jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu (Jerry Sobieski) (06/20/91)
Hey folks, I have composed a Frequently Asked Questions document. Has there ever been one posted previously? I don't want to re-invent the wheel (although I may have done so already:-). Anyway, Since I don't recall having seen one in the last year or so, I will post this one as a basis. Anyone can pick it apart (provided they know what they're talking about:-) and I will try to incorporate all suggestions. Then I'll repost it about every 6 weeks or so. Suggested mods to the FAQ can be e-mailed to me, or posted if you think they need discussing first. If you are making corrections (particularly technical points), please include any appropriate ratings/licenses that you have so that I can at least try to insure some level of acuracy. The FAQ sheet is not meant to be terribly technical, and is aimed at new readers of the group and prospective jumpers. Thanks all. -----------------begin here------------- PARACHUTE : An aerodynamic decelleration device. (Federal Aviation Administration) This posting constitutes a dynamic compilation of Frequently Asked Questions concerning the sport of skydiving, related activities, and the news group rec.skydiving. First, The news group rec.skydiving is an unmoderated group for the discussion of issues relating to sport skydiving. It obviously is not limitted to skydiving as there are many sports that share technology, history, common interests, and avid proponents; but these tend to be minor distractions for the hard core jumper:-). News or events to be held, or post-event reviews are commonly posted, as are questions about equipment, skills, regulations, theory, etc. And plane ol' remeniscing over "the good ol' days" by the old timers, and long exhuberent descriptions of newcomer's first jumps are posted here as well. It seems to me that there are a great many new readers every year of rec.skydiving, many of which stumbled across it and found it interesting but have never jumped. After a time, they seem to always ask the same questions. So in an effort to promote the sport, minimize redundant postings, and in general continue the comraderie of fellow free spirits there is now the "rec.skydiving FAQ sheet". The questions are not ordered in their "asking frequency". Instead, I have tried to order them so as to provide the information in a more easily understood manor. 1. How does one learn to skydive? ------------------------------ One looks in the phone book under "parachuting" for local drop zones (DZ). A phone call will generally provide you with enough information to make reservations to attend the next First Jump Course and/or how to reach the DZ. A friend or aquaintence who has jumped may be able to give you info as well. Most DZ will offer the First Jump Course (FJC) at least once each weekend. Some will offer it during the week or several times during the weekend. You will need to arrange it with your DZ. The FJC consists of about 5-6 hours of ground school followed by your jump - weather permitting. Some drop zones have promotional videos they will sell you (~$10) that describe the training and show you what it is all about. Almost every DZ these days use videos for training aids and will be glad to let you see them (for free!) if you stop by. 2. How do I tell a good Drop Zone from poor one? --------------------------------------------- Most dropzones that provide regular student training are "USPA Affiliated". The United States Parachute Association (USPA) is in effect the regulating body for sport parachuting within the US. USPA affiliation, while not required, does provide the DZ and students with liability insurance in case of damage to property, etc. USPA affiliation does not *guarantee* a DZ to be a "good" dz, and non-affiliation does not mean the DZ is "bad". These are just guidelines. You should always check it out before you jump. The USPA has had tremendous success in instituting rating programs for Jumpmasters, Instructors, Instructor-Examiners, etc to ensure that only properly trained and qualified people work with students. You should insist on USPA Instructors and Jumpmasters. They have compiled an excellent safety record over the years. 3. What does the training consist of? ---------------------------------- The FJC teaches the student every thing they need to know to safely make their first jump. There are several different "programs" available for 1st jumpers, the one you choose will depend on your personal preferences and circumstances. The differences of each is summarized below: Static Line (S/L) This method has evolved over the last ~30 years from its military origins into a sucessfull method for training *sport* parachutists. The student gets 4-5 hours of ground training and is then taken to 2800 feet for the jump. The jump itself consists of a simple "poised" exit from the strut of a small single engine Cessna (typically) aircraft. As they fall away from the plane, the student's main canopy is deployed by a "static line" attached to the aircraft. The student will experience about two seconds of freefall prior to the parachute opening. Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) The AFF program was instituted in 1982 as an alternative to the static line method. The ground training is a bit more extensive than S/L because the student will be doing a 50 second freefall (that's right!) on his/her very first jump. The student will exit the aircraft at 10,000-12,000 feet along with two AFF Jumpmasters who will assist the student during freefall. The jumpmasters maintain grips on the student, assisting the student as necessary to fall stable, perform practice ripcord pulls, monitor altitude, etc. The student then pulls his/her own ripcord at about 4000 ft. Tandem jumps. For those first jumpers that do not wish to go the S/L or AFF course, there is "Tandem" jumping. A tandem jump requires only about 45 minutes of ground training. It requires an experienced jumper called a "tandem master" (or pilot) and the student (or passenger). The passenger and pilot each wear a harness, however only the pilot wears the parachutes. The student's harness attaches directly to the front of the pilot's harness and the two of them freefall for 30 seconds together, open together, and land together under one *really BIG* parachute. In all of these methods, students are trained in normal and emergency procedures for all aspects of the jump - climb to altitude, exit, freefall, opening, canopy control, and landing. They are also shown the equipment and go over it so that they understand how it works. 4. What if your parachute doesn't open? ------------------------------------ Clearly, this is the most frequently asked question posed to all jumpers by all prospective jumpers. By law (FAA regulations), all intentional parachute jumps must be made with a single harness, dual parachute system with both a main canopy *AND* a reserve canopy. In other words, you have a second (or spare) canopy in case the first one doesn't open properly. However, it must be noted that the technology utilized in today's sport parachuting equipment is light years ahead of the old military surplus gear used in the '60s and '70s. The canopies are DRASTICLY different from the classic GIJoe round parachutes. You almost have to tie them in a knot to keep them from opening. The reserve canopies are even more carefully designed and packed. The reserve parachute must be inspected and repacked every 120 days by an FAA rated parachute "rigger" - even if it has not been used during that time. The student's main canopy is always packed either by a rigger or under a rigger's direct supervision by experienced packers. Additionally, most drop-zones now employ Automatic Activation Devices (AAD) as part of their student equipment. These devices sense the jumper's altitude and rate of descent. At a preset threshold, generally around 1500 feet, the AAD will automaticly activate the reserve canopy if the main canopy has failed to slow the descent to something reasonable. 5. How much does it cost? ---------------------- Prices vary from DZ to DZ. Typically, the S/L course runs ~$110-$140, AFF from $225-$275, and the tandem from ~$150-$175. Some DZs will offer to video tape the whole experience for a small additional fee. 6. How hard is the landing? ------------------------ The canopies used today bear little resemblance to the classic canopies of years gone by. Today, nearly all jumpers and jump schools use "square" canopies for parachuting. These canopies are actually rectangular in shape, and when open, act like an airplane wing (or an airfoil). They act more like gliders than umbrellas:-) The aerodynamics of the square canopy provide it with exceptional manuverability in the air, allowing the jumper to land pretty much wherever they wish. This wing shape also provides tippy-toe soft landings for even the novice jumper. The days of landing like a bag of flour are history. Most students land standing up on their first jump. ----------------end here----------------- -- Domain: jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu Jerry Sobieski UUCP: uunet!mimsy!jerrys UMIACS - Univ. of Maryland Phone: (301)405-6735 College Park, Md 20742
jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu (Jerry Sobieski) (06/26/91)
Rec.Skydiving F.A.Q. Sheet Last update: 06/24/91 PARACHUTE : An aerodynamic decelleration device. (Federal Aviation Administration) This posting constitutes a dynamic compilation of Frequently Asked Questions concerning the sport of skydiving, related activities, and the news group rec.skydiving. First, The news group rec.skydiving is an unmoderated group for the discussion of issues relating to sport skydiving. It obviously is not limitted to skydiving as there are many sports that share technology, history, common interests, and avid proponents; but these tend to be minor distractions for the hard core jumper:-). News or events to be held, or post-event reviews are commonly posted, as are questions about equipment, skills, regulations, theory, etc. And plain ol' remeniscing over "the good ol' days" by the old timers, and long exhuberent descriptions of newcomer's first jumps are posted here as well. Skydiving is not just a sport, its a lifestyle. It seems there are a great many new readers every year of rec.skydiving, many of which stumbled across it and found it interesting but have never jumped. After a time, they seem to always ask the same questions. So