Superman32 0 #1 March 15, 2005 What is the absolute heaviest you can be and still do a tandem, SL or AFF? Just wondering Inveniam Viam aut Faciam I'm back biatches! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 15 #2 March 15, 2005 Usually 240 is the max but some DZ's put the limit at 225.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #3 March 15, 2005 Quote Usually 240 is the max but some DZ's put the limit at 225. Even then some DZs charge more for the extra weight by the pound. My DZ doesn't, but I know that some do. Some DZs don't want to take 225-240lbs in the summer unless they've got a bit of wind to help with landing speed (as I've seen at other DZs as well). Some TI's can't take people that big either due to the tandem gear's weight limit of 500lbs.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
divnswoop 0 #4 March 15, 2005 QuoteWhat is the absolute heaviest you can be and still do a tandem, SL or AFF? Just wondering I have taken tandems a "bit larger" than 250. But they were in excellent shape and capable of taking care of their legs.(one was a marine that was 6'8"...he weighed the most...but I'm 6'2' and only 160 with orangutan arms) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #5 March 15, 2005 Some TI's can't take people that big either due to the tandem gear's weight limit of 500lbs. Quote I resemble that remark! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #6 March 15, 2005 QuoteI resemble that remark! So do I, generally speaking (since I've lost a little weight) 200lbs is as heavy as I can take and still be at or below the 500lbs total. --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewGPM 0 #7 March 15, 2005 I saw a tandem student that 6' 8", 290 pounds...he was one of those full contact fighters...not an ounce of fat on the big bastard! The TI was 160-180 pounds...so they stayed under that 500 pound limit people...but just barely! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sd-slider 0 #8 March 15, 2005 Moreso am I resembles el remarko!Anvil Brother #69 Sidelined with a 5mm C5-C6 herniated disk... Back2Back slammers and 40yr old fat guys don't mix! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlindBrick 0 #9 March 15, 2005 You might hae to call around and ask. Theoretically, with a TSO B/D container and a TSO D reserve, you could do SL/AFF weighing near 300 lbs. -Blind"If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linestretch 0 #10 March 15, 2005 QuoteI saw a tandem student that 6' 8", 290 pounds...he was one of those full contact fighters...not an ounce of fat on the big bastard! The TI was 160-180 pounds...so they stayed under that 500 pound limit people...but just barely! Ummmm, me thinks he was over just a tad. The heaviest I've taken was 271. I was weighed with the gear on, and then he was weighed......and I'm right around 175. Sucks being the smaller TI's.my pics & stuff! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #11 March 15, 2005 The largest student I ever took was a 280 pound retired rugby player. The guy had massive, muscular thighs, ergo little risk of him breaking a leg. On a practical note, our official school policy is to avoid taking students weighing more than 220 pounds, as few people over that weight are physically fit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Antidote 0 #12 March 15, 2005 How about AFF? I saw a very heavy set man getting ready to do an AFF level 1 and according to his instructors he had a on-belly fall rate of around 270 km/h . He was wearing some special gear/canopy but unfortunately I cannot recall what. Just sounds pretty unsafe to me to be that fast on your belly as an AFF student. I figure it should be possible to calculate a theoretical terminal velocity based on weight and use that as a 'limiting factor' so to speak, but perhaps that's being overly geeky? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #13 March 15, 2005 at my DZ its 220 for S/L, and thats because of the manufacturer's weight limit fo the container MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
efs4ever 3 #14 March 15, 2005 The weight limit is 450 pounds with gear on Relative Workshop equipment. It depends on many factors. I would turn down someone who did not exceed the weight limit, but otherwise looked unfit. I'm +- 235, and I've taken the max weight and landed them softly. We fall faster and open harder at that weight. Russell M. Webb D 7014 Attorney at Law 713 385 5676 https://www.tdcparole.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #15 March 15, 2005 Quote How about AFF? I saw a very heavy set man getting ready to do an AFF level 1 and according to his instructors he had a on-belly fall rate of around 270 km/h It depends on the DZ and the gear available. The limiting factor really is the gear. Some DZs will convert their tandem rigs for bigboy AFF. However, I can't comment on flying as an AFF-I that fast, since obviously I'm not an AFF-I.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Antidote 0 #16 March 15, 2005 My thinking is that at above a certain speed, deploying your main would be extremely hazardous - ergo a limit. Perhaps I'm in error. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rustywardlow 0 #17 March 15, 2005 It doesn't matter what you do you still must stay within the manufacurs recamendations of the reserve. Any violation is wrong. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egons 0 #18 March 15, 2005 Date: January 1, 1999 Relative Workshop has recently changed the weight limit capability of the Vector Tandem System and the Sigma Tandem System when used in conjunction with the following (airworthy) canopies, regardless of their date of manufacture. PD-360 Reserve Canopy PD-421 Main Canopy PD-500 Main Canopy EZ-384 Main Canopy EZ-425 Main Canopy Sigma 340,370 & 395 Main Canopies The previous weight limit was 450 lbs. The new approved gross weight limit is 500 lbs. This translates to approximately 50 lbs. of gear weight and 450 lbs. of personnel weight. Please keep this official weight-change authorization (in your office files and in the aircraft with your FAA-Exemption) for future reference because the canopies you currently jump are placarded for 400-450 lbs. This notice supercedes current placarding. Authorizing Authority - The Uninsured Relative Workshop, Inc. "Start doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you're doing the impossible!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atsaubrey 0 #19 March 15, 2005 I was 320lbs when I went thru AFF, and know two others as big or bigger. I used a military HALO rig."GOT LEAD?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthewcline 0 #20 March 16, 2005 TheTandems weights you already have. The Relative Workshop used to have a modification that allowed the Vector 2 Tandem Constainer to be converted so it could be used for aff. I saw a 280 lbs AFF FJC Student do a AFF leval 1 with this conversion. I can not say if it was under or above the RWS weight limit. MattAn Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
