Gib78

I'm getting some strange looks in the office, after crying with laughter at this. Chops can be pretty scary sometimes, huh? Now that I can see again, I recently had to chop in Empuriabrava, had the canopy in sight until I had to focus on the landing pattern (my number 1 priority) for about 10 seconds. After that I scanned the sky but couldn't see it anywhere and did my best to remember what I thought I saw. No-one on the ground saw it, but reviewing the wingsuiting coaches video and referencing A "gridded" dropzone plan and the winds, we had a reasonable rough area to start. Spent an hour looking but nowhere to be found, and I had to leave to get my flight home after that, minus main and minus freebag. My mood could have been better to say the least. On landing back in Germany my phone beeped with a picture of my found free bag, which James the wingsuit coach had heroically searched for , ripping his legs to shreds on brambles in doing so before discovering it a garden. Still no main though The next day resident empuria paraglider pilot Richie took off and performed a search. Everybody said that if anyone could find it, he could. He took off and after over half an hour of hearing nothing, my hopes began to sink. He was just about to give up when something caught his eye on a disused building, and on landing to have a look , found my canopy. I was over the moon and of course paid my beer dues. Without the combined efforts of James and Richie the chances of finding my main would have been next to impossible, as the main main was hard enough to spot from the air, would have been damn near impossible to find from a ground search. I have also taken part in many searches for other peoples gear, and it's always great to see peoples faces light up when their gear comes home especially after a big effort from all involved. Gib

Sorry should have said exit equipment. I can't delete my last post any more, any chance an admin could delete it?

cable made by exit composites User Name on DZ.com "raceface" Cable made to desired length and delivered within 3 days (europe).

No. The USB end is L shaped (the cable comes out the bottom of the USB plug not the side, and the 2.5mm is an all metal construction as opposed to rubber on . Have a look at this wonderfully cut picture of the cable attached here. I'm very happy with it

Yep, that is about as hard as it gets.

I had one of the bungees snap on me and also wing suit so the standard setup on a vector was not really practical. Thought a bit about the chest strap on a rucksack and my my rigger said no problem, so here it is. Strap is elastic. Gib

Hi With 12mm (without autofocus) shutter release is of course instant, haven't jumped the 16-50 with auto focus yet so will have to let you know if I get round to that. When using it as a non skydiving camera, autofocus is pretty damn quick. Gib

Greetings all. Right as promised here are a few pics from the A6000, skydiving and otherwise. I hope I've not resized them too small. I have been asked for a comparison between the 12mm and standard 16-50, so have included that too on one photo. UV filter used . Settings wise left camera on auto and infinite focus on 12mm. Yes, I know I am far away for some shots but told the teams I jumped with to do their thing and I'll stay out their way

So my A6000 is ready for action, Fuck Yeah! Setup is a Tonfly 4x holing a Sony A6000 with Rokinon/Walimex/Samsang 12 mm connected to a Hypeye Bite switch with custom made multiterminal to 2.5mm cable by exit composites (Thanks Martin /User Name on here raceface) . It sat next to a Sony PJ810 with Custom made wide angle lens courtesy of the legend that goes by the name Gustavo (Username GusCabana on here). Not jumped it yet (this weekend hopefully) but have taken the a6000 with 12mm around the streets of Cologne, but I have no idea how to turn a 7mb picture into the 1mb (??) allowed on here. If anyone can tell me how that would be awesome and I can post a few pics. Did I say Fuck yeah already? Gib

Sorry just seen the other messages. I don't jump in the UK as I live in Germany. With regards to Lenses, I had a great Chat with the awesome Gustav Cabana while in Empuriabrava and he brought to my attention the following which I have on order http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1039948-REG/rokinon_rk12m_e_12mm_f_2_0_ncs_cs.html Note this is manufactured by Samyang but depending on your own country, may be branded as Walimex (Germany) Vivitar, Prakticar, Rokinon (USA), Bower und Pro-Optic. These are all the same thing built by the same company to the same standards Setting information likely to come after I have jumped it a bit (I'm pretty new at this too) And I can share anything useful I find. Others here will no doubt be able to give you much more useful info than me,advice which I am more than happy to receive. Hope this helps. Blues Gib

Sorry Guys The camera is great but hasn't been jumped yet as the cable I had for the bite switch was faulty and the useless post service have lost it when I sent it back to the states for a replacement. Hoping to have a replacement cable within a week or so as can't wait to jump it. Will post with pics when I do so . Even without jumping it yet, this camera really does rule. Gib

Sorry dude, misread the "aren't compatible" for "are compatible". As you were

Hey Gustavo I recognise that 810

No worries Depends on the jump (how many people etc), both audible set the same warnings as backup. Typically set for 1st alarm 5300 feet "You are already thinking about tracking/turning to track / actually tracking now aren't you?" 2nd Alarm 4200 " You have already tracked away, bled off speed and are ready to pull at your stated altitude yeah" 3rd Alarm 3000 "WHY ARE YOU HEARING ME? Evaluate and chop and reserve quickly if not looking Great" Gib

Greetings all I have raised mine 400 feet (+4) and am happy that Airtec have offered this. I think councilman has summed up perfectly why it might be considered prudent. Everyone has their own their own view on what acceptable is, but I really struggle with these awful “ AAD fired as designed but reserve didn’t have time to inflate incidents”. Yes, I know that these are few compared to the number of AAD saves out there, but still frequent enough to make me think. With regards to changing pull heights etc, well having only been in the sport 5 years I’m not one that remembers the days of low pulling and instant opening canopies , but I do know one thing. By my own standards if I have not begun my deployment by 3000 feet at the latest dependent on jump type (higher with a wingsuit), I have fucked up. Accounting for a belly firing height of 1150 feet on my CYPRES, if for whatever reason I have fucked up so badly that I have nothing out by 2000 feet (I hope not, but it could happen too being human and therefore susceptible to failure), then I have drilled straight to reserve. Although not mentioned specifically here, I read with interest various opinions on device dependency. I have 2 audible, 2 altimeters and a Cypres set higher than standard. Am I device dependant? I prefer to see it as I am giving myself as much chance of possible to account for any brain farts/events outside my control (knocked out etc). This sport is damn cool, but it isn’t worth dying for, and I’m happy with the decisions I have made. Keep safe out there people, the incidents forum is horribly busy at the moment. Blues. Gib

It has a multi terminal port And hypoxic make these to connect your switch too http://www.gethypoxic.com/browse/still-camera-switches.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=150&category_id=13

Greetings. My a6000 arrived yesterday which was a bonus as wasn't expecting it until the middle of April. It is blisteringly quick and on my first quick view seems to definitely support Sony's claims. Should have the helmet and switch within a week or so (I wanted to get the measurements bang on) so will report back on how well the remote functionality works with the multi port. Happy days.

Hi DSE Thanks for your input, that's good to know. Not wanting to thread drift too much, but on a similar theme of wide enough lenses, for video I have my eye on the following model. While I understand that on the modern handycams it is not possible to swap lenses as such, my general impression from the threads I have read here are that the lenses are wide enough in standard form. In regards to that,I have pretty much decided on the following for video. (possibly has the model number 540 in the states) http://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/handycam-camcorders/hdr-pj530e It also seems to tick all the boxes. Can you see any issues with using this out the box as such for skydiving, as I have not noted any (that's not to say that there are none)? Thanks. Gib

Greetings all I am also looking at this setup as I want a camera that will tick all boxes for me not only for skydiving. I take it that the standard 16-50mm would not be wide enough for skydiving operations? Gib

Hi Croc You obu obviously have a lot more jumps/experience than me but I find your comments interesting. I have to say I have found my storm to be a super easy canopy to land, and agree with the other comments about being forgiving and responsive at the same time, a combination I like very much. Personal tastes vary of course /what car person A dríves might be considered a piece of shit by person B) but you are the first person I have heard say that the standard freefal l(i.e. none CRW/Hybrid ) storm is tricky to land, but obviously your opinion as valid as everybody else's. Hi Keithor Regarding the long brake lines from the factory, I'm a bit torn on this. On the one hand,I imagine that the canopy manufacturers would play it a little safe and not send out canopies with brake lines lengths that could result in an easy stall, especially in the intermediate class. On the other hand, I my guess is that a lot of people who are complaining that their brake lines are too short are maybe not finishing their flare i.e their hands are more level with their belly button as opposed to the hips upon landing if that makes sense. Granted, every canopy has a different sweet spot, but I do remember in my last canopy course watching in slow motion not only mine but everybody elses landings, and it was often the case that the people who tended to arrive rather than land had their hands relativity high - slow motion video and a great explanation from canopy coach really helped here. So on that point I would guess it prudent to have an experienced canopy coach evaluate the landings before adjusting brake line length. I don't really know how much of brake line length perception is effected by body type, particularly arm length. I have reasonably long arms and can not only get my canopy to pop up towards the end of the flare stroke if needed ( or the " OH shit a little late, give me Turbo Flare please now KITT) but can also get the canopy to stall if I stretch my arms as low as possible and hold. For me this translates as wide range of control, one that I am very happy with. If my arms were to be say, I don't know, 30% shorter, then I imagine I would lose some of that range, and would maybe need to consult with someone who knows their stuff about adjusting the brake lines. These are just my musings, please feel free to correct me (anyone) if I'm talking out my arse (has been known to happen).

Hey I also absolutely love my storm. Soft but not too snivelly openings, flies straight and stable even under a few line twists( from my first few wingsuit jumps ), fun to fly when I want it too be up high and and easy to land at the critical bit. awesome in deep brakes, and the flare power is something else. I flared a little late once and the flare power and controllability definitely prevented any injury. I've not flown a lot of different canopies but can say it' a great all a great all round canopy . I have thoroughly enjoyed all 120 something jumps on it. I've not flown a spectre but it was observed by experienced people on the ground that the glide angle is definitely steeper than a spectre loaded at the same wingload ( both at 1.3), so I can therefore accept the recommendation that there is sometimes a stronger jump number limit in some countries compared to the spectre. I happen to like the steeper glide angle (hope this is the correct term) as I found it a super easy to judge accuracy wise for landing (i don't swoop, just fly a normal pattern) but it sometimes means from a longer spot I have to fly the canopy a bit more (a bit of rear riser input for instance) but it's well within its capabilities. Everyone who I have met who has a storm really loves it, but I can say without doubt that nobody could possibly love their storm more than I love mine

Hi Bill I have been pondering over the switch to Dacron argument, and can see a lot of benefits, especially as I got smacked a couple of times under my old canopy. My rig is a V350 with a Storm 170 and Optimum 193, both listed as standard fit on the UPT website and I would concur that this combination works well in practise. Is it feasible to line the Storm with dacron, or would the increased line bulk make that a pain/unsafe to pack? Thanks. Gib.

indeed, but there was only one option of delivery (nothing mentioned about insurance) so think this could be a battle to get back. What pisses me is the fact that whoever nicked it has no idea what the thing is for. At the very least they could have given it to a neighbor and put a slip in my letterbox. just leaving it to be "investigated" is so bloody pointless

I'm so fucking pissed right now. It seems that my replacement optima was dumped somewhere in the shared hall of the flats where I live instead of dhl actually delivering it (wankers), and some twat has helped themselves to it leaving the packaging outside the neighbors door. I hope the god of Karma is sending a herd of elephants to repeatedly trample on the nuts of the those responsible.