in an effort to promote the sport, minimize redundant postings, and in general continue the comraderie of fellow free spirits here is now the "Rec.Skydiving F.A.Q. Sheet". If your question is not answered in this document, please feel free to post it to the net. If we get tired of answering it (:-), we'll append it to the FAQ sheet. The questions are not ordered in their "asking frequency". Instead, I have tried to order them so as to provide the information in a more easily understood manor. The Most Frequently Asked Questions are: -. How does one learn to skydive? -. What does the training consist of? -. How do I tell a good Drop Zone from poor one? -. What if my parachute doesn't open? -. How hard is the landing? -. How much does it cost? -. How do you breathe in freefall? The Answers are: -. How does one learn to skydive? ------------------------------ One looks in the Yelow Pages under "parachuting" for a local drop zone (DZ). A phone call will generally provide you with enough information to make reservations to attend the First Jump Course and/or how to reach the DZ. You can also call the United States Parachute Association (USPA) at (703)-836-3495 to get the name of an affiliated drop zone in your area. A friend or aquaintence who has jumped previously may also be able to give you a recommendation. Most DZs will offer the First Jump Course (FJC) at least once each weekend. Some will offer it during the week or several times during the weekend. You will need to contact your local DZ to determine their scheduling. The FJC consists of about 4-6 hours of ground school followed by your jump - weather permitting. There are several different types of training you can take; Static Line, Accelerated FreeFall, or Tandem. They are described below in greater deatail. However, not all drop zones offer all these options, so you should ask the DZ which type(s) of training they provide. Some drop zones have promotional videos they will sell you (~$10) that describe the training and show you what it is all about. Almost every DZ these days use videos for training aids and will be glad to let you see them (for free!) if you stop by. They will mail you a brochure and other detailed information upon request as well. Always, check out the drop zone before you commit. It is *your* safety at stake and *your* responsibility to look after it. -. What does the training consist of? ---------------------------------- The FJC teaches the student every thing they need to know to safely make their first jump. There are several different "programs" available for first jumpers, the one you choose will depend on your personal preferences and circumstances. The differences of each is summarized below: Static Line (S/L) This method has evolved over the last ~30 years from its military origins into a sucessfull method for training sport parachutists. The student gets 4-5 hours of ground training and is then taken to 3000 feet for the jump. The jump itself consists of a simple "poised" exit from the strut of a small single engine Cessna aircraft. As they fall away from the plane, the student's main canopy is deployed by a "static line" attached to the aircraft. The student will experience about two to three seconds of falling as the parachute deploys. Subsequent S/L jumps consist of about 15 minutes of preparation. After 3 good static line jumps, the student will be trained to pull their ripcord for themselves. The student then does 2 more static line jumps where they demonstrate this ability by pulling a dummy ripcords as they leave the plane (the static line is still initiating the deployment). The student is then cleared to do their first actual freefall. The first freefall is a "clear & pull", where the student initiates the pull sequence immediately upon leaving the aircraft. Next is a 5 second delay jump. Subsequent jumps go to progressively higher altitudes with longer delays. After 25 freefalls, and meeting certain other basic requirements, the student receives their A license as is cleared off student status. Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) The AFF program was instituted in 1982 as an "accelerated" learning curve as compared to the traditional static line progression. This is what modern sport skydiving is about. The ground training is a bit more extensive than S/L (~5 hours) because the student will be doing a 50 second freefall (that's right!) on his/her very first jump. The student will exit the aircraft at 10,000-12,000 feet along with two AFF Jumpmasters (JM) who will assist the student during freefall. The jumpmasters maintain grips on the student from exit to opening, assisting the student as necessary to fall stable, perform practice ripcord pulls, monitor altitude, etc. The student then pulls his/her own ripcord at about 4000 ft. The AFF program is a 7 level program. Levels 1, 2, & 3 require two freefall Jumpmasters to accompany the student. These dives concentrate on teaching basic safety skills such as altitude awareness, body position, stability during freefall and during the pull sequence, and most importantly- successfull ripcord pull. On level 3, the JMs will release the student in freefall for the first time, to fly completely on their own. Levels 4, 5, 