Skydiving without an Altimeter

[dgskydive 0]

In the spirit of not jumping without something thread that have come up. I wonder how many people jump without a visual altimeter?

I haven't used one in over a year.

Would you, have you?

Dom

[wmw999 2,507]

I have a number of no-altimeter jumps. Would do it (did when I forgot to bring it a few months back), but prefer not to.

I have an audible as well (didn't for most of my no-altimeter jumps), but I keep it set low enough that I'm usually tracking when I hear it. And I like it that way.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[dgskydive 0]

Sometimes it is funy to me. I will be on the plane and look around to see what altitude we are at and nobody near me has one. Seems to be a 4way thing for the most part. Hardly anyone wears one (except camera).

Dom

[Trae 1]

Didn't need one for about 2 years and 800 jumps cause I kept my eyes open.

Then some newbie tried to make me ride the plane down when he noticed.

DUR

[dgskydive 0]

I thinkit is fun to mess with tandem or AFF students. I keep asking them over and over "What altitude are we at?" The look on their faces when I tell them I don't have one is always funny.

Dom

[weegegirl 2]

I kinda like it when I forget to put on my alti. Makes it more fun.

[dgskydive 0]

Mine was stolen and I am to cheap (or poor) to buy another one.

Dom

[JohnRich 4]

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Mine was stolen and I am to cheap (or poor) to buy another one.

What will you do when you go out of state to a different dropzone where the topography and landscape are radically different, and your ability to judge alititude is thrown off?

[dgskydive 0]

So far no problems. Eloy, Perris and Elsinore. In fact I don't think I have ever used one at Elsinore and I only go to Eloy for competitons. I'll let ya know when I start traveling later this year.

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topography and landscape are radically different, and your ability to judge alititude is thrown off?

I never look at the ground dring free fall. I make sure I know where I am before we get out and from there....well air is air. I am usually tracking away right as my my audible goes off. On landing I have never used an alitmeter to judge when to turn for final (except as a student) I have always done it with my eyes. every place I have ever jumped. Even when I was up in WA. state.

Dom

[dgskydive 0]

Look at this months cover of Parachutist. Can you find the altimeters? I only see two and one of those is on the camera flier.

Dom

[Girlfalldown 0]

Dude your thread just totally reminded me of a dream I had just before I woke up this morning! I kept forgetting my altimeter on my skydives and the last jump I did I was in a sit and I turned to track off on my belly and the ground was right there and SMACK!

That's right, I cratered.

No wonder I woke up all disappointed in myself this morning.

I've jumped without an altimeter a couple of times for various reasons. Once was because I just plain forgot it and a couple times I gave mine to a low jump number jumper that forgot theirs. I have an audible which is nice but I do like to have the visual to give me an idea of how much time I have left for stuff and what not. I feel secure jumping without one but it's nice to have that extra bit of safety there as a reminder.

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(Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.)

[dgskydive 0]

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Dude your thread just totally reminded me of a dream I had just before I woke up this morning! I kept forgetting my altimeter on my skydives and the last jump I did I was in a sit and I turned to track off on my belly and the ground was right there and SMACK!

I had one of those a long time ago. Tracked right into the pea pit. Got up dusted myself off and said "Damn I'll never do that again!"

Dom

[skybytch 273]

I have. I prefer to wear one, mainly so I know where we're at on the climb to altitude. Generally don't look at it after exit until I'm under canopy.

I used to have a picture of me in freefall wearing a jumpsuit, a rig, sunglasses and shoes - no altimeter, no helmet, no AAD, no RSL, no audible and a round reserve.

By some people's standards, I should already be dead.

[dgskydive 0]

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I used to have a picture of me in freefall wearing a jumpsuit, a rig, sunglasses and shoes - no altimeter, no helmet, no AAD, no RSL, no audible and a round reserve.

Black Death waiting to happen. You should go thank God or Buddah or whoever that you are still alive. Or at least that you stillhave all your toes!!!!!!

