Urban myths in skydiving

[neilly 0]

Ok all you peeps,

I am sure there are lots of Urban myths to do with skydiving, So who knows some good uns, if nothing else they make for good stories for the wuffos, lol

Fly like an aardvark

[quade 4]

I would say that without a doubt the most pervasive myth in skydiving is that you can't breathe in freefall.

This goes back to a "faq" that was posted on the usenet rec.skydiving newsgroup and has been cited as real fact by numerous legit news agencies.

Really stupid if a person stopped and thought about it for even a fraction of a second, but most people -don't- think at all so what the heck am I saying?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[neilly 0]

Sometimes with the smell on the plane you dont want to breathe, perhaps thats what they meant,lol

But we have all seen point break and know that you can talk in freefall, well you can, the only problem is nobody can hear you.

But has anyone heard about the woman who did ground school couldnt afford the jumps so went to a seperate DZ with a forged logbook , hired a rig and then jumped,
she screamed all the way down until her Cypres fired and she landed OK,

Fly like an aardvark

[slotperfect 7]

The reason that it hurts jumping in the rain is that you free fall through the pointy end of the rain drops.

Arrive Safely

John

[mikkey 0]

One I have heard often over many years is skydivers surviving impact in freefall without any "nylon" out. I only know of one confirmed one from WW2 where a British bomber crew member survived by hittting large trees and there was a lot of snow on the ground. He was badly injured so. I saw an interview with him.

Any other incident Iknow of have always had something out to slow them down somewhat and they normally saved by muddy ground, water etc. Never known about a total mal impact being survived besides above. But I always have friends(whuffos) telling me about it....

---------------------------------------------------------
When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

[SkydiverRick 0]

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Ok all you peeps,

I am sure there are lots of Urban myths to do with skydiving, So who knows some good uns, if nothing else they make for good stories for the wuffos, lol

If you go through a cloud you'll drown.

never pull low......unless you are

[wmw999 2,439]

If you go fast enough in freefall your skin can peel off.

And, um, doesn't everyone have a cousin whose brother's friend jumped, and neither parachute opened, and he lived?

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)

[quack 0]

When your parachute is opening, you go up.

But you have to understand, mental illness is like cholesterol. There is the good kind and the bad. Without the good kind- less flavor to life. - Serge A. Storms

[TerminalSteve 0]

Ive had LOADS of people say, if both parachutes fail, you will have died from a heart attack before you hit the ground. Variations have included passing out through fear before hitting the groung. No skydiver I know ever said that though

[Vertifly 0]

BWWWWWAAAAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAA!!!!

[Casch 0]

In Freefall we breath through our skin

[Samurai136 0]

I actually count on my skin peeling off. Usually because I'm sunburned.

Ken

"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian
Ken

[SkydiverRick 0]

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If you go fast enough in freefall your skin can peel off.

And, um, doesn't everyone have a cousin whose brother's friend jumped, and neither parachute opened, and he lived?

Wendy W.

Don't get too close to the door or you'll get sucked out.

never pull low......unless you are

[Vertifly 0]

"How do you breath while in freefall?"

Well, you fall so fast that your skin absorbs the O2.

[wmw999 2,439]

"you can't steer rounds"
"jumping a round really hurts"

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)

[mr2mk1g 10]

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One I have heard often over many years is skydivers surviving impact in freefall without any "nylon" out. I only know of one confirmed one from WW2 where a British bomber crew member survived by hittting large trees and there was a lot of snow on the ground. He was badly injured so. I saw an interview with him.

There are a number of people who survived without anything abover them - see the link. The chap you're talking about was a Nicholas Alkemade who flew in the same squadron as with my Great Uncle who was a belly gunner.

http://www.manbottle.com/trivia/Terminal_Velocity.htm_answer.htm

I do a lot of recruting at uni for my club - by far the most common question is: "how far up do you go when you open your parachute?" Oh, and you know everyone thinks we still use ripcords.

[TrickyDicky 0]

Its not a myth but a question I get asked alot when recruiting is "What happens if both your parachutes fail?"

I would have thought the answer was fairly obvious

UK Skydiver for all your UK skydiving needs.

[jlmiracle 7]

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Its not a myth but a question I get asked alot when recruiting is "What happens if both your parachutes fail?"

I would have thought the answer was fairly obvious

Answer: Untie your shoes. Why you ask, because it gives you something to do before you bounce.

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

[councilman24 37]

Been there, just waiting to bounce.

Which brings me to my myth. It's the second impact after the bounce that hurts. So.... If you grap the grass and don't bounce you'll be fine.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[SkydiverRick 0]

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Its not a myth but a question I get asked alot when recruiting is "What happens if both your parachutes fail?"

I would have thought the answer was fairly obvious

Answer: Untie your shoes. Why you ask, because it gives you something to do before you bounce.

That's pretty good. I answer the whuffos by saying "walk towards the white light".

never pull low......unless you are

[narcimund 0]

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Its not a myth but a question I get asked alot when recruiting is "What happens if both your parachutes fail?"

I would have thought the answer was fairly obvious

I always respond, "You think about it for the rest of your life."

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[murrays 0]

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Its not a myth but a question I get asked alot when recruiting is "What happens if both your parachutes fail?"

I would have thought the answer was fairly obvious

Answer: Untie your shoes. Why you ask, because it gives you something to do before you bounce.

My answer: Hold up your left hand.

They ask, "Why?"

And I tell them, "One of us on the ground might need a watch."

--
Murray

"No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

[PhreeZone 20]

>"jumping a round really hurts"

I know for a fact that landing a Comp PC outside the peas really DOES hurt...

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[airtwardo 7]

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>"jumping a round really hurts"

I know for a fact that landing a Comp PC outside the peas really DOES hurt...

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And a Pap is NO BETTER!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[airtwardo 7]

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When your parachute is opening, you go up.

***
...Which is why you must
NEVER!
open a rig in the house...

You could go through the roof!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~