6, & 7 require only one freefall JM (less $$) and teaches the student air skills such as turns, forward movement and docking on other people, frontloops, backloops, "superman" exits from the plane, etc. Each AFF level is designed to take only one jump, and requires about 45 minutes of training. After graduating Level 7, the student enters a more free format stage called "Level 8" where they practice and hone their skills by themselves and in small groups until they obtain 25 freefals and qualify for the A license. Tandem jumps. Tandem jumps are a great introduction to the sport. They allow the neophyte to "take a ride" with an experienced jumper. A tandem jump requires from 15 to 45 minutes of ground preperation (it is not actually a First Jump Course). It consists of an experienced jumper called a "tandem master" (or pilot) and the student (or passenger). The passenger and pilot each wear a harness, however only the pilot wears the parachutes. The student's harness attaches to front of the pilot's harness and the two of them freefall *together* for 30 seconds, open together, and land together under one Really_BIG_Parachute. Tandems are also advantageous to the adventurous spirit who cannot adequately meet the physical or proficiency requirements for the S/L or AFF jumps. They can hop aboard a tandem! Because the tandem training is not a First Jump Course, if you decide to pursue the sport, you will have to attend a FJC, generally at a reduced rate. In all of these training methods, students are taught normal and emergency procedures for all aspects of the jump - climb to altitude, exit, opening, canopy control, and landing. They are also shown the equipment and go over it so that they understand how it works. Nearly all student training centers utilize *sport* skydiving gear. No more military surplus stuff. Students have light-weight harness/container systems in asthetic colors, high performance canopies designed for students. No more paraboots- students use their own tennis shoes. No more heavy motorcycle helmets- students use plastic sporting helmets. Ground-to-air radio for canopy control assistance, air-to-air video, on and on... -. How do I tell a good Drop Zone from poor one? --------------------------------------------- Most dropzones that provide regular student training are "USPA Affiliated". The United States Parachute Association (USPA) is the representative body for sport parachuting within the US, and a member of the FAI (the international equivalent). The USPA defends the sport's interests before the FAA and other regulating/lawmaking bodies at all levels of government. It also develops and monitors safety and training doctrine for the sport. Other benefits include liability insurance for students and DZs in the case of damage to property, monthy magazine Parachutist, etc. The USPA has had tremendous success in instituting rating programs for Jumpmasters, Instructors, Instructor-Examiners, etc. to ensure that only properly trained and qualified personnel work with students. You should insist on USPA Instructors and Jumpmasters. USPA affiliation is not required, and does not *guarantee* a DZ to be a "good" DZ, and non-affiliation does not mean the DZ is "bad". However, the USPA, through their dilligence and caution, has compiled an excellent safety record over the years. These are just guidelines. You should always check it out before you jump. -. What if your parachute doesn't open? ------------------------------------ Clearly, this is the most frequently asked question posed to all jumpers by all prospective jumpers. By law (FAA regulations), all intentional parachute jumps must be made with a single harness, dual parachute system with both a main canopy *AND* a reserve canopy. In other words, you have a second (or spare) canopy in case the first one fails to open properly. However, it must be noted that the technology utilized in today's sport parachuting equipment is light years ahead of the old military surplus gear used in the '60s and '70s. The canopies are DRASTICLY different from the classic GIJoe round parachutes. The materials are stronger, lighter and last longer, the packing proceedures are simpler, the deployment sequence is much more refined, etc. The reserve canopies are even more carefully designed and packed. The reserve parachute must be inspected and repacked every 120 days by an FAA rated parachute Rigger - even if it has not been used during that time. The student's main canopy is always packed either by a rigger or under a rigger's direct supervision by experienced packers. There are also additional safety features employed to ensure canopy deployment such as Automatic Activations Devices (AAD) and Reserve Static Lines (RSL) which add still more layers of safety. - How much does it cost? ---------------------- Prices vary from DZ to DZ. Typically, the S/L course runs ~$110-$140, AFF from $225-$300, and the tandem from ~$125-$200. Some DZs can provide a freefall videoman to tape the whole exciting experience for $50-75. After completing their First Jump, skydiving tradition allows each student to present a case of beer to their newfound skydiving friends in appreciation for their assistance in successfully achieving this milestone in their