steve1 5 #26 March 25, 2003 I once hummed it down to about 500 ft. (back in the olden days). Noone was watching their altimeters and four of us about burned in. I had less than 100 jumps. It was back in the good ole days, before AAD's or dytters. Groundrush from that altitude will definitely take your breath away. Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #27 March 25, 2003 Quote I once hummed it down to about 500 ft. (back in the olden days). Noone was watching their altimeters and four of us about burned in. I had less than 100 jumps. It was back in the good ole days, before AAD's or dytters. Groundrush from that altitude will definitely take your breath away. Steve1 ...... A good reason to watch your buddies altimeter as well as your own ( easier to see) , when ever you are doing RW with friends.....You simply must get an altitude reference, a few times during any jump,,,, no matter how much fun you're having,, no matter how good the points are going..... We used to emphasize the technique,, " Base has Altitude responsibility" but everybody keeps track.... then even if you are just a 2 or 3 or 4 way,,, SOMEONE assumes the responsibility for altitude the instant you START your skydive ... as for ground rush.... ... No Doubt!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skypuppy 1 #28 March 27, 2003 One year down at Z-hills we did a hoop dive on Xmas day that went really well (and we got out low due to clouds too) but we didn't have video... So a couple of days later we got some of the same people together, plus a few extra and tried again with video... Well, this time the jump didn't go so well - we got some people through and formed a no-contact diamond facing the hoop but people started hitting the hoop holders and knocking them around the sky, and every time someone hit them the whole no contact diamond had to move back into position again.... Finally I got to thinking if we're going to build anything we got to start now and as I moved up to tap the point's leg he turned and we built a 6-man... We were too close to the hoop, and as people tracked through they were still diving under or past us... Finally we had a couple more on wrists waiting to break in and I was thinking we must be running out of time... Looking down at my altimeter, it was reading about 2500'... I shook like mad and everyone broke and took off... As I started tracking I looked down and saw the tree at the end of the packing area and I thought to myself 'this is no 2500''... I dumped and my altimeter was saying about 1500 but when I landed it was still reading 700'... One girl opened about 600'... I can still hear Hoop on the loudspeaker "Peter Gannaw, get that group in here!!!' After the de-briefing (yelling) had died down and we were packing up, two guys actually came over and thanked me for keying the break, then picked up their unpacked canopies, got in their car and left... I left the altimeter there to get fixed after that (never got it back)... Now I often wear two - one on the wrist and one on the chest....If some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead. Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 0 #29 March 27, 2003 On one of my coach jumps i we broke at 5 and tracked. At the time i didn't realize just how stepe my track was and when i flared out i was at 2200 feet. Now mind you i was suppose to pull at 3500. I cursed the whole ride back. I didn't have my A at the time either. I got a good chewing out which i deserved b/c i should have been looking at my alti during the track.I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamsville 0 #30 March 27, 2003 The flattest track (short of a wing suit) can often be achieved with a slight de-arch with your hands as close to your side and slightly below your hips as you can manage with stable, straight flight. Point your legs and toes (which you already know). I notice that not everyone does the de-arch part. If you do this, you will feel the slight burble beneath your stomach and a little added speed, especially if you're thin. It will carry you farther, faster, and you may see others that broke the formation when you did drift below and to the side of you in their tracks. Use Russian Radar until clear, then wave and throw. Remember, though to watch for other groups if you are forced to track up or down the flight line by the presence of others around you at break-off. It is possible to track too far if your group isn't big enough to own the load. |I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerry81 10 #31 March 27, 2003 Not meaning to hijack my own thread, but I've noticed I track best when I'm looking backwards at the person/group I'm tracking away from. I just tuck my chin in (this stiffens the abdominal muscles which is, if I understand tracking, a good thing) and watch the other guy/s between my pointed toes. This way you can a)make sure you are de-arched, since you can't really see your toes if you're arching and b)get a feeling for how flat your track really is- if other people are lower than you, you're probably doing good (better than them, anyway). Of course, you shouldn't forget that the air below you is worth checking out, too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamsville 0 #32 March 27, 2003 Nice job!I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #33 March 28, 2003 i find the "de-arch" to be natural when i roll my shoulders forward to cup air..as tall as V is it should work pretty much the same.. i say this because when i tried to de-arch initially while learning to track i flipped over into what became (once i really learned how) the way for me to start a nice back track....