alext606 0 #1 September 12, 2005 I am just starting to practice filmng tandems. I am having trouble deciding which suit to use as each person I ask seems to have a different opinion. I am 10.5 stone (67kg) slim build and about 5ft10. I have fallen out slightly on a couple of videos with my RW suit but I have found it very hard to be as controlled when using a camera suit. Is it necessary to adopt new techniques for sidesliding, turning, swooping etc when using camera suit? The wings seem restrictive to me at the moment. I am wondering about maybe binning the wings and getting a free fly suit for the slow tandems. Any advise on how to fly a camera suit or any other tips greatly appreciated! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevePhelps 0 #2 September 12, 2005 I'm suprised with so few jumps you are allowed to jump with tandems ... oh, well. I suggest a Tony suit with small wings and wear it while practicing with licensed skydivers. You need to fly your slot in any formation without thinking about it. Once that is accomplished then strap a camera on your head and fly some more practices with licensed skydivers. After all that, if you can fly your slot without thinking about every move you make, then go for it. be safe! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peej 0 #3 September 12, 2005 IMO, flying wings is very different, i flew my new ones for the first time yesterday. That being said i couldn't agree with Steve more. I've lurked a few tandems before but never with wings on which is why i went out and did a few jumps with another mate also wearing wings. We did some simon says jumps just to get the feel for the wings before i go out and play with the tandems next weekend. Basically on exit my mate was in the door and i was on the rear step of the porter. We counted it down and he did a front loop out the door and i exited trying to keep him in frame. I then swooped down to him and he side slid left and i follwed, then he side slid right and i followed. We then keyed it to a sit and docked each other's feet and then went back to belly and mainted our proximity till break off. Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydog 2 #4 September 12, 2005 Unless your profile jump numbers are wrong...you shouldn't be filming anything in the UK until you have 200 jumps. And to be honest with that many jumps I wouldn't let you practice on me. Headcorn have recently been disciplined for breaches of the BPA ops manual. Lets hope you haven't added to their recent woes. BrynJourney not destination..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alext606 0 #5 September 12, 2005 Sorry my profile is out of date. I have 265 jumps and C license. I have only started jumping camera since after 200 jumps. Nearly all my jumps since qualifying have been formation flat flying. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydog 2 #6 September 12, 2005 Thats better. For filming tandems, specifically, I would always go with wings. Especially with low-ish jump numbers. The old adage dress for success is apt. Wings will give you range when you do a back to back with one tandem weighing 200lb and the next 120lbs.... For me wings is the way to go, just have to learn to fly them..... BrynJourney not destination..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zoter 0 #7 September 12, 2005 Just as an addendum...I have had good success in filming 4 way , hybrids and freeflyers wearing just a freefly suit ( baggy) That said I am at the opposite end of the scale to you.....fast fall is not an issue...slow fall requires thought..... I have wings but dont fly them....I dont need them and I find them restrictive if you want to change your axis....preferred just using/not using the xtra material on the jump suit to adjust my fall rate..... About the only thing I cant do in this suit is film four way from underneath on my back ( and be able to pop right back above them)........granted might need wings for that....but overall....I'd rather fly without them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martz 0 #8 September 12, 2005 Personnally, I can't imagine trying to shoot a tandem at 102 mph without my wings. As said, the wings gives you that range you need, it is easier to stop level when the TM deploy the drogue.=============================== Ourson # 5 impatient de sauter # 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiveoc 0 #9 September 13, 2005 Get a Merlin camera suit,Deland Fl. USA. Erler, Rogers, Birch, Oflaherty, Rickster...and the list goes on with X gamers who fly them, then go to the tunnel to figure it out. josh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #10 September 13, 2005 Chalk me up as a guy with a Merlin suit who hates it. I've never had a suit fall apart as quickly as my two Merlin suits. I regret buying both. Buy a Tony Suit. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PD126r 0 #11 September 13, 2005 i have about 2-300 jumps on my Merlin and it is still my favorite. For me, Big wings and booties (I'm _not_ lightweight) are necessities for filming tandems (booties for being able to get good shots from underneath without backtracking). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #12 September 13, 2005 Anybody can make big wings and booties. I'm hardly a lightweight, either. For me, both my Merlin suits are lacking in basic quality, and have fallen apart quickly. My Tony Suit hasn't. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #13 September 13, 2005 I am a fan of a camera jacket. I have a flite suit jacket and a firefly jacket. I had both made with rsl's on the ends of the wings so i can attach them to my leg straps/hip rings instead of sewing something on my pants. This way i can wear my shorts, or freefly pants or whatever i want/need on the bottom half and still have my wings. I can't say i won't ever have a full camera suit, but right now i just don't have any use for one. Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pendejo 0 #14 September 13, 2005 I have a Tony wing jacket. I like it a lot. I do both AFF and tandem videos so its nice to just slip on the jacket instead of changing jumpsuits on a busy day. Pendejo He who swoops the ditch and does not get out buys the BEER!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AiRpollUtiOn 0 #15 September 15, 2005 Just give yourself the time to learn how to fly the wings. I did about 200 tandemvideos on a freefly suit before going to the suit with wings. Made a couple of solo's first to get the feel, made a couple of video's of solo jumps and training jumps for guys that wanted to become AFF jump masters, and did about 10 tandemvideo's at about 10 ft away from the tandem. After that I felt confident with the suit and got back to my normal distance quite fast. It did take me about 200 jumps before I could get the drogue in the shot. Just do your own little thing, and take a little time to get used to those wings, they can give you much pleasure. Here in Holland there is no age limit for tandem passengers (as long as the parents sign the waiver), and even though I'm not a lightweight I can keep up with tandems with 7-year olds on a new drogue."Don't make me come down there" - God. My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
