Groundbound

I am working on getting some details fer ya, thanks. It is a chute used by an aerobatic pilot.

Friend wonders if there is a formula or online calculator to figure the value of a parachute; it a sit-on for pilots. Thanks

Hey no worries there, not with my memory! Seriously, thanks for any assistance, all. Will report back.

In case anyone has the same questions, this video from Vandalia, IL answers what I was asking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q6QITSKIE4

Anyone know of online sources of static line videos? Thanks!

I know where you are coming from, that is very respectful of you towards my instructor, and has the potential to save me problems if I were to erroneously mistake your experiences as advice on what I should do when I get there. It does however, leave a poster completely in the dark about what to expect. That is all I am asking for, and all I would do with any offered info is bank it as "what others have experienced". Wish there was a way around this dilemma. A DZ.com poster like me will end up asking those they know who have done this before, for their experience. I could ask the teenager who did it last year about these details. Somehow I think the combined knowledge of the many here, who do it regularily would provide better information. The other advantage of hearing answers on this forum is a) hearing a range of answers is useful to get a scope where 'normal' might lie. b) if there are universally accepted practices - I could start getting them now rather than using only short-term memory on the day of the jump. Maybe I should put the questions as a poll on member's experiences? OK lets try this question. If one fails to flare at all (ie person freezes up or physically unable as in unconscious etc), what might they typically expect? Broken bones, or just a strained ankle?! Just trying to learn the unflared descent rate and impact forces. I promise not to use any answers to modify any of my bonafide training, I and my heirs absolve any responders of all legal liability! ;)

Here's one issue I have mininightmares about: We are on radio with him. I have seen the operation in action and he talks via handheld to the newbie, descending parachutists. I remember him shouting LEFT as in pull the left (toggle? rope?). Then PULL BOTH or something like that to flare at the landing. Here is my dilemma and I am sure I will hash it out with him beforehand.... He never says a) How Fast to pull I could snap it down quick, or leisurely, or something in between? b) if you should pull all the way down or what. I could pull to my shoulder, my elbow, my waist - which? Thanks!

I am planning on my first static line jumps and wondered if anyone has any tips. I have only done one tandem, ever. Thanks

Thanks, Which would be best for subjects such as: training, technique, safety tips?

What skydiving magazines are out there for this sport, one geared to newbs is better for me. Thanks!

I wrote him, will let you know. Thanks

you are right probably - from an extreme, legal standpoint - but I seriously doubt in all practicality this guy from Russia or wherever it is gives a cat turd if others post it, come on! There was no note saying anything about copyright or 'do not repost' anywhere. In fact, there was a big DOWNLOAD button making it available not just to stream, but to put on your harddrive. I think he wants everyone to see it!

where is our movie guru? Dave. I uploaded a movie of a guy flying around a wingsuit with rockets on his ankles. Did you get it? I can't see it on your site. Maybe it was rejected?? Thanks

Thanks! Thanks for hosting it, Thanks for working on it. Sure miss it when its gone!

haven't been able to log into the website for days, is our webmaster here?

Do some research on your own to learn the facts. If you just listen to eveyone's anecdotes and fatal fantasies then you will never have any adventure in your life -- brrrrrr its too scary to leave the house!! On my tandem, my great instructor, as part of the ride showed me how to pull -more for training - but I suppose if I 'needed' to pull for us, there it was. Yes there is risk to skydiving; but an unconscious TI -- come on! You would have to be incredibly unlucky!

If anyone has any interest in this from a student's view.... (Here is my perspective: I have had only one tandem jump and it was great, I cannot wait for some real training.) Most of what is said I fully agree with, here is what I learned from my one experience. -keep the joking to a minimum, especially in the plane. The student/baggage wants the mood to be light but not too jocular. -this may seem crazy but facial expressions mean a lot to me. I liked that mine was positive, smiling and alert at all times. (The cameraman that slept on the way up seemed a bit casual!) -if you can read the expressions of your customer, I bet you will find a few times to say, "It's going to be just fine, you will love it.", in a soothing tone! -I am also kind of assured by touch. I realize this may be difficult these days but it really means a lot to me... a firm handshake, a reassuring grip on the shoulder all helps alleviate worry! -minimal turns. Sorry if this makes it boring for ti's but straight and level makes it much better for us. -kind of go by the feedback you get (or even ask!) as to how much talking is good. I liked intermittent review of what to expect, what procedures/techniques will help. Not continuous jabbering, but not silence. Huge thanks to TIs everywhere for what you bring to the rest of us!

Hey thanks for the great input... 'I looked a bit tense' Are you kidding, I was a wired tight like sprung steel! Yes maybe I will learn to relax a bit. And hold the legs better. Glad someone could see the video. It just seemed that compared to an airplane, with all the up and down, rolling gyrations that someone was putting a lot of inputs into the control surfaces but when I look at the tape I see very little.

Thanks Kris. I didn't see my legs move but once, near the end of the clip when I remembered, "hey, fold the legs like he said!" and I bent them up and back. Otherwise I don't see them moving much. Still think the legs caused the rolling and pitching? I am working on getting the video where everyone can view it, I still can't.

oh is that you? Thanks. Hey *I* can't seem to download the darn movie... any ideas? I get a 'broken image' icon after it half-loads!

