Hello Folks (tall guy tandem question)

[MrTooTall 0]

Hello everyone,

I have been interested in sky diving since I was very young. I live in RI. I am an IT Specialist.

I do have a slight problem, maybe you guys could shed some light. All of the local tandem places have a strict weight limit of 250ish. I am around 275-280. I am not fat, but unfortunately since I was 13 I grew to be almost 6' 10" in height. I work out regularly and before I became a full time "geek" I was training to be in the military.

Any suggestions, I would really love to do a tandem and learn. Or am I up a creek without a paddle.

edited title and moved by Skymama so more people will see the question

[riggerrob 558]

Your greatest challenge is finding a school that has big enough tandem parachutes for your weight. Sure many tandem systems are certified for 500 or 600 pounds total suspended weight, but they are only comfortable with 400 pounds of human flesh. That 400 pounds includes your weight, plus the instructor.

Military tandems routinely jump with 500 pound bundles, But few civilian parachute schools stock parachutes that large.

Another challenge is finding a tandem instructor muscular enough to steer the parachute with all that weight hanging underneath it.

Start by talking to skydiving schools that operate larger airplanes, like Twin Otters and Sky Vans.

Then re-assure them about your fitness and ask if they have an AFF student rig for BIG students. That answer will give you a hint about whether they are serious about adapting to different-sized students.

[pchapman 261]

Hey Mr mega-geek,

It certainly depends on the dropzone. There are plenty who don't take really big guys for tandems, and have a strict limit, but others who will. I'm at one DZ (not in your area) where various lighter (& experienced) instructors have taken people in the 250-300 range, even out of C-182's, and have done it pretty much within the legal limits of the gear. But the whole deal is less fun. Being in shape does make a big difference in whether a particular instructor will be willing to go. High weight people may pay a few bucks more too, to compensate the DZ for the weight and instructor for the extra effort.

As Rob gets at, it is a whole other issue whether a particular DZ will be able to let you continue beyond doing tandems. Sometimes that may relate to instructor weight - e.g, of the few AFF instructors at my DZ, none are really big and will not take a chance on trying to control someone so much heavier than themselves. The bigger problem may be the certification limits of the gear -- many rigs are are certified to only 254 lbs including the 25-30 lbs of gear. Some gear is certified higher, but it is less common.

There are plenty of really big guys who have learned to skydive. And if you search this site, various people have asked about it over the years. However, finding a dropzone and gear that accommodate you can be quite tough. Only fewer places, not necessarily close to you, will be able to do the job.

[wmw999 2,121]

Expand your definition of "local" and it might help. There are major dropzones with long-term staff in Lebanon, ME and Gardiner, NY that might work. I'm assuming that you called the ones in Pepperell and Orange MA, as well as Ellington, CT.

If not, try them, too. Someone will probably chime in with a likely possibility that you can combine with a work trip maybe, too.

Good luck
Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[stayhigh 2]

sigma harness pretty much maxes out with passenger over 6'6"… Unless they are all legs. Doesn't mean you can't fit, but will be a uncomfortable ride under canopy.

Bernie Sanders for President 2016

[riggerrob 558]

The long term goal is to avoid breaking students.

The heaviest student - that I ever jumped with - weighed 270 pounds. He was my height ( 6 feet tall), but out-weighed me by more than 70 pounds. He was a retired rugby player, in his thirties. Sure, he had a beer gut, but he also had thighs the size of tree trunks! I did not worry about breaking his leg bones.
He understood the additional risk, listened carefully and helped me steer the parachute. After a slide landing, we shook hands and walked off the drop zone.

That is always my goal: to walk off the drop-zone beside my student.

Sure there are bunch of legal arguments - with lots of numbers and fancy acronyms - but the end goal is always the same - walking off the DZ.

[fanya 3]

I've taken 280 several times, a couple of them out of a narrow body 182, it sucks every time no matter what airplane. (I'm 6'3 155lbs for reference.)

You're going to have a easier time finding someone to take you on a tandem than do your AFF in my opinion.

I'd work on shedding the weight.

[MrTooTall 0]

Thank you guys for your help. I will start calling. By local I meant in RI and CT.

Also as far as shedding the weight. I have pictures from when I was that skinny around 250. It was scary. I looked like a twig. That was when I was a freshman in high school.

I will continue to see if there any options. Thank you guys.

[doorgirl 0]

There are some bigger guys up at Skydive New England in Maine. It is a drive from RI, but there are people who absolutely make that work. See if CPI has bigger guys jumping and figure out how to make it happen, especially if you are leaning toward AFF. It is a bigger challenge to have your size, but it can be overcome with some help and creativity.
The tandem question can be tougher, as having a small instructor who feels comfortable with a student of your size can be tough, or so I hear. I'm not so involved in the tandem world.

[tkhayes 126]

100lb people do not play pro football. 300lb people do not skydive.

You are in a very limited category, and while it might be possible, most likely it will be very difficult and very expensive if you can even find anyone willing to help you through it.

[MrTooTall 0]

Thank you for the vote of confidence.

If everything was easy it would not be any fun.

Thank you

[stayhigh 2]

Possibility might be wind tunnel option??

and learn how to fly your body, it is the newest thing. No one really skydives anymore, jumping out of the airplane is for old people.

Bernie Sanders for President 2016

[pchapman 261]

TK is just being realistic.
And he is someone who has helped many people get into skydiving.

There just isn't a lot of gear out there that is going to fit and be legal, and jumpers willing to take you due to their judgments on safety. Doing tandems is one thing, but solo jumps is another. I now realize that even the largest reserve parachute built by one of the top companies for solo jumpers is only certified to 300 lbs, not enough for you and equipment. You would need to use adapted tandem or military equipment... which is generally very expensive.

Doesn't stop you from phoning around and seeing if some place can take you though.

[steveorino 7]

We are a long way from you but I have taken 6'9" 260 athletes

steveOrino

[BIGUN 1,053]

If he comes down, you better call me.

We'll have an Anvil Brother party.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[Croc 0]

Try Start Skydiving in Middletown, OH

"Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so."

Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

[keithbar 1]

Croc

Try Start Skydiving in Middletown, OH

wow a 10 year ( bump) is that some kind of record

i have on occasion been accused of pulling low . My response. Naw I wasn't low I'm just such a big guy I look closer than I really am .

[DougH 270]

Don't look now, but you are confusing registered by date, with post date.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[SkymonkeyONE 3]

The only real limits are max load on the total system (500 pounds) and the willingness of a tandem instructor to take on the challenge. I'm a small guy by your standards (five foot seven, 155 pounds), but I've taken two guys who were six foot eight and 280 pounds and well over 100 guys who were between 230 and 260 pounds with no problems at all.

If you are physically fit and can safely be secured in the harness I'm sure you will find someone to accomodate you. My advice is call ahead. Most dropzones a "General" max limit of 220 or 230 pounds depending on your body type, but will often allow willing instructors to work up to the maximum limit of the parachute system for an additional fee. I've worked at dropzones where there was a flat $20 or $25 fee and other dropzones where the instructor was paid an additional dollar for every pound over the "general" limit.

I have friends who have jumped people over 300 pounds.

Good luck!

Chuck