Tall TIs and 182s

[skydived19006 4]

There was a fair bit of conversation regarding tall (as opposed to large) TIs doing tandems out of 182s, and especially with large/heavy students. I’m here to say that it can be done, and done safely. I’m 6’ 8” , but weigh only 220 (I work to keep it at 220 or less), and have around 2000 tandems, 95% out of a 182D (not “wide body”), and would guess in excess of 200 of those students weighing 210 lbs or more. I’ve taken students matching my height, weighing between 230 and 240 lbs out of my 182 with no problem (College basketball players). I know a bunch of you will be running the numbers, exit weight between 510 and 520 lbs, harness/reserve TSO 525 lbs.

My opinion is that technique, and flexibility (mine) are key, as well as gear maintenance. We hook up on our knees (TI and student on our knees), facing aft. This configuration seems to be the easiest, and has causes the least snag potential, although it’s generally not comfortable on the students ankles. If the student mentions his ankles being uncomfortable, I’ll let him bring one leg/knee up after I’ve tightened the lowers. In my opinion, a TI under 6’ tall, but carrying around a beech ball belly is going be more of an issue than simply being tall. As I say when my students mention something about my height, and the size of the aircraft “I fold up well.”

I guess my point is, if you’re having issues because you need to lose the belly, all I can say is “dies and excursive big boy!”, same thing we tell overweight limit students. If you’re dragging your handles all over the airplane due to technique, reexamine your technique. If your drogue pouch is lose, don’t jump the rig until it’s repaired. If your knees are bad because you’re old, I guess you’ll have to stick to a larger airplane, or small students.

I attached a picture, couldn't find one of me with a heavy student. And one of me as student with a small TI.

Be safe out there!
Martin

Edit to resize picture

Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else.

AC DZ

[riggerrob 599]

Agreed.
I am six feet tall weight 185 pounds and have done almost 4,000 tandems, half of them out of Cessnas, frequently with students taller and heavier than me.

We only differ in technique. I prefer to hook up while seated.
Yes, morning stretches do ease exits.

[SkydiveMO 0]

Thanks for the pointers. Do you have the videographer get out first then back into the door and exit position or do they exit in chase?

[skydived19006 4]

Quote

Agreed.
I am six feet tall weight 185 pounds and have done almost 4,000 tandems, half of them out of Cessnas, frequently with students taller and heavier than me.

We only differ in technique. I prefer to hook up while seated.
Yes, morning stretches do ease exits.

So Rob, you have the student climb onto your lap for hookup? How do you do that if you're the second tandem pair out? Seems it would be quite difficult to move to the door in the sitting position.

Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else.

AC DZ

[skydived19006 4]

Quote

Thanks for the pointers. Do you have the videographer get out first then back into the door and exit position or do they exit in chase?

The vidiot sits back to panel, and climbs out first. If there is a slot filling fun jumper on the video guy still sits back to panel, and the solo skydiver exits past him, then vid climbs out. If a skydiver is tagging along with the tandem/vid pair, he'll dive out after us.

I generally go out second if we have two tandem pairs on, I sit back to the pilot, and hook up with my back to the pilot, somewhat caddy corner so we're facing the right rear corner. As #1 tandem makes space we move to the left, then scoot to the door after #1 leaves. I get my left foot out, student gets both feet out on the step, and off we go, diving toward the tail.

I did not "move" to this set up. It's how Mark "Shoobi" Knutson trained us.

Here's a vid one of our students posted. I have my camera in one of Riggerrob's gloves. It is the whole 10 minute video, but you can easily see how we're situated in the back of the 182, how we move to the door, exit, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_azF7gTfT8&feature=related

Martin

Edit to add; I just watched this video again. If you look hard enough, I'm shooting the distant sky, looks like I don't know how to run hand cam. There was a 360 degree rainbow I was trying to get.

Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else.

AC DZ

[riggerrob 599]

So Rob, you have the student climb onto your lap for hookup? How do you do that if you're the second tandem pair out? Seems it would be quite difficult to move to the door in the sitting position.

[Unstable 8]

I would absolutly love to see you as Jens Passenger, walking to the Otter at Couch Freaks with Jen, and the rig, along for the ride. The double-takes would be priceless.

=========Shaun ==========

[skydived19006 4]

Quote

I would absolutely love to see you as Jens Passenger, walking to the Otter at Couch Freaks with Jen, and the rig, along for the ride. The double-takes would be priceless.

I'm think'n Sky Van, just walk to the door, with Jen as my "rig adapter", and off we go.

Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else.

AC DZ