Tube jumping how-tos

[flyingferret 0]

I am looking for advice on tube jumps. And, yes, I have done a search, and yes, i have read all the post on the subject. I am thinking about making a tube jump in the future, but I want to really research it first. I would like really experienced advice. So I have a few questions.
a) No offense, but based on the previous posts it looks like nobody here has a lot of tube experience. Do anyone know who to contact or read up on to find a really experience perspective?
b) My thinking is that foot-tubes, given a release system is used, would be the most stable.
c) I am uncertain about deploying with them. If you did choose not to keep them at deployment, what kind of risks are we talking about with the falling object? My dz is not exactly urban, but there are a few schools and farms around. I don't want to let anything go unless I can perdict how it will land. How fast do they typically fall? How much drift? etc
Thanks, any advice is appreciated.

[PhreeZone 20]

Uh... the foot tube is the one that you have to be really careful about releaseing and inflating while in an unstable position. They can wrap on you really quickly and if the tube is horseshoed there is a good possibility it'll wrap your main too..
I've only got 5 tube jumps and all were in a sit. I'm simple not to the point of doing a foot tube yet. Even in a sit its totally unlike any other sit flying I've ever done. the tube has a mind of its own if the seems are not PERFECTLY straight and it will bounce around and move on you. The tube was light and it would have fallen really slowly had I relesed it. The tube I'm making is weighted. I'm hoping to have it fall as fast as a loaded canopy so i can release it and play with it under canopy. I'm not saying this is smart, but it minimizes the drift associated with the tube since the DZ is surrounded by corn, I dont want ti to drift for miles into the corn. 20 foot tubes seem to be the best length. During opening the tube will bounce around on the lines and then collapise once the canopy is open.
I love doing tube jumps, almost as much as rafts, but you can not enter into a jump like this half hearted. Your trailing a 20 foot piece of material though the sky at 120-180 mph, the tube has a mind of its own and at deploy ment it can easly wrap your canopy.
For more detailed info... I'd write to the Bablyon since they are the ones that have been jumping them the longest and invented them. The Flyboyz would be another resource.
I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend... ~3EB

[freeflir29 0]

I have one whole tube jump to my credit. Did it on my 100th. Funny video. I couldn't stop spinning until near the end of the dive. I was trying to hold it out in clean air.....dummy!!! You have to hold it in your burble. Deploying was actually no big deal. I did pull at 5,000 or so since it was my first time. I just held it out in my left hand as far as I could. It started to dance around the left side of my canopy so I moved my arm back a little. It then went behind the canopy and deflated shortly there after. No problems at all. Just hook it on your foot and then drop it on final! Just make the decision to let go of the tube immediately if it becomes a deployment problem!!!!! I don't think I'll ever jump one that is attached to me. Just don't feel comfortable with that.
"I only have a C license, so I don't know shit..right?"-Clay

[PhreeZone 20]

You hold it in your burble? I get the best flight when its totally in clean air and all the way out. I'm hoping to get some of my last tube jump dubbed to my camera soon and then I can take stills. I always leave my camera on the ground for the jumps... just another snag spot for the tube...
I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend... ~3EB

[freeflir29 0]

Quote

I get the best flight when its totally in clean air and all the way out

Not me!!! I was spinning the whole way. Not fast but turning none the less. I finally changed hands and when it got in my burble I quit spinning. Thats where I'll put it next time.
"I only have a C license, so I don't know shit..right?"-Clay

[flyingferret 0]

Okay, I emailed Babylon. No help:
Hi there,
Sorry but we dont have any doc for you.
But there is many people building tubes in the US now...
Ask the boys in eloy or perris, the might have something.
Or maybe if you come to Spain we´ll show you all!
Sorry...
Stéphane
So I guess I will try Flyboyz next.
Malachi

[FreeflyGoat 0]

There was a really good article written by Jason Peters in Parachutist not that long ago that went over jumping with the tube.
Goat aka Dereck aka SuperFreak
AD A#292

[flyingferret 0]

Any idea what issue? I would buy it if it was that good.

[ramon 0]

Levin, who may post here if he sees this has done a few. He can explain the ins/outs of actually jumping the tube based on his experience.
As far as saftey during a tube jump.
Our biggest lesson was one time a break off I was in a sit. Levin was head down and turned away from me he went to his belly when everyone broke off and because I was behind him in a sit and too slow to move rapidly, we collided. It was niether of our fault, we just did not anticipate that happening. And probably were ignorant of how to do a break off with a tube.
1. Break off should be like 5500 for the whole group, but the tube should stay free flying for 500 or so to let everyone get away. whatever you can do to get people behind him away before he breaks off.
2. Be wary of getting behind the tube jumper (if he is head down) as he may have difficuklty checking his airspace.
3. If you are in a sit (Levin weighs 120 and the tube slows him down a lot). transition to headdown before breakoff so that you can maneuver quickly to track away, making sure to clear your own airspace leaving the tube jumper in clean air.
4. Head down tube jumpers may have a little drive (if they are rusty) so it may be that they are constantly traveling slowly through the group. This often entices everyone to follow and go wave so the group as a whole may be moving as opposed to a stable big campfire. That is why it is important to clear your airspace as the jumper configureation may change alot and people who were in front of you may be behind you.
5. Sit tube jumpers can generally see everyone a little better, but opening might be a little tricky if not scary with a big tube. If you are going to suck it down tovideo an opening know that there is increased chance of the tube jumper having a mal or as is more typical a crazy opening with the tube dancing in and out of the lines.
6. On Exit the tube jumper will need clear air behind him on the hill for about 20 feet to let the tube open. Generally people sharing the camera step will need to leave on the "set" of the count to avoid a face full and possible entanglement. Other sit or hd jumpers can crowd the door in front float or inside the plane to chase out as long as no one is rear float.
7. Some tubes are made of ZP. The slightest tear or disturbance can cause them to fail catastrophically although Levin's survived a sit flier flying through it. If jumper flew through the tube (I mean pushing it out of the way, closing off the air exit) it could theortically bust apart because it would suddenly have restricted airflow.
Good luck
ramon

[airann 1]

Levin wont let me jump a pull up cord. LOL
Oh but if Brittany asked hell yes, one foot or two.
Discrimination.
Ann ~ www.AirAnn.com
Owner of recent pictures of Levin in RW suit..