riggersam

Since most U.S. BASErs have come from the ranks of skydivers, I'll provide a link to USPA's incident reports: http://www.uspa.org/safety/incident.htm You'll notice it is under the Safety and Training section. I have been in the sport for several years now. I have learned, and will continue to learn, from both the USPA and BF lists. That is where the educational and historial value is for me. No, USPA doesn't list names and locations or post pictures. But, I think that is what contributes to the memorial aspect of the BFL: I have, on occasion, gone to the list not recognizing the person's name, but I have recognized their face. That has sparked memories of the times I may have spent around them and the exit points I may have shared with them. It puts a very real, human aspect to it that, to me, USPA's list does not contain. As for the "dot, dot, dots", it is my belief that, rather than defining those words further, the writer has simply left the reader to define them themselves - and leaving it for discussions such as this. Mark

I have an 8" dobsonian-mounted newtonian. I need to start getting it out more...

I seem to remember a guy from Paraguay claiming to have done this first...

33 years old / 15 years exp.

Here's another link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060131/ap_on_fe_st/mexico_tower_jump I think its mostly the same story and the same picture, but I liked the last line: "It was not clear what the purpose of Monday's jump was." Fill in your own answer...

Congratulations! 346 is such a cool number, too. That darn number pops up EVERYWHERE! Mark

Damn, now I'm gonna have to do some packing...

This has been posted in other threads, but here is a link to the TSA's current policy on carrying parachutes on-board or as checked luggage: http://www.tsa.gov/public/interweb/assetlibrary/PTT_Parachuting_102003.pdf I have found that most screeners (and their supervisors) are unfamiliar with this policy, so I make sure to have a printed copy of this with each rig I'm travelling with. When the security people start taking an interest in what's in my stuff sack, they find this right away and don't need to go any further. Its hard for them to call it an "unknown device" anymore. I've even been PRAISED by TSA staff for having this available. Mark

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050822/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_life_jumping;_ylt=AkL1o93JaydU1Nf5RaVDSjntiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Container? Maybe. But generally you're renting a complete rig (canopy and PC, too) - which quickly puts the price above $2000 these days. As they say with automobiles, "nothing parties like a rental".

Here's what one jumper looked like jumping a 1982 Vector I with a Cruislite 220, long closing loop, 52" Hank PC and a long bridle. Sure, you COULD jump that gear and land in the water (as this jumper did), but this picture is from 1991.. Just ask yourself, "Now that gear designed for this stuff is readily available, do I really want to LOOK like that?"

I have been successful in jumping a (rather heavy) TRV-900 on top of a Protec with a home-built mount. I only jump that setup slider up. I won't even consider it slider down. I use a small mesh-slider and for terminal jumps I am very careful to roll the nose tightly. It also helps that I positioned the mounting hole so that the camera is well balanced front to back. I use a separate hole for mounting the camera facing backwards so the camera is still balanced. I've had a couple openings that were harder on my neck than expected and had me out from jumping for a day or two, but I feel it's kinda par for the course. I usually need a break when that happens anyway .... A friend recently upgraded to a PC-1xx for skydiving and I picked up his old PC-1 for a couple hundred bucks. I have begun using it in a belly pack as a recorder for a micro-board camera that I can mount practically anywhere (see my current avatar). This is what I have begun using for shooting on slider down jumps. The quality is pretty good for the size and price. When I jump with it on my helmet, I can't even tell it is there. I might start using it for more for slider-up stuff. Mark

Who is going? I plan to arrive Friday mid-afternoon and leave Tuesday late-morning. Mark

219 jumps and I'm counting 50 objects.

Perhaps you could add a radar altimeter? I think that would solve the concerns of varied terrain, ledges, etc. It would probably be best to have the device automatically adjust for horiztonal motion. For example, if you're tracking and at a 1:1 ratio, the altimeter would need to be measuring your distance to impact at a 45 degree angle down and out in front of you, rather than straight down. Hmmm.. Couple that with the inertial navigation system, you could generate ultra-accurate topo maps of the terrain that you're flying over. Perhaps the USGS would then pay us to wingsuit around in that big granite valley!

The material between the A-B, B-C, and C-D line groups have been folded on top of the flaked tail. I know a few people that pack this way as an additional measure to promote nose-first inflation. Mark

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050708/ap_on_re_mi_ea/turkey_sheep_suicide/nc:757;_ylt=AtmSEafBmwqj35xkphu1yTvtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Jaap, I can't comment on the 32" PC, other than to say it is too small for my comfort. I currently have a vented 265 canopy and I'm comfortable with my 36" ZP on it for delays of 5+ seconds. Since I'm stepping up to a 322 canopy (looking forward to seeing it soon ), I ordered a vented 38" ZP PC with it - primarily due to weight considerations. Unfortunately, it will probably be a while before I have any terminal or near-terminal experience with that canopy/PC... Mark

If I read this correctly, you're suggesting that a person's property includes the airspace above it. This is the first I've heard of that one... Can you elaborate? Thanks! Mark

No problem. See you later in the week. Mark

397, 398 and 399 were acquired by a 3-way from a large "B". Since they exited at the same time, Jean issued the numbers in the order that they opened. Mark BASE 346

There was a brief thread a couple weeks ago: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1550320 You might also consider PM'ing Zennie. He's on the road right now, so it might take a bit for him to respond. Mark

I started BASE jumping when I was 18. I'm 31 now, but I guess you could say I feel like I'm 40. The biggest thing I have noticed is how I keep upsizing in canopies. I think it comes from 1) I'm getting older and (perhaps) smarter and, 2) Well... I haven't been getting any lighter. I started with a 220 sq. ft. Cruislite (which was my first skydiving canopy) and I just ordered a 322 sq. ft. canopy. Mark

I posted a couple things in a thread last summer that might be of interest here: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1177752;#1177752 Mark

Ok.. I'm paying attention... Made MO BASE 1-1/2 years ago: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=684827 Very nice! Edit: To make clicky, etc...