parachutist

It's good that you mentioned the Vegas Pro Edit version: cheaper, and many DZs no longer need a DVD authoring app because they're delivering on thumb drives these days.

Templates can be done with Movie Studio, but there's a lot more clicking and typing required in MS as opposed to using Vegas Pro + Production Assistant. I can send you a sample template tomorrow that you can test out with MS. The decision between MS and Pro really comes down to how many videos you'll be editing on a busy Sat. If it's 4-6 then MS is fine. If it's 7+ then I'd say my time is worth the expense to upgrade to Pro, making each edit faster. Steps you'll need to do manually in MS, but which are auto in Pro: - open whichever template file you want to use - select the clips from card, copy them to hard drive, creating a folder for them to stay in - drag the files onto the timeline - make those files intersect your template just right - after editing, save the project as a new file, so your template doesn't get overwritten - after editing manually choose rendering options (instead of just hitting "process" in Production Assistant

If it could be broken down to one simple statement, such as "Place the chest strap so it covers both nipples", it would be awesome. But the chest strap will always move some when the canopy opens, and the amount it moves depends on how all the adjustments below the chest strap were made.

You did a great job at creating a UPT tandem student harnessing video. IMO you've gone above and beyond... acting on the need for more precise instruction to be delivered to the masses. However that informative video is not readily available to most TIs or DZs last I checked. Those same people do a terrible job at presenting the information they've found to those who need to hear it. UPT's current Harnessing Guide .pdf file is ambiguous and in some places contradictory... saying one thing to do, yet showing another method in pictures. Which should it be here... do as UPT says or do as UPT shows? [inline harness_guide_differences.jpg] In my experience if you harness any guy with hip junctions in the center like that, you get two things: "Ow, my balls hurt" and "No, sorry, I can't lift my legs any further than this". For wider people I do move those junctions farther to the side for better security and containment. However for anyone else I find the center of body is poor placement yielding unsatisfactory results for me and my student. Yes, you can spend a while explaining to the student "If you lift your legs and move the leg straps forward it'll be more comfortable and you'll be able to lift your legs further". But with many it does take a while to get there. I'd rather those legs be able to lift as soon as I ask. I have more important things to do with my time under canopy than to spend it dealing with annoyed people who can't lift their legs. If it can be done correctly from the start, as shown in the original Harnessing Guide, then why not do it that way?

So much empty space up there. Maybe add a solar panel recharger or something?

Right now is middle of the summer, and pretty much all skydive equipment companies are overloaded because everybody wants new gear Now. So holdups and errors are expected. Here in my loft right now we have a brand new UPT Sigma we're assembling. The rigger who's packing it got ready to put the reserve in the freebag a few minutes ago and noticed they sent a Micro Sigma freebag inside our regular Sigma container. That's frustrating. Luckily were able to swipe a freebag from another new unassembled rig and carry on. Any company can drop the ball occasionally. Usually Aerodyne delivers for us fast. Hopefully they'll get your order sorted out soon!

You're stacking the deck against yourself. Yes it matters if you're over the max weight on that data tag: You're more likely to break your parachute during opening. But you have a reserve canopy, right? That canopy may or may not work. If you need the reserve, use it, but setting yourself up for a high probability of needing it is not a good strategy. And the others were correct about 1.6 WL being far too high for your posted experience. Erring on the side of caution will get you a long way in this sport. So after writing all that, I wondered what reserve you're using. Smart 150 is listed in your profile. Max weight on that canopy, as per the manufacturer is 264 lbs. Max recommended WL for beginner (You) is 1.0. Max recommended WL for intermediate is still 1.0. Advanced (not you for a very long time): 1.3 WL So sell your gear and pat yourself on the back for changing your path before breaking yourself. Chris

Woo hoo! I hope you got to try out your new HC setup today. If you ever have any questions about the Pivot Pad glove, you know where to find me :) Chris

From the manufacturer's page: http://skydivewings.com/contentimg/products_freefly.jpg : And another picture from a different angle http://skydivewings.com/contentimg/rig_vision.jpg I see the stiff flap tucked under the bridle protection flap

Video and audio quality seem fantastic, but the need to break open the camera after every jump for exchange of media is enough hassle to push me toward another camera. This is why I can't see myself using it as a work camera on a busy DZ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvfaZKiQJeU&t=2m8s Are there any fast/affordable/reliable answers to this bottleneck of footage transfer from camera to PC? Chris

Update from today on vigil.aero: http://www.vigil.aero/news May 21, 2014 Vigil 2+ delayed We regret to inform you that the Vigil 2+ will not be available end of this month, as previously announced. During one of our factory quality control tests, we stated that one of the subparts did not meet our specifications and strict quality standards. Please understand that in the interest of safety we have decided to immediately stop the production and reject all manufactured units so far. New subparts have been urgently ordered, unfortunately resulting in an additional delay of approximately 4 weeks. Once new Vigils 2+ have been produced, we will of course fulfill first the back orders creating a delivery time of 6 to 8 weeks for the new orders. This longer 6 to 8 weeks delivery time will progressively be reduced. As a company that prides itself on loyal customer service we offer sincere apologies and hope that this delay will not cause too much inconvenience. We stay at your entire disposal for any further information you may require.

