ixlr82 7 #1 February 18, 2003 The rain stopped long enough on Sunday to get in one C-182 load. Ground winds were steady 15mph with gusts to 20. Winds were a little higher (20mph steady) at 3000ft. Found that out at pull time. Landed about a half mile from DZ going backward some of the time but mostly straight down. We have many very large 'outs', that's why I felt Ok with jumping in those conditions. It was a little scary but exhilarating as hell. I found my personal wind limits. Just wondering what some of the more experienced jumpers put the limit at, and why. By the way, I jump a Hornet 150 (1:1.25 loaded) __________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kris 0 #2 February 18, 2003 My limits are 20-22 steady and for gusts, no more than an 8-ish mph difference no matter what the wind-speed. I jump a Stiletto at just under 1.4. The limits can vary, obviously, depending on the DZ & conditions. But if things are looking squirrely and I can see loaded wings doing some heavy breathing then I'm staying my happy butt on the ground. But, zero wind (or a 5-ish mph one for some nice down-winders) is always the best.Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpy 0 #3 February 18, 2003 Somewere around the 15 knots range. I still just a student 228 so at that i'm basicaly going straight down. I've had jumps goin backward were i landed in a field with powerlines on two sides and a dam behind me, damn that was fun.. lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #4 February 18, 2003 Our limits are set by the APF. 15 knots for student and novices 20 knots for A & B licenses 25 knows for C and above Our boys & girls at the DZ stick to these limits You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #5 February 18, 2003 "Just wondering what some of the more experienced jumpers put the limit at, and why.2 Depends on the DZ, I know of a variety of DZs that exhibit unpredictable turbulence. At the end of the day, its probably gusts, or turbulence, dirt devils etc that will induce the most drama. As a general rule of thumb, 25mph (27-30 mph gusts) is about my limit, but it largely depends on my need for air, my mood, my currency, local spotting accuracy, and the afore mentioned turbulence considerations. There's an old adage that goes..."Its better to be on the ground, wishing were in the air, than to be in the air, wishing you were on the ground."-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkwing 5 #6 February 18, 2003 If you landed 1/2 mile away the uppers (or the spot) were much worse than you state. My limits depend on the direction, which strongly influences turbulence at our DZ. 10 mph is too high for me when the wind is perpendicular to our runway. 15-20 is fine if the wind is with the runway. Although if it is turbulent in that direction (less likely) I'll ground myself. -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #7 February 18, 2003 It's too high when the hanger doors are whistling. Unless I haven't jumped in a month. As stated by others, terrain, direction, DZ size, who's spotting etc. come in to play. Backing up under my 30 mph sabre and triathlon is a little much for me anymore. My actual personal limit is probably around 20 on the ground. Just not worth the extra risk anymore. Of course when its too windy for normal jumping ... Let's do a cross country! Never fails some idiot shouts that out when we're standing around trying to figure out if we're going. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Watcher 0 #8 February 18, 2003 I would say mine is about the same, 25 with gusts taking it up to about 32. Much higher than that and I don't get much penetration. At around 25 I start a swoop and get about 10 feet of surf. Depends on where we are also. At Skyquest or some other competition I would jump higher winds to get the competition over. If its training about those that I mentioned above. If its "fun" jumping I probably stay on the ground who wants to jump with no surf to look forward to (and why take the risk?).Jonathan Bartlett D-24876 AFF-I Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tb62871 0 #9 February 18, 2003 I have heard on the DZ that the state of Rhode Island sets our limit at 20 . --TB Welcome my friends to the show that never ends. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
racer42 0 #10 February 18, 2003 I sat out Sunday. Beautiful, but a little chilly. Winds were out of the north but were very gusty and unpredictable at ground level. I don't mind 15 to 20 as long as its relatively predictable( 30 or minutes at same conditions ). Also if more experienced jumpers are not comfortable, I generally follow their lead. The good news ....met new people, learned new stuff.L.A.S.T. #24 Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team Electric Toaster #3 Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor Co-Founder Team Happy Sock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #11 February 19, 2003 what's the conversion from miles/hour to knots??? We measure wind speed n knots hereYou are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jib 0 #12 February 19, 2003 Quotewhat's the conversion from miles/hour to knots??? We measure wind speed n knots here About 1.15 miles per knot -------------------------------------------------- the depth of his depravity sickens me. -- Jerry Falwell, People v. Larry Flynt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sarge 0 #13 February 19, 2003 Just coincidentally, my first 'high' wind experience occurred on my level 15 AFP jump, 14-15 gusting to 23-25 under my new Monarch 150. My AFFI says on the video, "Nice skydive Doug; if we make it back.... lol!!!" (we didn't) Another time, I was between loads in Eloy when a dust storm erupted; I'd never seen anything before in my life like that, my first thought was, "they don't do nuclear testing out here anymore, do they?" my next thought was, "geez, I wonder if anybody was out yet?" -on that up-load. No as it turned out. Last time, two years ago, not only cloudy (atmoshpheric haze....) but 80kt uppers, I thought, "Shit, the greens still on, fuck it!" and I bailed. I knew ahead of time it would be a shit swoop jump so I went to my second beep before going flat. I opened just under the 'haze' and thought, "where the fuck am I!!!!!!!!! fuck!" for miles!!! ... there was nothing but fields and an occasional barn/what-not. The most notably fucked-up jump in my log books! The dz sent out search parties, and it fucking sucking-sucked!!! Now, in high winds, I will will not jump if I can't spot it! I will not go near trees, hangars or other vortice-creating structures in x-wind situations. I will not jump in high-variable gusting conditions and most of all, if I do decide to go, its only because I trust my group and those ahead/behind me! .-- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerm 0 #14 February 19, 2003 depends on the dz-direction, etc as other have said. In good conditions i'd say 25ish on the ground.. up top i don't care so much so long as the pilot will let me do course corrections if i don't like their spot. 60kt uppers? why not? so long as you spot for it and the ground winds are ok, it can be a lot of fun... specially watching the ground whiz by at 90mph heading downwind Landing without injury is not necessarily evidence that you didn't fuck up... it just means you got away with it this time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpy 0 #15 February 19, 2003 Quote 60kt uppers? why not? so long as you spot for it and the ground winds are ok, it can be a lot of fun... specially watching the ground whiz by at 90mph heading downwind Thats mad fun! You look down and you realise how fast your honkin it. Hmmmmm think of the distance you could cover with those downwind speeds WITH a wingsuit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beavdog 0 #16 February 19, 2003 Im from kansas where it always blows...most of us bow out around 22-25 mph Here's to the Breezes that blows through the Trezzez..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JYorkster 0 #17 February 19, 2003 20 mph steady. Less if there is a high variation due to gusts. Most people consider me too conservative, but many of the ones who say that have a broken bone or two. I'm still free from major injury...(knock on wood) Rock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny1488 1 #18 February 20, 2003 I have no problem with wind if doesnt cause turbulence. probably 25-30 is my limit. I'll always watch a load or 2 and see what canopies my size are doing. I like high uppers cause it means tracking dive into the wind! Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Austin 0 #19 February 20, 2003 I hear yeah beavdog, I jump in Osage city, and the wind's always blowin.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
listo 0 #20 February 20, 2003 Quote I like high uppers cause it means tracking dive into the wind! have you ever taken a longer spot and done a downwind tracking dive.....pretty cool stuff to see the ground flying by when you are just flying your body. We had 70 kt uppers the other day at 15,000 and we did a 12-way tracking dive whooooohooooo!Live today as tomorrow may not come Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny1488 1 #21 February 20, 2003 Thats on my list for this season now. We tried to do cross country canopy jumps but to get any real distance we would have to go over the mountains and thats Boston Logan airspace. We were gonna go 8-10 out for the canopy ride. How far did you take the tracking dive? Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
listo 0 #22 February 21, 2003 we went out 3.5 or 4 miles, but the winds were honking all the way down to about 6,500 (45 mph). We all decided that we needed to fly on our bellies just in case we ended up short so we could pull higher if we needed to. We didn't want anyone getting hosed. Usually, we have our leader fly on their backs, but not on this one because we were so far out. We made the airport by 5,500, so our timing must have been pretty good. We had a bunch of really good trackers too. The average fall speed on the jump was 96mph vertically on a pro-track. Now just for grins, I figured out the average forward speed and it came to 173 mph. Now keep in mind that the uppers were crankin at around 70 mph. My guess is that we were tracking just over 100 mph horizontally. I have always been horrible at math, so does anyone want to cross check me on that? That actually sounds a little bit off to me. Listo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faber 0 #23 February 21, 2003 Havnt tryed to be winded out in my Crossfire 99 whith a wingload at 2,05,however do rember that the problem aint if you are flying against the wind..But if you have to land downwind,you could get really F###ed up.. Stay safe Stefan Faber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbarnhouse 0 #24 February 21, 2003 Another thing to keep in mind. If the locals aren't jumping it's a pretty good indication to keep your feet on the ground. Don't allow peer pressure to sway you, and be realistic about your ability.BB Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
listo 0 #25 February 21, 2003 The statement you make is 100% correct and to add to it..... it isn't your buddies butt that is on the line when "you" jump......it's yours.Listo Live today as tomorrow may not come Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
