TommyBotten

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Everything posted by TommyBotten

  1. TommyBotten
    Personally I really like the FW RDS. Sure it takes more time to set up, but the release is very light and releases all fours rings simultaneously, which is more than you can say about either PDs or NZAs RDS.
  2. TommyBotten
    I was taught that big turns on the smaller petras/hks/peregrines could fire even in speed mode. This seems plausible from my own limited experience with these wings. If this is the case, having a wing that can take terminal openings while being able to fire a speed unit is worrying... Does anyone else have any data/experience to support or undercut this?
  3. TommyBotten
    The jury is still out on whether its the best technique or not, however I was taught that it gives me a better chance of getting entirely vertical just before my roll out. I've tried a bit back and forth and for me this "feels" right and I've been getting better results across all three disciplines with this technique. Do note that the pause in my video was too long as I had just started to do them and wanted to exaggerate. In addition to having a better chance on getting the dive angle right, I also use it as a "check point" in the turn as I divide my turn up into several stages for training purposes.
  4. TommyBotten
    Yeah, the pause before snapping the last 180 is a tad too much on these turns.
  5. TommyBotten
    From mid 2015 season after about 10 450s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7DpsHLdkv8
  6. TommyBotten
    Might be wingloading. Might be technique. Or I might be wrong. I did my 90s and 270s more or less the same altitude as I did it on the CF2 with ~450 and ~800 feet respectively. But note that I did not do a side by side comparison as I haven't flown a CF2 for a few months.
  7. TommyBotten
    I got a few jumps in on a 119 loaded 1.6 in December. I really enjoyed the canopy and I think its a nice step up/evolution from the Crossfire 2. Openings are nice, similar to the CF2. A bit snively but on heading and well staged. Harness input is much more responsive and it is easier to get diving than its predecessor. The recovery arc is short and similar to that of a CF2. The rear risers are where the canopy impresses me the most - They are responsive and fun to fly up top and leveling off with them is easy to tune in and predictable, while the transition to toggles feels just perfect with loads of power in the bottom end of the flare. Toggle inputs are also very responsive and the canopy's slow flight characteristics are nice. It does feel a bit more wiggly close to the toggle stall point than a CF2. All in all a very nice canopy, but I don't see it covering the gap to higher performance canopies as well as I had expected and perhaps hoped for.
  8. TommyBotten
    Great work man! :)
  9. TommyBotten
    I like the setup on Scott Roberts / Fluid wings RDS. It takes some getting used to attaching it, but the release is soft, fast and never hangs up on the rings.
  10. TommyBotten
    Exit weight 180lb: 0-20 - Nav 240 20 - 67 - Sabre 190 68 - 195 - Sabre2 170 196 - 400 - Pilot 150 401 - 650 - Sabre2 135 651 - 950 - CF2 119 951 - 1340 - Vel 103 1341 - 2200 - VK90 A big jump from the CF2 to the velo which took me quite some time to get comfortable on. 60% of jumps hop'n'pops (cessna 206 dz)
  11. TommyBotten
    A precise and correct description. However, I see no reason to laugh - The question is relevant to our forum and well posed. I've met CP competitors on, perhaps in this context, embarrassingly high levels that do not understand the basic physics behind this, and either fly on their gut feeling - or - truly believe and teach that there is a change in recovery arc depending whether it is head or tail wind.
  12. TommyBotten
    This (see attached photo) has started happening recently, and I'm looking for advice on root cause and possible ways to mitigate it. It happens about every tenth jump, and I've tried two PCs (both UPT), one brand new, one with 300 jumps, and they act the same. Some times it happens right after opening, but in most cases it's gets twisted up after a HP landing. I've heard suggestions that the kill line is too long, but this does not _seem_ to be the case (from a laymans perspective). Any experiences or insight is greatly appreciated.
  13. TommyBotten
    Me and my teammates all jump without it. It's a matter of taste mostly, but do note that it may protect your jaw/teeth from minor bumps.
  14. TommyBotten
    Thank you very much! Even though wine worked pretty well, native linux support is of course best. Keep up the good work!
  15. TommyBotten
    Depends on what you're looking for. Chest mounted looking up will give you details in the various inputs, a bit on body positioning and you can watch how your canopy responds to inputs and how it recovers. POV camera will give you more information on the sight picture in the rollout and perhaps it's easier to see the timing for the turn and/or surge. Better yet, two cameras synced in time will give you both bits of information. Even better, a flysight (and gswoop) will provide you with detailed timing and speed information. But best by far ... have a friend film you with an outside camera. If there's two of you, it's better (imho) to do every other jump and get half as many jumps, but also get the outside video, compared to only having the swoopers POV. A friend of mine leaves his camera turned on in the landing area before boarding, and then picks it up after landing. Ymmv.
  16. TommyBotten
    Slower, flatter, much shorter recovery arc. Less searching in openings. I've seen a steeper version, the "Sensei Q"s out on DZs, but It's not listed on Aerodynes webpages. Haven't tried it myself though.
  17. TommyBotten
    I'd cast my vote for Skydive Algarve, Skytime in Castellon or Dropzone Denmark in Herning Denmark. Skydive Spain is also quite nice, but the facilities are somewhat lacking.
  18. TommyBotten
    A good vibe DZ with efficient load organizing, making this a contender for a trip to Spain/Portugal imho. Rates are good and their equipment is in top notch condition.
  19. TommyBotten
    Those setups sound really low. I was taught, and I believe in doing your setup as high as possible, so any screw ups, you roll out higher. In comparison, I do my 270s higher than your 450s at around 900 and my 450s at around 1200. As you've probably been taught, the pattern is extremely important while swooping, and I found it useful to have a "go" or "no go" decision with all checks green at the start of my base leg. Verify traffic, height, location in pattern, traffic, visualize maneuver, then relax. This might help you get better, more consistent results while giving you the awareness to abort early.
  20. TommyBotten
    FLCPA Meet #1 Skydive Sebastian February 20-21 FLCPA Meet #2 Skydive City Z-Hills March 12-13 FLCPA Meet #3 SkyCt Z-Hills Apr 2-3 USPA nationals z-hills, Apr 4-8 FLCPAMeet #4 Raeford May 7-8 Danish Nationals Open - 10.th - 12.th of June at NJFK BPA Grand Prix #1 18th - 19th June at Skydive Buzz, Dunkeswell BPA British Open Nationals 22nd - 24th July at Skydive Buzz, Dunkeswell Norwegian Nationals / Open - 31.07 - 02.08 at Gryttjom, Sweden Skydive Pink Klatovy Aug 11-14 BPA Grand Prix #2 17th - 18th September at Skydive Buzz, Dunkeswell
  21. TommyBotten
    I if understood https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=83865 and http://www.easa.europa.eu/system/files/dfu/FAA-EASA_TIP_%20Revision_5.pdf correctly, STCs approved in the US are automatically approved in EASA as well.
  22. TommyBotten
    This one is the PD version. I think snaps do a better job than velcro would ever. Hope the pictures are good enough. Let me know if you need a different angle. (Link as dropzone only allows 1MiB attachments). https://goo.gl/photos/sMrTPw8LaTAo4L2V9
  23. TommyBotten
    Some competitive canopy pilots also use a belly band, as they remove their chest strap after opening. This more flexibility and freedom to move forward in the harness.
  24. TommyBotten
    Do note that having the wing anywhere else than above your head limits the wings lift capabilities away from the ground. Think the lift vector of a tilted canopy vs. a straight flying. I see your point regarding the extra feet gained, but I fail to see how this can make up for for the lack of lift. I reckon that having "dig and carve" as a solution in the corner to be less efficient and more complex and dangerous.
  25. TommyBotten
    Here is my current Vector 3 with lightning split. I'm very happy with the rig and UPT as a vendor. No canopy in it in the picture, so it looks a bit wrinkly.