Guest #1 September 22, 2002 Well, Michel's decided to bag it. It's official, there will be no "Le Grand Saut" this year. The jetstream, as expected, just went insane this weekend, and launching a gossamer monster like Michel's balloon is out of the question. This is really disappointing. I mean, I was THERE last Sunday and he would have flown if only that fitting hadn't blown on the helium truck. Man, he's got to be pretty down right now. When I spoke to Michel's staff last Sunday, they told me they had contingency plans to stash everything in Saskatoon so that they could come back in May and try it again. What's intriguing about this is that Michel's failure, as bitter as it must be, has opened a window of opportunity for Cheryl Stearns to sieze the high-altitude skydive crown (http://www.cherylstearns.com). Stearns is slated to make her jump in Kansas in March 2003. I spoke to Col Joe Kittinger last night, and his remarks about Fournier, Stearns, Millner and the whole high-altitude skydive concept will be in my article in the October issue of SKYDIVING MAGAZINE. My time with Fournier's crew in Saskatoon will be featured, as well as remarks by Kittinger, Stearns, and I hope, Fournier himself, and maybe Millner, if I can reach him before the deadline. More details will be posted tomorrow, as there should be more press dispatches. Mark Harju sends"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 September 22, 2002 Bummer for Fournier but am I just nuts or wouldn't you want to be the final person to attempt this anyway? By calling it off this year and letting Stearns make her attempt first, he only needs to set his altitude a bit higher to set a record that could last longer.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest #3 September 22, 2002 One would think so, but unfortunately, it isn't that simple. The "float" altitude, or the absolute altitude that a helium balloon can attain, maxes out at 130 grand or so. If Cheryl goes up in March, she could get the unofficial record for absolute manned altitude in a balloon, as well as the rest of the records for the skydive, but there aren't any guarantees. The short version is that it's so freaking hard to get there in the first place, that the record may not be set by either of them, and if it is, it will be very, very hard for the other one to top it. It would be absolutely wild if both of them got up there and jumped. The competition itself would draw attention."The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #4 September 22, 2002 No...I'm not kidding. I really want to know. Do they make ANY attempt to spot from up there and if so, how? GPS? Or just...Hmm....Better go now before I end up in that big blue area..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #5 September 22, 2002 Quote....Better go now before I end up in that big blue area..... Another great spot, he landed in the midwest this time...--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sar911 0 #6 September 22, 2002 I'm sure that the telemetry systems that they have on the balloon and the skydivers will have them landing on a dime and leaving nine cents change. Even the balloon is remote controlled! We should all have spotting that good Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #7 September 22, 2002 QuoteWe should all have spotting that good Am I the only skydiver left on earth that preferes to spot by hand (by eye would be more correct, I guess). Sure the GPS thing is great, but I like to stick my head out and know that I'm getting out where I want to get out. The few times that I've landed off the DZ I was either a) trusting the pilot with the GPS (I landed over 2 miles off with that one) or b) trusting a "more experienced" jumper who's a turbine slut and probably hadn't actually spotted a load in over 1000 jumps. --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sar911 0 #8 September 22, 2002 Dave, you are a real man in my book!! Anyone that would visually spot a 24.6 mile jump through the jet stream has my attention. Oh, by the way, when you end up landing in South Florida give me a call and I'll pick you up and buy you a beer and you can tell me about the jump. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #9 September 22, 2002 Bwaaahahaha I walked into that one, didn't I? Shit I think it would be fun to dump at that altitude and see what kind of cross country milage I could cover, maybe do some CReW... "CReW dogz landed off the DZ again..."--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kris 0 #10 September 22, 2002 QuoteShit I think it would be fun to dump at that altitude and see what kind of cross country milage I could cover, maybe do some CReW... Except for that whole pesky thing about needing air to keep the canopy inflated... Other than that, I like the way you think, Tex. That would be a lot of O2 to carry as well, though. KrisSky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #11 September 22, 2002 QuoteShit I think it would be fun to dump at that altitude and see what kind of cross country milage I could cover, maybe do some CReW... Unfortunately, extreme high openings would be very nasty.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #12 September 22, 2002 Quoteextreme high openings would be very nasty. Dude, you're bursting my bubble, let me dream about a 400 mile cross country... --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sar911 0 #13 September 22, 2002 Dave, I think that he is referring to the thin air and the fact that you would be going about Mach 1+ upon opening. Instead of canopy, think streamer !!! It would defiantly be the mother of all hard openings ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #14 September 22, 2002 I know and understand this. It was basically a joke, I'm not serious. Unzip, step out of the shell and laugh dude. --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sar911 0 #15 September 22, 2002 I was joking!!! You don't think that the thought of the look on your face pulling at Mach 1+ doesn't have me ROFL. You didn't really think that I thought you would actually go from Kansas to Florida by visually spotting did you? But if did, I want what you are drinking, cause it sounds like a whole lot more fun The offer to come to Florida is open though. Lots of room to stay, DZ's galore, beer and babes!!!! And being a good old TX boy you would probably like that fact that I own a ranch with horses!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 0 #16 September 22, 2002 so are you trying attract clay or somthing with that horse talk?I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sar911 0 #17 September 22, 2002 I don't think Clay is that much of a man!!!! I think that any of my stallions would look at him and say "hey tiny, welcome to the ranch". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyhi 24 #18 September 22, 2002 QuoteIt would defiantly be the mother of all hard openings ! Just roll the nose a little more than usual.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Iflyme 0 #19 September 22, 2002 QuoteDo they make ANY attempt to spot from up thereNever been so Saskatchewan, have you? The outs are hundreds of sq kilometres in size... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #20 September 22, 2002 I went fishing in Norther Saskatchewan once. It's thick timber with lakes and rivers everywhere. But the Southern portion is mostly prairie. Let's hope his balloon doesn't go North. Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #21 September 22, 2002 QuoteExcept for that whole pesky thing about needing air to keep the canopy inflated Oooooo.....think of the speed you could get in a hook!!!! QuoteThat would be a lot of O2 to carry as well, though Screw the oxygen.....where are you going to put all that beer? Because...what's a cross country without beer? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #22 September 22, 2002 QuoteScrew the oxygen.....where are you going to put all that beer? Because...what's a cross country without beer? This reminds me. I saw one guy this weekend do a cross country, not only did he take two of his favorite beverages with him, he also took a cheeseburger. Some people... _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
