ESPN/ProDemo Jump

[Billy 0]

Hay,, Just wanted ta tell ya's what our lil DZ boys did here yesterday,, we got asked to do a demo jump into a softball game in Spokane,, for women tryin ta get a spot on the Womens Softball Team for the next Summer Olympics,, it was cool!! Conditions bit,, winds 15-20+,, cloud ceiling 6500,, but made it easy ta see the jumpers,, very few outs for our 3 jumpers,, I was nervous for them!! first one in was plannin on landin near 1st base,, hit a downdraft and turbulance on his base leg,, saw a light tower coming and had ta bail behind the dugout,, missin an ESPN camera dude who said he got some great shots,, 2 & 3 came into the grass by 2nd base with folks hollerin ,, one had the game ball,, the other the flag,, which was right side up!! TV guys have no clue to what we do,, they were changin the jump time every 5 minutes,, and wanted them on the ground at just so time,, whuffo comment "OHHH NOO,, there on FIRE!!" It inspired me ta get my 500 jumps and PRO rating ta be ready when they come back in 4 years with the official Womens Team!! Looks like our DZ already has it goin to jump in again,,, ESPN is airing the game on July 5th,, so I'll have my recorder ready and let ya's know what happens!!
Sweet Dreams!!
Billy

[Viking 0]

hey July 5 is my B-day we had somthing of a demo at otay Buzz did a flag jump with this huge ass flag that cost like $1200 i got some pics of him in the air and of the flag while were trying to fold it up and the wind got it turnit into a windsock musta looked badass from the air!!!
Remember when Sex was safe and skydiving was Dangerous?

[PalmettoTiger 1]

I've never seen a flag demo. Where is it attached to the skydiver? And are there catchers on the ground crew to make sure it doesn't touch the ground, or are other arrangements made?
Blues, Squares,
PTiger
*insert sub-100 character sig here*

[lazerq3 0]

Every 4 of july our skydiving club does a demo jump right before the fire works and one person has a HUGE flag hanging off his foot with a wieght attached below it and they time it perfectly so that as he's coming down the Star Spangled Banner is playing and the song ends right as he's landing. They have about 15 people running with him as he comes in to catch the flag. Last year they dropped it. DOWH!!
jason

[PalmettoTiger 1]

So is the flag attached unpacked to his foot as he jumps (like a tube jump), or is it stowed somehow until after deployment?
Blues, Squares,
PTiger
*insert sub-100 character sig here*

[lazerq3 0]

The flag is some how attached to his foot packed. There may even be a cable that goes up his leg to his harness. Alls I know is that it is hanging off his leg and then after he deploys a good canopy he gets to a certain altitude and unstows the flag.

[Iflyme 0]

Billy, watchin' the high-timers do those demo's is great! My favorite was when 3 of our guys landed on the roof of a movie-theater for opening night of Mission Impossible ... I was on the roof and shot some great video that we broadcast... I'm glad to hear that your first jumper was smart enough to bail when he had to, rather than get busted up in front of the spectators!

[Billy 0]

Tiger,, yea the flag and the 30ft long streamers are stowed in lil stuff like saks with 3 ring releases on'em,, after they are under canopy they release the streamers,, this flag gets snapped to the lines off the rear riser,, the smoke canisters are strapped to the lower leg over a thick leather pad ta keep the jumper from gettin his jumpsuit hot,, ground crew maintains radio contact with the plane as to conditions at the DZ and catches the flag, and keeps the chute and lines from gettin close to the still hot smoke canisters until we can get that thing off the leg and away from there,, Ya Frank it was cool,, MI opening eh! Like ta see that video!!
B