skypuppy 1 #1 June 22, 2007 Anyone know who came up the diamond track maneuver used by military teams such as the Golden Knights? Someone told me it was conceived in the early '70's by a Canadian -- but maybe it was developed simultaneously by several teams? Also, when was the GK exhibition team first conceived and formed?If some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead. Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #2 June 22, 2007 You can read the history of the Golden Knights teams on their website. The first team was formed in 1959. The Diamond Track origins aren't found on their website. I'll guess one of the old timers in the History forum would know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #3 June 22, 2007 The Gypsy Moths! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 14 #4 June 22, 2007 I saw it done in the 60's at an airshow. I don't know if it was the GKs or some other group. I was just a kid back then. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 36 #5 June 22, 2007 It used to be called Relative Work! I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #6 June 22, 2007 Quote It used to be called Relative Work! I remember Steve Snyder telling me once, Relative Work use to be: Hey...I saw you in freefall! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 3 #7 June 22, 2007 Do the GKs still DO the Diamond Track? I could have sworn I heard they stopped doing it after the accident.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #8 June 22, 2007 What IS the diamond track?"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #9 June 22, 2007 Yep - they still do the diamond track. Two jumpers in freefall with smoke initially track away from each other, then turn and track back towards each other. The smoke forms a diamond in the sky. Got to be careful on the return track because the jumpers literally pass within inches of each other in a full bore track.Scars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #10 June 22, 2007 QuoteYep - they still do the diamond track. Two jumpers in freefall with smoke initially track away from each other, then turn and track back towards each other. The smoke forms a diamond in the sky. Got to be careful on the return track because the jumpers literally pass within inches of each other in a full bore track. Doesn't need to be that close, as long as the 'perspective' angle is toward the crowd you can cross 20-30 feet apart and no one can tell. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #11 June 22, 2007 A major safety point involves consistently passing your partner on the RIGHT SIDE. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #12 June 22, 2007 QuoteYep - they still do the diamond track. Two jumpers in freefall with smoke initially track away from each other, then turn and track back towards each other. The smoke forms a diamond in the sky. Got to be careful on the return track because the jumpers literally pass within inches of each other in a full bore track. According to interviews after the death/injury, Dana Bowman claims they usually pass "several" feet away from each other, although it 'appears' to be inches. FWIW, if you ever have the opportunity to hear his motivational presentations, run, don't walk to the ticket office. He presents with an amazing style, and incredible stories, many of which are not related to the GK experiences. FWIW, he's the only double-amputee ever to be re-admitted into the Army. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,050 #13 June 22, 2007 I wasn't jumping in '59 but I 'think' that the Diamond Track was there almost from their very beginning. I know it was there in '64. Jerry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #14 June 23, 2007 Quotehe's the only double-amputee ever to be re-admitted into the Army. And the only double amputee (AKA, BKA) to become a helicopter pilot, then helicopter instructor after the accident, as well. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skr 1 #15 July 12, 2007 > who came up the diamond track I don't know who first did the two people track apart and then back together version, but Ray Duffy told me that the 4-way diamond version was somewhat of an accident. He was the leader, and he mis-spotted, so he started gently sliding toward the spot. The other three guys were staying with him so he started sliding a little more and a little more until he was in kind of a wide track. It looked good from the ground so they practiced it and started using it in real demos. I vaguely remember him saying 1961. I first saw it in person at the Las Vegas Professional Meet in 1964. It was awesome (which is a case of beer, I've never seriously used that phrase before). It was that and Richard Economy's hovering jump around the same time that go me so fired up about flying no-contact. Skr Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #16 July 14, 2007 QuoteQuotehe's the only double-amputee ever to be re-admitted into the Army. And the only double amputee (AKA, BKA) to become a helicopter pilot, then helicopter instructor after the accident, as well. ltdiver Fascinating story about Dana Bowman on one of the cable networks (Discovery Channel maybe ?). The REALLY cool part of the story is Dana's ongoing participation in the design and development of newer generations of "smart" prosthetic limbs. The legs and feet he's wearing nowadays actually allow him to feel - and control - very slight and subtle movements with his feet. That kind of dexterity is essential to controlling a helicopter, where the pilot is literally "dancing" with the hand and foot controls. It's all done by the pilot's ability to alter pressure with very subtle motions and his ability to then read the feedback of the control response. Dana's prosthetics actually do that for him. And now that they they can do that for him, they're available to others as well. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #17 July 14, 2007 QuoteQuoteQuotehe's the only double-amputee ever to be re-admitted into the Army. And the only double amputee (AKA, BKA) to become a helicopter pilot, then helicopter instructor after the accident, as well. ltdiver Fascinating story about Dana Bowman on one of the cable networks (Discovery Channel maybe ?). The REALLY cool part of the story is Dana's ongoing participation in the design and development of newer generations of "smart" prosthetic limbs. The legs and feet he's wearing nowadays actually allow him to feel - and control - very slight and subtle movements with his feet. That kind of dexterity is essential to controlling a helicopter, where the pilot is literally "dancing" with the hand and foot controls. It's all done by the pilot's ability to alter pressure with very subtle motions and his ability to then read the feedback of the control response. Dana's prosthetics actually do that for him. And now that they they can do that for him, they're available to others as well. It's called a C-Leg, and yes it is available to those with $35-40,000. I have several patients with them right now. And our noble Max (Gaiwan) is using one as well. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
