airann 1 #1 July 1, 2001 Our load went up yesterday tring to beat a thunderstorm. We didnt make it. It was raining on the DZ. So we went back down to 4k. Everyone who had sense, or a camera, or like everybody else on the plane, decides to ride her down. Pilot says hop and pop? I dont know, sounded like a jump to me. So, I was in the door and Levin is yelling, Ann, its RAINING. I finially turn around and he said something.. something .. raining HARD. By that time, I was 1/2 way out the door. At about 5 feet down the hill sure enough it was raining hard. Hardest rain I ever was out in, ground or air. I think sprinkles are better. Even frozen sprinkles. Anyhow, the other person out of the 12, besides me that jumped. Missed what I caught by seconds. He must have been able to see how to track over to the edge. Anyway, fully committed, convinced my face was bleeding. By the way covering your face with your hands and having just your goggles showing is not a solution. Getting on your back is. But I left the plane at 4k. I pitched as my 3rd ditter was calling. Right over the DZ with my eyes closed. Line twists, naturally, nearly pinched my head off. I wasted some altitude in order to land. But you should hear the pitter patter of hard rain on a canopy. Strange and Cool. Plus the driving rain passing you up is kinda cool too. Its like you are in a school of fish. All the rain going in like a 45 degree angle. Very pretty. Sky Bath is kinda cool. However, Ignorance is in fact, Bliss?After, I had my very good time leaving the wimps on the plane. And having my butt swoop landing in couple of inches of water within spittin distance of the peas. After all the laughting stopped, it was brought to my attention, that I should watch the winds off of those thunderstorms. They had to go get someone 7 miles away one time. The tandem kept getting higher. Few minutes after that and a mile or so down the road, a small twister touched down. Ok so, Anyway- I had a blast, alot of questions for me after. How did your canopy do? Great, pitter patter of rain on the roof! However, it did not function well as an umbrella.Was it painful? Duh. Let me think ........ Hell yes! Falling on the pointy ends of huge raindrops was the worst part. Note to self: Covering up forehead and chin with hands, having exposed only goggles, not a solution. = an unstable sit. I actually try this one everytime in clouds and stuff, and it really doesnt work. If you have more than 4k, turn on your back, watch your alt.Because I weigh 125, lately, under an unfortunate student decision to buy a Sabre 150. I didnt notice anything different with my canopy up there. Except for the flare. That canopys flare is horrible. Always has been. Rain or Shine. I am almost convienced it is absolutely the canopy, not the pilot.AirAnn, doing what most people would not do- To report back my adventures. Always looking out for YOU, my fellow skydivers!! Trying to be just that little bit of help in YOUR skydiving adventures. And as they always say, watch Ann, that would be what not to do. No, she isnt hurt, she does that all the time. It just looks like she crashed, caught on fire and exploded.AirAnn gives this manover a thumbs up for the something new and entirely different, and a thumbs down on the safety issue. So, dont try this at home or if you are semi-sane.Clear Blue and Extra Alt, AirAnnhttp://www.AirAnn.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zennie 0 #2 July 1, 2001 QuoteNote to self: Covering up forehead and chin with hands, having exposed only goggles, not a solution.Heheh. See? A full face has its advantages (plus I can wear my glasses). I have not yet had the good fortune to encounter the pointy ends of raindrops. By all accounts I'm not missing much. ------------Blue Skies!Zennie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #3 July 2, 2001 QuoteIf you have more than 4k, turn on your back, watch your alt.But remember that the alti probably won't read correctly if it's mounted on any portion of the front of your body because of the burble your body creates.And I agree... the pointy ends of the raindrops hurt like hell! pull and flare,lisa----I don't think much, therefore I might not be Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #4 July 2, 2001 Last week I had the misfortune of hitting the pointy ends for the first time...sucks in a big way. we exited at 14,000 and didnt encounter the rain till about 12,000 then in stopped raining at about 9 grand. talk about weird. I was soaked but the ground was totaly dry......OK weather guru's explain this one to me. In english please.marc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
faitor 0 #5 July 2, 2001 Most likely you encountered a weather phenomenon called virga. This is very common. What happens is the cloud reaches a point where it can’t hold more moisture or the raindrops get big enough that they begin to fall. Once outside of the cloud they hit dryer/warmer air that will cause the rain to evaporate before it hits the ground. You can see this off in the distance when clouds look like someone took a paint brush and smeared the bottom of the cloud towards the ground. Virga can also consist of ice and hail so watch out.On a side note has anyone ever had there canopy freeze or get any icing from flying in rain? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #6 July 2, 2001 Thank you, learn something new every day!!!marc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #7 July 2, 2001 Glad to know I'm not the only nut in the bunch. We had a full otter load so I was in the right seat last jump on Sat. I'm sitting up there looking around minding my own business when I see rain drops hitting the windshield. I mentioned the rain to the pilot who laughed at me and siad there were so many people on the otter that it was sweating. HA..HA..HA Well I figure if the 22 others were going to jump I could too. It rained from exit to ground. Front float in a Super Otter only shows how stupid I was...not only go I get the rain but I get rain off the prop blast too. That's ok though since it was a new experience and one I'm not likely to forget soon. Best of all we pulled off a 5 way 8 points.Wonder if this could count as water training since everything was wet??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #8 July 2, 2001 My first jump ever was in the rain. Tandem last summer. The way to protect your face is to just flatten out your hands and cross them a few inches under your chin. That's in tandem anyway, not sure how that would effect a solo freefall. But if you can get your hands wrapped around your face, I would imagine you could do that. My face was fine when I did it, unfortunately I was wearing shorts and a tshirt with sun burnt legs. OUCH!!! My arms looked like they had heat rash for a week with all the little pin pricks all over them.cielos azules y cerveza fría-Kevin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airann 1 #9 July 3, 2001 I had alot of fun. And it was safe and good but I dont think I will do it again, unless it happens again. But what are the odds of the same circumstances happening again. Huh?My luck, likely next week.Clear Blue and Extra Alt, AirAnnhttp://www.AirAnn.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jfields 0 #10 July 5, 2001 Hmm. What is the standard fall rate of rain anyway? What is your speed relative to the drops? Hadn't pondered this one before, but now I'm curious. Any ideas?Justin"If it can't kill you, it isn't worth doing." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RemiAndKaren 0 #11 July 5, 2001 Well, I found this site that gives a speed in the 10 miles/hour rangehttp://www.shorstmeyer.com/wxfaqs/float/rdtable.html which is about Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
