Skydawg

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Posts posted by Skydawg

  1. Geez, harden up Jimmy, we've all lost friends... Guess what? They're on the list...

    And hey, some of us actually learn from the mistakes of those who have gone before us... That was the whole purpose of the list.

    The list was just fine the way it was, and served a useful purpose, it didn't need modifying to make it palatable for those little whiney bitches that couldn't take seeing a number next to their buddies name.

    When next someone goes in coz they tied a pull up around their pc, or they over delayed in the fog, or they go unstable on an underhung cliff or they got suckered low on a wingsuit jump, well you can just accept some of the blame, coz they didn't have access to the list any more...

    Nick, thanks for all the effort, and know that you provided a valuable service to at least one of us and I applaud your contribution to making BASE what it is today.

    ~Edited to remove confrontational content.

  3. Hi Patrick,
    Have you jumped the exit above “Jacob’s Ladder”, 12 secs if you track a bit.B|

    Also, check out “Exposure in F major” on the way to Worcester ask one of the climbers at Camp and climb in Claremont for details if you don’t know them;), there are literally hundreds of exits in the Hex river range, the wall at the start of the old pass is an old favourite:)
    Cheers,
    Mike.

  5. Quote

    getting back to the thread does any one know in the dz in capetown is open during the week?



    It’s supposed to be open 7 days, but in practice only opens if people have booked.;)
    Call Jonathan on
    +27 82 800 6290
    or

    Anton
    +27 82 852 1322
    Lang Pete
    +27 82 888 9681

  7. Quote

    In general, I'd say that the vents aren't [I]necessary[/I] for a beginner, because the vents are most noticeable on lowish slider down, and especially underhung (where you want the wing flying to avoid the object coming out below you), solid objects. Beginners shouldn't really be jumping those types of objects, so why waste the money buying a (pricey) bit of technology that won't help you on the objects you are jumping? I think it's better to wait and get them on your next canopy, which you're more likely to be taking to such sites.



    One good reason to get a vented canopy is the canopy is more likely to stay inflated during a cliff strike :)

  8. Nope, to much like hard work... Now I only log the jumps that are unusual / memorable / or with friends that I want to remember. The majority of my jumps are solo, and they all kinda blur into beautiful sunrises and crisp crystal clear mornings:)

  9. Quote


    me flying off a 3000 ft + terminal wall in Norway in my wingsuit skydiving rig.

    that I, regardless of BASE experience, don't see why it would be a problem to anyone for me to jump off that rock, fly for 1000 feet vertical, then dump at 2000agl.



    I'm sorry but I don't think you realise why BASE jumping your wingsuit skydiving rig is a bad idea. I'm sure you have a vast amount of wingsuit experience, I'm not disputing that. But the BASE environment is different to skydiving. In a BASE jump the exit is critical, and has a direct correlation to stability in the first 3 to 4 seconds of the jump. Just have a look at Nick's list to see how many fatalities have been stability related.

    It's the bit between jumping off the rock and flying that will catch a non-BASE jumper out, those 3 to 4 seconds before the suit starts to fly. During this time you have to be stable. If you go unstable (head down, on your back whatever), normally because of a bad exit, then the wingsuit restricts your physical movement making it harder to recover. If you do recover before hitting the wall, then you're probably very close to the wall with very few outs (are you facing the wall? Do you have enough altitude to clear the talus/ledge/outcrop? etc.), so you'll probably have to dump immediately, this is where the skydiving gear will kill you... Sail slider (longer distance to open), small canopy / higher wing loading (fly's faster into the wall), greater opening surge (no DBS), no vents (canopy may not stay inflated during a wall strike), A container with no "dynamic corners" or open corners (promotes off-headings) etc. If you have an off-heading towards the wall, The wingsuit prevents you from controlling your canopy immediately after opening. (have a look at #84 on Nick's list)

    If you do everything right, fly away from the wall and open at 2000 agl, there's still the fact that typically a BASE LZ is smaller, rockier etc. Probably not a worry for some one of your experience, but still worth considering.

