I hate windy days

[fpritchett64 0]

I hate windy day on student status, all I could do today was watch and catch tandems..the winds were a steady 8 or so with gusts up to 15 so they wouldn't let me jump. How dangerous can windy days really be? Any answers would be great. Thanks

[shortkid422 0]

I haven't gone through my training yet (so I'm not 100% sure on the accuracy of what I am say) but I imagine they can be very dangerous. Your canopy relies on the force it exerts on the air as well as the wind to stay inflated. If this wind were to change suddenly, with those gusts, there is potential for a canopy collapse. Sure it seems disappointing to not be able to jump, but it's a saftey precaution to prevent new jumpers from creating problems due to inexperience. There will always be calmer days.

[Mike111 0]

I know the feeling!!! ye thte other day, since I qwualified a few months ago it was the first time i Could jump and the students couldn't.

Once your qialified that will cahnge, + give time for weather to improve and you will have a great time

best of luck mate.

[NWFlyer 2]

There's a saying in this sport - better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than in the air wishing you were on the ground.

If you want to really understand your canopy, ask your instructors. Another good source is the book The Parachute and Its Pilot by Brian Germain. He posts on here as briansgermain - just doing a search on his posts will teach you a lot.

Also, remember that just because you have a license doesn't automatically make it a good idea to jump on a day when students are on a wind hold. You'll gradually learn your own thresholds for comfort, but on days when the students are sitting down, I bet you'll find a lot of the most experienced jumpers sitting down too. Think about why.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[skydivermom 0]

I understand man. I am a very recent licensed jumper...and today it was a little gusty. I had jumped in higher winds before, but today I misjudged a little bit and landed off. Picked a spot right between power lines and trees

I grounded myself...but lucked out when the winds died down a few hours later...had two great jumps with landings at the dZ. Honestly, I believe it's harder once your licensed because YOU have to make the call. It's much easier when someone else has that job (IMO).

Hang in there...the windy season (at least in TX) won't be much longer.

Mrs. WaltAppel

All things work together for good to them that love God...Romans 8:28

[flygirl719 0]

Quote

Your canopy relies on the force it exerts on the air as well as the wind to stay inflated. If this wind were to change suddenly, with those gusts, there is potential for a canopy collapse.

How does this happen?

[flygirl719 0]

P.S. I read the hompage on collapes, but still don't understand how this could happen if you don't do anything crazy and keep your lines tight.

[shortkid422 0]

Like I said, I'm no expert, but Newton's 3rd law is that everything exerts and equal and opposite force. Therefor, the force of the canopy to the air (Fca) is equal to that of the air on the canopy (Fac), which yields Fca = Fac. These forces are coming from all different directions, so if it changes suddenly, the tension in the canopy and lines will change as well, which creates turbulance. The reference to the kite on the homepage seems trivial, but offers a perspective that we might remember from when we were younger. When that kite was flown in violent wind, it often shifted direction and velocity, which was a result from the quickly changing wind.

In the end, the only controllable factor is yourself, and you have the decision (once you're off student status) to risk those winds with your ability. Like I said, I'm no expert so either what I said is right, or as it was said in Billy Madison, "Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it."

[adventurechick 0]

I feel your pain... many a times I've gone to the DZ and not been able to jump... sometimes you gotta sit back, drink some beer and jump another day. As students, we're jumping large canopies... and with it being windy up there we may not even make it back to the DZ... at least I'm in my canopy foorreevver... .always last one down. Good luck though! We'll make it off student status soon!

PMS #449 TPM #80 Muff Brother #3860
SCR #14705 Dirty Sanchez #233

[philip2005 0]

Yeah its a pain especially when you drive an hour and a half to the DZ. Best thing to do is try and do something else like learn to pack. I've been there once and actually been glad i wasnt tjumping tho cos i was watching experieced guys struggling to land, almost saw a canopy collapse at about 30' once, could have been a rough landing! Better to be on the ground wishing you'd jumped than in the air wishing you hadnt.

[BaumsAway 0]

Yeah, It's been too windy for me to jump all weekend and I've been craving to get back in the air!

[dzjohn 0]

ok here's my take on things guys, Yes it might be a pain when your sitting at the dz waiting to get up, but while your there you may as well learn off the guys that have been doing it since like forever. another thing not to good in widy conditions is because you are all on big canopies you coud also end up with having to land with a canopy going backwards beleive me it's not a nice thing to be doing.