life. This case, customarily fine imported beer, is ceremoniously iced down for consumption at the end of the day. The cost generally runs $15-20. (It should be noted that while jumpers have a reputation for major parties, the use of drugs and/or alcohol on the DZ premises is *strictly* prohibited during jump operations for what should be obvious reasons. This rule is observed and enforced by both jumpers and management.) After the first jump, the cost of each successive jump decreases in stages as less supervision is required. Once off student status, and owning your own gear, jumps will cost about $15-17 to 13,000' (about 65 seconds of freefall). Many drop zones have discount programs as well that can further decrease the cost of jumps. Equipment can run from $1500 to $3500 depending on what you want to spend. There is a used equipment market (much like the used car market) which can save you loads of money, or you can custom order everything brand spankin new with your own colors and sizes (which will cost you loads of money:-). You can buy it all at once or a piece at a time as finances allow. Generally, you shouldn't worry about buying gear until you are off student status or close to your A license. - How hard is the landing? ------------------------ The canopies used today bear little resemblance to the classic round canopies of years gone by. Today, nearly all jumpers and jump schools use "square" canopies for parachuting. These canopies are actually rectangular in shape, and when open, act like an airplane wing (or an airfoil). They are more like gliders than umbrellas. The aerodynamics of the square canopy provide it with exceptional manuverability, allowing the jumper to land almost anywhere they wish. This wing shape also provides tippy-toe soft landings for even the novice jumper. The days of landing like a bag of flour are history. Most students land standing up on their first jump. - How do you breathe in freefall? ------------------------------ This falls into the realm of urban folklore. The atmospheric pressure drops from ~15 psi at sea level to 11 psi at 12000 feet, which is more than adequate for normal activity. However, do to the high speed of terminal freefall (and much higher speeds in vertical freefall dives) most jumpers will hyperventilate in the plane just prior to exit and hold their breath until opening. (The "kiss pass" was accidentally invented when a jumper had the wind knocked out of him during a funnel on an early attempt at RW in the late '60s. Another jumper realized what happened and went to the rescue. He docked on the injured jumper and performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until pull time. Other jumpers on the load misinterpretted what they had witnessed and the rest is history.) This same urban legend claims that D.B. Cooper was unaware of the dangers of breathing in freefall. His head exploded when he opened his mouth to try, scattering the $200,000 ransom money across three area codes in the Cascades. This is why there were no further airline hijackings utilizing this method to elude the authorities. -------- End --------- Rec.Skydiving F.A.Q. Sheet -- Domain: jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu Jerry Sobieski UUCP: uunet!mimsy!jerrys UMIACS - Univ. of Maryland Phone: (301)405-6735 College Park, Md 20742
mtimko@pdx066.intel.com (Mark Timko) (06/26/91)
In article <35970@mimsy.umd.edu>, jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu (Jerry Sobieski) writes: |> - How do you breathe in freefall? |> ------------------------------ |> However, do to the high speed of |> terminal freefall (and much higher speeds in vertical freefall dives) most |> jumpers will hyperventilate in the plane just prior to exit and hold |> their breath until opening. I don't know about you, but I usually choose to breath in freefall - especially when jumping from 12,000+. There is no doubt in my mind that I do since my throat is usually dried out (due to the high speeds) once I open. I can't even imagine holding my breath for 60+ seconds while doing RW. I'm kind of curious if I'm alone on this one or do most jumpers breath in freefall? -Mark Timko A-11659 +----------------------------------+------------------------------------------+ | Mark A. Timko | mtimko@ichips.intel.com | | 5200 NE Elam Young Pkwy | (503) 696-4225 | | Hillsboro, OR 97124-6497 | All disclaimers apply | +----------------------------------+------------------------------------------+ | Never forget: A bad day skydiving is always better than a good day at work | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
robie@umbc1.umbc.edu (Mr. William Robie; POSI (GRAD)) (06/27/91)
In article <1991Jun26.151051.14010@ichips.intel.com>, mtimko@pdx066.intel.com (Mark Timko) writes... >I don't know about you, but I usually choose to breath in freefall - especially >when jumping from 12,000+. There is no doubt in my mind that I do since my >throat is usually dried out (due to the high speeds) once I open. I can't even >imagine holding my breath for 60+ seconds while doing RW. I'm kind of curious >if I'm alone on this one or do most jumpers breath in freefall? I do .. never thought of holding my breath, actually, and was never aware of anyone else who was.
