Pat007

I've put 1000+ jumps on my VOG and about 200 on the Talkable. I like them both, but find I'm using the Talkable now. It has options for beeps as well as talking altitudes, which I like. Good volume on both (and both are infinitely adjustable, vs low, medium, or high volume), Has a minimalistic logbook, but I don't find it very useful. Downsides of it are it requires USB to a computer to make adjustments, requires a cable to charge. The user interface is not very intuitive. But, the price is very reasonable, and Caelum Systems is a startup, so I wouldn't expect perfection yet. They have already made several improvements since the first release and I expect the Talkable to only get better! I recommend you give it a try!

Hah, hah! I'm old and retired. It's a job for a younger person. But thanks.

I really do respect your lived experience, Joe. And the only thing we can change is the present and the future. So, if Luke is still on the board when the next election rolls around, and he runs again, and memories are long enough, that would give another candidate the best opportunity to unseat him, if enough people care about it.

If someone thinks mounting a vigorous campaign to earn votes is a waste of their time then it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Luke got 274 votes in the last election without even campaigning. All write-in candidates got 10 votes. I can't believe that there aren't at least 284 votes of non-Kapowsin jumpers to prevail in a head-to-head election (particularly in light of the fact that only about 15% of USPA members voted). I also don't believe that loyalty to a fellow Kapowsin jumper would outweigh voting for a candidate that offered more to the members than a Kapowsin candidate might. Lastly, I think it's a mistake to limit the field of potential candidates to DZOs. The board will be strongest by having as broad a representation of skydivers as possible - DZOs, fun jumpers, rating holders, etc.

I'm afraid that's not how it works. Luke didn't inherit his seat, and there in fact is no such process to do so. Luke ran unopposed in the last election (as did most of the candidates for regional director). I don't recall about the election prior to that but he might have been unopposed in that one as well. If someone wishes to take a shot at his seat the only thing stopping them is their own lack of initiative. The vast majority of members don't vote, so a candidate that could motivate a higher turnout, such as Melissa Nelson did in the last election, would have a high likelihood of winning, regardless of what their home dropzone is.

What is the process for the FAA to conduct their investigation and render a decision on any penalty? Is there a hearing by an Administrative Law Judge after the investigation where parties can submit evidence and testimony, or is it some other process?

I flew a Lotus for about 500 jumps and really liked it. It met my needs at the time and flew and landed great. The airlocks gave it a definite different feel when flying in turbulence, which I found to be comforting. On the ground, the airlocks hold the air in the canopy, but dealing with it became second nature to me. It really only became an issue on high wind days. It's your decision whether you think positives outweigh the negatives.

I was told by one of their vendors that they are no longer producing any products. Here's a quote from the vendor:

In addition to airlocked canopies (Lotus, Samurai, Renegade), cross-braced canopies pack a bit larger too. I've got a Lotus 150 for sale, if interested.

Thanks for sharing this!

Don't disregard the VOG. It's great. Very accurate and easy to use. I've been jumping mine for months and just love it. And the developers are skydivers. And, other than being a user I have no connection with the company. Just a satisfied user.

Yes, it speaks to you! You can hear a sample on their website: https://vog.ee/ My Dad used to ask me if someone jumped off a bridge would I do that too? No, but if they jumped out of an airplane, that's a different question...

You have the option of turning on or off any of the altitude settings with your phone app. It announces the altitude every 1,000 feet (or use metric setting) from 21K down to 6K when it switches to every 500 feet, and then at 1,500 feet it switches to every 100 feet. Last announcement is 200 feet. If you don't like all those announcements you can change them with the app. The announcement is in the language you set with the app. There aren't any alarms at set altitudes like other audibles. You just have to remember what the important altitudes are for you. It doesn't store different programs for different types of jumps, but maybe that's something they could program in the next software update. My Dad used to ask me if someone jumped off a bridge would I do that too? No, but if they jumped out of an airplane, that's a different question...

Will do. Sent you a PM. My Dad used to ask me if someone jumped off a bridge would I do that too? No, but if they jumped out of an airplane, that's a different question...

No.I jump a Bonehead Aero. My Dad used to ask me if someone jumped off a bridge would I do that too? No, but if they jumped out of an airplane, that's a different question...