I have been looking at the video of my first (tandem) jump (I am the student). It seems like we do an awful lot of oscillations and I want to learn more about it. I have uploaded the file to skydivingmovies.com but it takes a while to get approved I guess. Here is what I see. Maybe I am microanalysing it and the answer is, "you'll only learn to fly when you go solo" or "you just need to learn a stable exit" but I am still interested in what can be done to avoid the extremes in motions. Here is what I saw: It seems like the motion was similar to an airplane, about the three axes of pitch(nose up and down), roll(turning about the head to toe axis), and yaw (turning about the axis from your back to your belly). As we left, we exited facing rearward to the airplane's direction of flight. We fell to a horizontal position. Then we started a yaw to the left that did not stop until 1&1/2 turns, ie we started north, then westsoutheast and north again, keep going around to west and finally south when we stabilized. In pitch, we did this: 70degrees down, then 70 up, then 90 down, then 90 up then level, then 50 up and finally stabilized at level. In roll, we started face down, then rolled right to almost on our backs, about 150 degrees, back to the left almost to 90 degrees, 90right then 90left then back to level. Things really got better after the drogue comes out, but even then it was not stable right away. When the vid comes up it may become clearer from our limb movement what was going on. The main thing is I want to go again tandem without causing the amusement park ride that we had in this one... I want to improve! Thanks

Just wanted to mention how I made my first jump. I had scoped out a nearby DZ by asking around, and found out I knew one of the members who was in fact a master rigger working for them. He was extremely generous with his time and I spent an hour+ with him a few days before - asking questions and checking out some of the rigs he had on the table. What a nice guy, I will have to repay him somehow (he doesn't drink or jump now, but any suggestions you have are welcome). Anyway it settled a lot of questions and I felt much more comfortable when I made the call to arrange a jump on the weekend. I showed up early so I could get the feel of the place, hear some of the banter, see some equipment and also because we get high winds in the afternoon and I didn't want any more variables involved. I already told you how anal I am, there you go. So I met everyone and tried not to get in the way or look like an ass. My lawyer and I signed the huge release (just kidding about the attorney) and watched the helpful video. I got a suit and goggles and we put on my harness. Lots of joking around but also lots of support and helpful suggestions. By now I am getting pretty fidgety about the whole idea but I am determined. So we hop into the aircraft for some more explanations about what is expected of me, and how to avoid screwing up. I am getting pretty nervous, and you can see it on the video if you know me. All aboard, and up we go in the ragged-out Cessna (no surprise, they are not exactly 'haute couture' travel machines, they are workhorses). The guys (instructor, two camera-men) are very upbeat and realize that I must feel I am going to my certain ugly death, so they encourage and support me. What a job tandem instructors have - trying to keep us both alive, AND babysit, hand-hold us wussies; jeez. When you reach altitude (pretty cold!; not much O2) my nervousness has peaked, I am panting, and my muscles were barely responding, but somehow I crawled to the door hooked up to my instructor. My view of the world around me was somewhat dizzy - the old brown carpet, the strut, the cameramen, the pilot seat, the step, THE FRIGGING HARD GROUND - A MILLION MILES DOWN, it was all a bit of a blur at this point. Cripes, Sensory Overload before even out the door, what a baby! Anyway we got on the step, instructor talking all the time, and seated on the door ledge. Now the wind blast is furious, much noisier. I guess they don't see a lot of point in wasting time at the doorway so we do the ReadySetGo and gently fall off into nothingness. I am sure at this point my heartrate was oh, 180 or so. In the video I believe my eyes are closed for a short while, probably a self-preservation instinct. It just feels like nothing else I have ever imagined or experienced. Extreme anxiety combined with shocking visuals. Falling from the very high diving board the first time as an 8yo only begins to touch on it. Here you are slapping the face of a well-ingrained reflex that has kept you safe for years and has become a part of your permanent memory. Its harder for us older guys I think. We have more years of 'solid ground is safe' burned into our cerebellum. And we have to overcome it to succeed at this. Anyway, back to the jump. We tumbled as we left the airplane. First we moved head-down, even though I had my arms out as instructed, and then we did a half roll to the right. There were a few more oscillations in roll and pitch until we stabilized and I remembered to tuck my legs. Finally we had enough vertical speed for the air resistance to give a solid feel, for us to have stability in the fluid around us - maybe 5 seconds. Then we free-fell, all smiles and thumbs-up as I felt the worst was over and it was time to have fun. I eagerly checked out the view, watched the cameraman in front of us, remembered to watch the arch, looked for the airport. Don't remember seeing either the airplane or the other cameraman. Finally I got the pull signal (already?!) and yanked the cord with glee. Some snapping noise and a pulling in the crotch as we were stood upright. Much quieter and my instructor says, "Look, look how fast they move out of sight!", pointing to the two tiny dots that the cameramen become below us, there - they have two good chutes too. We hook my hands into the steering handles and he shows me how to turn, we practice a couple of landing postures/flares and steer towards the pattern. Pretty steep approach for what I'm used to as a pilot. Lots of highwires, pipes, fences, cactus, buildings down there! Anyway, the ground rushes up and we swoop towards the helpers. PULL! and we flare nicely on the target, fall to one side. We disconnect and arms pull me to my feet - I am rubber-limbs and pale. I feel a great bond to my instructor who has spared my life, put up with the burden of carrying me; I thank him with an embrace. He is exuberant about the jump and praises my performance although I know mediocre is all my part was! I spend the rest of the day reliving it, feeling out of body, giddy. I finally settle down that evening but not til after a stiff drink. I DID IT!! God, do I want to go again!

Thanks, it was a tandem Ill post details later in case they might help another newbie.

Gads you guys, give me a day to absorb it... what a shock, what a thrill, words cannot describe it. I got to go watch the video a few a few times, I'll get back to you. You are a special group of individuals. Thanks for the help you all gave me.

Wow!