Static Lines and Direct Bags

[guest]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-06-00 AT 02:02 PM (PST)[p]Cheerful Greetings:

I'm looking for information again, and I'm sure someone more experienced than I am will read this. Can you help me out?

I'm looking at some low objects. I read a thread a while back in which (aside from several people bashing Nacho for asking the question) the only informative information about static line v. direct bag deployment came from Nick.

Here's the question: Which is faster?

Nick seemed to imply that a static line might be marginally faster because the lines were under some tension at line stretch, thus getting the whole thing extended faster.

Having been at the top of both, I'd say that it looked like the direct bag was open sooner. I also understand that the DB might give better on heading performance, which might be critical on a gnarly low object.

A third thought (and one I really need someone to squash fast if it's a bad idea): Why not connect the bridle attachment point to a grommet inside the direct bag with break cord? That way, you'd get the best of both worlds--the whole setup would stay under tension for the fastest opening, you'd have no bridle length to put you lower, and your body position couldn't throw off the opening heading (since the pack job would stay in the caring hands of a close friend). Has anyone tried this? Or, actually, who has tried this, and how did it work? Is it a horribly bad idea, and if so, why?

And one final question. How low can you go? Nick told a story about PCAing a 120ft bridge (it ended with two broken legs, so I'm not sure I'm up for it). Anybody else got any info on how low it's possible to go?

Can anyone help me out?

Thanks in advance.

--Tom Aiello

[guest]

I've done about 15 DB exits at 120' and lower, and fortunately never got hurt. BUT now that I'm older I wouldn't reccomend it to anyone.It seems that any DB exit requires atleast 140' to fully pressurize the canopy for flare power---and think you might need to make a turn too,SO--- no DB's for me any more below about 160'. BEEN THERE--DONE THAT--NO THANKS BELOW 160'.

[guest]

With my buds, the lowest jumps over lands where at 180ft S/L and it was OK (8 jumps). The lowest jumps over water where at 130ft S/L (tens of with variety of canopies) and any of them would have been safe over land (full body immersion even with a life jacket).

My thoughts on your idea to blend DB and SL. The difference between SL and DB+SL will be the deployment sequence, with SL the first to deploy will be the canopy, with DB+SL the first to deploy will be the lines, but when the cord breaks both are about in the same position. One might think that DB will give better on heading performance because of the bag keeping the canopy on heading but I'm not sure of it, it's difficult to hold the bag firmly during the canopy exit and it's easy to induce a momentum to the canopy.
Think of what you will add to DB by connecting the canopy to the bag: center cell stripping and snatching force to the canopy. I'm not sure this is a benefit, and SL center cell stripping may be the reason why you've noticed DB faster.

Now it's my turn for a question:
On all SL I've made I was able to connect the break cord to the object at a point at least higher than my waist. Now I need to SL jump (no DB or PCA possibility) an object where I can only connect the break cord at my feet level. How to prevent feet/bridle jamming? I guess the best point to connect the bridle is along a line going between my feet. Any help?

[guest]

Just bumping this thread up, as I've got a local bridge, about 160' over a deep channel, which I've pca'd but would like to s/l. Along the roadway, there is a concrete "guard rail" with holes to attache a static line. With the s/l and bridle behind me, I've often thought the best exit would be to cannonball off the exit point to keep feet away from the trailing bridle/sl!!! heh
Anysuggestions or pics??
386

[guest]

In terms of pictures, I'd recommend checking out the well known shot of Felix standing in Jesus' hand. He's obviously got some kind of static attachment to the statue. It's at the level of his feet. You can even see his PC hanging there. It looks to me like it's a PC between the legs kind of operation, but you should check it out for yourself.

--Tom Aiello

[guest]

I just checked with one of our resident Static Line experts and he suggested if the point of attachment (object side) is low, then yes, route the s/l between your legs.

To avoid any chance of the dreaded foot/wrap/splat back off the edge and coil the extra static line (in a circle like a anchor rope), then walk to the edge and jump.

The reason for coiling the s/l away from the edge (rather than right next to you or right behind you) is so when you bend you knees to launch you won't catch anything under a heel or whatever.

Don't give into the temptation of hand holding the excess S/L and throwing it after launch.

Just an aside here, always try to postion the point of attachment (object side) as directly in line with you leap as possible. This is becasue the angle of pull effects the angle of dangle.

:-)

Nick_BR

[guest]

I just checked with one of our resident Static Line gurus (here at Basic Research) and he suggested if the point of attachment (object side) is low, then yes, route the S/L between your legs.

To avoid any chance of the dreaded "foot/wrap/oh/splat" back off the edge and coil the extra static line (in a circle like a anchor rope), then walk to the edge and jump.

The reason for coiling the s/l away from the edge (rather than right next to you or right behind you) is so when you bend you knees to launch, or when you spring off, you won't catch anything under a foot or around a shoe.

Don't give into the temptation of hand holding the excess S/L and throwing it after launch.

Just an aside here, always try to position the point of attachment (object side) as directly in line with your leap as possible. Being 45 right or left can cause off heading deployments or in extreme cases overload the breakcord.

Said another way, the angle of pull can effect the angle of dangle. :-)

Nick_BR