repcool

This little clip has both a regular speed deployment and one with 1.7 seconds of hesitation. You can see that the pin is pulled but the bag isn't being extracted. I don't know what a "long" hesitation really is, but it sure felt long at the time!! http://www.vimeo.com/8014299

I ended up with a ZP PC more by accident than by design, but it is a lot snappier than my previous F111 so I think I will stick with ZP in the future. It was a slippery fella for the first 50 or so "stuffings".

I use a longer bridle and bigger ZP pilot chute, I also pack with grommet up. I haven't bothered with any other wingsuit mods on my container and from the folks I have talked too they are not too common. Simon

Is there any wingsuit activity at Nagambie these days? I am heading to Melbourne for work and have the 19th free to swing by the DZ. Last time I was there it was winter....but not this time!

If you read raisethesky.org you will see that it is 501(c)3 registered entity, a non-profit. From my perspective that means that any money I donate to the entity is eligible for a receipt and tax exemption. I think if you have a specific question you should address it to the Board of Directors who are clearly listed on the website. I think that would get you quicker answers than throwing around comments on a forum.

I am very glad that I went on the school visit, it gave the whole event a very special meaning above and beyond the obvious. I tried hard not to get in the way of things, it was a school and there were people there trying to do their jobs. However, I can't say I was upset when all those cute kids asked for my autograph! I was just blown away at how smart, engaged, vibrant and communicative they were, in those eyes I saw the future, and in the City Year folks I saw the energy to make futures a reality. Don't ask me what I was expecting to see, but I got a surprise. How did I end up on the visit? I recalled that Taya had mentioned in a previous event email about a possible school visit. I grew up in a middle class UK environment, very removed from what I perceived South L.A to be. All I knew of L.A was from Death Wish movies. I drove out to Elsinore about a week before the event and felt that it was important for me to visit the school, to somehow get me in touch with reality. I asked the night before the team went and invited on the trip. I spend $25 a jump, 3-4 times a day on the weekend yet still seem to think I need more, here are kids and families that need that same $25 for basic living expenses. You try to answer an inner city kid that asks "how much does that wingsuit cost?" or "how much does it cost to learn to be a skydiver?". I learned on that visit that even the poorest of skydivers is truly rich. The majority of folks were just getting in, in fact that night I picked up a couple of organizers at the airport on the way back to Elsinore. I look forward to participating in more Raise The Sky charity events in the future. Truthfully I skydive for very selfish reasons and to find ways for others to benefit is going to be important to me moving forwards. Simon

If you look on the home page of Raise The Sky you will see the formation without the grid. http://raisethesky.org/

So shouldnt testing and analysing how the current system performs, and than refining and improving the current system be the next step, instead of working with BPA, PSA, FAI etc. to get this system accepted? But, but, but I want to be on a record and acknowledged now! I think by gathering and attempting to do these things we learn the strengths and weaknesses of the system of the day. Look at the history of skydiving, the awards that were given in the early days for accomplishments don't even exist anymore, does that lessen the value at the time? So far nobody has asked me to be part of anything except the grid, if there is an alternative then let me know and lets see how that works. Some folks want to sit down and discuss things to come up with a solution and some folks want to get stuck in and see how it goes. I think both make up the best solution, but I am the later. As a side note, I am actually attempting these things to meet people and have fun, do we sometimes loose sight of that? I hope I don't get to that point. Simon

Me too! I am planning on getting there on the 3rd via Eloy if anybody needs a ride from there.

No cell phone? Moab is one place I wouldn't want to land off without one. Interesting issue that, my cell phone rarely worked around Moab and it crossed my mind more than once to put my SPOT beacon in my suit.

Purple Mike strikes again!

I agree, it was a great read. What great photos.

Thanks, I was going for a Skye-Stick sponsorship deal but I kept dropping them....

I am not much on editing, but here is a little something-something from M.O.A.B. What a great time, lets make it BIG next year! http://vimeo.com/6805684

Count me in!

Technically I run both and have the best of both worlds. I have a MacBookPro which I love, and I run Parrallels with a virtual machine for Windows XP for doing VPN and other work on it. It runs Windows better than any PC I ever owned.

Thanks for the info. I did get to do a 2 way out there!

Looks like I will be passing through Boise this weekend (12\13th). I think there are 3 dropzones there, the question is, anybody want to flock? I can even make it over to Bend if that helps, as that is the way I am going. Simon

I have flown with my rig many times, always in a gear bag and almost never a problem. Most recently I was asked to open the main tray so that it could be inspected. Leave extra time and carry a pull up chord, and when they start asking questions you have to play it cool.

Very nice.

Just what I was after, thank you.

I have to go to Toronto for business and was thinking of staying over the weekend of Sept 12/13th. Wondered where the most wingsuiters might be in the area? Thanks, Simon

So.....thats indeed a very valid reason not to take a critical look at the gear you manufacture and sell. This silly safety thing ey...blech.. Indeed dont educate people on the use and potential problems that should be adressed/payd attention to. Guess Im just bitching.... I read the manual that came with my r-bird and it made it clear not to wear thick layers on the arms. I jump in the cold half the year but nobody ever got frostbite of the elbow, so I don't think you need layers on your arms if your core and head is warm. I had a toggle fire on the 4th jump on my r-bird, I reached up, which was tough because of the G forces that were starting to wind up, but easy to do in the suit. Released toggles and flew. In my Phantom I would have needed to cut away the wings. That is just the way that jump went...I will keep you in the loop if it changes in the future on another jump. Simon

I have to agree. My R-Bird totally outperforms my Phantom2 at both end of the range. It was delivered so quickly that I can count the days on just one hand. You should try you one. Simon

I had a rod in my femur and external fixators on both wrists. I went through Austin airport after 911 with the external fixators sticking out for all to see and nothing beeped, the security guy was as surprised as I was. Whenever I got wanded the screws in my leg would beep. I had everything removed except for a small screw that broke in my arm, medical grade metal is different I guess because it doesn't bother the guys that give me an MRI either. Simon