mjheath 0 #26 June 11, 2008 I live and jump in Japan where our regular jumpship is a chopper. Great view of Mt Fuji and 8 minutes to altitude also add to the experience. I've almost forgotten what it feels like to get out of a plane. Only seats 5 though which is a drag at times - especially here as some big sunset tracking dives would be awesome. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mircan 0 #27 June 11, 2008 Congrats! IMHO rear exits from Mi-8 are the best! Here, I found some pics for you. Mi-8 exit1 Mi-8 exit2 If you happen to come in the vicinity of South-East Europe, You should try it sometimes. dudeist skydiver #42 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lippy 882 #28 June 11, 2008 QuoteQuoteIt's a USPA requirement. I'm guessing it's because you need to be good at getting on your belly fast. There's dead air at first and by time you hit terminal you need to pull so you gotta get stable pretty damn quick. A 'B' license is definitely a good idea for balloon jumps, because you're probably not going to land on the DZ and the jumper's canopy skills should be of a level where they can deal with an off-DZ landing. Not so important with a helicopter where they can actually spot the thing. Quote Both my balloon and helicopter jumps were around 4000. I thought we were at 5000 (I was looking at the helicopters instrument panel). But I may be wrong. I've noticed instrument panel and wrist altimeter are two different things. I think instrument panels have some kind of barometric pressure adjustment mechanism that makes them have to be adjusted sometimes? Dunno. Either way, I looked down and everything was pretty big. One of those "You should ride down" thoughts entered my mind. When that happens I usually think "The hell I will" and pretend I can fly. Pilots and aircract deal with MSL, jumpers talk in AGL. You should definitely talk to some pilots/experienced jumpers and understand this concept and what it means to your canopy flight, especially before travelling to another DZ.I got nuthin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darrenspooner 0 #29 June 11, 2008 Did a few jumps from an MI-8 tailgate chopper couple of years ago. Three-abreast, linked by hands, back to the door with heels over the edge of the tailgate. Simply tipped out backwards into dead air at 12,000 feet above the Tatra mountains in Solvakia. Probably the best jump I ever did. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iluvtofly 0 #30 June 11, 2008 I just did that same exit with Sletzer and TMaricle out of the Casa this weekend. It was fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hausse 0 #31 June 11, 2008 A technical question: Do digital altimeters work on balloon jumps without problem (assuming that the ground is flat), or is the climb rate too slow so it confuses it for just driving up a big hill? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iluvtofly 0 #32 June 11, 2008 I had no problems with my AltiTrak. I also didn't hear anything about anyone else having any problems. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wrightskyguy 1 #33 June 12, 2008 A technical question: Do digital altimeters work on balloon jumps without problem (assuming that the ground is flat), or is the climb rate too slow so it confuses it for just driving up a big hill? *** ??????????????? John Wright World's most beloved skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mircan 0 #34 June 12, 2008 I think there is a good video of that event on skydivingmovies.com. I still watch it sometimes when I stumble upon it on my PC. dudeist skydiver #42 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redlegphi 0 #35 June 12, 2008 QuoteA technical question: Do digital altimeters work on balloon jumps without problem (assuming that the ground is flat), or is the climb rate too slow so it confuses it for just driving up a big hill? *** ??????????????? Digital altimeters (at least the one I have) activate when they sense a high rate of ascent. Hausse was asking if the rate of ascent of a balloon is high enough to activate a digital altimeter. If not, then the altimeter would just think it was driving up a really long hill. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SPAWNmaster 0 #36 June 12, 2008 really? i thought it was barometric pressure... but regardless, balloons climb mad fast...took about 6/7 minutes with 5 people up to 4500ft on my balloon jump. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tmaricle55 0 #37 June 12, 2008 Quote I just did that same exit with Sletzer and TMaricle out of the Casa this weekend. It was fun. We did have a good time! Muff Brother # 3883, SCR # 14796 ICD # 1 - Pres. Yeah, I noticed and I think it's funny! