promise5 17 #1 January 17, 2013 I hope you don't mind my asking because I would seriously like to know. If I've done a tandem and didn't "freak out" in a strange way. Why isn't it possible to do a tandem where I can face the instructor?No matter how slowly you say oranges it never sounds like gullible. Believe me I tried. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #2 January 17, 2013 it CAN be possible, not everybody would do it though... the only ones I have seen done like that were skydivers "in front", not just "1 tandem wonders" scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
promise5 17 #3 January 17, 2013 Quote it CAN be possible, not everybody would do it though... the only ones I have seen done like that were skydivers "in front", not just "1 tandem wonders" Alright, next question. Are there rules against it?No matter how slowly you say oranges it never sounds like gullible. Believe me I tried. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #4 January 17, 2013 if the rule is "you should follow the manufacturer's manual/user's guide", then it certainly goes against all what is written in the manuals. just remember that your body offers different flexibilty and tweaking possibilites when turned the other way round...scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #5 January 17, 2013 QuoteWhy isn't it possible to do a tandem where I can face the instructor? While it may be possible, the harness was not designed to work that way. It would require modification and/or an unusual fitment for it to work. Tandem was designed as a training tool, to allow students to make a skydive with an instructor present for the entire jump. Due to that, the student faces forward as if they were in a stable arched position. No offence, but just go make a jump. The range of people who have done tandems spans every type of person you could imagine. From 5 yrs old to 95 yrs (maybe older), people with every physical disabaility you could imagine, to include a guy with no arms and no legs. Just go to the DZ, and make a regular tandem jump, like everyone else. Maybe you like it and want to jump again, maybe you're terrified and you vow to never leave the ground again after you land. In either case, you did it, and you can still post here and tell us all about it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
potatoman 0 #6 January 17, 2013 Sure if you go naked you might find a lot of guys willing to take you up. You can do, but: check on slow motion tandem vids, specifically the opening shock. Your legs swing up rapidly. Now, do this in reverse, your back would take the strain. Your arms too would move the shock to your back. Your view would be pretty much that of the instructor. Another, would be a landing. You won't be able to lift your legs, so either get a guaranteed standup landing, or brace yourself. Wonder if one could do it upside down relative to the instructor? You have the right to your opinion, and I have the right to tell you how Fu***** stupid it is. Davelepka - "This isn't an x-box, or a Chevy truck forum" Whatever you do, don't listen to ChrisD. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
al05r 2 #7 January 17, 2013 I hope you don't mind my asking because I would seriously like to know. Why would even want to do that ? If you just want to stare at some dude in the face for 5-7 mins, do it on the ground. If you want to jump out of a plane, there are effectively 3 ways: SL, AFF and regular old tandem. For all of them, we've learned how to do them properly by watching people who didn't get mangled or die. Simples Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #8 January 17, 2013 QuoteI hope you don't mind my asking because I would seriously like to know. If I've done a tandem and didn't "freak out" in a strange way. Why isn't it possible to do a tandem where I can face the instructor? The harness was not designed to fit the human body in that way. So, The safety margins are compromised too much. So, It's against the rules. Because, It's not safe.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
promise5 17 #9 January 17, 2013 It came up in conversation. It's winter here so doing a tandem has to wait a bit. But thanks for the responses No matter how slowly you say oranges it never sounds like gullible. Believe me I tried. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #10 January 17, 2013 Quote It's winter here so doing a tandem has to wait a bit. Road trip down the coast to Florida. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheCaptain 2 #11 January 17, 2013 It would be unsafe in alot of aspects, harness fit, and most importantly body position for landing. I sure hope this is not about your other thread "just venting"Kirk He's dead Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #12 January 17, 2013 You've had lots of people tell you why it's not a good idea. My only question is why would you want to do a tandem that way?"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southern_Man 0 #13 January 17, 2013 Quote Wonder if one could do it upside down relative to the instructor? Hmmm, that would make an interesting landing..."What if there were no hypothetical questions?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnSherman 1 #14 January 17, 2013 Let me tell you a story. Norman Kent had a photo mission to film a tandem jump of Bill Booth and Connie Simpson. This was for an advertising campaign. Norm went with Vector Tandem master Nancy LaRiviere. Norm carried a Bolex camera wedged between him and Nancy. Norm wore the passanger backwards and assumed the "Missionary Position" for the jump. Out the door Nancy tossed the drogue and it barber polled around Norms leg, which if you think about the configuration, was sticking straight up. They had a "Jack the Ripper" knife and they spent the next 10,000 feet trying to cut the drogue bridle. Nancy was holding the bridle as Norm was trying to cut it. At 3,000 feet Nancy let go of the bridle and pulled the reserve hoping it would clear. It did. I met them as they landed. The kevlar from the bridle was jamed between the blades of the knife rendering it useless. We learned 2 things from this jump. Don't use a kinfe with a straight blade and don't stick you legs up straight if you are doing it missionary style. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
