Dec 1, 2009, 11:34 AM
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Smallest Tandem passenger?
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What is the smallest a person could be and still fit safely into a tandem harness? I asked around my drop zone and the smallest anybody had take a tandem passenger was ~4'10" and maybe 90 lbs or so. I'm not sure if there is a manufacturer recommendation. Just curious if people have taken people smaller than this (both height and weight).
Dec 1, 2009, 11:39 AM
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Re: [Southern_Man] Smallest Tandem passenger?
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I am sure the folks from South Africa have taken smaller people as there is no age limit as long as they can fit in the harness. At least that is what I understand. Lots of 5 year olds have made tandems there. I keep telling my sons mom I am going to take him there for his 5th birthday :)
Dec 1, 2009, 11:45 AM
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Re: [catfishhunter] Smallest Tandem passenger?
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They would have different harness systems, though, right? I am curious in an American context and how small the harnesses will adjust down to. Also, this would be an adult, not a child (and esp. not an infant, my goodness).
Dec 1, 2009, 2:19 PM
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Re: [Southern_Man] Smallest Tandem passenger?
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Not a TI so take it for what it's worth.
We had a girl come out and do a tandem that was about 4'6", maybe 75lbs or so. She had had some developmental issues when she was young.
The TI spent a few extra minutes making sure the harness was adjusted correctly, but it fit her properly. The TI had said he wasn't sure it would fit ok, and wouldn't take her if it hadn't.
One of the more interesting sights was watching the TI (6' 200lbs) walking aroung with the rig on his back and the girl hanging off his chest. Her feet were just below his knees.
Dec 1, 2009, 11:10 PM
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Re: [catfishhunter] Smallest Tandem passenger?
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I am sure the folks from South Africa have taken smaller people as there is no age limit as long as they can fit in the harness. At least that is what I understand. Lots of 5 year olds have made tandems there. I keep telling my sons mom I am going to take him there for his 5th birthday :)
You could also take him for a tandem paraglider flight here in the USA.
Dec 2, 2009, 6:28 AM
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Re: [wolfriverjoe] Smallest Tandem passenger?
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Not a TI so take it for what it's worth.
We had a girl come out and do a tandem that was about 4'6", maybe 75lbs or so. She had had some developmental issues when she was young.
The TI spent a few extra minutes making sure the harness was adjusted correctly, but it fit her properly. The TI had said he wasn't sure it would fit ok, and wouldn't take her if it hadn't.
One of the more interesting sights was watching the TI (6' 200lbs) walking aroung with the rig on his back and the girl hanging off his chest. Her feet were just below his knees.
Thanks, that's little, smaller than I am thinking about, although not by much. Do you know what system they used?
Dec 2, 2009, 8:08 AM
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Re: [Southern_Man] Smallest Tandem passenger?
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Strong Dual Hawk.
Just to emphasize - The TI wasn't sure it would work, spent extra time making sure the fit was correct and had the student bend and twist around while he was yanking various directions on the harness to make sure it would stay on.
(This post was edited by wolfriverjoe on Dec 2, 2009, 8:12 AM)
Dec 2, 2009, 8:56 AM
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Re: [Southern_Man] Smallest Tandem passenger?
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We take kids up over here, youngest was 5 I think (dropzone kid), most are 8-9yrs or older. We do have one special kids harness we use for these, not sure of the specifics but that harness seems to have less back stuff. Somewhat older kids like these or this or this one can go into a regular harness. This one looks like the kid harness.
Dec 2, 2009, 9:38 AM
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Re: [Southern_Man] Smallest Tandem passenger?
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What is the smallest a person could be and still fit safely into a tandem harness? I asked around my drop zone and the smallest anybody had take a tandem passenger was ~4'10" and maybe 90 lbs or so.
That sounds like the lower limit. A long time ago, at a DZ far, far away I took a 13 year old girl about 4' 10" and less than 100 pounds. She was scared stiff the entire jump! At pull time, she had a dead grip on my left thumb. Hint, this was shortly after they started installing drogues on Vectors, but before they started installing a second drogue release and many years before Cypres was invented. Sometimes I am amazed at all the dumb things I survived when I was young??????????????
I have never jumped with a minor since then!!!!!
Manufacturers frown on taking minors because they cannot sign (binding) waivers, nor can their parents sign away their right to sue when they turn 18. The legal risk is simply too great.
Dec 2, 2009, 10:01 AM
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Re: [riggerrob] Smallest Tandem passenger?
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Just to clarify, because people have been posting stuff about minors, this is not a minor, just a very small adult. I know when we went Rock climbing she had to use a children's size harness.
Dec 4, 2009, 6:19 AM
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Re: [jumpwally] Smallest Tandem passenger?
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How about the tallest ? any Pro basketballers..?
Not super tall but I took someone that was 6' 7" once. I am only 5' 6" . I was his little back pack. He had a perfect arch and it was one of the easiest skydives I have ever done. The landing was a different story. I think he landed a minute before I did.
in Hawaii its not unusual to take a sub 100lbs student. My smallest was an 80lbs 4'5'' Japanese woman. Harness fit just fine. the only problem is that on the island it gets really windy and weighing only 120lbs myself the landings can get a little tricky.
Trust me, it's the most miserable moments of our lives as TM's, having a petite pretty woman perched on our laps.
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