"The Sorcerer"
The High Altitude BASE Rig
Article written by BASE # 46
Posted by BASE # 75
No longer do you have to trust your life by trusting one parachute. BASE malfunctions occur frequently, even with today's technology, some malfunctions can be cleared without going to a second parachute, other's can't.
BASE Jumpers have been hurt or killed by unclearable malfunctions, such as pilot chutes not opening, blown up parachutes, slider hang-ups, broken connector links and who knows what else. Some BASE jumpers choose to use a tertiary round parachute, but this offers little protection since it oscillates and is unsteerable. You couldn't help but land in rocks, scaffolding, water or power lines which are located directly below most launch points.
he Sorcerer is a piggyback double square system much like a state of the art skydiving rig. The Big difference lies in the way the reserve is deployed. If you have a partial malfunction, the reserve parachute is static lined from the cutaway main parachute. The reserve freebag is attached to the main risers. All you have to do is cutaway and you have immediate deployment of your reserve, regardless of your airspeed.
For something like a horseshoe, collapased pilot chute or total malfunction, you simply deploy the reserve, which is a pullout system much like the Racer. The handle is located on top of your left shoulder and all in one action, it dissconects the static line, pulls the reserve pin and pulls out pilot chute off to the side and the chances of it clearing the mess are far greater than a conventional ripcord spring loaded pilot chute. Also Guaranteing launching the pilot both preinflated and clear of your burble, which is much faster in extracting the reserve freebag than a spring loaded pilot chute.
The reserve container is packed much like a main container and your reserve can be repacked in the field with no more rigging tools than two pull up cords. To completely dial in your reserve, it is necessary to manipulate your reefing system on your reserve to suite your alitiude and speeds of the particular object. For instance, slider down, mesh slider up or high speed slider up.
We have done extensive testing with excellent results.On a cutaway with a slider down reserve, we have been opening anywhere from .96 of a second to 1.16 of a second. With the forward speed of the main makes this approxumately 40 feet, 3 ring of main to 3 ring of reserve. Using a slider that will withstand a terminal opening. From a standing start, we have been opening between 70 and 80 feet.
For the total Malfunction end of the spectrum, we are using a 42'" pull out pilot chute, which is completly adequate on the lower speed totals. You will be falling for at least 3 to 4 seconds before you can react to a total malfunction, after which you will be traveling in the 50 to 70 miles per hour range and since the container is already open, the pilot chute just has to pull the bag through line stretch. But at terminal velocity, it doesn't create too much snatch force to cause bag strip or line dump and since it is a freebag reserve system, there is no loading happening on your reserve pilot chute attachment point on the top of your canopy.
All of these test were made during 1990 using a Firefly for a reserve. Keep in mind the smaller the reserve the faster the openings and the larger the reserve, the slower the openings. On a spinning malfunction, it's recommened to stop the spin facing away from the object with a rear riser before cutting away. The main is deployed with a throw out pilot chute in a spandex pouch located at the bottom of the container. This enables you to take off the rig, give it a complete equipment check and put it back on with no chance of misrouting anything. The spandex pouch will accept small, medium or large pilot chutes. You can jump with it stowed or you can pull it out and hand hold it depending on your decision at hte exit point.
Extensive research, design, development and testing have gone into the Sorcerer. If safety, health and BASE Jumping are high on your list of priorities, it may be time for you to reevaluate your outdated equipment.
Available through Vertigo BASE Outfitters
Marta and Jimmy
Moab Utah, USA
