Condor 0 #1 November 13, 2003 I am writing a fiction in which the main character needs to open his parachute in the last instant. Then he’s going to have to base jump and land again (he’s being chased by monsters from hell). What is the minimum height from which a person can open his parachute and land unharmed? I ran this by the General Skydiving Discussion Forum and got an average of about 300 feet with one down to 80. What if he’s wearing a wingsuit? This, by the way, is the same guy who plays “Airball” (see Airball thread, this forum). Oh, and, he’s going to have to land his wingsuit later if he wants to avoid being eaten. If someone is going to do it the first time, it may as well be a fiction character. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #2 November 13, 2003 If its fiction why does it matter? Just throw out a number and adjust the story around it.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #3 November 13, 2003 My question is if the guy is being chased by monsters from hell why are you concerned with the technical accuracies of how low he can safely open his chute? It's a work of fiction right? Based on the feedback you got in the other forum you could go with any of those heights and it would be more believable than if you said something like 50 feet. If he did the base jump in a wingsuit the only advantage would be that he would get more horizontal seperation from the fixed object than a non wingsuited jumper."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #4 November 13, 2003 QuoteWhat is the minimum height from which a person can open his parachute and land unharmed? What if he’s wearing a wingsuit? If he was wearing a wingsuit and a BASE rig, and maxed out in full flight, he could theoretically dump around 100 feet and walk away. If he could land the suit, then he ought to be able to flare out and could, theoretically, deploy during a zero fall rate portion of the flight, and use virtually zero altitude to deploy (say, the 20 feet of his line length, plus another ten feet or so for the canopy to bobble as it rights itself). In real life, the lowest I've seen someone deploy (BASE rig and wingsuit) was about 180 feet. He was not quite in full flight, and he hit the ground before being able to cut away the wings (much less grab the toggles or risers). It's great video, though. Blue Skies, Dwain.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #5 November 13, 2003 QuoteIf he did the base jump in a wingsuit the only advantage would be that he would get more horizontal seperation from the fixed object than a non wingsuited jumper. Not necessarily. A wingsuit deployment takes place largely behind, rather than above, the jumper. On low pulls, this makes a noticeable difference. A wingsuit jumper in full flight can, theoretically (and all else equal) pull lower than a non-wingsuited jumper and walk away.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverek 63 #6 November 13, 2003 QuoteIn real life, the lowest I've seen someone deploy (BASE rig and wingsuit) was about 180 feet. He was not quite in full flight, and he hit the ground before being able to cut away the wings (much less grab the toggles or risers). It's great video, though. Blue Skies, Dwain. Could you upload it to skydivingmovies.com? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites TomAiello 26 #7 November 13, 2003 Hey, in General Skydiving you wanted to know about openings over water. That's totally different. I have seen numerous people deploy mesh slider square BASE rigs at altitudes under 100 feet over water and walk (actually, swim) away. The lowest I've personally been able to do that is about 80 feet. The lowest I've ever seen video of was probably the Aussie low pull comp, where the winner was apparently knocked unconscious on impact, but was relatively unharmed. I'd estimate he dumped at about 50 feet. You might also want to consider how hard it's going to be to swim in some super futuristic wingsuit. Swimming in a Skyflyer (1) isn't too bad. But I bet that the more fabric you put in those wings, the harder it's going to be.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kevin922 0 #8 November 13, 2003 QuoteYou might also want to consider how hard it's going to be to swim in some super futuristic wingsuit. Swimming in a Skyflyer (1) isn't too bad. But I bet that the more fabric you put in those wings, the harder it's going to be. Gee tom, what are your lap times in an S1 ? :-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skydiverek 63 #9 November 13, 2003 QuoteThe lowest I've ever seen video of was probably the Aussie low pull comp, where the winner was apparently knocked unconscious on impact, but was relatively unharmed. I'd estimate he dumped at about 50 feet This (or similar) jump was on a 45-minute version (it is not on a 31-minute version) of 'Beyond Extreme'... And he dumped at terminal... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites TomAiello 26 #10 November 13, 2003 QuoteGee tom, what are your lap times in an S1 ? :-) Just long enough for the boat to get me (I think the longest I had to swim was three or four minutes). But the water in Norway is cooooold. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites TomAiello 26 #11 November 13, 2003 QuoteQuoteThe lowest I've ever seen video of was probably the Aussie low pull comp, where the winner was apparently knocked unconscious on impact, but was relatively unharmed. I'd estimate he dumped at about 50 feet This (or similar) jump was on a 45-minute version (it is not on a 31-minute version) of 'Beyond Extreme'... And he dumped at terminal... That's the one. I saw it first when I had about 20 skydives. Same jumper as the wingsuit low pull I was talking about earlier.