____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #34 March 28, 2003 I was in a 4 way team - I had 400 jumps, the other 3 had 1400 each (One was later a member of the US 8 way) The dive was going really well. I looked down, dumped, turned and tracked. I was open at 700 feet. The other 3 were all below me. Our "Dytter man" had failed to warn us... although there was considerable debate around this at the time - about 14 years ago. t It's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 0 #35 March 28, 2003 YES, both unintentionally and intentionally. ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skypuppy 1 #36 March 30, 2003 I still remember watching my friend 'the Frog' hum it down.... It was a demo at Richmond Hill Winter Carnival, oh, maybe 12 or so years ago.... The clouds were down low but the show has to go on so we were getting out around 2200-2500 on a grey and windy day.... I exited first, and dumped 2 or 3 seconds out the door. As I was reaching for the handle I watched Frog come out and freefall down in front of me. As my parachute started to give me some lift I saw him reach for his pilot chute, and then he seemed to hold on to it for a second. He started to get deeper as my parachute opened and started flying forward... I watched, not really worried about him because this guy has been jumping longer then I been alive and I figured he could handle just about anything... But as he got deeper I was starting to wonder what was going on, thinking to myself, 'Come on Frog, it;s time to get it out....' Finally I saw a round parachute blossom over the snow and a second or two later, the Frog was on the ground - I could see the dot that was his body get up and run around the canopy to collapse it before he got dragged in the wind. Now I had a choice to make - go down and land with my buddy, or head back to the target which was fast becoming harder and harder to reach as I watched... The thing about the demo is the crowd were down on the frozen ice of the Mill Pond, surrounded by high banks covered with trees... The crowd would have watched as Frog freefell out of sight behind the trees without seeing the blossoming reserve.... I decided I better turn around and run like hell to let people know Frog was alright... But even as I was half way there my mind was saying 'Was he really up and running around it or did he just bounce down the slope there?' I mean, this one was CLOSE. By the time I got back the fire engines had gone screaming off and the radio journalists were already giving live coverage to the 'Skydiver's chute fails - falls out of sight' events... I let people know he was okay, and someone went out to pick him up from the little park off Bathurst St., but they didn't find him.... I had to get packed and organize the next load, so I couldn't wait around while people looked for Claude, who I 'thought' should be okay. When I got a minute I went looking for him... I didn't find him for some hours, when finally I had a chance to pop into the cube van organizers had thoughtfully filled with beer for the carnival's participants.... There he was, comfortably ensconced on a throne of beer cases, reliving the experience for all who cared to hear.... It seemed the pilot chute entangled with the smoke bracket on Frog's boot, and he spent some time trying to work it loose so the reserve wouldn't entangle with it or anything.... When he finally got the reserve out, it opened somewhere south of 150'.... After running around and collapsing the chute, some guy driving down Bathurst stopped and asked him if he was alright and did he need a ride? Turned out it was even someone he knew (strange enough in itself) but that's why he wasn't there when the fire trucks arrived. Frog later had his 15 minutes of fame extended when he was called up by a Canadian nationally syndicated talk show host and interviewed live... Our liason at MOT was driving down the 401 when he heard about it on the radio. After not hearing from us in the next day or two he called up to ask what happened and said if something like that happens again they want us to call them up right away so they know what to say if someone from the media calls them....If some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead. Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dterrick 0 #37 September 1, 2003 QuoteThe definition of going low would be, in my opinion, when you look at the altimeter/hear the beeps and think "OH SHIT!!!!". ...and Those Who Make the Rules would define it otherwise... Yes, I've been low... twice. Once as a student on my first RW training dive when 'low' meant breakoff was to be 4k, JM waved at 3500 and I had a steep track. In the saddle at 2200 (300 ft below license criterion). Got shit and never forgot... ...until this weekend. 