I'm just saying if I've seen it 5 times in my small neck of the woods, others will see it too and here's a road map. Chris

I've had 5 canopies come through my loft so far with this particular issue. Some were original Sigmas that'd been converted from Dacron to Vectran lines. Some were Sigma II's. All behave the same: the Vectran lines polish away the SS metal inside the grommets. Eventually (900-ish jumps I'm estimating) the interior grommet wall gives way and a sharp metal edge is pressed against the lines. Now the lines shred rapidly. This erosion isn't so easy to spot when you're inspecting the grommets because the surfaces look and feel slick, right up until they wear through. Typically I look for nicks and dings inside grommets, but this is a little different. The pictures below show grommets from a Sigma II slider (DOM 08/2010). The first one only has a wavy look to it, but you can see the worse ones lower in the picture list. One of this canopy's lines was cut by the last grommet. The C1 line broke during opening and the TI landed it with no issues. You can see these problems early, but it helps to know what you're looking for: [inline sigmaii340grommet01.jpg] [inline sigmaii340grommet03.jpg] [inline sigmaii340grommet04.jpg] [inline sigmaii340grommet05.jpg] Chris

IMO, there's no place for a kneeboard in a minimalist kit. One foot goes on each side of the flap grommet... done. "Tension device" is a rod, dowel, paddle, or whatever else you feel like using to pull up on the pullup cord. So that doesn't need to come from another's kit. I have a pile of Pony clamps here... can send you 4 of those if you want. Many would argue those don't belong in a kit, but I like 'em. Chris

These guys were willing to deal directly with me, so I ordered a whole cam system directly from them, then I took those parts to my local sewing machine guru for installation. Now he's a US dealer: http://granthousesewingmachines.com/Contact.htm There were a few small parts that I didn't know were needed for the conversion, because my 217n originally had a different cam system with some standard parts removed, so we're waiting for those bits to arrive. All parts received have been high quality and they fit correctly, so I'm happy so far. Direct contact for new machine heads: Joost Lamp [email protected] Direct contact for parts: Jeevan de Haan [email protected]

If I were starting from scratch I'd probably start with a new Bernina 217n clone: http://www.globalsew.com/en/zz217.htm

Vigil IIs have been a pleasure to work with. In those rare cases where support is needed, the manufacturer is quick to resolve any questions or issues. I like the M2 so far. It's still new in the US market, so I don't have enough experience with them yet to say it's great, but no reasons to say it's not great. Make sure it's approved by the manufacturer of the container, or make sure it's one of those container manufacturers that says they have no clue about AADs so they neither approve nor disapprove. Cypres 2 - A reliable staple. I don't like the requirement to send them in every 4 years. It's a thorough way to test the equipment, but then if you're in a year-round jumpable climate, it puts kinks in the jumping and it leaves thousands of $$ worth of skydiving gear sitting around my hangar for weeks while waiting on the service to be performed and shipping to happen, and credit cards to get charged. That's why this brand has been on the bottom of my list in recent years. Chris

You pulled that number out of nowhere, and without much experience to back it up. Quite a few jumpers have either been to a skydiving videography class or sought the mentorship of a seasoned videographer. Many new jumpers have not sought any training whatsoever, but it's certainly not near 99%.

Coaches have been trained to observe and report. They have not been trained to jump with a camera without endangering themselves or others. Seems pretty self-explanatory why the two ideas are mutually exclusive

I experienced that sluggish response from UPT a few months ago. Finally I e-mailed Jay Stokes and got a reply in 45 minutes. So I'd say try mostjumps at aol daht com (interpret to avoid the e-mail spiders) for all your answers from Jay, or if you want a fast answer from UPT directly, gotta hit the right channel: Tom at uptvector daht com Chris

6'1"

VC2 vs VC3: I think either will work well with your Pulse 150. The one to choose depends on your torso length. If you're tall or medium height but have a long torso, I'd get the VC3. The VC2 main deployment handle could be a high and awkward reach. I had a VC2 originally and switched to VC3 at RI's suggestion (no charge because they're awesome). Same canopies fit, but the VC3 fits me better. So far I've had a Pilot 150, Velo 120, and VX109 in my VC3, all comfortable fit. Chris

Contact the manufacturer and they'll fix it up: http://www.skysystemsusa.com/

Just E thread.

As a follow-up: My local sewing machine guru was in the area yesterday, and he stopped by my shop. He spent about 15 minutes with my 199 to make it behave the way I'd hoped. Now it sews 8 layers of TY-8 smoothly. This picture shows the needle bar at its lowest point, with a little room to spare above the presser foot. Like you suggested, he asked for a 135x17 needle, inserted it into the needle bar, made some other adjustments, and it was that easy. [inline 199RB1A1_135x17.jpg]