mounting altimeter on cheststrap wedge

[andy2 0]

Can any altimeter type (specifically the sapphire) be mounted on a wedge? Or are there only specific types that are able to do this? I am thinking this will be especially helpful for hop/pops (leave your hands free under canopy).

Thanks!

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let my inspiration flow,
in token rhyme suggesting rhythm...

[Jimbo 0]

Quote

I am thinking this will be especially helpful for hop/pops (leave your hands free under canopy).

Does your altimeter currently interfere with your canopy flight?

I've got a replacement strap for my Alti3 that allows me to wear it around my left wrist, facing in. It's the perfect location for being able to take a quick glance without having to move my hands.

Look here to see what I'm talking about. It's the wristband displayed under "Altimaster III Replacement Wristbands".

Edit: I'm guessing that you could find (or make) a similar strap for the Sapphire.

-
Jim

"Like" - The modern day comma
Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

[freeflydrew 0]

A couple of years back a guy had to cut away his main, and I guess he landed his reserve downwind, and the chest mounted altimeter went into his sternum (<-- probably misspelled)... Since then I've pretty much ruled out that option.

If I had the patience I would go through all my old magazines and find the incident report, but I don't, so I apologize for the vaugueness of the posting!

[andy2 0]

ah ok, I just can never really get situated with the altimeter on my hand. I was thinking either leg strap or chest strap, to keep my hands open. But if the chest strap = sternum fracture, I don't want to think of what it would fracture if it was near your crotch area.

Maybe an alti watch would be a better bet, how good are they for helping display what alti youre at for swooping? (i know eyes number 1). I just hate the dexterity that minuses from wearing an alti on a hand mount...

[/bitch]

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let my inspiration flow,
in token rhyme suggesting rhythm...

[sundevil777 102]

I use a wrist mount with the loop for the fingers, but the loop is small and I only put it on the index finger, instead of index and middle finger. That way I can rotate the alti to the side of my hand so that it is a lot easier to read than when it is completely on the back of the hand.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[wmw999 2,515]

I keep mine on my chest strap; not on a wedge (which keeps it pretty stiff), but instead using just 1 of the U-shaped brackets, attached to the chest strap with some webbing (this allows it to spin around the axis created by the bracket), and a rubber band around the round bottom to keep it straight. It VERY easily folds out of the way, because there isn't any bulk there.

Note: this is an Altimaster 2. I don't think this kind of mount would work with anything else.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[parachutist 2]

Quote

A couple of years back a guy had to cut away his main, and I guess he landed his reserve downwind, and the chest mounted altimeter went into his sternum (<-- probably misspelled)... Since then I've pretty much ruled out that option.

If I had the patience I would go through all my old magazines and find the incident report, but I don't, so I apologize for the vaugueness of the posting!

Actually the chest mount altimeter struck him in the throat, not the sternum. Quote from http://www.skydivingfatalities.info:

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29/04/2000 Lexington, MO MAL,LAND,BIZ 29 119 N/?

Description: After a main malfunction, this jumper had a normal cutaway and reserve pull. On landing, he fell forward and his chest mount altimeter hit him in the center of his throat; the landing was also hard enough to chip the outside of his femer by his knee. The neck injury cut off his air supply and he suffocated. He was jumping an older 5-cell Swift Plus reserve which is rated for 210lbs. His exit weight was 209. It seems likely that he made a low turn before landing in order to have generated enough speed to cause these injuries. He landed somewhat near his main and freebag, so he may have been following those down.

Lessons:This is also a relatively bizarre accident, so other than better PLF or landing technique, I'm not sure what else to suggest. The Swift Plus is an older reserve with flight characteristics which are probably much different than modern main canopies.

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I've been jumping with a chest mount altimeter for hundreds of jumps with no concerns about such an injury. The one annoyance I've had with my chest mount altimeter was a few months ago when I had to cut away during a CRW jump: I chopped and then reached for the reserve handle and the chest mount had moved over to the left side, blocking my view of the reserve handle. This was just an annoyance because I knew where the handle was... but it's nice to be able to see everything important =]

An alternative to chest mount & wrist mount that I noticed a fellow CRW jumper wearing: On the leg of his jumpsuit he has a clear vinyl pocket with a zipper at the top... he slides his wrist-mount altimeter in and zips it up. There's nothing to catch on lines, etc. & he can just look down and see his altimeter mounted on the front of his upper leg.

[tlshealy 0]

I've always use a chest strap alti, the only problem is that you have to look down to see it and thats a little harder with a full face helmet. Back when everyone used chest mounts, you could just look around the formation see someone elses. I still like it better than a wrist mount.
Tad

[grosfion 0]

you can mount most of the altimeters on the wedge, all you need is four holes on each corner. You might also be able to fix the altimeter on a plate and screw a hole on each corner.

you can always check with the guys from Lookma: info@lookma.de

blues
Marcus

[webracer 0]

I have an alti-2 mounted on each rig on r.s. legpad just below the ring. I have made custom pillows to keep it in a direction I can see it. On belly I have to drop my right knee to see it. Sitfly I can see it well at anytime, headdown I cannot see it. I really only want the altimeter for canopy anyway, and possible malfunctions, under canopy it is in a great place. It does not interfere with packing either.
I am now considering buying a neptune and putting it in a pocket I will sew on my gloves (which I always wear). If that works out well, that will become my only altimeter.

Troy

I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

[ypelchat 0]

Quote

I keep mine on my chest strap; not on a wedge (which keeps it pretty stiff), but instead using just 1 of the U-shaped brackets, attached to the chest strap with some webbing (this allows it to spin around the axis created by the bracket), and a rubber band around the round bottom to keep it straight. It VERY easily folds out of the way, because there isn't any bulk there.

Note: this is an Altimaster 2. I don't think this kind of mount would work with anything else.

Wendy W.

I keep mine on a separate belt. Not on my chest strap. I like to have my altimeter a little lower on my belly. To do so, I use a large (comfortable) nylon strap originally used to secure large TV on a TV cart. They come with a nylon buckle that won't break easily. I also put my hook knife on this belt. It's basically a 2" inch nylon strap, with a Fastex SR-2 quick release buckle.

http://www.bretford.com/resources/downloads/Cutsheet/b_accessory_SBandSBCL.pdf

(Pease note that the safety strap I use is a little different from the one pictured here, and modified a bit. It's not the one that's adjustable with a wrench).

http://www.parsonsadl.com/Details.asp?ProductNo=17B024 (for Canada)

Or, for U.S.A


http://shop.store.yahoo.com/pentagondefense/blacsidrelbu1.html




Yves.

[Tonto 1]

Yes. No problem at all.

Wedges went out of fashion about a decade back, but with sitflying returning, and swoopers using alti's to initiate turns, they're coming back. Nothing wrong with the mount.

t

It's the year of the Pig.