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skyfreek

285 pound wanna be jumper

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jbscout2002

So your argument is that no one wants to put in the research, i.e. read the data placard and determine if the rig is rated high enough for the jumper's exit weight?

I may not be fully qualified as I not a rigger, but I'm will to take a stab at it.



Your limited understanding of the technical challenges is showing. It's not all about the rig, not is the placard all there is to gear testing.

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Well I understand that the placard is going to list legal limits in accordance with the current TSO. I understand that the TSO limitations are set taking into account things like opening shock in a worse case scenario and forward/decent speeds in case the jumper lands unconscious and performs neither a flare nor PLF. I understand that the tensile strengths of the materials used far exceed those limitations which the equipment is certified to be "safely" used at. The industry standard is to test everything at a minimum of twice the rate speed and weight limitations for which they are applying for under the TSO. We are talking about straps and hardware that are rated at 20-30 kN or better and 1000 Dacron lines. So while I do have a limited understanding, I do know that if the weight falls within the maximums listed on the placard, then everything else IS sturdy enough.

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Get your jumps, get your ratings, open the DZ, train the big boys. Once all that is all wrapped up you can soap box about people that aren't willing to make the poor investment in individuals that are perfectly capable of decreasing their body weight!
"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

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That's excellent advice. I can corner the market on customized big boy rigs, employ some big AFF instructors that have trouble working with the featherweights, and send my business cards out to DZs who can't be bothered with people over 220 pounds. Instead of just shooting them down, they can direct them to me. Everyone is happy.

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jbscout2002

I do know that if the weight falls within the maximums listed on the placard, then everything else IS sturdy enough.



Sturdy enough, yes. But that is not all.

I have a big-boy rig with a TR-335 reserve (TSO-C23d, rated for up to 430 pounds). What altitude should the AAD be set to fire at? Does it make a difference that the user has been clocked at 160mph (which is less than the placard limit) in stable face-to-earth freefall?

Mark

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You've stumped me, Mark. I don't know of any regulatory settings for AADs in regards to students. Just that an AAD is required. My AAD is an M2, and on student mode, it will fire at 1085 ft. if the fall speed is greater than 45 mph, the at 660 ft. if the fall speed is greater than 29 mph. It then deactivates at 145 ft.

160 belly to earth and stable is impressive. Just out of curiosity, what was his exit weight on his first jump?

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jbscout2002

That's excellent advice. I can corner the market on customized big boy rigs, employ some big AFF instructors that have trouble working with the featherweights, and send my business cards out to DZs who can't be bothered with people over 220 pounds. Instead of just shooting them down, they can direct them to me. Everyone is happy.



Well except for those who love to play the well worn body shaming game... jus sayin

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jbscout2002

You've stumped me, Mark. I don't know of any regulatory settings for AADs in regards to students. Just that an AAD is required. My AAD is an M2, and on student mode, it will fire at 1085 ft. if the fall speed is greater than 45 mph, the at 660 ft. if the fall speed is greater than 29 mph. It then deactivates at 145 ft.



Is a firing altitude of 1085' adequate for my customer?

Mark

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The alternative would be tandem mode, which for the M2 is 2000 ft at 78 mph, but that can be a double edged sword. The first time he decides he is going to pull at his minimum of 3000 ft and just isn't quite quick enough and has a little too much snivel, he can have a two out develop at low altitude with a general lack of experience. It could lead to a bad day. I guess you could always brief him that his minimum pull altitude is 4000 no matter what the SIM says though.

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jbscout2002

So your argument is that no one wants to put in the research, i.e. read the data placard and determine if the rig is rated high enough for the jumper's exit weight?

I may not be fully qualified as I not a rigger, but I'm will to take a stab at it.



Like you say further down the thread, there is a lot more to it. Yet I'm replying to this comment because it's a direct answer to my post:

If you'd be truly willing to invest all necessary research and effort in determining whether a 285 lbs person could skydive (with no pay or guarantees that he actually could or would be willing to continue) then I'm happily proven wrong.

And for the record (in response to someone else), I don't care about people's jump numbers so much as their involvement in the sport.
"That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport."
~mom

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Amazon

***That's excellent advice. I can corner the market on customized big boy rigs, employ some big AFF instructors that have trouble working with the featherweights, and send my business cards out to DZs who can't be bothered with people over 220 pounds. Instead of just shooting them down, they can direct them to me. Everyone is happy.



Well except for those who love to play the well worn body shaming game... jus sayin

Yep.. "Just saying" - my point exactly :P
"That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport."
~mom

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jbscout2002



160 belly to earth and stable is impressive.

well hell then just make a jump with me and prepare to be impressed then;) just saying
i have on occasion been accused of pulling low . My response. Naw I wasn't low I'm just such a big guy I look closer than I really am .


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There are 4 pages of comments already on this topic. I'm only adding mine because I've been there done that.

Yes it is possible for heavier people to skydive. I was 265 on my first jump. I didn't realize at the time that the DZO was allowing me to jump gear that wasn't rated for my weight.

Skydiving did motivate me to lose weight and less than 6 months later I weighed 185 lbs. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to maintain it and even exceeded my original weight significantly over the years. I have made jumps weighing as much as 315 lbs + gear. Exit weight was really close to 350 and I was jumping a military rig with 350 sq ft canopies.

Of course at that weight I flew base for the freeflyers and even they could have trouble keeping up with me.

I did find that swoop cords were my friend and Tony Suits was able to build me a suit that slowed me down reasonably when I weighed in at the 230-250 range.

I have again lost weight (gastric bypass) and though I'm not skinny, I'm not much different than many of the other jumpers out there. I've been surprised to hear some of the thinner looking jumpers tell me that they outweigh me now (215). Fall rate is still an issue though. I do own multiple jumpsuits and I'm actually planning on buying another slower one.

To wrap all this up, it can be done. I wouldn't trade my 21+ years in this sport for anything. It has been a challenge at times, but it was worth every moment.

If you can safely help a larger jumper get started then go for it. Yes, there will be obstacles and yes there are higher risks.

I would suggest that you give the jumper an incentive before his first jump. Tell him, if he loses 25 lbs, you'll help. Maybe even make him get on the scales before every jump day and he must not have gained weight in order to jump that day. Just an idea, but give him some motivation to lose weight.

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