    So while, it's possible to do a BASE jump off a terminal wall with your wingsuit skydiving rig, there's a good chance you'll die :)


    Quote


    a RANK AMATEUR wingsuit BASE guy who zoo'ed a poised exit out of a Caravan then promply flew himself into a bridge. Give me a break.



    Dude, that was below the belt.

  12. Quote

    I was Wondering.
    Can you also wear a pair of Water Skis and a Red Bull Helmet while sitting in the chair when you exit ?



    Naa mate, you gotta be 'World Famous' to be able to do thatB|

  13. Quote

    I will be talking to Johnny Utah about his base class, i have had a few friends jump with him from what i understand he has never had an accident and none of his students have either.
    Tim



    Well great, you've just jinxed him... Brace yourself Johnny:ph34r:

  14. Quote

    Changed my mind.

    I think we should all use the art of Zen & Meditation in correcting our headings.

    As the canopy is deploying, cross your arms over in front of you, close your eyes, and "be the canopy". Fly gracefully towards the wall, be at one with it, tease it, torment it, gracefully push it further away from you, then reject it. Turn away when it wants you the most. Glide towards. . . . . . .



    Whahahaha, Object avoidance according to Tom:ph34r::D

  15. Quote

    1. After the container is closed, pass a rubber band over the PC and slide it up the bridle to the container.



    I don't know about rubber bands threaded over the bridle/pc, what if the static line breaks early, and the band rides up and constricts the PC :( Far-fetched I know, but I'm just paranoid.:S

  16. Quote

    Lets not get pedantic. 2 members of the ABA. 1 in Oz - not like the other one didn't get MAJOR TV & media coverage is it...?

    Hows Oz Jesse?


    Yeah, let’s get pedantic Chris, let’s compare your BASE experience with Jesse’s, lets see who’s more qualified to comment on Aussie BASE.

  20. Quote

    You clearly did not teach Scott correctly, or this would never had happened. I really hate to see base accidents, I've had them myself, and know all to well that shit happens.



    Yep, Sh(t does happen, we've all had off-headings, be it from a dropped shoulder or whatever... What makes this any different?

  21. Crap, the List is both a memorial and a warning, it helps us remember friends who have passed and to warn us not to fu(k up the same way. It is also the unbiased truth...

    “Truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it, but, in the end, there it is.”
    Sir Winston Churchill

  23. Yeah, I've the same problem...

    Quote



    There seems to have been a slight problem with the database.
    Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser.

    An E-Mail has been dispatched to our Technical Staff, who you can also contact if the problem persists.

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    http://www.blincmagazine.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=59

  24. Quote

    I've made jumps on PC's as large as 60". At one time, larger PC's were pretty standard.

    I think the main problems are what sullyflyer explained. Bigger PC's take longer to open, because there is more fabric there. They are also more prone to hesitation. There is some point of diminishing returns where the extra extraction force can't make that up, and you end up with a slower overall opening. There is much healthy debate on where this point occurs, but I've heard knowledgable jumpers putting it anywhere between 38 and 60 inches.



    I found something DW once wrote on the subject of 52" pc's;

    DW-------
    Quote

    Regarding 52" p/c's:

    There are six main phases in deployments (note: some of these phases overlap in sequence):
    Phase 1: Pilot Chute (p/c) is released (via BOC or hand held)
    Phase 2: p/c reaches bridle stretch
    Phase 3: p/c inflates
    Phase 4: p/c extracts canopy to line stretch (there are multiple sub-stages here such as container opening, extraction of canopy from container and lifting of the canopy to line stretch)
    Phase 5: canopy achieves bottom skin inflation (there are multiple sub-stages here)
    Phase 6: canopy achieves cell pressurization (there are multiple sub-stages here).

    The 52" p/c in very low airspeeds will speed up Phase 4 slightly compared to a 48" p/c. However due to the extra weight of the p/c it can slow down Phase 2 slightly. Also due to the extra size of the p/c it can also slow down Phase 3 slightly. So basically a 52" p/c (compared to a 48") will generally make Phase 2 and 3 worse, but improve Phase 4.

    The net result of a 52" p/c is still positive, but only small. From video analysis my conclusions were that a 52" p/c results on in a higher opening of maybe
    about 10-15 feet on average. Still, if you are freefalling very low objects then this can make a big difference.

