Krishan 0 #1 August 20, 2002 For all of you who film tandems out of Cessna's; How do you avoid excessive horizontal seperation from the tandem on exit? What techniques to you use? Do you exit the regular way, head up looking back up at them? I've been thinking of trying a new way. As soon as I leave I could go to my back looking up at the tandem, only presenting my head to the wind. Seems that would solve the problem of getting blown away from them. Then I could use my wings to get back up easily. anyway, any input would be great. blues....... Dont f#%k up...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JGarcia 0 #2 August 20, 2002 The key to getting minimal separation on Cessna exits is to have good timing with your instructor. I don't let go of the strut until they are almost on top of me. Every Instructor has slightly different count and timing, so ask your instructor what his "count" is, and don't get faked out. Also, in my experience,the heavier the student, the longer it'll take to launch them after "GO". <<-- same applies for paraplegic students. Then I fly my ass off (in a modified track towards the pair) until they deploy the drogue. After capturing the exit everything's relatively easy...just remember to slow down when the drogue's deployed. This method usually leaves me no more than 10 ft away at any time. For the custumer, the exit is definately the most crucial part of filming a Tandem skydive...I can tell you I've made plenty of money mopping up after less than able camera people that miss the first half (most exciting for a first timer) of the skydive. Just remember to be safe and don't ever try to overstep your ability/skill. Taking out a Tandem pair or them taking YOU out is absolutely NOT acceptable!! I love filming Tandems...but you've gotta be close to catch every expression a emotion they go through! Hope that helps. JairoLow Profile, snag free helmet mount for your Sony X3000 action cam! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverds 0 #3 August 20, 2002 I have about 4 different camera people I work with when I do tandems. They all have different techniques for the exit, but the one I like the best is when I am doing a dive out exit and the camera flyer is in the "all the way out" position looking back at us. From there he can leave his left foot on the corner of the step, his right hand on the strut, and then as I start the count he lays his left hand on the left shoulder of my passenger. By doing this he can feel when we start pushing off and this gives him the ability to leave almost right with us. There are times that I may give a good count that the camera person can both see and hear, but then on "go" the passenger may be pushing back against me. When this happens it slows the exit down and if the camera flyer has left, they are already way behind the curve. By laying a hand on the passengers shoulder he can feel when we are "past the point of no return" and exit right with us every time. I would be a bit leary of a less experienced camera flyer doing this because I would be worried about them getting too close to me before I've had a chance to set the drouge. But as long as you make sure to always leave a split second ahead it should work well. Read the last post again. There is no excuse for slaming into or funneling a tandem at any time. There is very little we can do to avoid a collision other than to trust the camera flyer we are with, so please don't try to fly outside of your ability. Skydive Radio Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danger 0 #4 August 21, 2002 It will depend on where you exiting from. Personally I leave from the rear of the door. A good count and body motion from the tandem master is crucial. I leave when they leave. Upon letting go of the plane both of my hands go to my leg straps. This eliminates any wing drag allowing me to drop more. For the first couple of sends I use my shoulders to fly. Legs are tucked up until needed to drive at the tandem. After several seconds my hands come back into use. Danger Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bogwarrior 0 #5 August 21, 2002 Hi, I leave a spilt second before the tandem with belly to wind. What communication you use for this is up to you. An earlier suggestion of placing your hand on the tandem pair was quite good. You may notice that if you fly on your back you drop below the tandem ( litterally I have found it right over me ,, and im low on it ) . If you stay on your belly , as you say you get blown back . So.... I put my hands together and make a fist ( that being said I dont use wings as im Very light ) and roll onto my side.. if the tandem is sinking on me I continue the roll to 90 .. ie my shoulder is facing the ground. The amount of roll from vertical will determine how much " head down like " the exit is. I roll such that I face to my left hand side so that I am facing the tandem. It becomes a matter of getting to know each tandem master and their exit style ,habits etc. For the tandem masters that I know I can usually put a hand on them any time during the exit and am there ready to dock the passenger after the deployment. Im not blowing my trumpet, this exit has come about from chasing too many tandems through the hill arched like a son of a b*** . with sometimes poor results. Think , you want your body to cut the hill , like head down just as the tandem cuts the hill. hope this has been of some help. BLue skies David photos at http://homepage.eircom.net/~mercurytechnologies/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
