ManBird 0 #1 October 29, 2003 Any tips on docking without dropping the gripper? It sort of screws up my flight to do so."¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevin922 0 #2 October 29, 2003 not sure what you mean, i dock with my s3 and let go of the grippers to do so.. yeah your flight performace changes a bit but shouldn't make things impossible. unless you sprout another hand I think it's tough to dock without letting go of 'em :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazyfrog 0 #3 October 29, 2003 I don't know what a gripper is, can you explain ?? never seen a S3 either---------- Fumer tue, péter pue ------------- ourson #10, Mosquito Uno, CBT 579 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManBird 0 #4 October 29, 2003 We're going for the wingsuit/canopy dock soon, and it'd be nice to grab his foot without budging at all. I have to be right in the sweet spot, on the edge of instability, to stay up with him, and dropping the gripper has been making me lose it. Let me rephrase that to "Docking in the sweet spot and the S3". ;) Edited to add: It's more critical than usual for me to maintain lift, as he can't compensate with his canopy without turning... which isn't an option with this stuff."¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,991 #5 October 29, 2003 >I don't know what a gripper is, can you explain ?? The trailing edge of the wing on an S3 extends past your wrist. In normal flight the wing inflates but the force of the relative wind bends the trailing edge up a little. There are small pencil-sized 'grippers' on the edge of the wing so you can grab them and force the trailing edges down. It gives you more lift, but it's very difficult to dock like that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #6 October 29, 2003 Another reason to fly more often without grabbing your grippers. If you mix it up a bit, then you will be more accustomed to the difference in flight sans grippy grabbing. Yes, I drop my grippers to take grips. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManBird 0 #7 October 29, 2003 Maybe I should drop my grippers long before the approach, or do the flight completely without grippers. One less thing to think about."¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #8 October 30, 2003 If you are flying relative then you are not in the flight regime that benifits from holding your grippers to max the suit out, you will be trying to match not max. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManBird 0 #9 October 30, 2003 Quote If you are flying relative then you are not in the flight regime that benifits from holding your grippers to max the suit out, you will be trying to match not max.Flying relative to a fellow flocker, true. Flying relative to a buddy under canopy, not the case. I have to fly my arms exceptionally hard to make up for the slowing of my forward speed. I basically have to do 40 down while only doing about 60 - 65 forwards. I also have to have pencils in my stomach. We're thinking maybe a two-stack or having him just put his foot ON my hand, but it'd be nice to have an actual grip. I'll just lose like ten pounds."¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #11 October 30, 2003 Can you practice holding the gripper between thumb and forefinger, and try "docking" with the other three fingers? Disclaimer: I've never docked with anything, let alone a canopy.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManBird 0 #12 October 30, 2003 QuoteCan you practice holding the gripper between thumb and forefinger, and try "docking" with the other three fingers? Disclaimer: I've never docked with anything, let alone a canopy.I THINK so. That's a good idea. Either that, or hold the gripper with my thumb and ring and small fingers, while docking with the index and middle fingers. I'm going to try holding the grippers like that this weekend. The more I think about it, the more I realize that releasing the grippers entirely is not an option. There's just so you get out of holding the wings completely taught. I ordered my suit a little long in the arms (big in most areas, actually), so I can actually pull the wings almost as far out as my hand extends."¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,991 #13 October 30, 2003 >Can you practice holding the gripper between thumb and forefinger . . . I've tried that and I can't hold it for very long with two fingers. There's a fair amount of pressure on the trailing edge. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
