0
matthias

Cloudsurfing + rainbows and lightning

Recommended Posts

My mind is still processing this one, so I wrote a blog on facebook. Since mostly whuffos who wouldn't comprehend most of it are the ones who would read it, I decided to post it on here as well.

Bear in mind...like in many jumps many many things we're happening faster than that I could process them, so the story will seem choppy and incomplete. I am glad I had the wingsuit experience I had prior to this as I had zero time to think, and flew the suit purely on instinct.

Going to copy and paste in a reply
_________________________________________
trance/house mixes for download:
www.djmattm.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
(copied and pasted from my FB page)
Foreward:

I am going to attempt to tell this is a storylike fashion like some of the previous blogs. I don't normally do this for most of my jumps as my mind doesn't pay attention to alot of details that I see on every single jump, but may be important to a non-jumper trying to gain an understanding of what my jumps are like. Futhurmore, jumps like these don't happen very often. There may be language and terminology that will not make too much sense to a non-skydiver. *shrug* Look it up.



Overview/plane-ride:

I like puffy clouds because no two are the same and they constantly change, so no two jumps are ever alike. This puffy filled sky was minutes away from becoming unjumpable so it was a race to get up while we still had time. During the climb to altitude I observed the sky get more and more cluttered with clouds that ranged from 4,000ft all the way up past 13K. The few of the ground was getting less clear as landmarks became less visible. Storm clouds were appearing a mile away. I changed my pull altitude to 7K instead of 3.5 as I was certain I would lose sight of the tandem canopies in all this. Due to the clouds there were multiple go arounds on jump run. The only landmark I could see was the northern stretch of 290. My plan was to abide by FAA regulations on cloud clearances. Heh... here we go:



The jump:



Sign of the cross. Exit 1,000 - Wings 1,000. Clouds EVERYWHERE. I did a 90 left only to do a hairpin 180 as the cloud formations were solid in that direction. I don't fly through clouds that I dunno where the other end is. Why? You cant see shit. I skydive for the view :) - I couldn't enjoy the view tho.



12K My face was being pelted by what felt like sleet, and I was trying to keep from getting tunnel-vision and fixating too much on the clouds I wanted to steer around. I anticipated where the edges were ahead of time and did my best to flat track over the tops of those I could and vector around those I couldn't.

10.5K Turning back toward the NE I saw a large rainbow with a smaller one underneathe arching over 290. Very cool...but couldn't enjoy the view. Canopy flights I can relax and enjoy the view with my brakes set and all that. Wingsuits...you're either flying the suit or its flying you. And this was NOT the sky for that :P - After flying through more holes and weaving around the grand canyon of clouds I found myself flying into dark gray clouds.

9K. The moisture content was evident and seemed to be effecting my flying. - Bank right to avoid while scanning the holes below for landmarks that would tell me "where the hell was I?" - FLASH!!! Lightning arced across the sky to my left and after getting my bearings a 2 second look showed a storm cloud a 1/4 mile away pulsating with static lightning flashes. - I heard my heartbeat over the relative wind. - Time to go. NOW. I turned away and got my arms and legs into the flattest, fastest track I could to get as much distance between me and that bullshit behind me while *trying* to dodge the clouds in my path. I did EVERYTHING I could to avoid the thought of a horizontal lightning bolt coming after me. There were no more holes so one last glace at my altimeter before I flew right into the clouds.

7K. I pulled quickly, but stable..inside the cloud and pulled the goggle off my face as I was saddling in, hands on my wings cutaway cables. The vapor was so dense, I was barely able to see my canopy overhead.



--Im going to take a break from the story and share some insight about clouds to the non-skydivers reading this. Clouds are fun to fly over, next to and around, but not in. When you fly in a cloud, you only see white and nothing else. Trust me, it gets old. And while you are seeing all white...guess what else may be in the same airspace as you? Other planes, other parachutes, and other skydivers. It's why the FAA has cloud clearances of...1,000 feet or so. Or is it centimeters :P Back to the story:



Canopy ride: I couldn't see anything so I went through my usuall routine of getting out of my arm and leg wings, collapsing my slider, etc etc. The main reason I chose to pull within a cloud is because I knew I was pulling 1,000ft above what the tandem jumpers below me were at. I *KNEW* they were be in that airspace and that I could not see their location because of the clouds. And due to my very...eventuall flight path dodging clouds and lightning. I could have very well been on a head on collision with them, so I feel I did the right thing. -- Then I found myself getting rained on :/ and luckily I saw a hole to fly out of the clouds. Looking down I saw the main landing area. THANK GOD. I was afraid I was going to be landing 3-4 miles out because of all that. Apparently all my flying in all directions kept me near in the spot I exited...which is why im glad I pulled at 7.



I 'could' write about the remainder of the canopy flight...but you gotta realize that when you have over 300 jumps. Telling a story about racing the incoming weather to the ground and flight a normal landing pattern is about as exciting as say if you wanted to tell a story about driving home. Maybe its because I don't swoop like everyone else who has a C and D license, but my fun in the sky ends at the base of the clouds :P, then its all about getting to the ground safe to go jump again.



I LOVE THIS SPORT!!!
(/end blog)
_________________________________________
trance/house mixes for download:
www.djmattm.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
The static lightning part scared the shit out of me. The temperature of the air warmed up significantly and I felt a surge of turbulence right before the lightning flashes. I bolted in the opposite direction doing my best to fight off panic and to keep from stalling my wingsuit or letting my fear cause me to go unstable. I knew outflying an intercloud lightning bolt is impossible but my logic was to get as much distance.

I will say this tho. Seeing static lightning in the air is probably the most awe-inspiring and scariest thing I have yet to see. These puffy clouds never get old...

I posted what I could remember. As a note if I had any doubts (while on the ground and in the plane) as to whether I should be jumping, I would have closed the hatch and rode the plane down.

Along with sharing the story I was curious if any fellow wingsuit pilots experienced anything similar, and if anyone had any questions or comments over my jump as far as safety or otherwise. Thanks! :)
_________________________________________
trance/house mixes for download:
www.djmattm.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

If you are flying in a cloud with lightning I wouldn't worry too much about finding an airplane in it...



I'd say the lightning clouds were a good 1/4mile away, but way too close for comfort. If I had flown in that general direction after exit, chances are I may of ended up in the middle of the activity. (I'm going to assume that wingsuit flying around lightning is about as smart as an insect flying around a bug zapper):S

As for planes flying in the area...the airspace over Skydive Houston is shared by idiot pilots who live near the DZ. I wouldn't put it past them...
_________________________________________
trance/house mixes for download:
www.djmattm.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

if anyone had any questions or comments over my jump as far as safety or otherwise. Thanks! :)



Safety: don't skydive in thunderstorms.

Otherwise: maybe don't mention online the name of the DZ that put you out of a plane near a thunderstorm...
www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Nice Dan Dare style story, but jumping in storms is pretty dumb as an operator. Was a DZ in PA in 1996 and watched a load go up get hit by storm and 1 out of 9 jumpers landed on. 2 broke there legs on landing, one his pelvis and the rest out as far as 8 miles.

So if I see storm clouds I tend to sit on the ground, I love flying but I also like being able to keep flying.
Dont just talk about it, Do it!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Quote

if anyone had any questions or comments over my jump as far as safety or otherwise. Thanks! :)



Safety: don't skydive in thunderstorms.

Otherwise: maybe don't mention online the name of the DZ that put you out of a plane near a thunderstorm...



Lightning didnt show up until halfway through the jump. And I was the last to exit. *shrug*
_________________________________________
trance/house mixes for download:
www.djmattm.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

0