rick@uokvax.UUCP (02/14/85)
This past summer I introduced a number of Oklahoma skydivers
to freak flying via the simplest method I have found for beginners.
The trick is to launch a "horny gorilla" from the step of a Cessna
get the formation stable thus allowing everyone in the formation
to experience upside down stability. Once stable, and I don't
mean just together, but really stable, everyone unlocks
legs while keeping eye contact. I believe it helps for the jumpers
to already be in close proximity on their backs versus trying to fly
there on their backs.
Difficult you say, to launch a basically unstable formation?
Thats what most thought untill we did it over and over with
new people in it every time.
After the cut have the first person go out and float while
putting left foot in the middle of the step.Second person
climbs out and puts right foot to the outside of the step,
with his or her leg behind number ones.third person goes out and
sits in the "V",(back to relative wind)with right foot supporting
thier weight and hooking left foot around the back of jumper
number two's right foot. Jumper number four sits in door,puts
both feet outside the plane,puts right foot behind jumper number
one and two interlocked legs and supports himself with the left
foot. Now three jumpers are dangling a leg in the wind and only
the jumper in the "V" is using his right foot for support,(jumper
number four may step in the foot of jumper number three for added
support during line up.
Now everyone gets double shoulder grips with jumpers one and two
stiff arming each other and jumpers three and four holding each other
real tight. This cause the formation to become stable after the launch
so that as soon as it levels out with all feet to earth jumpers three and
four stiff arm each other to make it symetrical.The launch consists
of "falling " of the step on top of numbers one and two for a sort
of controlled funnel. Once stable everyone arch and enjoy the
subterminal air.It is possible to talk to each other the first
three to four seconds.
When stable,separate and try to redock. I know it sounds
complicated but if you imagine the formation to be a "top" that
falls of a single point it will try to naturally balance itself
with point to earth(all jumpers intertwined feet.
Oh yeah, as soon as the formation leaves the step,everyone
must swing their inlocked leg into the middle as if they were
trying to cross their own feet.
Most people will think it can't be done but its fairly simple
after a few trys.
Rick D6448