promise5 17 #15 January 17, 2013 Quote You've had lots of people tell you why it's not a good idea. My only question is why would you want to do a tandem that way? It just came up in a conversation and I thought I would ask here. No matter how slowly you say oranges it never sounds like gullible. Believe me I tried. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
promise5 17 #16 January 17, 2013 Quote It would be unsafe in alot of aspects, harness fit, and most importantly body position for landing. I sure hope this is not about your other thread "just venting" NopeNo matter how slowly you say oranges it never sounds like gullible. Believe me I tried. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pchapman 279 #17 January 17, 2013 Quote Why isn't it possible to do a tandem where I can face the instructor? Based on your photo, I wouldn't expect much objection to doing it face to face. Mind you, the only face to face tandem I did was with another guy. (This was an experienced jumper, he wore his own rig, we deployed after a short freefall, and we unhooked and dropped him -- so he could do RW with another buddy doing the same.) To keep the stresses on the harness the same as normal, he just wore the passenger harness backwards. A little more uncomfortable but doable. We didn't have to deal with the landing. Although the passenger does tend to hang lower than the instructor, it shouldn't be that big a deal with a cooperative passenger especially if the winds are more than minimal. As for the manuals, they show one way to harness up a passenger -- which one might therefore interpret as the only way -- but don't specifically prohibit other ways. They prohibit lots of other things in writing but even then it is up to you do decide which rules are to be broken -- especially when we are talking about having fun as skydivers and not acting as professionals taking up unsuspecting members of the public. Opinions vary. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimjumper 25 #18 January 17, 2013 It's been done for the movies before. Check out "Terminal Velocity" and there is some backwards tandem footage in it. Uncomfortable and the landings were interesting to say the least. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #19 January 18, 2013 Quote It's been done for the movies before. Check out "Terminal Velocity" and there is some backwards tandem footage in it. Uncomfortable and the landings were interesting to say the least. 2 friends of mine (both TIs) did a couple jumps like that for a Dutch movie. Unlike the usual "Mr Bill tandem" where the passenger jumps off after opening, they had to land like that, all dressed up for the movie too. The female TI on front was heard on video right before landing: "Danny, if you *hurt* me on landing...!!!!!!!" ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #20 January 18, 2013 You forgot the part about, facial expressions in the landing area, shorts were changed and backs patted, many a beers were had with repeated telling of NSTIWTIWGTD..... you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #21 January 18, 2013 From another thread, I'm guessing at your reason for posting and considering this, but it's none of my business, so I'll keep it to myself. At any rate, I imagine the opening shock might be biomechanically similar to a terminal velocity opening of a chest-mounted reserve - which I have experienced. It hurt - hyperflexed my spine; and my spine was only 21 years old at the time. And hard openings do occasionally happen on tandems. And then, yeah, there are the landing issues, too. Not something I'd recommend other than with a more experienced jumper as pax. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #22 January 19, 2013 Quotehyperflexed my spine; Oops, I think I meant to say hyperextended. I'm bending over backwards to get this right. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #23 January 20, 2013 Quote Quote hyperflexed my spine; Oops, I think I meant to say hyperextended. I'm bending over backwards to get this right. I've pulled a front mount reserve. Definitely a hell of an experience. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
promise5 17 #24 January 20, 2013 QuoteQuotehyperflexed my spine; Oops, I think I meant to say hyperextended. I'm bending over backwards to get this right. Sooooo I should get better at yoga??lolNo matter how slowly you say oranges it never sounds like gullible. Believe me I tried. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverbry 0 #25 January 20, 2013 By facing the instructor you'll miss on extraordinary given it's your first jump.....or maybe not depending on how goodlooking you find the TIBry -------------------------------------------------- Growing old is mandatory.Growing up is optional!! D.S.#13(Dudeist Skdiver) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
