crosskeys update

[kallend 2,146]

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Fall rate was one issue. 75% of the problems were due to people going low or not being able to stay with the formation after they docked. I started out with my minimum fall rate setup (sleeves and swoop cords) and had no problems, but then I'm used to Roger's fall rates. A lot of people had to start adding t-shirts and sleeves as the event wore on.

Before it even started people were talking about having brought their old baggy jumpsuits, sleeves, tee-shirts to wear on top of suits etc. At that point a slow fall rate becomes inevitable. I'm a skinny guy, and I wore my normal (fast) jumpsuit but no weights).

The plane I was in (Caravan) was the rearmost one, with the "little people" in it, and none of us had a problem with fall rate or plane positioning that I'm aware of (we docked in the 5 O'Clock sector). Even on the jump with the worst plane positioning we all made it in despite about 300 yards of horizontal separation from the base. Two sectors around to my right (around 2 O'Clock) seemed to be having a lot of problems, as did the one across from me at 7 O'Clock (jumpers from the left trail Otter). They had quite a few personnel changes in that plane. I couldn't see what was going on elsewhere.

Our sector was all there and docked by 10k. Most jumps there was already someone low by the time we got to the formation.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[diverdriver 7]

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>Will someone post information about the attempt . . .

It came close a few times; on one dive we were one grip away from the first point, and on another we were one grip away from the second point. We had some problems with weather (13 jumps instead of 16 due to rain) aircraft (had some O2 problems, some positioning problems) and a few incidents (one reserve deployment on the step, one cameraman who hit his head on the tail.) In general it didn't seem to be coming together as well as last year's attempt; there were more problems in more areas overall.

Cameraman hit the tail? What happened there? What kind of plane?

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[kallend 2,146]

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Cameraman hit the tail? What happened there? What kind of plane?

It was Raoul, who was on our plane (Caravan). The plane was not steady on jump run and bobbled when the chunk left. Raoul was staying on the step to get shots of the last divers. I think he left coincidentally with a bobble bringing the tail low. Anyhow, he hit his helmet on the tail and was bruised some but is otherwise OK. There's a dent in the tail but someone said it had been there previously (so maybe this has happened before).

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[diverdriver 7]

Ughhh.....and was Raoul on a normal camera step or was he further back? What was causing the bobbles with the plane? Turbulence? Formation flying too slow?

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[mirage62 0]

come on Kallend, at your age you prob. just forgot all the real details.

Sorry it didn't go better, are you going to Texas in August?

fr

Kevin Keenan is my hero, a double FUP, he does so much with so little

[kallend 2,146]

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come on Kallend, at your age you prob. just forgot all the real details.

Sorry it didn't go better, are you going to Texas in August?

fr

I had fun and caught up with a lot of friends and drank a lot of beer.

Going on vacation with the GF in August!

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[kallend 2,146]

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Ughhh.....and was Raoul on a normal camera step or was he further back? What was causing the bobbles with the plane? Turbulence? Formation flying too slow?

Normal camera step (it's pretty close to the tail on the Caravan). There were three floaters, all in the door. Don't really know what caused the bobbles, wasn't turbulent at altitude. There was a lot of throttle adjustment going on during jumprun, the airplane formation didn't ever seem to settle down. I don't think it was flying too slowly or the CASA would have had worse problems, wouldn't it?

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[diverdriver 7]

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I don't think it was flying too slowly or the CASA would have had worse problems, wouldn't it?

Yes it would have. It's tough. Formation flying in large formations with lots of pressure and differing types of aircraft can be very challenging for any pilot. Glad all were ok.

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[billvon 3,107]

>I don't think it was flying too slowly or the CASA would have had
> worse problems, wouldn't it?

The CASA did have some problems staying with the formation; it was solved by moving the load around a little and speeding up the skyvan. They were fixed by the time Raoul hit the tail though (AFAIK.)

[ltdiver 3]

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A lot of people (even near the base) were wearing big suits or tee-shirts over their jumpsuits. Thinking "slow" becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I noticed that Molly was wearing sleeves!

Hey! Just my speed!

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[ltdiver 3]

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The plane was not steady on jump run and bobbled when the chunk left.

I know another cameraflyer who's shoulder was injured while an Otter bounced around on jumprun. The unsteadiness of the plane flight was enough to eventually throw him off! Now he's undergoing medical treatment for a torn rotator cuff.

What can a pilot do to ensure safe and steady jump runs for those outside the plane? I know a Caravan has a lower and closer stabilizer, but this is 2 cameraflyers who've been injured by similar things.

Any input from jump pilots?

Is there anything -we- can do, as skydivers, to aid in this as well?

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon