voilsb

Since Chuck started a week before I was born, and he was one of my instructors, does that kinda make you my grandpa? Brian

Brian

I'm going to be at ZHills the 29th thru the 2nd. Brian

I saw Purple in one of the exits. Does that mean wingsuiting is growing again? Brian

Between the original post and the picture of the jammed toggle, this has me wondering ... When I was a student learning how to stow my brakes I asked if you were supposed put the toggle in the guide ring, and I've heard other new jumpers at multiple dropzones ask similar. Seems to me a simple way to prevent both these would be to buiild risers with a smaller ring and/or build toggles with a bigger stiff tip, both of which would prevent the toggles going into the guide ring both intentionally and accidentally. Brian

That's atypical for ZHills. I've never had problems finding people to jump with there. Next time, just go to manifest and tell them you're new and not from around there, and ask about organizers. Maybe ask for Sky if he's around. He's an organizer there and his forte is doing jumps with less experienced jumpers. Brian

Thanks. I'd read that report before, but had no idea it was related to the GK tests. Brian

You know, I've heard this referenced a few times, but my Google-fu must be weak. Can anyone provide a link? Brian

Yeah, my only cutaway was on a jump where my audible was set to 2500, so I probably threw out just under that. Main fully opened and spinning just in time to set off my 1500 ft alarm. Located my handles and chopped, reserve fully open about 1100 ft. Soft landing in a cow pasture. Brian

Don't forget the original Safires are measured differently ... a Safire 129 is about the same size as a Safire2 119. Makes for a more drastic change in your wingloading than expected. Brian

I was a turbine baby, and for a while I had more jumps under 3000 feet than I had jumps from a Cessna. I have no problem jumping from 2000 ft. My main opens in 200-300 ft from a 2 sec delay, and about 800 ft at terminal. If I have a problem under 1800 ft, I don't even bother to try and deal with it. I chop straight away (only had to once, though). Brian

One thing you neglect, is that a parachutist in line twists is not a free body. Because of drag you're behind the canopy some, giving you some relative potential energy. Also, there is friction in the twisted lines, which allows you to add momentum similar to spinning in an office chair. Brian

I second this and want to add: if you talk to PD, they'll let you keep it longer, especially on less often demoed equipment. I had an Optimum they let me keep for 5 weekends. I put 35 jumps on it and only sent it back because I got my new canopy in. As for the progression, a 200 at 1.2 is a little hot for 40 jumps. Conventional wisdom says stay below 1.x, where x = jumps/100. so for you, stay below 1.04. Brian Germain's chart says you should be jumping 230 (1.043), even if you have mad skillz. Brian

I did too, after I lost my VisoII manual. According to the file name, it's not quite finalized yet, which might explain why it's not online yet. There are a few very minor differences between the I and II models, but for most things the old manual should be good enough. If not, e-mail them and they'll quickly send it to you. Brian

Brian

I keep mine on a mudflap, because my leg straps are frequently covered by my wingsuit. I leave it there because when I'm not flying a wingsuit, it's still there, so I don't have to remember to put it back on and it's always accessible with both hands. Brian

I don't know what an ATFL is, but I sprained my ankle in a similar manner a couple months ago. Packed, and made another jump, just hopped on one foot during the landing. Took the next day off, wrapped and iced my ankle, took some ibuprofen, and jumped normally the next weekend and so on. Edit: I looked up ATFL, and yup, that's the one I tore, too. Most common type of ankle sprain Brian

That's almost exactly what I did. Only I took two weeks in the second half of July and knocked out my whole A license. Brian

Sounds interesting. I liked both Elsinore and Kapowsin. Elsinore has the lake and mountains. Kapow has Mt St Helens, Mt Baker, Mt Rainier, Mt Adams, the Puget Sound, the Pacific Ocean, and the Olympic Mountains. I also really enjoyed a sunset jump over the mountains in Orange, VA. Brian

That's really the only reason I want a Skyhook. I lost my pilot chute and freebag on my reserve ride. Expensive jump, that was ... Brian

The D-Bag is part of the container, not the parachute. Based on that, I would assume it is not a modification of the main parachute. I just did this exact swap today. Brian

Yeah, this one looks like my experience last night with my sewing machine ... Man, I cussed a lot last night. Brian

Brian

Anyone who says skydiving is better than sex hasn't been doing it right ... Brian

Brian is in zee kitchen! Brian