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The SET-366 is a high performance, semi-elliptical, 9 cell main canopy, that provides soft, on heading openings combined with an increase in flight performance. 366 Flight The single toggle controls mean no extra steps needed for landing and the toggle pressure has been dramatically reduced, making turns and flaring light and easy. You can spend all day long flying the SET-366 over and over again, and land your last jump of the day as smoothly as your first! The SET-366 was used during the first ever Skydive Everest expedition. With perfect performance and soft landings at the worlds highest drop zone this canopy proved it can go the distance at any altitude.

The SET-400 is a high performance, semi-elliptical, 9-cell main canopy. Zero porosity fabric on the upper and lower surfaces combined with low porosity ribs makes packing easier while significantly enhancing performance. The semi-elliptical design of the SET-400 produces a longer, flatter glide and contributes to remarkably soft openings. Six to seven seconds for an 800-1000 ft. opening! The SET-400 is capable of swoop landing or precision accuracy using the sink and surge technique. Positive flare allows for stand up landings in variable conditions. 400 FlightThe SET-400 offers: Unsurpassed in performance and safety. Smooth and responsive flight characteristics. Exceptional penetration ability and flat glide. Consistent and dependable openings. Superior performance in turns, stalls and recoveries. Durability leader in the tandem industry. The most predictable and reliable tandem canopy available.

We have designed the TNT with you in mind! The container fits snuggly around the body and is padded in all the right places to provide the most comfortable system available. The instructor harness is fully adjustable with eight points of adjustment making it the perfect system for Instructors of any size, and the newly designed passenger harness give the students free range of motion while keeping them secure and safe. Strong Enterprises drive for safety is apparent throughout the design. We made clear replaceable windows to cover the AAD, reserve pin, and main pin making it quick and easy to ensure all pins are set and the AAD is activated. JumpWe use a simple, yet highly effective main assisted reserve deployment (MARD) system called the Air Anchor. The Air Anchor is part of the RSL so there is no special or extra equipment needed! During a cutaway the Air Anchor activates when the main canopy has more drag than the departing reserve pilot chute reducing time and altitude lost by as much as 50%. With no complicated rigging required the Air Anchor is simply the best safety system available! ForceAnother enhancement of the TNT is the H-style drogue attachment. This design keeps the drogue centered allowing a natural belly to earth position (instead of a head-down position like some systems) without the split sometimes seen with the Dual hawk. With all these great new features you know you want it! We've got it! So get yours today!!!