    I don't really care if I have a 48" p/c or a 52" p/c until my exit height gets below 170 feet. However this is with canopies around the 220 - 245 square foot / weight range. For the bigger canopies (293) I would probably recommend using a 52" p/c for anything under 190' to be safe (I'm just guessing here).

    The construction of the 52" p/c is very important. Weight is a critical factor that will slow Phase 2, and to some extent, Phase 3. My 52" p/c does not have any load tapes on the ZP material (as they aren't needed for re-enforcement as the p/c is only used in low airspeeds). Load tapes on the mesh are very important as they limit the mesh from stretching and therefore air from spilling out around the skirt. I have 8 load tapes on the mesh of my 52" p/c (same as the BR 48") and I think it is a good balance of weight versus the amount that the mesh can stretch.

    The technique you use for freefalling very low objects is the most critical. It takes almost the same amount of time from Phase 1 to Phase 3 to occur as it does for Phase 4 to occur (about 1.3 seconds on average for Phase1-3 and about 1.5 seconds on average for Phase 4, but this varies hugely from jump to jump). Using a 52" p/c will speed up Phase 4 slightly, but the biggest difference you can make is on Phase 2. If you just throw the p/c to the side it will go into freefall with you. You will then need to fall faster than the p/c to overtake it before it will reach bridle stretch. The p/c won't fully inflate until after it reaches bridle stretch and is being dragged through the air by your body. However if you throw the p/c up when you exit it will reach bridle stretch quicker and the p/c will begin to inflate sooner. The sooner after the exit the p/c becomes inflated and starts doing its job, the better. Your acceleration is exponential, so something done up front which will shave a fraction of a second off the end, will make a big difference. If you throw a 46" p/c up to bridle stretch on exit you will open much higher than if you throw a 52" p/c to the side. The best technique is similar to throwing a basketball through the hoop. You jump up in the air and you throw the basketball(p/c) upwards and forward when you are at the top of your jump. In a perfect ultra-low freefall the p/c should inflate above the exit point and already be starting to pull on the shrivel flap (or pop a pin) when it becomes level with the exit point. In a way it is cheating as you are getting part of the deployment to occur above the exit point. There are other techniques as well that help, such as the forward push on your launch, your body position in freefall (to minimize swing through on line stetch), and the way you release your brakes, but I won't go into them here.

    In summary, the 52" p/c will help a little but technique will make a bigger difference. I suspect a 52" p/c may make a more noticeable difference on heavier canopies (eg. Flik293). For you to notice the difference of a 52" p/c over a 48" p/c you will have to be really pushing the envelope of low freefalls. 99.9% of BASE jumpers won't freefall something low enough to need a 52" p/c which is why BR doesn't make them as standard.

    Also the glide of the canopy will suffer with a 52" p/c (more of a difference on smaller canopies) so they can cause more problems then good depending on the jump.

    If you are planning to freefall some very low stuff then I'd recommend getting a 52" "Big Bertha" from BR.

    Also keep in mind that the opening height variability of low freefalls is huge – even when everything else is the same (packjob, p/c, canopy, technique, etc etc). Sometimes you open super high and sometimes you open in the dirt. I've done 13 freefalls from 156' over hard earth and this height does have a small margin for error. On the best freefall from this object I had enough height to pop my brakes and make a 90 degree turn before doing a nice soft flare. On my worst freefall I opened and then hit the ground straight away. Gear and technique remained constant but the opening height varies wildly (I also have about 80 freefalls from under 185 feet with the same results of wild variation in opening height). My point is to not draw any conclusions after just a few jumps. Hesitations eventually will occur during some phase of the deployment sequence so make sure you have some margin for error built in.

    Hope this helps,
    Dwain

  25. Quote

    At one time, larger PC's were pretty standard.
    Bigger PC's take longer to open, because there is more fabric there. They are also more prone to hesitation.



    Has anyone played around with the idea of composite PC's, i.e. A number of equally sized vented PC's grouped together with some sort of non-load-bearing mesh holding them together?