karlm@tekig5.PEN.TEK.COM (Karl W Maerz) (06/27/91)
>- How do you breathe in freefall? > ------------------------------ > >This falls into the realm of urban folklore. The atmospheric pressure >drops from ~15 psi at sea level to 11 psi at 12000 feet, which is more >than adequate for normal activity. However, do to the high speed of >terminal freefall (and much higher speeds in vertical freefall dives) most >jumpers will hyperventilate in the plane just prior to exit and hold >their breath until opening. (The "kiss pass" was accidentally invented >when a jumper had the wind knocked out of him during a funnel on an >early attempt at RW in the late '60s. Another jumper realized what >happened and went to the rescue. He docked on the injured jumper >and performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until pull time. >Other jumpers on the load misinterpretted what they had witnessed and >the rest is history.) > >This same urban legend claims that D.B. Cooper was unaware of the >dangers of breathing in freefall. His head exploded when he opened >his mouth to try, scattering the $200,000 ransom money across three area >codes in the Cascades. This is why there were no further airline >hijackings utilizing this method to elude the authorities. Where are the smiley faces??? This is a joke -- right? I made about 50 jumps before even thinking about this. Then, a whufo friend of mine asked the question, "Wow, like, how do you *breathe*, dude?" I thought about it a minute and replied "I dunno, I guess I just do it. There are a lot of subjects that don't get much priority in my conscious mind when I'm skydiving -- breathing is one of 'em." So, I tried an experiment. Got a friend to cruise down the freeway at ~80mph and I stuck my head out the passenger window. Not quite the same thing but, what the heck, I'm pushing through a slipstream at roughly 2/3 the velocity of freefall. Ought to be a good test. At first my throat tightened up and I really couldn't breathe. But then I consciously loosened up and took a breath, and then proceeded to breathe just fine -- no problem. I have never known a jumper to consciously hyperventilate (at least not in a jump craft or while sober) nor to hold his/her breath during a jump. Cute story about the kiss pass. I personally think it originated as a way for lecherous skydiving old-farts to have a plausible excuse for swapping tongues with good looking student freefall babes. DB Cooper probably got his lights knocked out when he stepped into a ~300mph(?) slipstream. Nobody has repeated this because the tail doors on these planes can no longer be opened in-flight (and some airlines are somewhat leary of boarding passengers whose carry-on luggage consists of a parachute). :) You made up everything in this section, right?... =============================================================================== | Karl Maerz | Tektronix, Inc. | | | (503) 629-1193 | PO Box 500 MS 92-830 | THIS SPACE FOR RENT | | karlm@tekig5.PEN.TEK.COM | Beaverton, OR 97077 | | ===============================================================================
mspurgeo@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU (Mike Spurgeon) (06/27/91)
> How do you breathe in freefall? > ------------------------------ > However, do to the high speed of > terminal freefall (and much higher speeds in vertical freefall dives) most > jumpers will hyperventilate in the plane just prior to exit and hold > their breath until opening. If this wasn't an attempt at humor, along with the 'kisspass theory', it should have been, and the faq list should be changed accordingly. I've _never heard_ of anyone hyperventilating before exit and holding their breath after. Also, I can't recall _any_ mention of anyone ever having any difficulty breathing. My answer to the question has always been, "You just do!". Mike Spurgeon Internet: mspurgeo@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu
lusty@scan2.tamu.edu (LUSTY WENCH) (06/27/91)