POV cameras are popping out of the ether these days, and a small company in Korea, previously specializing in dashboard cameras, has entered the POV fray with their small box Blackvue camera. The Blackvue closely resembles the frame of the GoPro, and that’ll be the first comparison most folks will make when looking at this camera. Size and weight-wise, the BlackVue is identical to the GoPro, JVC Adixxion, Swan, and the majority of other POV cameras, and the profile isn’t terribly different from its main competitor. Why would one look at the Blackvue SC500 (or any other competitive camera)? Price, form factor, simplicity/ease of use/setup all fall into a consideration. The Blackvue is ridiculously simple with few buttons, no menus to scroll through, and the simple modes assure perfect recordings every time. The camera features Wifi output for monitoring, an included/detachable LCD display, and is capable of shooting 60p footage for smooth slow motion. The housing is a rubberized, non-water/weatherproof housing that mounts on a stickypad/thumbscrew system (compatible with GoPro mounting accessories). The camera is essentially choice-free, in that it offers three shooting modes. 30p (standard/default 1920x1080/30p) Still Photo (also capable of timelapse) High Speed (1280 x720/120p) IMAGE QUALITYLet’s start with the most important aspect of image quality. Image quality from this camera is about what I expected it to be. It’s not “drop your jaw this is incredible” good, and it’s not really poor, either. It’s better than some of its competitors, lesser than others so I’d refer to it as “average.” The camera features a Sony Exmor imager, similar to the imager used in the Sony AS-15 cameras, and I’m a bit surprised that Pittasoft didn’t take greater advantage of the features this sensor offers. They’ve tuned the sensor to be quite dynamic, as this screengrab demonstrates. The lens is a fixed 170 degree lens, similar to most of the competitor POV cameras. The glass is exposed, as there is no cover/protection for the lens in the housing. The lens does come with a small rubber cover that is easily lost and falls off if the camera is tipped over. It is possible to sit the camera farther back in the housing, if the LCD display is removed, thus providing some lens protection via the housing. The BUTTONSThere are only three buttons on the camera (unless one counts the LCD power button on the LCD pack). One button powers the camera and selects the mode (Video/Still/High-Speed). One button for Wifi on/off, and the record start/stop button. The removeable LCD pack also has its own power button. Buttons are large, so operating the camera while wearing gloves won’t be any kind of an issue. The built in speaker provides audio for playback, and also provides status indicators when buttons are depressed. However, this speaker/audio indicator is hard to hear in a noisy airplane. INDICATORSAll indicators are found on the front of the camera. This is where the first weakness in the camera is found. The indicator lights are small, and difficult to read in daylight. The record light is also dim and although the streamlined look of the record indicator is sexy, it’s also difficult to see in a well-lit aircraft cabin. In the 120p test footage, you can see the camera operator squinting and covering the camera to shade it from the sun, as it was challenging to see whether the camera was recording or not. BlackVue would do well to take a page from their competitors playbook and put a larger indicator light in their next version. The HOUSING:The housing is unique; a rubber “O” ring design surrounds the entire camera. The intent is to dampen vibration and provide protection against scuffs and scrapes common in the action sport environment. The housing is capable of holding only the camera, or the camera/LCD combination. The housing offers a pair of holed mounting tabs, identical to the GoPro camera mount system, and in fact, the two are compatible. This is a huge benefit to camera owners, as they have access to the full complement of GoPro mounting accessories. Smart move on the part of Pittisoft to jump on this before any of their competition has realized that when it comes to camera mounts, standardization is a good thing. This system is not waterproof, nor even weather resistant. While I’d have no problem using it around mist, clouds, etc, I’d also be very uncomfortable in any environment where water might cover any significant portion of the camera. Pittasoft does have a waterproof housing in the works at an undisclosed price. Best viewed in 720p CONNECTING POINTSThe camera provides a mini HDMI port for instant viewing on a monitor. This is critical for debriefs, as when one is working between loads, it is time-consuming to remove a microSD card and read from a computer or other playback system. The camera also offers a USB port, suitable for charging or playback over a computer. Both ports are covered by a removable plastic plug. Like other small format cameras using this “feature,” I find it annoying, as it’s a small plastic part easily fumbled while wearing any kind of glove, and may easily be lost. BATTERY LIFEThere is no easy way to say it; battery life is unimpressive. Out of six jumps, the battery failed on three of them, even though I disabled the LCD screen. The unit had been charged prior to each jump, and turned on to check on the ground prior to boarding the aircraft. It’s possible my unit wasn’t entirely up to speed, yet even after charging overnight, the unit couldn’t manage two jumps in a row with the LCD preview enabled. There is no indicator for battery level if the LCD display is disabled, yet the LCD preview eats most of the battery. Wifi is also a battery-killer, but fortunately, the WiFi indicator is very obvious, and unless cell/wifi preview is absolutely necessary, users would be wise to leave it off (this issue is similar with all the POV cameras, but the Blackvue seems to be a bit more wifi power-hungry than some of the others). In speaking with the folks at Pittisoft, they indicated that they’re now shipping a firmware offering better battery life. SUMMARYAll in all, this is a very simple camera, easier to operate than most of the POV offerings out there due to its limited functionality. Some people are looking for easy-to-use and this camera absolutely offers “easy.” Picture quality is on par with cameras costing more, and offers a better image than some of its same-price counterparts. It’s super-fast to set up and as there are no menus to cycle through, there is virtually no chance of not knowing which mode the camera is in. Its light weight makes it perfect for many other applications; I particularly appreciated how well it flies on a UAV drone. The price is competitive, the camera is very easy to operate, and the build is robust. I for one, am looking forward to seeing how Pittasoft’s new camera does in the rapidly broadening POV market. Price: 300.00 USD Available online and at some retailers now. About The AuthorDOUGLAS SPOTTED EAGLE is an audio and video pro. He is a Grammy recipient with DuPont, Peabody, and Telly awards lining his studio; he is also a participant/producer in multiple Emmy winning productions. Douglas is the Managing Producer for Sundance Media Group, Inc. and VASST, authoring several books and DVDs and serving as a trainer and consultant for videographers, software manufacturers and broadcasters. He is the author or co-author of several digital media titles including Digital Video Basics (VASST), The FullHD (VASST), and Vegas Editing Workshop (Focal Press) among many others. - See more at: http://www.dropzone.com/about/Contributors_895.html#sthash.oSWvVDbz.dpuf

Action cameras are popping up all over the place, from all sorts of companies. Garmin shocked a few with their release of the Garmin Virb in the third quarter of last year. Now it's the Japanese manufacturer Shimano that has joined the party. Unlike some of the other action camera competitors, Shimano is a long standing company founded in 1921, but is typically known for their cycling, snowboarding and fishing equipment. Shimano will be releasing their first POV action camera in May this year, which will look to compete with brands like GoPro, Contour and Sony. The new 'CM-1000' as it's called, certainly has some interesting features that could allow it to challenge the competitors. Unlike most other POV cameras the CM-1000 is waterproofed to 30 feet without the requirement of any additional housing. The weight is also very impressive, weighing in at just 86 grams; more than half that of the GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition when waterproof housing is attached. The most impressive feature for us is the aperture of the camera lens which sits at F2.0, as opposed to most competitors' F2.8. This full-stop increase in light will allow for better low-light performance from the camera, a topic that is often focused on and often falls short in some manufacturers. The sensor is also very impressive, boasting a 16 megapixel backlit CMOS sensor, likely able to produce high quality still images as well as full HD video. The CM-1000 will come with multiple lens modes, a standard 135 degree view as well as an ultra wide angle 180 degree view. Another pretty cool feature is the auto image rotation, which will automatically rotate the picture to the correct orientation, regardless of how you hold the camera. Bells and whistles come in the form of ANT+ capabilities, allowing users to connect the device to training devices and heart-rate monitor. Especially useful for those who like to keep track of their data. While one would imagine that coming from a company who is renowned for their cycling gear, that their camera would be focused towards cyclists. The CM-1000 seems to target all POV users, with the company's focus put on things like waterproofing. In summary, the CM-1000 looks impressive on paper, it has what appears to be a high quality sensor, a large aperture and is light weight. It is however important to remember that these are only a fraction of variables that will affect the overall video and image quality. And it will be interesting to see how the camera handles transition in lighting, as that's always an important factor with POV cameras. Though if it performs as one would expect from a company with a history of quality products and a large development budget, this camera is definitely worth keeping an eye on. Shimano's CM-1000 will come with a lens cover and two mounts (one adhesive and the other helmet mount) and USB cable. The CM-1000 will set you back $299 on release.

