bobsoutar

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Everything posted by bobsoutar

  1. bobsoutar
    Speed for swooping is generated by gravity, the earths pull. The steeper your angle of attack, the faster you will go down - this speed is then converted into speed across the ground when you plane out of the dive.
  2. bobsoutar

    Bev Suits

    bobsoutar replied to scotts's topic in Gear and Rigging

    Go for tight forearms (spandex or similar) - you can always get oversleeves for bigger formations if you need to. Megabootees and big grips are the other "must haves" for serious 4-way.
  3. bobsoutar
    [I'd rather go after them that have them at the same open altitude dropping around.] And they are happy with you drifting over them and opening up! Freeflyers are taught to face 90 degrees to the run in throughout the dive so that if they backslide, track or whatever they will not gain horizontally on the other groups.
  4. bobsoutar
    Yes, provided that the plane is flying into wind. Belly fliers will drift further in freefall than freefliers so by getting out before them will increase the amount of separation (rather than reduce it which happens with the exit order reversed). It is also a good idea to brief everyone to face their canopies in the same direction after deployment until all of the groups have opened.
  5. bobsoutar
    [I tried to see my dz but it didn't help me much at all - it's all green, yellow and brown fields to me!] What about the A1 and those nice power lines? Check out the jump run on the ground before you go up and if there are only 2 of you freeflying you can decide on track direction before you jump. With a bigger group you will need to allow extra time before getting out because at least one of you is bound to be tracking away from the 90 degree ideal. Try to do some spotting/jumpmastering - you will soon get to know the lie of the land.
  6. bobsoutar
    Aggiedave is mainly right although 1/2 brakes is way too much (no more than 1/4). It is always easier for the top guy to come down and back so set up that way to start with. The big crime is to get too far behind the other guy so get yourself level and off to one side - you can gently crab across by using front riser and opposite toggle to get closer - remember the canopy momentum will take it on a bit after you stop the input. If you do get down and behind, call to your buddy to come around and down to you. Plan B is to ask him to give you some brake 1/8 - 1/4 and come towards him from a 45 degree angle using rear riser input for lift (bend your knees up if you are facing into wind and need some extra drive).
  7. bobsoutar
    Arms forward and feet trying to touch your rig just like the others are telling you. Your exit position sounds fine (it helps if the pilot puts a bit of power on for you when you are out there). There is no need to push off, just tumble forwards into your handstand keeping your hands and shoulders on a level with the horizon behind the plane. Pick a spot about 45 degrees downwards and try to do a handstand towards it - you will feel that you are going to go right over onto your back but keep looking at the spot, and keep the arch, feet back and arms forward - your body will correct itself in the slipstream after about 2-3 seconds and you will walk back grinning.
  8. bobsoutar
    Fill up the plane with a bunch of friends and all pile out on a tracking dive.
  9. bobsoutar
    Seen similar (although not quite as dramatic) situations occur with no problems on my Extreme. Do you find the Xaos loaded at 2.2 about right?
  10. bobsoutar
    You can normally downsize once before the canopy is too small for the bag and you will have a rig that doesn't look too cool and probably harder openings as well. Your profile only shows a handful of jumps. Why not get a container that just about takes a 170 (with a bit of a squeeze) and rent until you are ready to use it. You could then downsize to a 150 on the same container in the future.
  11. bobsoutar
    Good tip! Works even better in a swimming pool and even more better in a jacuzzi.
  12. bobsoutar
    Mega bootees may be best for you if you mainly do smaller formations (8-way and under). They take some getting used to but are more efficient. They are also ok for bigger stuff - although a lot of people prefer to take life a bit slower with normal bootees.
  13. bobsoutar
    [I was wearing a Z1, so I think a second audible would be louder.. does anyone have this configuration ?? can you tell me how it works ? ] I use 2 audibles in my Z1 and it works well - a Protrack (set to loud) in the Z1 pocket and the "old type" of Time Out (because it's louder than the new one) velcro'd to the inside of the helmet shell on the other side.
  14. bobsoutar
    In simple terms - the higher the wingloading, the faster the forward speed. The more eliptical it is the faster and tighter it will turn.
  15. bobsoutar
    I am flying over to Perris on 7 December. Are you running a one day course on the 8th?
  16. bobsoutar
    Most holds are pressurised these days but it's ok even if it's not. Best to take an audible alti as hand luggage though.
  17. bobsoutar
    [What would really be valuable to me is to know WHAT exactly i did wrong.] You attached the risers before undoing the daisychain (a definate no no) and then didn't know how to do the appropriate line checks. As in all skydiviing matters - if you're not 100% sure, ask for help!
  18. bobsoutar

    Help!

    bobsoutar replied to waster's topic in Safety and Training

    Hi Chris. Practice doing star jumps - modified so that you push your hips forward and head back at the same time. Then add the delay, pull & safety count. A rigid position is best at your level - head, body and legs don't move at all once you have adopted the position. Only movement comes from the arms which stay relaxed. When you sit in the door of the Islander, lean forward a bit, exit and do your star jump as you slide down the slipstream.
  19. bobsoutar
    Sweeeeet! Love mine too but I still want a d/bag like yours and Terry wont play!
  20. bobsoutar
    [2. Perhaps it was a simple packing error (if so, what exactly would cause a hard opening) ] Just an extra 2 cents worth because hard openings are sometimes attributed to line dump. It is worth making sure that there is plenty of line (3-4 inches) through the bungees which pass through the bag closure grommets and that the bungees are tight around those lines.
  21. bobsoutar
    [could a partial pull on the reserve handle create something which would not trigger the AAD to fire...? ] Simple answer Michele - No! Not with a Cypres anyway.
  22. bobsoutar
    Hey you don't need to demo. Try some other peoples kit on that you like the look of (ask them first of course) - you'll soon start to get finer feelings towards the one you really want.
  23. bobsoutar
    Great, go try one out. All the guys I met at Weston were very helpful and enthusiastic. Andy gave an excellent briefing to myself and the other newbies and there is a safety brief on birdman.com to read up on in the meantime. You need a docile canopy though - I used my CRW Lightning! Staying perfectly stable during deployment, undoing zips & trying to get yor bootees off on an HP eliptical would be a nightmare.
  24. bobsoutar
    Went to Andy Fords wingsuit festival at Weston in July. My girlfriend was very keen to learn, had 460 jumps, smiled sweetly and was given a definate no. I think this is pretty general so you would be best to check it out before shelling out a load of cash on a suit. You also need a rig with a throwaway system (boc preferrably) and a docile main. Pretty sure that the States is more relaxed on jump numbers - 300 I think but I'm sure someone over there will confirm or deny.
  25. bobsoutar
    I was told no at my briefing because the bridle line is shorter and the PC is more likely to get caught in the burble. I normally jump a pull out system but was glad of the BOC on my first 2 birdman jumps. Couldn't locate the toggle initially and had to run my hand along the BOC to find it - the pad would have been more difficult to find and get hold of.