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Faber 0 #12 November 13, 2003 QuoteA wingsuit deployment takes place largely behind, rather than above, the jumper. On low pulls, this makes a noticeable difference. A wingsuit jumper in full flight can, theoretically (and all else equal) pull lower than a non-wingsuited jumper and walk away. Tom or other greenies feel free to move this to BASE forum if you want. So if you stand on a pickup driving on a Brigede by xx(x?)km/h in a alti below freefall doable,you could pull this stunt off? I think i only saw that done from "plenty" alti..still cool he he Stay safe Stefan Faber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites TomAiello 26 #13 November 13, 2003 QuoteQuoteIn real life, the lowest I've seen someone deploy (BASE rig and wingsuit) was about 180 feet. He was not quite in full flight, and he hit the ground before being able to cut away the wings (much less grab the toggles or risers). It's great video, though. Blue Skies, Dwain. Could you upload it to skydivingmovies.com? By request, the footage is now both on my web page and on the skydivingmovies.com server. It is called "DW Wires Low.mov". edit to add: Yes, he really does fly between the guy wires before deploying.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skydiverek 63 #14 November 13, 2003 QuoteBy request, the footage is now both on my web page and on the skydivingmovies.com server. It is called "DW Wires Low.mov". edit to add: Yes, he really does fly between the guy wires before deploying. Great footage! Thanks for sharing! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DeNReN 0 #15 November 15, 2003 Just had a look at vid on your site tom...uve a few screws loose...loved it!!!...what is that exit/leap/deployment called on the McCutaway vid??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites TomAiello 26 #16 November 16, 2003 Quotewhat is that exit/leap/deployment called on the McCutaway vid??? It's called a McConkey.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0 Go To Topic Listing
TomAiello 26 #7 November 13, 2003 Hey, in General Skydiving you wanted to know about openings over water. That's totally different. I have seen numerous people deploy mesh slider square BASE rigs at altitudes under 100 feet over water and walk (actually, swim) away. The lowest I've personally been able to do that is about 80 feet. The lowest I've ever seen video of was probably the Aussie low pull comp, where the winner was apparently knocked unconscious on impact, but was relatively unharmed. I'd estimate he dumped at about 50 feet. You might also want to consider how hard it's going to be to swim in some super futuristic wingsuit. Swimming in a Skyflyer (1) isn't too bad. But I bet that the more fabric you put in those wings, the harder it's going to be.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevin922 0 #8 November 13, 2003 QuoteYou might also want to consider how hard it's going to be to swim in some super futuristic wingsuit. Swimming in a Skyflyer (1) isn't too bad. But I bet that the more fabric you put in those wings, the harder it's going to be. Gee tom, what are your lap times in an S1 ? :-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverek 63 #9 November 13, 2003 QuoteThe lowest I've ever seen video of was probably the Aussie low pull comp, where the winner was apparently knocked unconscious on impact, but was relatively unharmed. I'd estimate he dumped at about 50 feet This (or similar) jump was on a 45-minute version (it is not on a 31-minute version) of 'Beyond Extreme'... And he dumped at terminal... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #10 November 13, 2003 QuoteGee tom, what are your lap times in an S1 ? :-) Just long enough for the boat to get me (I think the longest I had to swim was three or four minutes). But the water in Norway is cooooold. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #11 November 13, 2003 QuoteQuoteThe lowest I've ever seen video of was probably the Aussie low pull comp, where the winner was apparently knocked unconscious on impact, but was relatively unharmed. I'd estimate he dumped at about 50 feet This (or similar) jump was on a 45-minute version (it is not on a 31-minute version) of 'Beyond Extreme'... And he dumped at terminal... That's the one. I saw it first when I had about 20 skydives. Same jumper as the wingsuit low pull I was talking about earlier.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faber 0 #12 November 13, 2003 QuoteA wingsuit deployment takes place largely behind, rather than above, the jumper. On low pulls, this makes a noticeable difference. A wingsuit jumper in full flight can, theoretically (and all else equal) pull lower than a non-wingsuited jumper and walk away. Tom or other greenies feel free to move this to BASE forum if you want. So if you stand on a pickup driving on a Brigede by xx(x?)km/h in a alti below freefall doable,you could pull this stunt off? I think i only saw that done from "plenty" alti..still cool he he Stay safe Stefan Faber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #13 November 13, 2003 QuoteQuoteIn real life, the lowest I've seen someone deploy (BASE rig and wingsuit) was about 180 feet. He was not quite in full flight, and he hit the ground before being able to cut away the wings (much less grab the toggles or risers). It's great video, though. Blue Skies, Dwain. Could you upload it to skydivingmovies.com? By request, the footage is now both on my web page and on the skydivingmovies.com server. It is called "DW Wires Low.mov". edit to add: Yes, he really does fly between the guy wires before deploying.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverek 63 #14 November 13, 2003 QuoteBy request, the footage is now both on my web page and on the skydivingmovies.com server. It is called "DW Wires Low.mov". edit to add: Yes, he really does fly between the guy wires before deploying. Great footage! Thanks for sharing! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DeNReN 0 #15 November 15, 2003 Just had a look at vid on your site tom...uve a few screws loose...loved it!!!...what is that exit/leap/deployment called on the McCutaway vid??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites TomAiello 26 #16 November 16, 2003 Quotewhat is that exit/leap/deployment called on the McCutaway vid??? It's called a McConkey.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
DeNReN 0 #15 November 15, 2003 Just had a look at vid on your site tom...uve a few screws loose...loved it!!!...what is that exit/leap/deployment called on the McCutaway vid??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #16 November 16, 2003 Quotewhat is that exit/leap/deployment called on the McCutaway vid??? It's called a McConkey.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
