Down Plane probe, strap, slings

[feriansyah 0]

Can some advise a probe/ slings used for downplane in CRW, what is the dimension?, how the release system works?, Where is it fitted to?, Please include a detail picture/ sketch. Many thanks.

Feriansyah A

[IJskonijn 33]

Be careful if you venture there. Those things are nicknamed "Death Straps". There's differing opinions on whether that nickname is deserved or not, but such straps do add risk to a skydive in ways that are not readily apparent, so always keep thinking critically. My advice would be to seek out someone who is experienced in parabatics jumps with and without such straps, and jump/talk with them extensively. And because of their perceived risks, people are more likely to talk construction and dimensions when in-person rather than via the internet with someone far away.

[countzero 7]

2 hours ago, IJskonijn said:

Be careful if you venture there. Those things are nicknamed "Death Straps". There's differing opinions on whether that nickname is deserved or not, but such straps do add risk to a skydive in ways that are not readily apparent, so always keep thinking critically. My advice would be to seek out someone who is experienced in parabatics jumps with and without such straps, and jump/talk with them extensively. And because of their perceived risks, people are more likely to talk construction and dimensions when in-person rather than via the internet with someone far away.

Excellent response to this question. 

[Pit76 5]

Just out of curiosity, what are probe/slings used for downplane in CRW?

[IJskonijn 33]

15 hours ago, Pit76 said:

Just out of curiosity, what are probe/slings used for downplane in CRW?

An intentional downplane in CRW can be flown in different ways. One way is to stack, plane, climb down and transition to a grip where each jumper holds on to the other jumper's legs. If you fly a side-by-side this way, it's easy to transition to a downplane by steering both canopies out, and its easy to break up the downplane by letting go of the legs. I've tried this a few times myself, and in my experience it is not easy to get a proper grip and you need a lot of force from both persons to keep the grip stable. If one person releases that force, the other won't be able to hang on and both jumpers will fly away from each other.

Another way to do it that is physically easier is to make a harness with quick-release that you can connect to your own rig, and have a strap that can be connected between the two jumpers. I have made one jump with such a system (together with a CRW jumper who is very experienced in their use), and it is much easier to create a downplane with them, since you do not rely on muscle power to keep the connection. The downside is that you are more solidly connected to the other jumper, and if you cannot break that connection in time it can result in you both impacting the ground at downplane speeds. Typically, both jumpers have a cutaway system similar to a three-ring system on their end. One of the dangers (no exhaustive list) of this system happens if the strap gets twisted around somehow. This can lock in the release system, making release extremely difficult or pretty much impossible.

Hence my advice regarding this topic. Here Be Dragons! Venture forth at your own risk. Always think deeply before you act, and talk with many experienced people. Weigh their advice carefully, and don't throw it aside lightly.

 

[mikeat10500 3]

Trevor and I faced the same problem . Death straps were never an option. We used hand grips instead,  as described in Terry Parsons CRW book.  Spinning Down-plane or Pinwheel. After you have a bi-plane jump down in front ( squat down remove feet from risers ) both jumpers hold the other's harness just below cutaway handle with right hands(thumbs down). Both jumpers use left hands to apply full right toggle ( front jumper first until clear). Pull it right down to your lucky charms. Hang on as long as possible. We would burn off 1000 ft before the tension was too great. 

Edited September 24, 2019 by mikeat10500
Clarification

[kleggo 105]

Thanks for the Terry Parsons mention.

wrap?

sure!

Craig

Team Wrapture, circa 1983-84-85ish

[mikeat10500 3]

Kleggo ... did you actually get your hands on a copy of that book?

It was so funny and functional at the same time ... excellent book.

 

The link below is...well...setting a bad example...just don't look to closely.

That guy already had one CRW jump...so he was experienced!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UwZGBc0IEg568cuKQUtVLJY0YaJenir7/view?usp=sharing

[chuckakers 308]

On 7/5/2019 at 3:54 AM, IJskonijn said:

Be careful if you venture there. Those things are nicknamed "Death Straps". There's differing opinions on whether that nickname is deserved or not, but such straps do add risk to a skydive in ways that are not readily apparent, so always keep thinking critically. My advice would be to seek out someone who is experienced in parabatics jumps with and without such straps, and jump/talk with them extensively. And because of their perceived risks, people are more likely to talk construction and dimensions when in-person rather than via the internet with someone far away.

I concur.

Chris Bickerdike and another guy landed a downplane years ago at Raeford when they couldn't release their suicide strap. Big hospital bills and lucky they didn't die.

Definitely seek advice/training from folks with a lot of experience before trying it.

[kleggo 105]

If looking for current info on using "death straps" I recommend the following resources

• The Raw Dogs CReW group
• Any military demonstration team.

 

and nope, haven't seen my Terry Parsons book for a LONG time.

[sfzombie13 298]

just thinking out loud, would deploying a reserve into a downplane where you couldn't release the straps be advised or not?  i mean, it may not help anything, but it may slow you down a bit and make it more survivable, but i'd hate for it to have some affect like wrapping around the main and collapsing everything. 

[faulknerwn 29]

8 minutes ago, sfzombie13 said:

just thinking out loud, would deploying a reserve into a downplane where you couldn't release the straps be advised or not?  i mean, it may not help anything, but it may slow you down a bit and make it more survivable, but i'd hate for it to have some affect like wrapping around the main and collapsing everything. 

My plan whenever we were using straps was (besides not taking it so low you get &#*@*ed) was if we could not release the straps for whatever reason we go back into a side by side and either cut the straps with a hook knife if we could not release them or land the side by side.  But I would never go so low with straps where I had no options.