fabric...it almost packs itself. I am serious! I think offering the old style Gelvenor ZP could really boost your sales! Particularly for Tri's and Pilots (i.e. newer jumpers/packers) I have never heard anyone (regardless of experience) who has had a canopy made with that material that did not absolutely love it. I am certain that had the Pilot been offered in that fabric...I would have bought one in a heart beat! It is a joy to pack my Tri (and so easy to put in the bag with perfect S-Folds) and an absolute pain to pack my slippery as snot Safire! Offering the old style Gelvenor ZP could be a huge competitive advantage! Thing about it - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  2. MIL-T-5038, 1" Type III, Binding tape, 525 lbs. Jeff Do other/most manufacturers use this material for the small ring? - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  3. What kind of material does Infinity use to hold the small ring. I really like the design of the infinity risers but they use a thinish style webbing for the little ring. Anyone know how strong that type of webbing is? - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  4. Sick! Sick! Sick! I love it! - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  5. I MIGHT be able to make it for a few flights. Is good samaritan Mike showing up? I still owe him a couple of brews. I think I will definitely be down there this weekend, but a friend of mine just finished AFF and is trying to finish off his A license this week at Perris. If he does....I might be doing RW with him most of the weekend. - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  6. So is there any info/discussions/etc on this fatality you mentioned where the WS-Pilot did a barrel-roll through his lines on opening? I would like to read more about this. ---------------- "Being a bad example since 1976!" - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  7. I've recently done that. I was going to buy a 190 Pilot but recently gained an embarrasing amount of LB's (too much work, to many work lunches, too much travel, etc) and ended up getting a used 210 Safire2 at my "desired" wing loading (1.2 : 1). I would have preferred to have gotten there via the 190...but... - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  8. When was this barrel roll incident? Got a link to info/discussion on it? Thanks. Hmm...only 8 more wingsuit jumps until I'm in the clear. - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  9. I can't believe I am going to miss this! I'm going to be out of town. Now that K8 & Jeremy have wingsuits I was looking forward to the first flocks of the Mesquite Fleet! I guess I will have to wait a weekend! You guys have fun!! Hooray the return of the Caravan!!!!! - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  10. While I agree that there are easier to fly suits than the prodigy (the phantom for instance), I think the prodigy is still a good suit for low timers as it really simplifies some of the complications associated with a wingsuit. Also it is totally possible to blow a wing in a prodigy EVEN when properly rigged (I had a couple blowouts early on, including my first WS jump. I later repaired one of my buttons that was weak and was probably the problem.) but a blown wing in a prodigy is easy to deal with...just drop the other gripper and all is well. - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  11. The optimum amount of student jumps in one day is exactly three. This has been scientifically tested by an independent research body and is irrefutable. Doing anymore or less in a given 24 hour period will have negative effects on one's progress. - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  12. Both DZ's are great. You would be in good hands at both. Elsinore is a more relaxed and open group and I think that helps make you feel comfortable which can help in AFF. Also, Elsinore has some of the best instructors anywhere. If your lucky, you'll be under the instruction of Tom Riddick who is the best instructor I've ever met (in or out of skydiving). He has 39+ years of experience has an incredible love for the sport and a love for sharing his knowledge. Mark, Smitty and Matt are top notch guys too. - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  13. I only spent a Day at Mile-Hi, but it was a pretty nice place. I was there during the week, so it wasn't as busy as I am sure it is on the weekend. From discussions I had with some locals, it sounds like this place is packed with Tandems on the weekends...which can be good and bad. I thought the packing area was kind of small given the size of the DZ, and I thought the ride to the loading area really slowed the whole process of (jump; pack; jump; pack; jump) down a bit. Anyway the Otter was nice and the landing area is HUGE!!! Beware the 5K altitude of the landing area on your first few jumps...its definitely a bit faster than most are used to. Beware the prarie dog holes which seem to be all over the place. They have a huge swoop pond too. I rented a rig as I had not brought mine on my trip. They have REALLY nice/new rental gear; Mirage's with PD canopies. All in all, it is a nice place with good facilities and nice aircraft.
