SKYgoonie 0 #1 September 17, 2009 Recently ive come to notice I have a real problem with being real floaty. When trying to do any RW work I just cant keep up. I am 5'10" and barely 145 ( I used to be 155 but poor finances cut into my food budget) I have started flying mantis and it helps alot but if I do any FF jumps I usaly loose the group I was thinking of puting some weights on but was told they realy dont have any effect after you go terminal? thought it was an interesting statment and woundering what others thought?i only pretend to know what im doing D.S.#619 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #2 September 17, 2009 Those people are wrong. Don't listen to them anymore.Weights will make you fall faster. Use them if you want. Is your suit tight? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SKYgoonie 0 #3 September 17, 2009 As tight as Richard Simmons workout suit. Yea I agree. But, his point was interesting how fall rate is based on surface area drag. Only the trip to terminal will be sped up by more wieght but being the same size will result in the same fall ratei only pretend to know what im doing D.S.#619 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #4 September 17, 2009 I am a floaty bitch - and I freely admit it. I have had too much damage to my spine over the years to arch really well. before this last weekend I have always used a weight vest - sometimes with up to 30lbs in it and the strain on your neck from a full days jumping is terrible. this last weekend I used a weight belt while doing relative work - it gave me the ability to match fall rates and was quite impressed with the comfort of it. freefly - get a baggy suit, rw - get a belt. RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #5 September 17, 2009 Quote Only the trip to terminal will be sped up by more wieght but being the same size will result in the same fall rate Guess I wear that 8kg of lead for 100kg TM and 100+kg passenger all for nuthin' then..... ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
timbre 0 #6 September 17, 2009 His point might be interesting but it is wrong. Terminal is determined by the ratio of weight/surface not by surface alone. A one foot lead ball falls faster than a one foot baloon even though they have the same surface. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robdiver 0 #7 September 17, 2009 Wow, yes thats wrong... In freefall there are 2 forces working on you... Weight and drag. As you jump out the aeroplane your drag is zero (if you ignore forward speed), so you accelerate downwards. When you reach terminal velocity, your drag is equal to your weight (by definition) and you dont accellerate anymore. Drag is dependant on body possition, surface area, "skin friction" (jump suit), speed, and density. so if you add weights the drag at terminal will have to increase, and all other things equal, this will be done by increasing your speed (terminal velocity). So if you have trouble falling, u have the options of changing body possition, jump suit, and weight... on the otherhand I think the only doesnt change is the time taken to get to terminal (give or take a few split second) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chubba 0 #8 September 17, 2009 As a fellow lightweight, just make sure your body can handle the extra weight when landing. It definitely puts additional stress and strain on your knees, after a bunch of jumps with weights, I've decided they're not for me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #9 September 17, 2009 I'm about the same weight as you, but a bit shorter. I have a weight vest and 10 lbs of lead, that I never use anymore. If you were a lot closer, I'd just give it to you. Or, if you want, I can ship it COD. You pay the delivery guy the cost of shipping."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LloydDobbler 2 #10 September 17, 2009 Quote As tight as Richard Simmons workout suit. Yea I agree. But, his point was interesting how fall rate is based on surface area drag. Only the trip to terminal will be sped up by more wieght but being the same size will result in the same fall rate I'm guessing this person is of a size that they've never had to wear a weight belt. His argument reminds me of all the non-skydivers who argue that all objects fall at a constant rate, so there should be no need to 'match fall rates'. No one wants to rely on lead, but sometimes you can't get around it. My exit weight is 135. The other day I flew with a student who weighs 240 out the door. Pretty sure I couldn'tve done it without a little lead. (As a side note, a little goes a long way. You'll be surprised.) I'd jump on Billy Vance's offer in a heartbeat, if I were you.Signatures are the new black. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fanya 3 #11 September 17, 2009 I wear lead, but I'm also 6'4" 140lbs so I'm a tad floatly to say the least. I actually wore weight on some of my AFF jumps. Weight belts do help, I've seen one guy wear 3 weight belts (about 40lbs of lead) but he was on a RW team Make a hop n' pop or two so you can adjust to your new wing loading though Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #12 September 17, 2009 Quote I wear lead, but I'm also 6'4" 140lbs so I'm a tad floatly to say the least. I actually wore weight on some of my AFF jumps. Weight belts do help, I've seen one guy wear 3 weight belts (about 40lbs of lead) but he was on a RW team Make a hop n' pop or two so you can adjust to your new wing loading though I have known some of the inner base jumpers on the Skydive Chicago 300 way team in 1998 to wear up to 60 lbs of lead for a super fast fall rate, to help ensure that there were nobody going low. They weren't skinny people either. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #13 September 17, 2009 QuoteI'm about the same weight as you, but a bit shorter. I have a weight vest and 10 lbs of lead, that I never use anymore. If you were a lot closer, I'd just give it to you. Or, if you want, I can ship it COD. You pay the delivery guy the cost of shipping. OP = this is a great offer - lead shot has gone up in cost over the last few years (in our area 4x) then, once you get "bag" full of lead shot, find someone to empty that 'bag/vest' and put the shot in a proper belt - vests make one fly head low - belts keep the weight near your center where you need it added weight increases speed (all things being equal) at a root ratio to the total weight - it's VERY effective so is a good tunnel camp and proper application of mantis (leverages that pesky surface area thingy) ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
