SkySlut 0 #1 May 2, 2001 New Zealand News Skydiver drops lead weights 01.05.2001 By ELEANOR BLACK Bystanders at Rotorua Airport were sprayed with lead shot after a pair of 2.5kg skydiver's weights plummeted 762m, hitting the ground with such force that witness thought they were exploding bombs. The weights, made from black fabric bags filled with lead, are used as ballast to keep a falling skydiver stable. But during a routine jump on Sunday afternoon, skydiver Gregg Eagles left his weights tucked into the pouch that held his parachute secure in its backpack. When he released the ripcord, they fell to the ground, landing near the airport entrance with such force that police were called to investigate reports of homemade explosives being detonated. Police thought they might have been dealing with explosives left by a bomber and detonated when a car drove over them. They began an investigation to see if similar incidents had happened at other airports. Reports of the "bombs" were sent out on the news wires. One woman was slightly injured when she was peppered with lead pellets, but Detective Sergeant Mark Loper said someone could have been killed if the bags had scored a direct hit. Mr Eagles, a veteran of more than 500 jumps, had no idea he had lost the weights until he got a phone call yesterday morning. He said he did not see the weights because they "blended in" and he usually used larger ones made from 4-litre oil cans. "I really don't know how it happened ... I won't be using those weights again. "When I found out I thought, 'Oh no, what have I killed?' Somebody could have been really badly hurt," said Mr Eagles. Dr Chris Tindle, a physicist at Auckland University, said it was difficult to know the speed and force the weights would have reached when they hit the ground. But they were probably falling at terminal velocity. They would have had enough force to easily cave in a car roof and anyone hit would certainly have been killed. "It would put a great big dent in almost anything it hit." The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating. -Slut"I'll jump anything!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skreamer 1 #2 May 2, 2001 Quote"I really don't know how it happened ... I won't be using those weights again. No shit Sherlock!!!Somehow I don't think we are dealing with the sharpest tool in the box here! How long you think the DZO grounded him for, for *forgetting* his weights in the container when he packed? If that story is true, then beware all spectators when that Eagles next takes to the sky...lmao/s Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkySlut 0 #3 May 2, 2001 I dont know what kind of rig he was jumping but I have enough trouble putting my main in the container as is...never mind with a few pounds of lead in it. Imagine that lead shot going through your main while you are under canopy...That would probably be the last thing that you would expect...-Slut"I'll jump anything!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutchboy 0 #4 May 2, 2001 I'll have to rethink skydiving there some day! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
froggie 0 #5 May 2, 2001 ow! geeze. thank god nobody was seriously injured. That wouldnt have been good for that dz's publicity, besides being bad for the hurt person. Another lesson in safety and gear checks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pyke 0 #6 May 3, 2001 Actually, I am impressed they hit the ground!I have jumped over Rotorua and where there isn't thick bush, there is water (save of course, for the dz) So, how they managed to fall onto the earth is pretty incredible considering there is only about 10 meters from the runway to the lakefront (often people line up over the lake for their final).How funny though, if you think about it. I am of course glad nobody was hurt as I know the guys out there.FYI, Rotorua is the home of the NZPF. In case anyone cared!Cheers,Kia Kaha,PykeNZPF A-2584 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