  14. I think he meant: I didn't get hurt. - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  15. I second this! Solo or 2 to 3 way track dives with a high pull are my favorite low stress jumps!! Hopnpops are fun too but I think pulling at full alti on a hot day is better! - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  16. Wow. As interesting as the moving back of the wings is the fact that the arm wings end at a point that does not 'end' at the body junction point, but rather has a squared off point. And also that the leg wing extends beyond it's final attachment point. Is this suit even bigger than the SM1? How where the times/distances??? It is nice to see such innovative ideas being developed and tested. By the time I'm ready for a new suit...I'm sure I'll be amazed by what will be available. Keep it up!! - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  17. Oh, I'm retiring this reserve. Any good ideas of cool thinks to do with a otherwise "new" looking canopy? I'm thinking of stuffing it and sewing the cells shut to make an neat blanket. (It is a 250). I'm buying a new PDR218 for this rig. To comment on other peoples response on Tempo's. I still have a Tempo 210 in my other rig and have no issue with that. This one (the 250) served me well, but I would be hesitant to use a Tempo if I ever move to a more highly loaded situation. The 250 still landed me reasonably soft despite my virtual inability to flare it. I did have to PLF. If I were more heavily loaded, that could have caused some real pain. - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  18. Yes to question #1. I pitch and then grab/touch my mudflaps. Well, my pack job is pretty darn tight in the rig (a 220 Triathlon with Dacron lines in a J5) and I pack my D-Bag per the Jav specs (i.e. bridle grommet to the top of the rig), but I do have cut-dynamic corners. If the pin is pulled, it opens totally up. - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  19. I know I'm digging up an old thread, but I just had my second ride on one of my Tempo's (a 250) and it had a strong left turn in it. I had to pull about 3/4 right brake to fly straight. This leaves little for the flare. Thank goodness it was a 250 so it still wasn't too bad of a landing. Anyway, I wanted to say that I did not notice this turn on my first ride on this canopy (a subterminal ride), but it was really obvious on this jump (a terminal ride). Maybe these canopies have a design flaw that causes some sort of malformation after hard/fast openings...which ultimately cause this often noted built in turn??? - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  20. My thoughts exactly. Just wanted to make sure that is how people were measuring. Thanks! Sot that would add like 2.5' to my bridle....that could help. - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  21. One question on bridle length. When we are talking about a 9 foot bridle for wingsuiting, are we measureing from the D-Bag to the Base of the PC or from the Pin to the Base of th PC? My bridle on my WS Rig (a Javelin) is not really that short. It is 8' from the Bag to PC or about 6.5' from the pin to the PC. Nonetheless, I'm getting a 9' bridle, but I want to make sure I'm measuring from the right point. Scott- Thanks for the detailed comments. I think I probably could have avoided the reserve ride had I not reacted like I was pulling at normal altitude. (and then my neck would not be so darn sore this morning) I will definite reconsider how a I think about the WS deployment process. I think this is one of those learning events that all add up to being experienced as one's jump numbers increase. - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  22. So I was able to make it down to the Cal-City Wingsuit gathering today. After sinking out of the first flock at about half way through the dive, I opted to join in on the GPS races on the next jump. We exited about 3 miles from the DZ at full altitude. The "race" was only from 10K to 6K. As I neared 6K, I decided that I was not close enough to the DZ, so I should pull high. At 6K I closed up to go vertical and pulled. In retrospect, I probably pulled faster than usual. I usually go vertical from 3-5 seconds. I also have an ingrained habit from early on of mentally counting 1--2--3 after pulling. Typically at 3, I'm being picked up by my risers. So anyway...I pulled at a bit under 6K and I thought "1--2--3---what---arch---ugh oh---Do I have PCIT?? Pillow- Metal Pillow Metal...what hit my leg...OUCH." BAM my reserve slaps me hard and imediately enters a more than mild left turn. After releasing the brakes, my reserve (a 250 Tempo) continues to turn left...unless I held down the right toggle 3/4 of the way. This left me with very little flare on landing and resulted in a mild scrape on my left leg from my light PLF. But otherwise I was OK. During this time, I noticed that my main was out of the bag as it floated down and that my reserve cable was kinked showing that my RSL had pulled on it. So, after thinking about what I remember and what I noticed on my gear for the most of my 3 hour ride home to Vegas, here is what I think happened. I think that my PC hesitated in my burble...or perhaps it opened my container but was burbled enough to not be able to pull the bag up....when I pulled my cutaway handle, I think it got cleaner air (via my slight change in body position) and began to take off behind me which allowed the bag to hit my calf as it took off. I think the canopy came out of the bag and began the first split second of inflation after/as I cutaway and began to pull my reserve handle. I think this because (see pic) the RSL's kink is really close to the base of the pin and lower than the position of the RSL ring. That is, I think that I pulled the reserve cable an inch or two before the main pulled on the RSL. As far as the left turn in the reserve...I'm not sure... the opening was WAYYY hard and I might have damaged the canopy (nothing I can see). I have read that Tempo's have a reputation for this. I wonder if it is something that only happens after slammer opening (aka Maybe they are prone to some sort of damage that causes a left turn)...as I had one other ride on this reserve without such an obvious left turn. Anyway, you can see the immediately left turn on the attached track pic. So what can I learn from this. 1. Well because I was pulling high...I could have waited it out at bit longer while slightly changing my body position and maybe it would have deployed. {Note: I was told not to do the typical look over the shoulder to clear a PC hesitation routine in a WS as that might induce a spin, so I did not do that.} But...I did try to close up and arch and gave it a good 7-10 seconds. So, I'm still pretty happy with my decision to chop and go when things where clearly not working right. 2. I have a standard length bridle and a leather hackey on my PC. I'm definitely getting a 9' bridle and plastic tube handle. I have an F-111 PC with 450++ jumps on it. I should probably get a new PC too. 3. I pitched faster than ususal after closing up (At least I think so)...I will ensure that I stick with my 3+ second vertical routine in the future. 4. I will continue to try to have a strong PC throw and to close my legwing and arm wings down. Although, I think I did this well on this jump..but. 5. You tell me. Thanks to Brian for organizing the event and a big thanks to Mike for being the good samaritan and landing by and bringing back my main and free bag! Oh yeah and thanks to my rigger Simon for saving my ass...again! - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  23. Thanks! Nice Description! - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
  24. Nice description of the slow vert position! What exactly do you mean by "curve your entire upper body forward"?? If anyone has such a good description of what they consider the best VERT and HORI positions in a Phantom, please PM me. - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.