Do you consider this dangerous?
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: N20,W99
Do you consider this dangerous?
What are your thoughts after looking at this photo?
Please give me your analysis of this operation from this R44 which took place in Monterrey Mexico a couple of days ago . . .
It's a paraglider being dropped while a skydiver tapes his exit, they are using a bag made in Bulgaria to drop paragliders from Fixed Wing aircraft or Helicopters?
What you see in the photo are the lines from a canopy (parachute like) extending, as soon as those lines come to an end, they will be pulling out a rather large fabric canopy from that bag that is supposed to open a few feed down the helicopter.
Points to take into account from this photo . . .
- I feel the canopy or lines could easilly be caught on the ground handling wheel stud on the skid, if so, the paraglider could easilly be left hanging from the canopy, and it would take him seconds realize that his only way out would be to free himself from his main canopy and use his reserve, then leave the huge canopy hanging from the skid along with dozens of lines hanging?
- Do you consider it safe?
- Is this legal? at least in your country?
D-Bag here: www.avasportcentral.com/eng/pr_d-bag.html
Video of D-Bag deployment look here . .
Last edited by BlenderPilot; 20th July 2012 at 04:32.
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When dropping "automatic" parachute jumpers, we are using the same technique.....and we have been using this for the last 40 years....
Don´t see a problem there...
I would see a problem dropping a PARAglider from anything else than a rock-these materials are not made for this...
Don´t see a problem there...
I would see a problem dropping a PARAglider from anything else than a rock-these materials are not made for this...
Joined: May 2002
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From: Downeast
Having dropped more than a few jumpers...free fall and static line....a few precautions need to be considered. Not just jumper's gear getting fouled....but jumpers gear including reserve parachutes fouling the helicopter...particularly the tail rotor. The Static line and canopy bag combination should not be long enough to foul either the main rotor or tail rotor.
Sharp edges that could cut the static line need to be cushioned or taped to prevent cutting.
I question air launching a Para Glider as my understanding they are similar to parachute canopies but not as strong as they do not have to tolerate the shock loads of an opening with a lot of vertical speed as parachute canopies have to cope with.
Do these guys use a Reserve parachute with some sort of dynamic extractor device?
Depending upon the Authority which one operates under....there could be problems legally.
Lastly as noted....anything to do with a Robinson constitutes grave risk in my book....less so the 44...but the 22 terrifies me and I am a hero (small "h" used on purpose).
Sharp edges that could cut the static line need to be cushioned or taped to prevent cutting.
I question air launching a Para Glider as my understanding they are similar to parachute canopies but not as strong as they do not have to tolerate the shock loads of an opening with a lot of vertical speed as parachute canopies have to cope with.
Do these guys use a Reserve parachute with some sort of dynamic extractor device?
Depending upon the Authority which one operates under....there could be problems legally.
Lastly as noted....anything to do with a Robinson constitutes grave risk in my book....less so the 44...but the 22 terrifies me and I am a hero (small "h" used on purpose).
Last edited by SASless; 20th July 2012 at 12:52.
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From: Ventura Ca U.S.A.
If the video was seen with a U.S. Registred A/C and pilot. A Letter Of Investagation would be in the mail. Dropin people not a problem but having pax with out chutes, is a no no.
Seen what happens with flying machines & stringie thingies, Not good
.
Seen what happens with flying machines & stringie thingies, Not good.
), but not this way. No no 
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Oz
Just a small point, Sasless is correct in that a paraglider is not designed for the loads that a parachute is capable of withstanding on opening, but in this case it would be opening at nowhere near terminal velecity. I dare say however that it would still be opening above its design spec even though there didn't seem to be much forward speed when he dropped.
Having said that, it is one on the most crazy f*&king dangerous things I have seen. Fun till someone loses an eye!
One more thing, from what I can remember, I don't think paragliders don't have a reserve (I will stand corrected if that is not the case).
Having said that, it is one on the most crazy f*&king dangerous things I have seen. Fun till someone loses an eye!
One more thing, from what I can remember, I don't think paragliders don't have a reserve (I will stand corrected if that is not the case).
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: London
Regarding the safety aspect of doing a “static-line” type jump from the side of a small helicopter with the D-bag attached to the helicopter – YES, I agree with all above, an outright stupid idea.
Re the paraglider canopy/lineset itself; once clear of the helicopter, that’s not a problem. You are not at terminal speed and the shock force is much less. They use the same type of lines as many high-performance competition canopies (which oddly are used for “hop & pops” and themselves not really meant for terminal openings). Re kicking out of line twists, this is student canopy stuff and once on higher wing-loaded performance canopies you won’t be kicking out of anything – you’re cutting away. You’d be surprised at how fast a performance canopy can “spin-up” and the forces involved.
I’m a helicopter pilot / skydiver / wingsuit flyer and have made many helicopter jumps. However, being a helicopter pilot, I’ve been amazed at some of the dangerous/stupid acts I’ve seen on heli jumps due to skydivers not having any real understanding of helicopters (compounded by the heli pilots themselves not knowing much about skydiving gear).
Coincidentally, I’ve written a safety article for a skydiving magazine which will be published in their September issue. I’ll share it here if possible.
Re the paraglider canopy/lineset itself; once clear of the helicopter, that’s not a problem. You are not at terminal speed and the shock force is much less. They use the same type of lines as many high-performance competition canopies (which oddly are used for “hop & pops” and themselves not really meant for terminal openings). Re kicking out of line twists, this is student canopy stuff and once on higher wing-loaded performance canopies you won’t be kicking out of anything – you’re cutting away. You’d be surprised at how fast a performance canopy can “spin-up” and the forces involved.
I’m a helicopter pilot / skydiver / wingsuit flyer and have made many helicopter jumps. However, being a helicopter pilot, I’ve been amazed at some of the dangerous/stupid acts I’ve seen on heli jumps due to skydivers not having any real understanding of helicopters (compounded by the heli pilots themselves not knowing much about skydiving gear).
Coincidentally, I’ve written a safety article for a skydiving magazine which will be published in their September issue. I’ll share it here if possible.
Last edited by RMK; 21st July 2012 at 14:22.
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Wiltshire, UK
..... the film is from an AS-350 of some kind
I’ve been amazed at some of the dangerous/stupid acts I’ve seen on heli jumps due to skydivers not having any real understanding of helicopters
Those featured above seem to fall into the latter category.
Last edited by TRC; 21st July 2012 at 21:09.
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From: 55 degrees north ish.
I have done lots over the years with skydivers/basejumpers from helicopters. Some are relatively sane, but the majority - in my experience - are totally irresponsible adrenaline junkies.
