Toy review

[happythoughts 0]

I tend to throw a lot of raft/inflatables out of aircraft every time I get the chance. We recover some, but some land at the park next to the dz. They get tossed in the trunks of cars. Some just get found by kids. The kids take them home.
Conversation with parent: "Where did you get the raft?" "I found it" "What do you mean you just found it? They don't just fall out of the sky."

[skymama 37]

I've never been in a raft before. I think I need to schedule a trip to Z-hills someday soon.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[riddler 0]

This was such a fun article! My favorite line was about the talking toys saying bad words as well. Sent it to a bunch of my skydiving friends.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[riddler 0]

First raft jump (can you say Beer?) at the Casa boogie last weekend. Two people in, weighing a total of 500 lbs. four inexperienced jumpers on the outside. 4 cameramen. We needed some of those cameramen to hold the darn thing! We lost it after only 1,000 feet. from 12,500, the raft floated somewhere over rural Colorado, but magically made it's way home to the DZ the next day. Still don't know how that happened. Got good video, though

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[happythoughts 0]

"Still don't know how that happened. Got good video, though "
Rafts are tricky. With only 2 people, they can float like crazy. You can also ask the pilot for a zero-G exit. It just floats off the tailgate, otherwise you can get a jerking, yanking pull which can cause it to flip. Muscling it out can be done, but it is more work.
I also recommend cutting the ropes into 9-inch lengths with a knot on the end. You can hold it without the rope wrapping your hand. There is a video around where the rope wrapped BOTH wrists of a jumper. He was hanging vertically underneath. The rope broke, that is what saved him. Had a friend lose 3/4 of a fingernail holding a plastic oarlock when the raft floated.
They flip unexpectedly, so never, ever get over the top. I have some bad video of that also.
If you get past the 1st 1000 feet, you're golden. They tend to be quite stable after that. My g/f is inside a raft on Zabo's 2001 Quincy video.
The other inflatables like alligators, sharks, and pool toys are easier to launch and great fun. Launch them like an AFF with a person holding leg and arm grippers on each side. You need people in the front and back will keep it from inverting. 2 front/back people will do. It is a 6-way linked exit with the rider in the middle. The videos are a hoot.

[sangiro 26]

Quote

I told Nick about your request this morning, and he said sure he would write about what he thought of the tunnel. So, if HH wants something like that, we'll be happy to oblige.

Of course! Tell him to bring it on!

Safe swoops
Sangiro