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wrightskyguy 1 #38 June 12, 2008 Digital altimeters (at least the one I have) activate when they sense a high rate of ascent. Hausse was asking if the rate of ascent of a balloon is high enough to activate a digital altimeter. If not, then the altimeter would just think it was driving up a really long hill. *** Altimeters sense changes in barometric pressure, not rate of change. I'm kind of confused here. Are we talking about altimeters or freefall computers? John Wright World's most beloved skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redlegphi 0 #39 June 12, 2008 I'm not entirely sure I understand the difference, so I'll explain what I think is correct, and then let you correct me. I have a neptune, which I refer to as a digital altimeter, since it has a nice little digital screen for me to read instead of the clockface of an analog altimeter. As long as I am landing at the same place I'm taking off from, I don't need to set the neptune to 0.0 before taking off. The neptune can sense the rapid change in barometric pressure (I originally said it was sensing the rate of ascent, which is not literally accurate I guess, as it is converting pressure data into altitude data and then comparing that against time to determine rate of ascent) when the plane takes off and automatically sets itself at 0.0 then. It will normally not set itself at 0.0 for slower changes in barometric pressure, such as when driving up a hill or changes in atmospheric pressure throughout the day. This, as I understand it, was what Hausse's question was about. On to freefall computers. In my understanding, a freefall computer is just a function of most digital altimeters that allows you to record data during a dive and check that data out later. If that is incorrect, I'd be interested to know what the correct definition is. Thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d123 1 #40 June 12, 2008 Some digital altimeters activate the digital recording (FreeFall Speeds, opening, etc) in those conditions. Altitude is always displayed. I think digital recording consumes more battery.Lock, Dock and Two Smoking Barrelrolls! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wrightskyguy 1 #41 June 12, 2008 Well then, I've learned something today. I still jump the same Alti II that I've had since 1991. John Wright World's most beloved skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrismgtis 0 #42 June 13, 2008 Quote Congrats Chris! And BEER!!! I owe so much beer. At the Christmas party at Dilworth Billiards last year I bought Pete a beer since he was on so many of my instructed jumps in the past and was one hell of a great instructor. I tried to offer beer to a few others but they wouldn't let me. Quote So do you get the sensation of "falling" (stomach in your throat) when you jump from a chopper/balloon? I missed the balloon, but on the helicopter jump I did feel some slight sensation of falling for maybe a second and a half or two. Though it wasn't really as extreme as a rollercoaster. Though, it was weird cause like I said when I started to fall I screamed "holllllly shittttt" or something of that sort. Quote Congrats! IMHO rear exits from Mi-8 are the best! Here, I found some pics for you. Mi-8 exit1 Mi-8 exit2 I've never seen a helicopter like that before. Definitely want to try that. Though.. I'm broke lately .Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mircan 0 #43 June 13, 2008 Quote I've never seen a helicopter like that before. Definitely want to try that. OTOH I have 150+ helicopter jumps and not a single one out of Otter, Caravan, Casa... dudeist skydiver #42 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stuntbabex 0 #44 June 13, 2008 Quote Quote I've never seen a helicopter like that before. Definitely want to try that. OTOH I have 150+ helicopter jumps and not a single one out of Otter, Caravan, Casa... Oh youre totally missing out then! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
denete 2 #45 June 13, 2008 QuoteReally? I did one right after I got my A. Shhh.SCR #14809 "our attitude is the thing most capable of keeping us safe" (look, grab, look, grab, peel, punch, punch, arch) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
denete 2 #46 June 13, 2008 Quote I thought it was in the SIM that you had to have a B to do night jumps, water jumps, helo jumps, balloon jumps, high alti jumps and stuff like that. Water jumps with an "A"...so you can do live water jump training before your "B". SCR #14809 "our attitude is the thing most capable of keeping us safe" (look, grab, look, grab, peel, punch, punch, arch) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrismgtis 0 #47 June 14, 2008 Quote Quote I've never seen a helicopter like that before. Definitely want to try that. OTOH I have 150+ helicopter jumps and not a single one out of Otter, Caravan, Casa... That's cool in a lot of ways.Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites