VisionAir 0 #1 August 11, 2003 On the first jump I decided to video while at Rantoul, my Bonehead Flat Top Pro logged about 15 seconds more freefall then I actually did. My Protrack shows an exit altitude of 13700' and an opening of 100' for 80 seconds of freefall. Apparently the ski boot type latch had popped open during setup for exit and I hadn't noticed. One jumper in the formation says he noticed it, but he wasn't familiar enough with my setup to know it wasn't a big issue, nor did he have time to tell me before exit. This was a previous attempt a couple days earlier of the same 6way train formation that Lew was shooting. I did notice slight helmet shake in freefall but not enough to alarm me, and upon canopy opening shock with my chin to my chest, the helmet peeled right off my head at 2k and I watched it fall the whole way hoping it wouldn't hit anything important. What a sick feeling it was. Maybe the video shows the look on my face as it rotated off my head. It landed on the ridged roofs that surround one of the large hangers and hit on the top of one of the ridges and spread over two more. Thank you to Bill the airport manager in helping me recover it. My brand new Canon Rebel took the brunt of the impact, (as it was in the most pieces) but on the good side, the extra weight of it seemed to make the helmet stable out with the video camera pointed right at the ground. A ring from within the video camera's wide angle lens was impacted in the shingles. If Cajones is able to save the tape that was torn, it should make some interesting ground rush video, plus the exit of the 6way train that worked the first time (They blew the exit when Lew filmed them). I have a picture of the resulting pieces but I'm not going to post it. I have a feeling it will be shown on the MSP video and I don't wanna ruin it for them. Everyone please raise their beers in my hopes that homeowners insurance will cover this or I'm out of the video business for a bit until I can afford another $3500+ to replace it. Blu Skyz, Alex Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdhill 0 #2 August 11, 2003 Sorry about your hemet... that sucks! Perhaps this is more appropriate for the Video Forum, but I'll ask here... Over time BH has had several different configurations on the latch for the FTP... Ratchet buckle closes to the front, Ratchet buckle closes to the back, etc... Whcih configuration was on your hlemet? Can you normally get the helmet off if the buckle is not clsoed? I've jumped a FTP for several years, and have not had an issue with it popping open, but I have mistakenly jumped without locking it down and it still staid on my head... JoshAll that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VisionAir 0 #3 August 11, 2003 Answered in the video forum......... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
