Miami

The same size? I don't think the canopies are so radically different (not that they aren't different) that it would major cause for alarm. In fact I've always felt that the velo feels much bigger than the non-xbraced counterparts. But that's just my opinion. Blue skies Ian I agree with Ian...while I am happy jumping my crossbraced 78 at a dz a mile above sea level, I would never jump a non-crossbraced 78 here. Crossbraced canopies just fly bigger. Miami

Yea, I'm nitpicking. But I think it's valid. Even though the amount of skin being cover is the same the protection is not. Taking a kick across the chin in freefall with a chin cup that is not an integral part of the helmet will do a lot more damage than taking one with a chin cup that is part of the helmet. Sure the flat tops don't have a face shield, but face shields are made for blocking wind, and thats about it. Bottom line is that the flat tops are full face helmets, which is the point I was trying to make. Miami

I wouldn't really think the protection is the same. Having the chin cup clipped on does not provide as much protection as one that is built into the helmet. It does provide some protection, but not as much as a fullface (like the flat top). If you take the face shield out of a Z1 or A3 it's still a full face isn't it? Miami

Probably a good idea to get that checked out. Mine stays put on my racers and my vector, but once I am open and have my slider stowed under my chin I remove my chest strap completely. Miami

When I ran the AFF operation at my old dz I paid $40 to both JM's for lvls 1,2, and 3 and paid $45 for lvl's 4,5,6, and 7. Miami

Who ever told you that about racers was dead wrong. You should certainly consider a racer if you are looking to buy gear. Just make sure you get it checked out by your rigger, as you should with any used rig you plan on purchasing. I personally have jumped nothing but racers since '96, and will never jump anything but racers for the rest of my skydiving days (except for the V3 they make me jump at work....grrr). If your rigger claims they cannot pack a racer I would question their ability to pack anything...there are not any cosmic anomalies hidden in the reserve pack tray. Anyway...hope this helps! Miami

The 300-qrc. Miami

You should apply for a position if you think you can get out of your current career field. Keep in mind you can't freefly, you will be jumping a vector and at the smallest a 170 spectre (up to and including a pd 300). PM me if you want more specific info about it. Miami

I know what you mean, I'm still waiting for a camera suit I ordered 3 months ago. In firefly's defense...they did unexpectedly lose half of their staff a while back, which is why things were slow. I think as of last week they are back up to full manning so deliveries should get back to normal. Miami

Don't know, why don't you bring out a radar gun and we'll find out. Miami

Advice? Complete AM-490 at the end of your freshman year, apply for a position on the team, have a good GPA/MPA (the higher the better), and have a good interview. Being a jumper before you get here will not be a significant contributing factor, but we will take that into consideration. Miami

You won't come across as an asshole if you don't tip. But if you feel your tandem instructor showed you a good time and you want to express your gratitude by tipping them, I would be willing to bet they would be very appreciative. Miami

Who cares how far you can go...what I wanna know is how fast you can go! Miami

If your tandem instructor was jumping a Vector Sigma rig then he did drop it. The drogue release ripcords on Sigmas are bungeed inside the housing, preventing it from being lost. Miami

Depends on the rig though. Racer's are a good bit lighter than most others. Miami

What kind of vent are they on? I think I remember the pb7200 we used to use would do a f/v loop if the pt was on cpap mode. Wierdest thing during a code? Doing a bronch afterward and pulling out a giant half chewed piece of steak (I think we got it out of the right main stem) that was the culprit for the whole ordeal. Guy joked later on about how the hospital food really did almost kill him. Miami

Thanks for the info Kolla. That may work great as a back up plan, hopefully I'll find a kind jumper who can give me a lift. Miami

I would, but the tandem examiner course is at deland. Miami

Thanks, any idea which hotel has the shuttle? Miami

I may be coming down to deland from 30 Nov to 6 Dec. Are there any deland jumpers who live in orlando that might be willing to pick me up from the airport and take me with them to the dz? I will bribe with as much beer as needed! Again, right now my coming down is just a possibility, but I'm trying to figure out if I'll have to shell out the money for a rental car or taxi. Any help is much appreciated! Miami

Feasibly he could have...the researchers estimated his speed to be between 614mph and 714mph during his decent. Where he exited in the stratosphere the speed of sound is about 676mph, which decreses until he hits the tropopause at about 65 thousand feet, where the speed of sound is about 660mph. The speed of sound is constant through the tropopause at 660mph, then begins to increase once he hits the troposphere at about 35 thousand feet. The speed of sound at his opening alt of 17.5 is about 714mph. So his best chance to hit Mach 1 would have been while he was falling through the tropopause, but the range they estimated his speed at leaves it undetermined as to whether or not he really did break the sound barrier on the jump. Miami

I currently jump 2 racers, have another in the closet, and just sold my wife's (she got pregnant, quit jumping and we needed the money). I will never buy anything but a racer. Miami

Are you sure that's a line over? It really looks more like a tension knot or something like what hookitt had, the slider stop entangled with the first cascade. But if you say it was a line over I'll take your word, you were the one there lookin at it. Oh, you may want to untwist those steering lines. Miami

That's what I did at first, but with the .42 I fly too close for the 28mm and my pictures were all too close-up. Miami

You will need an EF lens (made by Canon). If you jump with a .42 you will want the 24mm lens, and if you jump a .5 you will want the 28mm. Hope this helps. Miami