motherhucker 0 #1 October 24, 2003 This may have been posted before but I'm curious if any serious swoopers have experimented with wearing weights that could be discarded during a hook turn? If I suddenly [somehow] dropped 12-15 pounds of lead somewhere in the bottom of my recovery arc, how would that play out during the swoop? I know...how would one carry/drop said weight? I have no good answer, and the potential safety problems involved would likely prove to make the returns insignificant, but just a thought... If anyone has ever experimented with this I would love to know... mh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nicknitro71 0 #2 October 24, 2003 You need an FAA approval to do that Memento Audere Semper 903 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflyguy 0 #3 October 24, 2003 Water, but I don't get why you would. ---------------------------- bzzzz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny1488 1 #4 October 24, 2003 I've thought of this, but the way I figured, you'ld want to ditch the weight half way through the swoop. Same as putting your feet down to un-load the canopy to lower the stall speed. A wingload of 2.1 for the first half and a wingload of 1.5 for the finish and touchdown? Who knows but got me thinking a bit also 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
ianmdrennan 2 #5 October 24, 2003 Interesting question, and I honestly don't know. I do know though, that I have no time whatsoever to be dropping weight when I'm coming if for landing. There is just too much to do and my attention is already split between keeping awareness of my surroundings and pulling off the best possible swoop I can...so I can't see a scenario where it would be safe to do so low to the ground. Blue skies ian Blue skies IanPerformance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andy2 0 #6 October 24, 2003 what about a type of handle on your left (or right) foot that when kicked/dislodged with other foot "cuts away" the weight/water, etc? That way your hands could be kept doing what theyre supposed to do, be on risers and toggles --------------------------------------------- let my inspiration flow, in token rhyme suggesting rhythm... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hooknswoop 19 #7 October 24, 2003 Quotewhat about a type of handle on your left (or right) foot that when kicked/dislodged with other foot "cuts away" the weight/water, etc? That way your hands could be kept doing what theyre supposed to do, be on risers and toggles If someone wanted to actually try something like this, the failure modes have to be looked at. For example, in this case, what if the cutaway system for the weight doesn't work? What if it doesn't work and the pilot can't get their foot out of the loop? What would having a bunch of weight on one leg do to the opening? It would be a neat experiment, but it would take a lot of work to get a workable system. At some point the amount of work it would take to gt it right would be too much for the result you would get out of it. Derek Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #8 October 25, 2003 I thought of exactly this, getting the idea from competition water ballasted sailplanes. Some can dump their ballast to land lighter. Something like a flexible water jug placed below swoopers waist with a quick acting dump or metered drain valve. It would be awkward and big because of the weight of water . It might look like someone sitting on a flexible 5 gallon campers water bladder. Activate it how I don't know. Crazy huh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andy2 0 #9 October 25, 2003 I thought more of a cable running up the leg to the body. Just thoughts, the "loop" would be more like a kickstart on a motorcycle, that would have less of a failure/disaster rate as a loop I think. --------------------------------------------- let my inspiration flow, in token rhyme suggesting rhythm... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
parachutist 2 #10 October 25, 2003 Quote If I suddenly [somehow] dropped 12-15 pounds of lead somewhere in the bottom of my recovery arc, how would that play out during the swoop? mh During the swoop a jumper picks up a lot of speed. After the jumper planes out, inertia carries the jumper forward, retaining a lot of the speed that was generated during the dive. If the jumper drops off 15 lbs., he's dropping off mass and therefore will have less inertia. So I believe his canopy will now slow down quicker than if he'd kept that 15 lbs. on board. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casch 0 #11 October 28, 2003 I don't think there would be a speed change, I think there would be a lift change though. The angle of attack required to create enough lift to stop your vertical descent at 30mph is quite different at 130 than 150. I think that you could actually lengthen your swoop if you dropped the lead or water at a specific rate. I think... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
velo90 0 #12 October 28, 2003 For competition, droping weights is prohibited. But, you could always change your canopy for one of those para glider things. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumperconway 0 #13 October 31, 2003 I jumped my Xaos 21 -88 loaded like 2.8 for the POPs world record and landed it. I wouldnt have wanted to shed the weight, rather land as is. Awsume swoop! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
