VectorBoy

Body awareness is difficult thing to nail. Its even harder to describe to what you think happened and for us to say what we think you should do. Video will prove what happened and what you think happened. The next best thing is flying with some other people who can give you tips and hand signals but it sounds like you are out flying them already nice job. Your results sound right on as far as comparing the different suits, very typical. Better numbers on the classic. The bigger suits have a bigger envelope and it takes more time to explore the larger envelope. Although my protrac ( inside my helmet ) and my neptune ( on my wrist ) give pretty close "numbers". Other than the neptune cutting off a few seconds of freefall time. Maybe due to the fact that it goes from clean air on the wrist to the BOC low area at deployment and the protrac is in a constant pressure situation. They don't match up with everybody's numbers. So I tend to rely more on how I fly relative to the other flockers. Who had to work to stay up or forward? As far as the pictures of jari or other flockers taken in a "relaxed " pose, remember you won't be maxing a suit out when you are relative and posing for a picture. Even worse if the camera flyer is on a slower suit. The maxed out pics you will see are the ones where the bird-man is climbing above the aircraft and typically it will be a rear-end view. If see Jari really working his suit then you or the cameraman is doing one hell of a job keeping up!

I have a LQRS on the S3, Once due to line twists, I tried to cuttaway my wings and instead came away with one wing and the leg released. This was never a problem on suits without the LQRS to which I'm accustomed to cutting away the wings precisely, without having to look down. Another time with a total, then a two canopy out situation, I accidentally neglected to un-zip my legs. Realizing this too low to be able to take the time to do so, the LQRS came in handy. Another time the zipper pull came off the zipper, again LQRS to the rescue. I'm still torn on the issue. Most of my friends have it. They eventually want to base jump and they believe it increases resale value ( their opinion ). Like in Tom's situation flexibility may be an factor. IF I was to consider BASE then I would order the suit with an LQRS on both sides, even if it meant having a used suit modified. Having a third or even a fourth cuttaway handle means there is an added procedural awareness to contend with.

Paul you got your crib shuied out?

I believe the wingsuit wenesday Idea was yours. But fear not, I'll be there. I'll even bring my own wingsuit.

Are you organizing this facet of the boogie? Lets try and make it more successful than your wingsuit wenesday idea,.... OK sport?

But I do not believe that the market for my skills is so bad that I shouldn't be doing research on the market VALUE of my skills. This is the perfect attitude. You are in a good industry with growth potential. We've had many owners, consultants and advisors in my line of work. Because we know what it takes to do what we do in our area and the going rate, it is very hard to be lied to about our compensation. They still try though. We say " pay us now or pay later", and it never gets cheaper. Not just wages but in operating and maintenance cost as well. As time goes on down the road they learn. And they pay!

You owe beer now but when you respond to a chlorine gas leak you will owe scotch!

I'm an alcoholic.

It depends, does your company offer performance bonuses or "other compensation? Many companies think a kick ass medical program, longer vacation allowance, paying for work related higher education, stock options, straight stock or nice pensions equal out for weaker pay. As far as overtime goes your state should have laws about how you need to be compensated for it and you NEED to be aware of these. What industry are you in? Can you compare with other outfits in your area? What is your raise compared to inflation? If its much less you just got a pay cut.

I have an old 89 vector2 that I keep around just for crew. But it works for bird-man too! I just try not to freefly in it.

Like 50 degrees in the middle of the day cool! The Dot comers were still festive though, JP was prolific. He was all over'm. I can't wait fer mine to get here. Thanx for the review Paul!

Dude, I love you man... here have a bud light!

So, I guess it meets with your approval Quade? I just ordered mines

Does anybody know of a source for a canon rebel 2000 35mm camera manual? I've been to the canon usa web page hoping for a PDF download, no joy.

They are Jaded, They spend some goodly amount of time at the DZ on non-jumping pool days, having Ice cream and watching the swoopers. One wants tunnel time and will get it for her birthday. Last summer I took them to an airshow at a small municipal airport, nothing fancy. One of the highlights for this small sleepy airshow was a couple of jumpers. Of course the crowd is too self absorbed to listen to the announcer. Some look up to see something, someone falling from a lightplane. half of the crowd gasps in fear, sighs of relief as two big chutes deploy. The two jumpers enter a proper downwind pattern and slowly glide over the crowd at like 50'. Two gentlemen standing next to us are incredibly amazed at the accuracy, the precision. The jumpers land slowly, safely under their big mains on the big open taxiway. THE CROWD GOES WILD! My girls look at me and ask "whats the big deal"? " Why are they cheering"? " Can we have ice cream now"?

Something to think about, If you may add a camera in the future is that there is nothing like a dedicated camera helmet designed for this from the ground up. Although I have seen many and even borrowed some regular helmets that have been converted, with additional parts, for camera use. The helmets made for cameras always fit and fly better. I would have to say the people that are the most happy about their camera setups are the ones that started fresh with another helmet specifically for the camera. In the end they have more options if they want to get serious about camera work, they have a more comfortable helmat for camera work. And they still have their unaltered helmet for just plain jumpin. The cost of a camera helmet is a fraction of all the other gear you will mount on it. I'm happy I never bastardised my mindwarp.

What if this lone bullet didn't come from his father or the fathers collection? As a kid I remember finding bullets in trucks, tool boxes, or wherever when it was time to clean up. Never were they from my father. This response doen't sound like due process.

Do it! It won't be another boring bla,bla. You are still my hero phree!

Whats the problem? Don't you hear all of the jumpers complaining about being snowed in? I personaly like it hot, real hot. Skydive in shorts hot. When I'm at work and I'm driving the big 490 MW natural gas fired Westinghouse I like to carry extra superheat temperature. I'm part of the 1100 club and want to start the 1200 club ( tube metal temp) just to be the first. I like it when its all hot and happy up in this place. So happy I put on my Fire God costume and go out on the turbine deck and do the Fire God dance. See below. I'm really just an Alien sleeper agent here to tera form your world into a more livable planet for us. Bill, did I spell tera-form correctly? www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=10434; www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=10435;guest=4675576

If its just a low exit I fly the suit away from jump run and pull after a few seconds, whatever is the right delay for the altitude. If its an aircraft emergency I fly the heck away from the aircraft and deploy. The aircraft is having the emergency not you, stay calm and focus on your flight. If there just isn't enough altitude for flight then deploy stable, wings collapsed. With either main or reserve again depending on altitude. Maintaining stability with your wings collapsed for a prolonged amount of time ( compared to just the time it takes to wave off and pull) is a valuable skill in a wingsuit, you never know when you will have to "Drop out" of a tight formation or zoo thats getting hairy. Or if you need a delay after you spot someone zooming into your burble just before you deploy. Fly your body don't let the suit fly you!

Well Eric your videos are better than mine. Your wingsuits over Rantoul was actually better than I remember live in person. And guess what.... I needed it. Some people think that ( like Clay ) they are flailing in their video. Not so. I thought his Mardi gras was good too. Good quality of footage will make up for quality of subject some of the time. I do respond honestly when reviewing peoples stuff. If its lousy I can always keep my mouth shut. Keep um comin.

Have you ever used 'em recreationally?? Nope not even when they were part of my job. I preferred duct tape and zip ties.

It is OK until you walk up close and look at the welds on the frame EWWWWWW! Although I know what you are saying. Sexy maybe in a nasty way. But when it comes to bikes attention to fit and finish details goes a long way.

Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Do you mean Optic or did you get your hands on a prototype?