Wind Tunnel safety - relative to skydiving

[iamsam 0]

I've just booked 10 mins in the Airkix Tunnel, MK for next week, taking advantgae of their free coaching on a Tuesday night.
I'd like peoples advice on whether a lot of tunnel time can make you forget the aspects of a 'real' (no offence meant tunnel rats!) skydive.

I'm thinking primarily of alti checks - surely spending time in a tunnel with no alti' to check makes you more likely to forget about it when your in the sky?

However much time I end up spending in a tunnel with no rig, I can't imagine ever forgetting to pull at 4k. But then again anyone who's gone in from a no-pull or had an AAD fire after losing altitude awareness probably thought the same... so while my questions may sound stoopid I hope you'll see the validity.

I've never flown (or should that be hovered?) in a tunnel before. While I'm sure I'll be back for more if it improves my skydiving, I don't envisage hours of tunnel work, I'd rather jump out of a plane, even if I'm still all over the shop. So although I don''t think it'll be a problem for me, it's still crossing my mind.

I've half a mind to wear my alti in the tunnel!

Any thoughts appreciated..

but what do I know

[Paige 0]

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I've half a mind to wear my alti in the tunnel!

More likely than not they will not allow you to take things into the tunnel that can come off. I know it stays on in freefall but if it comes off in the tunnel it ruins a million+$ investment.

Don't worry too much about alti awareness or loosing it in the tunnel I should clarify. Stay vigilant about it on your next jump and you'll be fine. One session in the tunnel isn't really going to mess you up too terribly much. Keep it in mind and be careful, all will work out.

Tunnel Pink Mafia Delegate
www.TunnelPinkMafia.com

[mattjw916 2]

Tunnel won't screw up your freefall clock at all.

Wearing an altimeter in the tunnel is silly lol and you will probably end up hitting the wall, yourself, or someone else in the face with it, ouch!. Concentrate on using your tunnel flight to work on whatever particular freefall skill you need to work on the most.

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While I'm sure I'll be back for more if it improves my skydiving

If? I think it's a foregone conclusion that tunnel does in fact greatly improve your freefall skills. The more you do, the better you get, esp when you have skilled mentors and coaches that can communicate effectively and guide your progression.

NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

[iamsam 0]

So does that mean I can't fly with my bag of lucky marbles?

Stay aware next time you're in the sky, like you say is I think the important thing. Like I said I think it'll b no problemo

Am curious about it the whole thing though. If I was part of a 4way RW team doing intense tunnel time (ain't gonna happen) I'd want to build pretend alti checks into my training, a sort of muscle memory thing?

But what do I know...

Thanks for the advice

but what do I know

[matttrudeau 0]

I used to see experienced 4 way teams just completely stop around 45 seconds all the time in the tunnel. They just knew when they were done with the dive. Kind of funny to watch them turning a ton of points and then just stop and look at each other.

[tdog 0]

Once you get used to the tunnel you will build a whole new internal clock - and instead of looking at your wrist, you will be looking at the timer on the wall...

Last night I was coaching someone who had 2.5 minute rotations... It was amazing, at 2 minutes, how they normally rotate, I was thinking, "time to exit, time to exit" - because my internal clock was built for 2 minute rotations - in the same way I keep on thinking "time to track" when I am jumping at a DZ that has 5 to 10 seconds more freefall time than home...

But, if you are getting free coaching - let your coach worry about that... Just pay attention to the coach and do what they say... The clock might have 8 seconds left, and they might give you a 5 second drill - so don't waste that 5 seconds.
But to answer your question - I have 4.5 times more flying time in a tunnel than I do in the sky, and I never have ruined my altitude awareness with all that tunnel time...

[tdog 0]

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I used to see experienced 4 way teams just completely stop around 45 seconds all the time in the tunnel. They just knew when they were done with the dive. Kind of funny to watch them turning a ton of points and then just stop and look at each other.

Ya, I was watching a foreign national team train - and at 45 seconds they would all just stand up on the net and start again from their exit count... And, I am sure one person was the keeper of the time, but it was amazing how accurately they just "knew" when to stop. ;-)

[iamsam 0]

Point taken no alti allready !!
I'd still rather be jumping out of aeroplanes though..









Dude, I like your ride.

but what do I know

[UKFSChick 0]

Hey Sam,

Personally I've found doing a lot of tunnel training has helped with overall calmness and awareness during a skydive, as you are so much more in control and used to the sensation of freefall. Forgetting something like alti checks in freefall is often due to being 'over the line' i.e. not being calm enough. This has a knock-on effect to your awareness and ability to do what you've been trained to do, such as alti checks, breathing etc! I also think your freefall internal clock works regardless of tunnel time - if anything, it works better when you are calm and tunnel helps with this as it builds confidence.

Most 4-way teams who train a lot in the tunnel have audible altis - which is worth considering once you are used to manual alti checks. They are a safety catch for your internal clock (if it goes wonky for some reason!)

Have a great time in the tunnel, it rocks :)

Emma
Team Airkix

PS

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If I was part of a 4way RW team doing intense tunnel time (ain't gonna happen)

You really never know where things can lead you, especially if you're getting into some tunnel time. Enjoy. :-)

[philh 0]

theres a clock showing u how much time left on your lfight. Use that as your alti.

[TrickyDicky 0]

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I'd like peoples advice on whether a lot of tunnel time can make you forget the aspects of a 'real' (no offence meant tunnel rats!) skydive.

I'm thinking primarily of alti checks - surely spending time in a tunnel with no alti' to check makes you more likely to forget about it when your in the sky?

I think there was a cypres fire in the UK last year exactly because of this. Something like 100 jumps, but several hours in the tunnel. But other than that, not heard anything.

UK Skydiver for all your UK skydiving needs.

[Paulipod 0]

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I'd want to build pretend alti checks into my training

I know quite a few 4way teams that never look at an Alti... they wear audibles and the chances of all 4 failing is fairly small.

An audible is a fairly sensible back-up device especially for us tunnel people

Bodyflight Bedford
www.bodyflight.co.uk

[iamsam 0]

Thanks to all for posts & advice

I was forgetting about the bells & whistles in helmets.

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PS

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If I was part of a 4way RW team doing intense tunnel time (ain't gonna happen)

You really never know where things can lead you, especially if you're getting into some tunnel time. Enjoy. :-)

you're right u don't know where things lead and I will enjoy
just a couple more things..

could somebody give me directions to a wingsuit tunnel
there must be somewhere?!? cost prohibitive perhaps?

Let me guess, its 1st tunnel time..??

but what do I know

[Paige 0]

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just a couple more things..

could somebody give me directions to a wingsuit tunnel
there must be somewhere?!? cost prohibitive perhaps?

Let me guess, its 1st tunnel time..??

Tunnels used for skydiving training and bodyflight are VERTICAL wind tunnels not horizontal. When you strap on a wingsuit you loose vertical and gain horizontal making the suit not that condusive for WVT. Here is a picture of Joao in a wingsuit in Orlando. Scroll down a bit to see his pic and you'll notice someone is holding his feet from the door.

Don't waste your time w. a wingsuit. Learn how to fly your body first. At 35 jumps and no tunnel, you have a lot of learning to do before adding suits and toys.

No beer for first tunnel offenses. That's not to say people at the tunnel would not drink and appreciate the sentiment.

Tunnel Pink Mafia Delegate
www.TunnelPinkMafia.com