pearsjes 0 #1 January 1, 2002 This may sound like a stupid question, but I'm trying to figure out how to make one of those cool space balls (tennis ball with attached pull-up cord) that I've seen Olav and other free flyers playing with in my skydive videos. Rather than just getting some supplies and experimenting, I thought I'd ask all you folks out there who might be able to help me out and avoid any pitfalls. I'm not a free flyer, but it looks like something fun to play with and I bet would help with my RW skills. Do you have to put some kind of weight inside the tennis ball? How much? Lead shot? How do you get it in? Cut a hole or do you have to completely cut the ball in half? How bout getting the pull-up cord in? Should you cut 2 holes and try to feed it through? Or...? Also, how bout any cool games or other stuff to do with the ball. I want to be able to show up at my DZ with a new toy and have some fun ideas to explore with my fellow weekend friends. Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 January 1, 2002 Quote. . . help me out and avoid any pitfalls.Do NOT attempt to play with making or using any sort of spaceball without some local guidance and instruction of a spaceball "master" as well as permission from the DZO.If you attempt to do this yourself and the spaceball gets away from you, the results could be -deadly- for people on the ground.Paulhttp://futurecam.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airann 1 #3 January 1, 2002 What he said... its not a good idea at all. Highly frowned upon and FAA doesnt like it. I think its in Part 105 section something er other. Ball Master and all that is covered in the FreeFly Forum on this website.I do not suggest this for anyone.http://www.AirAnn.comUgly Girl #6 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aviatrr 0 #4 January 2, 2002 As Paul said....do NOT try this without proper approval from the DZO and a competent "ball master"! I thought that jumping with a skyball would be easy, and did it a few times.. Twice I was able to get the skyball in my possesion before deployment, but once the ballmaster had to get it when we passed through 5000.. This is a VERY serious issue.. If you cannot regain control of the skyball before pull time, it could seriously injure or kill somebody on the ground.....or cause serious damage to property on the ground.. If you want to use a skyball, getting approval from your DZO, S&TA, and pilot would be the first thing to do..Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramon 0 #5 January 2, 2002 I will not tell you here, but if you do a search on deja news in rec.skydiving for the word "space ball"..you will find what you seek. it will take a while and you will have to sift through a lot of stuff, but if you want it bad enough you will find it here is a hint : use 2oz more than recommended ( I think slightly fast is safer than slightly slow) and use the smallest lead particles you can get.that is all.Oh and I highly recommend you not going through with this at all unless you are ready to pass the Air dolphin A test and have access to a really (I mean really ) good freeflyer that can ball master. You can find the A test requirements at www.1olav.com. If you can't fly like the guys in the videos you will just wind up loosing the ball and gettin in trouble see below...More disclaimer....FAA requirements are simply that you take necessary precautions before dropping something out of an aircraft. If you drop this thing on a house life and or property could be lost and your DZ will be shutdown.ramon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airann 1 #6 January 2, 2002 ...and your DZ will be shutdown.Heck, go ahead nobody at your dz will care if you and a little bitty ball shuts down an entire dz.Your pilot should know - I cant remember who it was that poped their smoke a little early -but- that also freaks the pilot out kinda when the cabin is filled with smoke. So, mental note on that one, tell the pilot about smoke jumps.http://www.AirAnn.comUgly Girl #6 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramon 0 #7 January 2, 2002 kinda like the pilot turning on the heater after it's been collecting dust all spring/summer/fall/texaspre-winter Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #8 January 2, 2002 "collecting dust"and bugs...and baby birds...and bees....."I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #9 January 2, 2002 Point of order:the man did indeed specify "RW" skills and not freeflying, so the expertise must be with someone with airskills at that particular speed (ie: AFFI's, late-diving swoopers, etc.). Either way, if the guy is going to do it, he need be making his attempts with very capable fellow jumpers over unpopulated areas. My webpage HERE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pearsjes 0 #10 January 3, 2002 Thanks for the answers, recommendations, and advice on the Space Ball topic. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question and understand now that this is a serious issue, not to be undertaken lightly and without supervision. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MiataDRM 0 #11 January 5, 2002 I ran across this page @ ZHills website & thought it maybe of interest. Be safe out there. www.skydivecity.com/news/news_stories/spaceballs.htm**I'm a Pschydiver!Majdi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MiataDRM 0 #12 January 9, 2002 This was on an old post...it's an online skyball game! Have fun w/ it :-)http://wannaplaygames.com/skyball/**I'm a Pschydiver!Majdi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyingferret 0 #13 January 9, 2002 Disclaimer *** I have no skyball experience. That said, one of the camera flyers at our DZ has been playing with a ball. Now this guy is pretty dang good at flying since he flies camera a lot. But he was really unsure of the wieght, so he tethered it. Now, there seems to be an argument about not tethering things, tangling, deployment, all that. I am simply mentioning that he did that. And it saved his ass several times, as the weight was rather difficult to get right.Malachi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveMonkey 0 #14 January 9, 2002 Quote http://wannaplaygames.com/skyball/ I'm number 3 spot on the high scores !! woohoo !! I like my women like I like my coffee - hot and with a spoon in Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kingbunky 3 #15 January 9, 2002 now you're #4, i got #1!!! try the 'full load' option, the score builds quicker, but you have to dodge the free-flyers... looks funny when you hit one! took me about 25 tries before i survived one."Jumping out of planes for the thrill of it all."-J.Geils Band Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites SkydiveMonkey 0 #16 January 9, 2002 I know. I must have taken out the whole Airspeed team about 10 times now !! I like my women like I like my coffee - hot and with a spoon in Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites TheMarshMan1 0 #17 January 9, 2002 How come the ball cant take out the belly flyers?... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites beckrj 0 #18 January 9, 2002 just made it to number 3 for January. On my second try I might add. Now I almost got fired for playing it at work. THANKS. fun stuff though Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0 Go To Topic Listing
kingbunky 3 #15 January 9, 2002 now you're #4, i got #1!!! try the 'full load' option, the score builds quicker, but you have to dodge the free-flyers... looks funny when you hit one! took me about 25 tries before i survived one."Jumping out of planes for the thrill of it all."-J.Geils Band Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveMonkey 0 #16 January 9, 2002 I know. I must have taken out the whole Airspeed team about 10 times now !! I like my women like I like my coffee - hot and with a spoon in Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites TheMarshMan1 0 #17 January 9, 2002 How come the ball cant take out the belly flyers?... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites beckrj 0 #18 January 9, 2002 just made it to number 3 for January. On my second try I might add. Now I almost got fired for playing it at work. THANKS. fun stuff though Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
TheMarshMan1 0 #17 January 9, 2002 How come the ball cant take out the belly flyers?... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beckrj 0 #18 January 9, 2002 just made it to number 3 for January. On my second try I might add. Now I almost got fired for playing it at work. THANKS. fun stuff though Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