The expansion of iFly indoor skydiving centers continues, this time with development planned for the Middletown, Ohio area. Start Aviation LLC and iFly Corp recently signed an agreement that would see a vertical wind tunnel build in Middleton. Though the exact location of where the tunnel will be built is still undecided, Middle Regional Airport has been listed as a potential location. Start Aviation LLC is the operator of Start Skydiving, a dropzone that has in recent years shown itself to be one of the best in the country, while iFly has shown its dominance in the global wind tunnel market with more than 20 wind tunnels located around the world, and the company continuing to show impressive growth. While still in the early stages, aspects of the project have been released; such as the plans for the indoor skydiving location to include a restaurant, classroom and an office. With the development of the Middletown tunnel, there will be a total of 15 iFly tunnels in the United States, several of which have been established in the past couple years. With the next closest tunnel being located in Chicago, the city hopes that the new attraction will bring in visitors from surrounding locations.

The Norwegian Defence Force recently replaced all their parachute systems and in turn sold their surplus gear to a company (Alfa Nordic AS) which is now looking to sell the large collection of Performance Designs and Parachutes de France items. There were originally 120 main canopies and 120 reserves for sale, with the current inventory selling quickly. The canopies are said to be in good condition with the majority having around 100 jumps on them with only a few with more than 200 jumps, and many of the reserves are still in their original plastic bag. The DOM for the mains and reserves are between September and October 2001. Any damaged canopies that were found in the original batch have been removed from the sales pool and as of yet there have been no returns on any of the sold items. The canopies have reportedly been and are currently being stored in boxes on pallets, covered with thick transparent plastic in a dry and warm storage area in Norway. Alfa Nordic’s main building is located in Hokksund, Norway with the rigger being located in Voss. The items originally listed as for sale include: Performance Designs: Navigator 220 Navigator 240 Navigator 260 Navigator 280For 4000NOK (about $635) Parachutes de France: Electra TechnoFor 1000NOK (about $159) The current item availability can be viewed via Google Doc Should you wish to make a purchase or enquiry you can contact Ron Holan at ron.holan@gmail.com

During development of our Fire rig, we used the most modern materials for construction we could find, which allowed us to create a very comfortable, long-lasting, and mainly - very safe rig. Development took us 3 years, and another 2 for droptests. We choose US TSO-C23d as our testing program, one of the best and strictest flight test programs. Max load weight was set at 136 kg. (300lbs), max deployment speed at 309 km\h (170 knots). Then, following test programs protocol, max load weight was set to 165 kg (1.2 coefficient), while max deployment speed set to 370 km\h(1.2 coefficient). We made twice the required droptests. Fire became commercially available in 2008. And now, after thousands of produced rigs, we can honestly say - it works! Fire rigs are reliable, long-lasting, have a wide size chart to fit the strangest requests and Main\Reserve combinations. A big bonus is that a MARD system is an option(ours is called DRD). On top of that, the price is very competitive.

Comet Pro Summer is short FF suit designed for experienced skydivers. It is made from best available fabric like Zero porosity Nylon, Cordura and Scheller. Summer suit has 4 standard embroideries but we offer you to choose 2 extra, free of charge, embroideries from our list.

Comet Pro ST is an advanced FF suit. It is made from best available fabric like Zero porosity Nylon, Cordura and Scheller. This suit is redesigned COMET PRO with short slaves. That is how we got ST model. The suit is suitable for use in spring, summer and autumn or wormer areas. Comet Pro ST allows maximum freedom of movement although our first impression is a really tight suit. It is designed for free shoulder, elbow and knee movements. COMET PRO ST has 5 standard embroideries. You can choose 2 extra, free of charge, embroideries from our list. One on the right side of your chest and one just above your right knee. We can order a custom logo too.

Comet Pro is our most advanced freefly suit designed for experienced skydivers. It is full option suit!!! It is made from best available fabric like Zero porosity Nylon, Cordura and Scheller. Comet Pro allows maximum freedom of movement. It is designed for free shoulder, elbow and knee movements. Zero porosity Nylon allows to gain maximum speed. COMET PRO has 5 standard embroideries. You can choose 2 extra, free of charge, embroideries from our list. One on the right side of your chest and one just above your right knee. We can order a custom logo too.