The111 1 #1 July 5, 2005 I have over 100 jumps on my S3 and something started happening this weekend that's NEVER happened before. While boarding the plane, Perry pointed out to me that the rear arm cables were unthreaded all the way down to the laterals (~6 tabs or so since I skip 3rd wing tab from the top). I had somebody lace me back up and went on with my jump. Through the weekend, this happened consistently probably 10 times. I would check the cables multiple times on the plane, all the way up to right before exit (I can reach my hand under my armpit and feel the cables myself - I also had other birds looking on each jump)... and it was always good right before the jump, but as soon as I was under canopy, I would feel back there and could feel they had come out again. The cables are NOT too short, they fill up the keepers all the way, and as I said before this has never happened in 100 jumps on the suit. It is obviously happening in freefall or on deployment. We toyed with the idea of having another tight flocker fly over my back and check it out in flight (to see if it happens before deployment), but our flocks were so fun and technical, nobody wanted to leave their slot just to check out my back. There are 3 variables that I can think of that were different this weekend (compared to my normal jumping), and none of them should have any bearing on it, as far as I can tell, but I'll mention them anyway since it's all I have. 1. VERY hot and humid. Scott suggested the materials were more sticky and reacted to my body inputs and deployment forces differently. 2. Different airplane - Casa. There is no way this has anything to do with it. We did some high speed passes, but it was also happening on normal exits. 3. I was wearing surf baggies instead of the normal shorts/boxers I wear under the suit, because it was so HOT. These were a lot less bulky and consequently left the legs straps a lot looser. As soon as I thought of this, I started tightening the leg straps and the chest strap a lot, eventually even tighter than I was used to... but this did not stop the cables from coming out. Doesn't seem to be a safety issue but is damn annoying. Part of me thinks I'll go back to my normal DZ this weekend and it won't happen anymore, and I'll be forever left with an unsolved mystery. So weird it happened almost every jump this whole boogie...www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
unclecharlie95 3 #2 July 5, 2005 Hmmm, would put $$ it happens during deployment. Are you sure you didn't change the "missing tab" or some thing... J Ps. like the beard I have a razor you can borrow...BASEstore.it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #3 July 5, 2005 I used to have this happen on my S-1. The suit was too tight, and it was causing the cables to work downward, somehow. It definitely happened in flight, as I once lost a wing while flying (had checked the cables just prior to exit) and ended up in a nasty spin. I was able to regain control by just moving into a standard track position. Also, be aware that if the cable works too far down, it can stick up into your handles (probably not much of a problem, depending on what gear you were jumping--I had a loop style cutaway handle). How's the fit on your suit?-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #4 July 5, 2005 I've had this happen on a suit that was way big on me. Found out in the door, did the jump anyway and had no problems. Wings still inflated and were attached only below the latterals on top and below wing. In fact it was the same flight this avatar was taken on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The111 1 #5 July 5, 2005 QuoteHmmm, would put $$ it happens during deployment. Are you sure you didn't change the "missing tab" or some thing... Ps. like the beard I have a razor you can borrow... I didn't change the tabs. Also, I have had my goatee for years and when I met you was the one week out of all those years I had shaved it off as an experiment (which Scott Bland would not stop ridiculing me about). I grew it back right away, so it's not new, just new to you. And you can keep your razor, we all like your legs to stay smooth...www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The111 1 #6 July 5, 2005 QuoteHow's the fit on your suit? Custom built for me. Fits great as far as I can tell.www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlueBird1 0 #7 July 5, 2005 I too had this problem when I first started jumping my S3. I figured it happened during deployment with the increased force transferred through my thick laterals, so I skipped two wing tabs on the back and the problem vanished. Just my 2 cents - CC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fergs 0 #8 July 6, 2005 Here's some shots of Timibird. He lost the complete cable on exit - the handle velcro caught on the pile of the lining inside the aircraft - zip, the cable stays in the aircraft. As you can see, he was able to stay controlled and on heading. So here are more than one ways to have cable problems - and the more we know about, the more we can be alert for them. Stay safe. Blue Skies, fergs BMCI Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fenceline 0 #9 July 6, 2005 I have this happen to me on every jump. Original Classic suit that is a bit tight on me. I've figured it to the deployment cause the rear cables to unthread from the top two to three loops. Its part of my packing now. Get out of suit, re-thread cables, pack chute. This happens only on the rear cables for me, never the front ones. Jay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #10 July 6, 2005 Quote Hmmm, would put $$ it happens during deployment. Are you sure you didn't change the "missing tab" or some thing... J Ps. like the beard I have a razor you can borrow... Yep, I would say that you definitely need to adjust which "missing tab" you are skipping. A good test, which you should know, is to have someone come up behind you on the ground and pull up on your rig to see if the cables are binding. If they are, then move your skipped tab up higher. Likewise, make sure you check your rigging job every single jump before you suit up. I sometimes have my back cables come out of the top one or two tabs after opening even with what I think is the perfect tab skip. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The111 1 #11 July 6, 2005 QuoteI sometimes have my back cables come out of the top one or two tabs after opening even with what I think is the perfect tab skip. That's the weird part... I am also sure I have the "perfect skip". When standing up straight, the laterals rest lightly against the tabs underneath them, while there is a small gap above them. This gap allows the rig to move up slightly (when I am suspended from the harness), but even when I pull the rig up all the way, the laterals don't quite touch the tabs above them (which is good). The weirdest part about all of this is it never happened in 100 jumps with the same tab skips... I could try skipping two tabs just for the hell of it. But first I am going to see if it even happens again next jumping session. Part of me thinks the problem will strangely disappear the same way it strangely appeared.www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mccordia 74 #12 July 6, 2005 I used to have 'slippery cables' on my first few jumps. I think I was shaking and bending the whole mess a bit to much, wiggling in onto my hot sexy body. When I changed the way I suited up, that dissapeared. Maybe you did the opposite....developed any new 'handy' ways of suiting up recently and thus mess with your cables?JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The111 1 #13 July 6, 2005 Nope, as I said, the cables are still good just before exit. Without a doubt, it's happening during flight or on deployment.www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