In article <1991Jun26.151051.14010@ichips.intel.com>, mtimko@pdx066.intel.com (Mark Timko) writes... >In article <35970@mimsy.umd.edu>, jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu (Jerry Sobieski) writes: >|> - How do you breathe in freefall? >|> ------------------------------ >|> jumpers will hyperventilate in the plane just prior to exit and hold >|> their breath until opening. I remember being very surprised on my first jump when I attempted to breath while in freefall. Then I realized that I was trying to breath through my nose, and that breathing through my mouth worked just fine. This does tend to make for some interesting pictures while in freefall, but I never even think about breathing any more. It just seems to come naturally. Diana Stanley
yzarn@lhdsy1.chevron.com (Philip Yzarn de Louraille) (06/28/91)
In article <1991Jun26.151051.14010@ichips.intel.com> mtimko@ichips.intel.com writes: >In article <35970@mimsy.umd.edu>, jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu (Jerry Sobieski) writes: >|> - How do you breathe in freefall? >|> ------------------------------ >|> However, do to the high speed of >|> terminal freefall (and much higher speeds in vertical freefall dives) most >|> jumpers will hyperventilate in the plane just prior to exit and hold >|> their breath until opening. > >I don't know about you, but I usually choose to breath in freefall - especially >when jumping from 12,000+. There is no doubt in my mind that I do since my >throat is usually dried out (due to the high speeds) once I open. I can't even >imagine holding my breath for 60+ seconds while doing RW. I'm kind of curious >if I'm alone on this one or do most jumpers breath in freefall? This got to be a joke! Just in case, it is not: OF COURSE WE CAN BREATHE IN FREEFALL. When you say you "usually choose to breathe...", do you sometimes choose *not* to breathe? -- Philip Yzarn de Louraille Internet: yzarn@chevron.com Research Support Division Unix & Open Systems Chevron Information & Technology Co. Tel: (213) 694-9232 P.O. Box 446, La Habra, CA 90633-0446 Fax: (213) 694-7709
king@glacier.Stanford.EDU (Robin King) (06/28/91)
I've heard new jumpers say they were holding their breath or forgot to breathe, and sometimes they ask if they were supposed to. It's just a sign of nervousness. Of course nobody would ever recommend that. -Robin
joep@Stardent.COM (Joe Peterson) (06/28/91)
>>I don't know about you, but I usually choose to breath in freefall - >>especially >>when jumping from 12,000+. There is no doubt in my mind that I do since my >>throat is usually dried out (due to the high speeds) once I open. >>I can't even >>imagine holding my breath for 60+ seconds while doing RW. >>I'm kind of curious >>if I'm alone on this one or do most jumpers breath in freefall? > >I do .. never thought of holding my breath, actually, and was never aware of >anyone else who was. Dudes, DUDES! I think the key words in the "FAQ" were "urban folklore." I can't believe that anyone is taking this seriously! I have to admit I have been asked this question several times by students and/or whuffos, and it always amuses me. Joe Peterson C-20351 joep@stardent.com
jerrys@mobby.umiacs.umd.edu (Jerry Sobieski) (06/29/91)
In article <1991Jun28.144040.1504@Stardent.COM> joep@Stardent.COM (Joe Peterson) writes: >>>I don't know about you, but I usually choose to breath in freefall - >>>especially >>>when jumping from 12,000+. [dull stuff deleted.] >>>I can't even >>>imagine holding my breath for 60+ seconds while doing RW. >>>I'm kind of curious >>>if I'm alone on this one or do most jumpers breath in freefall? >> >>I do .. never thought of holding my breath, actually, and was never aware of >>anyone else who was. > >Dudes, DUDES! > >I think the key words in the "FAQ" were "urban folklore." I can't believe >that anyone is taking this seriously! I have to admit I have been >asked this question several times by students and/or whuffos, and it always >amuses me. > I would like to caution all you jumpers very seriously: If you do not know or are unsure of how to breathe in freefall, DO NOT RISK jumping until you discuss this with your jumpmaster. As I am sure Diana can