2nd skybirthday. Hybrid 2 way with our septegenarian freeflyer in a sit (yes, I can fall that fast on my belly). Been screamed at by other jumpers for breaking off an RW dive 'early' (knowing I couldn't make the point in time) and this time I decided to make the point. Cost, 500 ft. Sitflyer pulled in place so I gave an ' extra full' track then the flare. Cost, another 500 ft. See a 'chain of events' scenario evolving yet? No audible. No AAD (beer rig). Jump #161. I fly a Raven as a main and know pull to control check is reliably 400 ft and on heading. I did my control check and entered the pattern a little early. Nuff said? Shortest canopy ride I've had in my career - but man was that a good spotNext container will house an AAD. Next main warrants an audible. -Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobsled92 0 #38 September 1, 2003 Went low (UN-inteded) 3 times while trying to get AWAY! from people._______________________________ If I could be a Super Hero, I chose to be: "GRANT-A-CLAUS". and work 365 days a Year. http://www.hangout.no/speednews/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #39 September 1, 2003 Just last weekend after a 4 way. We had a nice breakoff at 4 grand, I just wasn't paying as close attention as I should've, when I looked down again I KNEW I was definitely closing on 2 grand. I usually toss it around 28'ish and have a pretty good idea of what the ground looks like from there. This wasn't horrific, but it was big and getting bigger. Of course I was jumping a Spectre, which means I had time to work on a crossword puzzle while it snivelled (what's seven letters for "dumb ass" ?)... Checked my Alti III and went "oh shit" when I saw I was below 2. Opened clear around 1600 ft, naturally I was clear out over the freeway. Barely made it back to airport property, got a ride from the pickup truck for lost souls (many thanks). I'm sure I tossed it by 2 grand, so I was textbook legal (gotta D license), but 2 grand don't cut the mustard anymore with today's canopies - if indeed it ever did. I feel sufficiently chastened, it won't happen again for a long time, but truth is every skydiver will go low once in a while. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuteless 1 #40 September 1, 2003 many many times....love every one too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallygator 0 #41 September 2, 2003 jump 49 was a 5-way horney gorrila that funnelled 2. Broke off at 4500' in the saddle at 900' to 1000'. Scared the living shit out of me and i don't remember tossing the PC. Just milking the risers and prayed it opened. cheers -------------------------------------------------- who Jah bless Let no man curse. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerry81 10 #42 September 2, 2003 Quotejump 49 was a 5-way horney gorrila that funnelled 2. Broke off at 4500' in the saddle at 900' to 1000'. Scared the living shit out of me and i don't remember tossing the PC. Just milking the risers and prayed it opened. cheers So was it a 2000 foot snivel or did you simply lose altitude awareness? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JessB 0 #43 September 2, 2003 Helicoptor jump in quincy. My budy and I along with a coupl others from our dz exited first and we planned to open a little lower than the rest of our group. As we were in free fall I pointed at him at 2000' he nodded and smiled. Went for his BOC on a brand new rig. and missed. He went for it a second time and found it. By this time I am holding my pc out and ready to pitch it. once I saw his bag come off I let go of my PC and was in the saddle at about 400'. He and I still talk about the day we spooked our selves. We also turned the beer light on soon after that jump. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bclark 0 #44 September 2, 2003 Yes, I was trying to learn how to back track and I spent just a little too much time on my back. Threw out my main at 1500'. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flygator 0 #45 September 2, 2003 Sure!!! I went so low my AAD fired at the same time I threw my main so I had double the fun...not really but I still rode both of them down... The secret to life is not arriving at the grave in a well preserved body but sliding in sideways completely worn out yelling "holy crap" what a ride!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallygator 0 #46 September 3, 2003 it was loss of altitude awareness. I was looking around to make sure i wouldn't dump in some one's face. in hind sight i should have went for silver. my main is a 210 cruislite it's average opening is about 300' to full inflation, i honestly believe i had that BEAUTIFUL piece of fabric open in just under 150', and smoked a full deck(25) of smokes in about 15 min once i had the gear off cheers -------------------------------------------------- who Jah bless Let no man curse. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EvilSteve 0 #47 September 4, 2003 Yup. One time I was borrowing a friend's altimeter and he didn't mention that it would read about 500 feet high right around pull time. Then I went about 500 feet low according to the altimeter, adding up to a cool 1000 feet low and getting grounded for the day for pulling at 2000' with an A license. D'oh! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZoneRat 0 #48 September 4, 2003 Hoop dive. Made it through and joined the round with three others. Ignored 1st 5k audible break-off alarm with the three other folk. (How stupid is THAT). Turned to track on second alarm set at 3k. 2 tracked right F'ing beside me. Like 25' away. One on each side just LOOKING at me. Pitched main (at the time a Spectre 170) when the Oh Shit alarm went off at 1750'. Snivelled through the Cypres hard deck (it starts ticking at about 1250' or so I've been told) and my reserve fired. I saddled at about 850'. Landed stable biplane off. It was on "Safety Day"... Never again.“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophies.” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
