gus 1 #1 February 7, 2003 Has anyone ever experimented with prone, rather than supine, harnesses? (ie lying down rather than seated) Imagine swooping the pond like that! GusOutpatientsOnline.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #2 February 7, 2003 Prone harnesses have been used by hang glider pilots for decades. Para-glider pilots prefer supine harnesses, where they are seated, but leaned so far back that they could be reclined in a Barcalounger. Neither harness provides much protection in a bad landing. Para-glider pilots started adding spine protectors years ago. Their spine protectors sort of look like an external plastic spinal column, like you find on motorcycle racers and BASE jumpers. The most recent advance in para-glider harnesses is massive Cordura air bags under their butts. These air bags have air locks (please don't flame me Brian Germain) so they passively inflate after launch and slowly deflate on impact. With a bit of thought, air bags could be streamlined so they reduce aerodynamic drag during high speed blade running. Given the choice between prone and supine, I would rather wear a supine harness so when I mess up a landing, I can absorb most of the impact with my legs, instead of my face. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #3 February 7, 2003 Swooping the pond like that is called a deadman swoop. They are done sometimes by pond swoopers. Our own Skymonkeyone had a picture in Parachutist last year of doing a deadman in snow kicking up a roster tail.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #4 February 7, 2003 What, you want to pick up fish like a Pelican?Ram water inflated lungs. Or dirt at the end of the pond? Leading with your face probably isn't a good idea. In addition to the above comments, openings would be tough to take if not inline with the spine. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #5 February 7, 2003 I think it would be a bit harder to harness steer the canopy.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #6 February 7, 2003 >openings would be tough to take if not inline with the spine. So open then "release" the harness into the supine position. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TitaniumLegs 8 #7 February 9, 2003 So, how do you flare without your arms being the first part of your body to land? (>o|-< If you don't believe me, ask me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hookitt 1 #8 February 9, 2003 Quote So, how do you flare without your arms being the first part of your body to land? You don't sillyMy grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TitaniumLegs 8 #9 February 9, 2003 Either way, OUCH! (>o|-If you don't believe me, ask me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gus 1 #10 February 10, 2003 QuoteSo, how do you flare without your arms being the first part of your body to land? What about attaching the brake lines to your feet? You could hold the front risers with your hands and the brakes with your feet. There's a fine line between madness and genius you know. GusOutpatientsOnline.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