Dom

[nate_1979 9]

Done it once, forgot to put it on before getting on the plane... If I'm in the plane, or waiting to load the plane, and I realize that I forgot it I'll still jump (at my home DZ anyway) ... I can guestimate my altitude. fairly accurately there. I'll also still go if in a group, so I guess that leaves me not going if I forget it if I am jumping solo at a dropzone I dont know

FGF #???
I miss the sky...
There are 10 types of people in the world... those who understand binary and those who don't.

[EvilLurker 2]

Well, if you forget your altimeter and there are any clouds, take a look at the base altitude of the cloud deck on the way up and remember it. It's a good reference to have, just in case. There are almost always clouds here and 5500 feet is a common base. I can count down from there if needed. After 50 or so jumps you shouldn't need an altimeter if you've been paying attention.

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I guess that leaves me not going if I forget it if I am jumping solo at a dropzone I dont know

I might not, either, unless I could use that cloud trick or there's real good visibility. People at a new DZ like to know what altitude you're opening at.

[dgskydive 0]

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After 50 or so jumps you shouldn't need an altimeter if you've been paying attention.

For the record. i am not telling anyone they need tojump without an altimeter. That is up to the jumper and if they do so, when is up to them. 50 jumps seems like it isn't a lot of time to get your enternal clock set. They are still learning so much at that time.

Dom

[jerry81 10]

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Well, if you forget your altimeter and there are any clouds, take a look at the base altitude of the cloud deck on the way up and remember it. It's a good reference to have, just in case.

I agree it's good to note the level of the clouds...but don't trust them to stay where they are. Once, at around 50 jumps, while wearing an altimeter, I decided to punch through a cloud before opening, because I noticed on the way up the base started just around 3000'. When it seemed a bit long and the glimpse of the ground I got looked more like what I was used to seeing under canopy, I took a peek at my altimeter and saw I was burning through 2000' already... So clouds can't be relied on all the time.

Back to the subject, I'm personally just too cheap to buy a visual....it's like 5-7 tickets! I'll wear my Neptune on my wrist for canopy jumps and if I do invest into an altimeter, I'll probably get another audible (maybe Wave) and use the Neptune as visual, but until then, I'm comfortable relying on my inner clock, my eyes, the audible and other people around me.

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[kelpdiver 2]

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Well, if you forget your altimeter and there are any clouds, take a look at the base altitude of the cloud deck on the way up and remember it.

Of course, you'll need to look at someone else's altimeter to make use of this!

Dom - in context of your original question, isn't wearing an audible cheating?

[sunshine 2]

I jumped without one for a week or two. While at a boogie, mine broke so i continued jumping til i got home and ordered a new one.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[EvilLurker 2]

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Of course, you'll need to look at someone else's altimeter to make use of this!

Or the one the pilot has on the instrument panel, if you can see it. I jump a lot of Cessnas. I wear an altimeter just in case somebody else forgets theirs. I loaned it out in the plane once (so far).

[EvilLurker 2]

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I decided to punch through a cloud before opening..

Hey, I didn't say to do THAT! If you're in a cloud, it's a GREAT time to look at your alti, since you can't see anything else. Yes, though, the cloud deck can change but it's usually a pretty good form of feedback if you're making a jump from 12k or so to know when you're down to 5k (or whatever the cloud deck is), after that you can count and be open where everyone expects you to be. Just a tool to use in certain situations.

[psw097 0]

I went about 500 jumps without a visual altimeter.

[Evelyn 0]

I have a visual and an audible altimeter, but I've noticed that a lot of the coaches I've jumped with didn't have a visual altimeter. Guess it's something you learn from experience. Since I don't have that much experience I like to have both. I usually don't look at my visual altimeter until after canopy. Then I use it to help land. But I did learn I could land without it when one day I looked down at my altimeter under canopy and the insides were gone (it was my first altimeter that I bought on e-bay). But until I get more experience I prefer to use both.

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing ~ Helen Keller

[sundevil777 102]

I had no altimeter of any kind for about a hundred jumps, then only had an old Paralert audible for about 600 more.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am