RCott3 0 #1 April 30, 2004 Hello everyone, I just want to say, What a kick in the ass my first Tandem jump was!!!. It was the most exciting 10 min of my life (other then when I was waiting for my bride to walk down the aisle). Anyway, the question I have for everyone is am I to big to learn to Skydive in an AFF Program. My JumpMaster told me that my weight (6'2" 250lbs) was to much for the student reserve parachutes that they rent with the AFF package. If that is so, am I resigned to having to buy my own student rig or reserve parachute to pursue this new obsession of mine? Or should I go looking else where for lessons? Any advice would be wonderful. Thanks for you help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #2 April 30, 2004 there are threads about this subject in the general skydive forum... will look and edit later for you. here goes : www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1049594;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread apparently you're a lightweight....scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #3 April 30, 2004 No you are not too big.. I jump with some guys at Kapowsin WA who are ALL over 250 pounds with the biggest being 6'5" and about 325 without his gear. I LOVE jumping with them cause I am the floatybutt on the load I would say.. call around.. oh and since you are in FL.. by all means talk to Mike...aka Nightjumper here on DIZZIE DOT COM. He will fix ya right up with the right people and the right gear... Good luck.. and have fun on the Anvil loads Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #4 April 30, 2004 Call around... I know there are dz's out there that have student gear that you can safely jump. If not, there's a few bigger guys who post on here who can likely help you out. Good luck, and welcome to the obsession... err I mean sport. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites KevinMcGuire 0 #5 April 30, 2004 I've seen a DZ use a tandem rig as a student rig before. Tandems are rated high enough for big ol boys. The trick will be find a DZ that will do that for you. Don't worry though, I am 6'3 265 and I do just fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Tonto 1 #6 April 30, 2004 Our DZ would not be able to accomodate you for the same reasons. Our AFF rigs are equipped with Tempo 250 reserves, which are rated to 115 KG (253lbs) for jumper + clothing + equipment. We draw the line at jumper weight of 100kg. (220lbs) There are bigger reserves and mains available, but there is not enough demand to warrant us purchasing such gear. We're also 5000ft AMSL, and the bigger people land fast and sometimes hard at this altitude, particularly in the summertime. As others have said, there are DZ's which accomodate "bigger" students. Call around and find one near you! Good luck, tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites riggerrob 643 #7 April 30, 2004 There are two issues here: legal and engineering. The legal weight limit was imposed by FAA TSO C23C (introduced circa 1983) which imposed a 115 kg (254 lbs) weight limit (fully dressed) for parachutes. It was not until TSO C23D was introduced (circa 1993) that the FAA would certify a parachute for exit weights more than 254 lbs. Several parachutes designed during the 1990s are certified for weights heavier than 254 lbs and 150 knots. Legalities aside, most larger (250 square feet or more) reserves will land you soft enough to walk away. Ask for a main parachute larger than 300 square feet. For example, a large Canadian DZ near Vancouver (cough, cough) has a "big boy" Telesis rig containing a Raven 282 reserve with a Goliath 340 main. This author has participated in TSO C23D drop testing that included Telesis loaded at well over 254 lbs and way faster than 170 knots. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Tonto 1 #8 April 30, 2004 I'm with you there. My own gear is well over what is legal - but it's mine - and my life - so I can make those desisions. I'm not in a position where I can make those desisions for someone else - and even in SA - we need to be aware of the "legal" limitations. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JeffD 0 #9 April 30, 2004 Hmm... This has got me curious. I'm now 257lbs without gear and when I started jumping I was at 249 (damn holidays), SO now I'm too big to safely jump "legal" gear rated at 254lbs (wing loading issues aside)? (still renting gear) Thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites nightjumps 1 #10 April 30, 2004 No, you are not. Unfortunately, DZ's purchase student gear in lots and most of the time buy them to fit "most" of the population. It's not unusual for a DZ to have a 250 reserve in their student gear since the majority of folks be less than that. PM me for a point of contact to help you out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites RCott3 0 #11 April 30, 2004 Thanks for the advice and encouragement everyone. I can tell I am going to love this forum. If anyone has any info about Skydive Deland or Skydive Space Center in florida, please let me know your thoughts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
KevinMcGuire 0 #5 April 30, 2004 I've seen a DZ use a tandem rig as a student rig before. Tandems are rated high enough for big ol boys. The trick will be find a DZ that will do that for you. Don't worry though, I am 6'3 265 and I do just fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #6 April 30, 2004 Our DZ would not be able to accomodate you for the same reasons. Our AFF rigs are equipped with Tempo 250 reserves, which are rated to 115 KG (253lbs) for jumper + clothing + equipment. We draw the line at jumper weight of 100kg. (220lbs) There are bigger reserves and mains available, but there is not enough demand to warrant us purchasing such gear. We're also 5000ft AMSL, and the bigger people land fast and sometimes hard at this altitude, particularly in the summertime. As others have said, there are DZ's which accomodate "bigger" students. Call around and find one near you! Good luck, tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #7 April 30, 2004 There are two issues here: legal and engineering. The legal weight limit was imposed by FAA TSO C23C (introduced circa 1983) which imposed a 115 kg (254 lbs) weight limit (fully dressed) for parachutes. It was not until TSO C23D was introduced (circa 1993) that the FAA would certify a parachute for exit weights more than 254 lbs. Several parachutes designed during the 1990s are certified for weights heavier than 254 lbs and 150 knots. Legalities aside, most larger (250 square feet or more) reserves will land you soft enough to walk away. Ask for a main parachute larger than 300 square feet. For example, a large Canadian DZ near Vancouver (cough, cough) has a "big boy" Telesis rig containing a Raven 282 reserve with a Goliath 340 main. This author has participated in TSO C23D drop testing that included Telesis loaded at well over 254 lbs and way faster than 170 knots. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #8 April 30, 2004 I'm with you there. My own gear is well over what is legal - but it's mine - and my life - so I can make those desisions. I'm not in a position where I can make those desisions for someone else - and even in SA - we need to be aware of the "legal" limitations. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeffD 0 #9 April 30, 2004 Hmm... This has got me curious. I'm now 257lbs without gear and when I started jumping I was at 249 (damn holidays), SO now I'm too big to safely jump "legal" gear rated at 254lbs (wing loading issues aside)? (still renting gear) Thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nightjumps 1 #10 April 30, 2004 No, you are not. Unfortunately, DZ's purchase student gear in lots and most of the time buy them to fit "most" of the population. It's not unusual for a DZ to have a 250 reserve in their student gear since the majority of folks be less than that. PM me for a point of contact to help you out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RCott3 0 #11 April 30, 2004 Thanks for the advice and encouragement everyone. I can tell I am going to love this forum. If anyone has any info about Skydive Deland or Skydive Space Center in florida, please let me know your thoughts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
