skydiving w/ base canopy

[crwper]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Aug-02-01 AT 09:02 AM (PST)[/font][p]Yes, the sum of two vectors equals the total speed, but the other thing to remember is that the two vectors aren't completely independent.

If you were to exit in a track with respect to the relative wind, you'll travel upward with respect to someone who exits in a box position. In this way you can use your forward speed to affect your downward speed. This is the basis of the "floater track", which allows rear float to leave before the rest of the formation, and "track up to it".

From CRW experience I know that a couple seconds' delay is easier on the body than a hop-n-pop, but I've never thought of the v-squared relationship for drag before. Thanks!

Michael

[crwper]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Aug-02-01 AT 09:10 AM (PST)[/font][p]Wow, after about 70 jumps with no slider, I did my first slider-up jump off a 480-foot bridge a couple of weeks ago. First time I've flown my BASE canopy without the line mod, and I thought THAT felt really messed up. I guess it's all about perspective.

Michael

P.S. I got triple risers for my skydiving gear just so I could feel the same freedom I feel with the line mod.

[crwper]

Can anyone comment further on the idea of keeping the other toggle if you drop one? I'm not sure what you mean by "allows the canopy to deform too much", but the only time I ever dropped a toggle, I successfully landed with rear risers. I thought this was standard practice.

From CRW experience, I know that the toggles have a very different effect on canopy flight compared with risers. The toggles will cause that half of the canopy to slow and lift up. The rear risers will cause the canopy to lift, but will also make it skate forward rather than slowing down. I would be cautious about mixing these controls for landing.

Michael

[skydvr18]

Thanks to everyone who has posted. I think I can compile all of this info, talk to some local BASE jumpers and the local rigger, and figure out a good way (or ways) to pack for a hop 'n pop (or perhaps a 3 sec delay).

On another note, I have yet another question. And flaming is welcome. I was supposed to do ground crew for a couple of local jumpers yesterday, but one of the guys couldn't make it. So the other jumper asked if I wanted to go make the jump. Well, it got dark, so we didn't jump. They originally told me they'd take me on a jump after I ground crewed for a few jumps. But now they're talking about taking me on this jump this evening, if everything works out. It's an A, pretty decent height (maybe 1000'??), but they were talking about going from lower (600-700'). The landing area is great...no obstacles, completely open, level. It's in a very secluded place...no rushing.

As for me, I have 253 skydives, no base jumps. I have made one balloon jump with a stable exit. My accuracy skills are quite sharp. I feel like I have a level head, and I want to BASE jump for one reason...the fun of it. I do own my own gear...Odyssey (velcro) and Fox 225 w/ 42" pc. I've been researching BASE for quite some time, and I've been talking with the locals for a while. I was going to wait until Bridge Day, but they say they'll take me on one before then. Everyone says BD is the best place to do your first jump, but if you've had training, you're jumping from a fairly decent height (although not the best object, from what I've read on here), jumping safe gear, and jumping with experienced BASE jumpers, does it seem totally bizaare? I'm sure it's a "better" idea to wait unitl BD, but just throw some opinions at me...really bad idea, reconsider, seems safe, go for it...I'd just feel better with more than three opinions. Thanks again everyone.

Blue Skies,
Josh

[guest]

A while back I got some advice from CR on this subject. The advice was to keep the toggle you still have in your hand, but grab the riser with that hand, and flare on both risers.

Perhaps Adam can comment?

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

[guest]

The antenna jump you describe can be very safe, IF you take a 3+ second delay to develop horizontal separation with the object/wires. For your first, you'll definately be going hand-held, so you cant take an extremely long delay without drag on your bridle getting excessive. I see as one major risk you pitching early due to nerves and deploying very close to the object. My first was at the bridge but I did kind of a floater exit there so when I made my first 'A' and had to do a launched-type exit, it was all brand new anyway.

[guest]

Maybe we should start this as a new thread?

It's a totally different topic.

[guest]

The first question I'd ask is:

How experienced are the "local jumpers" who will be teaching you?

The second one is:

Do you trust them with your life?

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu