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Post by wiganshrew2 on Apr 13, 2005 20:57:54 GMT 1
Did you watch that programme on Channel 5 tonight about 'near misses' in sky diving? I didn't watch it- but I noticed that it was on. Is the risk part of the thrill, though?
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Post by Ratcliffesghost on Apr 13, 2005 21:05:27 GMT 1
Went to a dinner about 12 months back and the after dinner speaker was an ex-Air Traffic Controller, turned comedian. He reckoned if a jet of from New York going to London, the same time as one went from London to new york, the chances of them coliding were almost 0%, yet his job was to bring them as close together as possible Similarly, don't sky divers all jump over the same airfield to make the chances of collision greater too
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Post by Blues in Crewe on Apr 13, 2005 22:35:16 GMT 1
Not so much trying to collide but connect for a bigway I believe the largest that has officially connected was 300 skydivers apparently laws of physics mean that if the bigway was large enough (I believe somewhere over 2000 jumpers) the drag would slow the formation down slow enough that it could be landed without use of parachute (I dont fancy testing the theory though)
I did watch the programme tonight quite fascinating in parts she was extremely lucky but it would have been good to know the outcome on the investigation as to the reason for the malfunction (first parachute not opening initially)
The risks are drilled into us and EVERY jumper goes through the drills before EVERY jump and as an initial student until the instructors are confident that you could cutaway your main parachute and pull your reserve you dont jump. It is inevitable that at some point I will look up and not be confident that the parachute (or lack of it) above my head will save my life, I then will have about 5 seconds to get rid and get the reserve above my head
I guess that sounds quite scary but in packing I do everything possible to ensure the parachute will open then all I have to do is remember to pull the handle
And for the feeling and the sound when you hit terminal velocity and the freedom of backlooping, turning and tracking (accelerating) its all completely worth it
Sorry for going on but adrenaline is extremely addictive
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