What in the world?

[wuffo 1]

What in the world is this, some kind of new slider or something? http://www.opensofter.com

[AggieDave 6]

Hmmmm...

My XF2 already takes about 900ft to open, I don't think I want to add anymore snivel to it. Actually, come to think of it most of the modern designs I've jumped have opened very well and soft (with a couple of obvious exceptions).

Is there truely a need and what happens when you start altering a design? They make it sound more complicated then just addind a domed slider, though.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[beezyshaw 0]

I attended the seminar/product announcement at PIA. It is a piece of zp that is attached to your connector links that is supposed to "inflate" as your bag comes out of the container, thus slowing your terminal velocity during deployment. I watched a video that was less than convincing.

I believe the jury is still out on this one.

[usskydiver 0]

Dave,
I sent them an e-mail (as a jumper and rigger) requesting more info. I let you know what happens.

Tim T.
Team Paraclete

[ChrisL 2]

Theres actually no technical detail at all on their site about the product itself.

What it is. How it works. Nuthin.

Thats obnoxious.

__

My mighty steed

[bob.dino 1]

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Thats obnoxious.

It's very obviously an early-access site. Most of the pages say that technical details will be forthcoming after the PIA symposium.

So, I'd imaginge you could expect some more detail soon.

[crewkeith 0]

great more drag. all i need


.

The skies are no longer safe

I'm back

[FrogNog 1]

Quote

I attended the seminar/product announcement at PIA. It is a piece of zp that is attached to your connector links that is supposed to "inflate" as your bag comes out of the container, thus slowing your terminal velocity during deployment. I watched a video that was less than convincing.

I believe the jury is still out on this one.

If anyone can calculate an estimate for the drag of a small simple parachute of this size and shape, simple math will estimate how much is could slow a jumper down (it's just acceleration) in a given time. (More complex math can give a better answer by adjusting the drag of the parachute as the jumper slows - if the initial estimate says the slowing is even likely to be significant.)

My guess is that if it takes several seconds for a fairly large partially-opened parachute to slow us down as much as it does, a smaller parachute allowed a smaller amount of time won't do much. However, there is room for real math to trump speculation.

But with just a little drag in the right place, a jumper could be made to rotate head-up. I have heard part of perceived hard opening is the jumper's body whipping around. Perhaps this devices can make opening feel softer, which is what we really care about.

-=-=-=-=-
Pull.

[riggerrob 643]

Quote

Quote

I attended the seminar/product announcement at PIA. It is a piece of zp that is attached to your connector links that is supposed to "inflate" as your bag comes out of the container, thus slowing your terminal velocity during deployment. I watched a video that was less than convincing.

I believe the jury is still out on this one.

If anyone can calculate an estimate for the drag of a small simple parachute of this size and shape, simple math will estimate how much is could slow a jumper down (it's just acceleration) in a given time. (More complex math can give a better answer by adjusting the drag of the parachute as the jumper slows - if the initial estimate says the slowing is even likely to be significant.)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Since the Softer is tied to the top of the risers, it is still in the highly turbulent airflow coming off the human body. That turbulent airflow will trash most of your calculations.
Like Beezy said, the Softer is basically another pilotchute tied to the top of the risers. Since the Softer has four attachment points, it is tied semi-permanently to the top of the risers. After opening the Softer flops where your slider would normally flop.
It starts to decellerate the jumper as soon as he gets to full riser extension, long before the lines extend. On a g-meter, a Softer would add an additional decelleration spike early in the inflation process.
A secondary benefit is that the Softer stands you up (spine vertical) earlier in the inflation process, reducing painful whipping.
Looks like a good idea, but Softers are going to lose fashion points until the inventor figures out how to collapse them for pond-swooping.

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[ryoder 1,590]

Sounds interesting, but I can see potential problems:

- Since it is on your risers, it's not in the bag, so it could present an entanglement hazard during deployment as the bag and lines are leaving.

- Could block air from hitting the slider, interfering with the slider's airflow.

- Could present visual obstruction/ entanglement-hazard when you are clearing line-twist or partial mal.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.