relate, while very difficult to learn, it can be mastered by almost anyone. However, One False Move and its KAPOW! you'll be whistling out your ears in freefall with your eyeballs rolling around the bottom of your goggles It is rumoured that the idea for the Balloon Suit was conceived of after viewing video footage of a large formation attempt in 1979. One jumper had inadvertantly burped in freefall (autospy reported he had eaten a red-hot-bean-burrito and a beer for breakfast). This small momentary lapse was enough to allow the relative wind into his mouth which over inflated his body until it assumed the now familiar shape of the Michelin Man. (A style suit may have prevented this fatality.) (jeeez:-) Jerry Jerry -- Domain: jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu Jerry Sobieski UUCP: uunet!mimsy!jerrys University of Maryland Phone: (301)405-6735 Institute for Advanced Computer Studies College Park, Md 20742
yzarn@lhdsy1.chevron.com (Philip Yzarn de Louraille) (06/30/91)
In article <1991Jun27.204337.7124@cascade.Stanford.EDU> king@glacier.Stanford.EDU (Robin King) writes: > > I've heard new jumpers say they were holding their > breath or forgot to breathe, and sometimes they ask if they > were supposed to. It's just a sign of nervousness. Of course > nobody would ever recommend that. What style of first jump did these new jumpers do? Static Line: freefall is less than a second, so who cares if they forgot to breathe? Tandem and AFF: no way that they did not breathe. A "normal" person (and that includes skydivers!) does not have to think to breathe, it is an automatic reflex. One can stop breathing for fun and one may pass out because they are forcing themselves not to breathe but they will breathe again as soon as they pass out! (I'm not joking here, it happens to some new scubadivers who are forcing themselves to breathe too slowly.) -- Philip Yzarn de Louraille Internet: yzarn@chevron.com Research Support Division Unix & Open Systems Chevron Information & Technology Co. Tel: (213) 694-9232 P.O. Box 446, La Habra, CA 90633-0446 Fax: (213) 694-7709
yzarn@lhdsy1.chevron.com (Philip Yzarn de Louraille) (06/30/91)
In article <1991Jun28.144040.1504@Stardent.COM> joep@Stardent.COM (Joe Peterson) writes: >>>I don't know about you, but I usually choose to breath in freefall - >>I do .. never thought of holding my breath, actually, and was never aware of >>anyone else who was. > >Dudes, DUDES! REALITY CHECK! This is not cross-ported to the folklore group anymore. -- Philip Yzarn de Louraille Internet: yzarn@chevron.com Research Support Division Unix & Open Systems Chevron Information & Technology Co. Tel: (213) 694-9232 P.O. Box 446, La Habra, CA 90633-0446 Fax: (213) 694-7709
yzarn@lhdsy1.chevron.com (Philip Yzarn de Louraille) (06/30/91)
In article <36057@mimsy.umd.edu> jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu (Jerry Sobieski) writes: > >I would like to caution all you jumpers very seriously: If you do not >know or are unsure of how to breathe in freefall, DO NOT RISK jumping until >you discuss this with your jumpmaster. As I am sure Diana can relate, while >very difficult to learn, it can be mastered by almost anyone. >However, One False Move and its KAPOW! you'll be whistling >out your ears in freefall with your eyeballs rolling around the >bottom of your goggles > >It is rumoured that the idea for the Balloon Suit was conceived of after >viewing video footage of a large formation attempt in 1979. One jumper >had inadvertantly burped in freefall (autospy reported he had eaten a >red-hot-bean-burrito and a beer for breakfast). This small momentary >lapse was enough to allow the relative wind into his mouth which over >inflated his body until it assumed the now familiar shape of the >Michelin Man. (A style suit may have prevented this fatality.) > Jerry, April First has already passed. -- Philip Yzarn de Louraille Internet: yzarn@chevron.com Research Support Division Unix & Open Systems Chevron Information & Technology Co. Tel: (213) 694-9232 P.O. Box 446, La Habra, CA 90633-0446 Fax: (213) 694-7709