Life off the grid in the SW Texas desert. An experiment in sustainable living. NUMBERS AT THE END OF EACH BLOG POST: temp at 8PM,high temp,low temp,rainfall,wind conditions(CalmBreezyWindyGusty). YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFieldLab
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Tuesday, April 29, 2014
ready to fly
Been 3 weeks since I flew...beginning to wonder if it was just a dream. Looks like the winds may calm down this weekend. This wait is worse than the wait I had for training. 70,84,58,0,B
Looking at the video during training where you landed on your feet once out of four landings- those where you didn't had to hurt. It looks like you're coming down on a very hard, unforgiving surface (well, duh). The airport where I made my one and only parachute jump had a circular target area made of pea gravel about 3" thick (missed the target, cracked my ankle, missed 2 weeks of work). I wonder if your airport would benefit from a similar, maybe 50-75 foot dia. landing target of pea gravel- not thick enough to trip you, but enough to absorb some of the shock. That and/or kit yourself out with some skateboarder gear- palm, knee and elbow pads. It just seems to me you've got to do something to protect yourself when you land rough with all that weight on your back.
Just one more thing: I wonder if you're flareing early enough and hard enough, so that you're touching down more vertically than horizontally. If you get that forward motion more or less neutralized, it seems like you've got a better shot at staying on your feet. Your call, obviously.
Also, is it possible to attach those pull rings a little bit higher, so that when you pull down during the flare you have more range of motion and can torque the canopy more?
Looking at the video during training where you landed on your feet once out of four landings- those where you didn't had to hurt. It looks like you're coming down on a very hard, unforgiving surface (well, duh).
ReplyDeleteThe airport where I made my one and only parachute jump had a circular target area made of pea gravel about 3" thick (missed the target, cracked my ankle, missed 2 weeks of work). I wonder if your airport would benefit from a similar, maybe 50-75 foot dia. landing target of pea gravel- not thick enough to trip you, but enough to absorb some of the shock. That and/or kit yourself out with some skateboarder gear- palm, knee and elbow pads. It just seems to me you've got to do something to protect yourself when you land rough with all that weight on your back.
Just one more thing: I wonder if you're flareing early enough and hard enough, so that you're touching down more vertically than horizontally. If you get that forward motion more or less neutralized, it seems like you've got a better shot at staying on your feet.
ReplyDeleteYour call, obviously.
Also, is it possible to attach those pull rings a little bit higher, so that when you pull down during the flare you have more range of motion and can torque the canopy more?
ReplyDeleteO.K. Shutting up now.
Discretion and patience are key components of safety. You're doing a great job on both. A good day will come and you will be ready! Have fun!
ReplyDeletePerhaps this is a lesson in patience...?
ReplyDeletePatience and tolerance is the key to a happy life.
ReplyDeleteMove to Lubbock, the wind hardly ever blows here. (Do a quick google search for "lubbock haboob".
ReplyDeleteFriday looks good....wunderground show 5mph there Friday.
ReplyDeleteHigh Flight
ReplyDeleteJohn Gillespie Magee, Jr
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of --Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew --
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.