johnmatrix

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Everything posted by johnmatrix

  1. johnmatrix
    Most people will tell you to get a second hand rig at first - and it's good advice. I however ordered a brand new container for my first set of gear, brand new Cypres, new reserve and second hand main. I'm still jumping that gear now, and after 600 jumps on it I'm still not anywhere close to fully exploring everything my canopy can do. If you have the money I think you should get the gear you really want. :)
  2. johnmatrix
    I find tracking to be a much cleaner, more free feeling of flight. I've been doing mainly tracking lately and when I get back in my wingsuit it feels like I'm fighting the air to get lift. I'm probably not doing it right but it doesn't matter, they're both fun.
  3. johnmatrix
    +1 Also use it plugged into mains power. My laptop is slower at everything when it's running on battery, I'd assume it's a power saving setting somewhere that I can change.
  4. johnmatrix
    I use a N3 and have had no issues with it. I went for that over the Protrack because I read the Protrack records a max of 119 seconds of freefall time. For actual flight data I use a Flysight.
  5. johnmatrix
    Well said. :)
  6. johnmatrix
    Both jumpers who were going to be flying Tony Suits until 4 days ago apparently? http://worldwingsuitleague.com/uncategorized/last-minute-changes-with-wingsuit-teams/ Anyway, if it's going to become a manufacturer race it would be good to see some S-Fly suits there as well. I'd like to see how one of those French maniacs with a Cruise goes.
  7. johnmatrix
    Interesting stuff. (Video now set to private)
  8. johnmatrix
    Black, blue and yellow. Very disturbing.
  9. johnmatrix
    This is the incident and document I was referring to. Not saying it was the case here - just something to remember. http://www.dropzone.com/forum/Skydiving_C1/Incidents_F14/Fatality_-_Norway,_Geiteryggen_-_low_cutaway_-_2013-03-29_P4468418/ http://intrudair.com/download/official_bulletin_wingsuit_usage_recommendation_01.pdf
  10. johnmatrix
    This is true, but your post seems to discount suit design. There were suits designed more than 15 years ago where it was literally impossible for the handle to get swallowed. Some of today's "new and improved" suit designs cannot claim this. But hey, they guarantee you won't have your performance harmed by the massive drag your chest strap causes! I'm no expert - and definitely not on suits from 15 years ago. ;-) But yes I wasn't even thinking of that particular style of suit where the chest strap is covered up, they've certainly have their own set of issues.
  11. johnmatrix
    It's just something you have to check before you jump, on every jump. I'm sure there was a fatality a while back that resulted in a service bulletin of sorts coming out regarding some wingsuits and the way they fit with certain rigs on larger people, I'll see if I can find it. Basically the point is, if you're a rounder person (perhaps with an articulated harness) some suits may end up with a larger hole in that area for handles to slip into - as the suit is being pulled out around the gut area while the harness goes staight down around the gut to the hips. The key thing to bear in mind, particularly with second hand suits, is not just how the suit fits but how it fits on different people with different rigs.
  12. johnmatrix
    Many thanks for documenting all of this. I still recall first reading it in 2009 (when I first started skydiving) and you're right, due to the names - and photos - it had a profound effect. At the time I first read it I believe the last one listed was #130. Looking now I see it has more than doubled since then. BSBD
  13. johnmatrix
    It's fine, just be careful (as always). * have only ever jumped my Phantom out of them
  14. johnmatrix
    Meanwhile on the same load those 25 have just completed a successful 30 way.
  15. johnmatrix
    Wasn't the old PD canopy the Excalibur a cross-braced 150?
  16. johnmatrix
    I believe this is the new Ghost, while I'm sure it's going to be a great suit it's probably not going to be a huge amount more performance over the Havok the OP is already using.
  17. johnmatrix
    I have not jumped a V4 but have started jumping a Vampire Race and the arm pressure is quite a bit less than the Stealth 2 I jump from time to time, I really like it. Depends on what your goals are - skydiving performance competitions, or just having something fun, fast and agile to burn around the sky in (or something you want to eventually BASE jump as well). I've heard a lot of good things about the Venom Power, Aura and Colugo. A mate of mine also did a lot of jumps on an S-Bird before going to the bigger Tony Suits.
  18. johnmatrix
    First heard it learning to play tennis as a kid. If the ball hits the racquet towards the rim it makes a weak noise and doesn't feel like a good hit. The sweet spot is pretty much in the middle of the racquet, as kids we had each had a big circle spray painted on the racquet to help learning. http://sweetspottertennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/rhss.jpg
  19. johnmatrix
    Or maybe you have a mark or some residue on the lens?
  20. johnmatrix
    I'm assuming with those pics of the stars you've taking exposures of 10-30 seconds? The light from your red streak may not be visible to the naked eye, only showing up under long exposures. Perhaps it might be one of the lights from the camera? I have a 600D and it has a little red LED on the back that flashes while it operates. There is also an indicator light on the front that flashes when counting down delays. Perhaps some light from the camera is somehow reflecting onto part of the lens.
  21. johnmatrix
    AWESOME!
  22. johnmatrix
    If you want to read more reports there are lots here to learn from: http://www.skydivingfatalities.info/
  23. johnmatrix
    So... what sort of reserve did you have in mind?
  24. johnmatrix
    I don't feel a huge amount has changed in theory. First wingsuit? Get a small one. Experienced wingsuiter looking for something bigger? Well now there is a lot more choice as opposed to 4 years ago. Just get the right suit for the job, and keep your small suit.
  25. johnmatrix
    I've never jumped a Stiletto but based on a lot of what I've read here it seems that they're one of the worst canopies for wingsuiting you can get. I would go to the Sabre2 and leave everything else as is. If you want to change anything else probably a stowless / semi stowless D-bag would be the next best thing to change. I jump a Sabre2 190, UPT semi-stowless D-bag, 9 foot bridle and 28" ZP PC. But I also have a normal D-bag with normal length bridle spare that I feel comfortable jumping as well.