Booties In Tunnel

[daniel_owen_uk 0]

If I was to have a shiny new suit for when I next go to the tunnel, and if said suit was to have booties, would it be a good idea to try and get used to them in the tunnel?

Or would the increased turning speed and forward motion make it easier to learn with them in the air?

__________________

BOOM Headshot

[flyangel2 2]

IMO, why not learn with them on in the tunnel. If you are worried about getting slammed into the chamber wall, if you have a good tunnel rat in there watching you, he/she will catch you before you hit it.

Also, being in the tunnel will give you some reference as to how much you are moving around with them on.

If you don't like the speed of the wind in the tunnel, talk to your instructor before going in and work out a signal so they can turn down the wind speed.

On one of my tunnel camp trips, my instructor took one of my booties off to have me practice flying with just one bootie in case I had one blow up or malfunction on a skydive.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[rehmwa 2]

Yes, yes, yes - wear the booties. They are where you get so much of your power. And the tunnel, with your coach, is the best place to really get dialed in to how to maximize your payback for making the smart decision to get booties on your suit.

Don't be scared of booties, especially in the tunnel - even at 18 jumps. Booties are your friends.

Did you get the full sized booties? (some vendors offer "max" or "Turbo" or "full sized" booties vs a cut that's not so big.

other suit "musts"

fullsized grippers
inside leg grippers (absolutely)
reinforced knees
...
this degrades to another post already out there

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Stumpy 284]

Wear them. We see a lot of people who have learnt to do things without booties who need to adapt slightly to doing things with them. If you can do it in the tunnel, you can do it in the sky, however the reverse is not necessarily true.....

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[daniel_owen_uk 0]

Not fortunate enough to be buying new, looking to buy a used suit (have two in mind).

One with all of the above.

And one without, unfortunately the one without is looking like the most financially viable (surprise surprise).

I need a suit anyway and if I do get a second custom made suit then this one is hopefully gonna be cheap enough to keep as a spare.

__________________

BOOM Headshot

[mdrejhon 8]

My first time in the tunnel, I was wearing my own new RW jumpsuit with booties. That wasn't an issue for me. Sure, I sometimes bumped gently around a little like just any new tunnel flyer, but nothing that I couldn't easily correct, and I was still a lot better off than most first timers in a tunnel, because I had done over 100 skydives.

By the end of the first 2 minutes, I was able to stay stationary in all 3 dimensions in the center of the wind tunnel.

[daniel_owen_uk 0]

I was fortunate enough to do some tunnel time before AFF, so hopefully I should be stationary in all 3 dimensions anyway (plus bedford is nice and big
Obviously you need to bend your knees more so you get less drag on the lower half of your body, but I suppose the difference varies from person to person and from suit to suit.

Will just have to fly it and see.

__________________

BOOM Headshot

[RossDagley 0]

  Quote

I was fortunate enough to do some tunnel time before AFF, so hopefully I should be stationary in all 3 dimensions anyway (plus bedford is nice and big
Obviously you need to bend your knees more so you get less drag on the lower half of your body, but I suppose the difference varies from person to person and from suit to suit.

Will just have to fly it and see.

My suggestion would be to do your session in the tunnel with booties, then make the last 2 minutes you do without (just roll them up your shins inside the suit) so you're flying without them. This will get you used to your suit whilst also preparing you a little for a bootie (or two!) coming off (which can happen if you go unstable).

Most of all, have fun

[freefalljenn 0]

Booties in the tunnel work just fine. However, if you end up on your back or intend to do anything other than belly flying they can become a pain the arse very quickly. My husband was knee flying with booties and knew it was a possibility that he would end up on his back at some point, so he duck taped the booties around his shoe. It seemed to work well for him.

jenn
Tunnel Junkie Since November 2005! ;o)~
TPM #46
Paraclete XP TPM Delegate

[Paulipod 0]

If you try them once.... and you find yourself travelling / reacting too much you can always tape them up.

We have had quite a few people that needed to take the booties off to get used to things - but far more that can manage just fine with them.

Generally - we just see how it goes.... and if someone is a little forward moving etc just get them to lose the booties for a little while until they get comfortable.

Bodyflight Bedford
www.bodyflight.co.uk

[Ron 10]

I would roll them up and tuck them up for the first session (2min). If things went well (ask the rat), put them on.

No reason to be afraid of them, but the first time it might be better to not have the extra input till you are used to the tunnel a bit. But I think you will get used to them quite quickly.

Also for eveyone else....Some time fly in the tunnel without your booties....You really have to use your knees more. It is a trick I use with some students to get them to use their knees more and it will helo you add more power when you put them back on.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334