170' Bridge support "Safe or Not for a newbe"

[pulliam5555]

First off, I am pretty new to BASE (ie, FJC with Vertigo, and a hand full of SL jumps from a 240' S, and 360' A). The objects are rather limited in the greater Tokyo area (at least for beginners) but this is what I found. It is a 170' support for a bridge with a large field both in front and behind, with no real obstacles other that the support itself. This will be the lowest I have ever jumped which is the main reason I have brought this up on this forum.
What I am think is doing a SL with 48' PC as a backup, and possibly a larger loop of SL for another back up as well. Sound reasonable? Any better ideas? I have SL'ed the top of this bridge which is about ~50-70' higher and was very happy with the canopy time, but I got a lot of attention being this is an expressway.

Thanks,

Rob

[Gus937]

Hi Rob,

Your profile says you're jumping a Dagger 266, that right? I have seen a Dagger static lined from 170 and it did OK but you're kinda nudging the envelope a little bit if you're after a nice soft landing. A vented canopy would greatly increase your ability to correct an off heading and get a decent landing but I suppose that's not an option. You said you've static lined 240 and it was ok, do you have something in the middle, like closer to 200 to jump first?

Definately put that 48 on and I would definately use 2 loops of break cord, one longer than the other. Make sure the railing is smooth and not going to weaken the break cord and be very careful with your bridle management. I normally bungee up (very loosely) as much bridle as I can to stop it flapping around or getting in the way. Also check there's nothing in the way of the pc that it might snag on as you exit. If you release the toggles be aware that going straight in to full drive may dive you in to the ground.

Good luck,

Gus

[pulliam5555]

Hey thanks for the good info Gus,

Yes I am jumping a Dagger 266 and it is a little big for me. So it does come in nice and easy without a good flare. But maybe I will try to get a few more jumps from the top of the bridge around the 1-3am timeframe. Also I have yet to actually climb under the bridge, so perhaps there is a place a bit farther up that I can jump from. The benefit of jumping the bottom is that I can jump all day long without anyone caring.
As for objects around 200 feet, the only good one I have spotted is a very nice B around 210 feet with super easy access to the roof and nothing but a wide open field in front. However I’m not sure I am ready to jump B as of yet, even if it is a SL.

Thanks again,

Rob

[edge]

I have jumped my Dagger 266 at 176' W/out any problem.E

[pulliam5555]

So how long was the canopy ride on the 176' jump. Also what kind of SL set up did you use (1 loop or 2 loops of SL, ect.)

[edge]

6 to 8 second ride.S/L 80 lb brake cord tubular webbing permenant rock anchor.E

[Mac]

I used to jump a Dagger266 and did so with freefalls down to 200ft. The day I jumped my new vented canopy from 200ft (with the idea of keeping my dagger as a second rig) I sold the dagger... if you are looking at low jumps and low openings, I would say get rid of the dagger... just my worthless 2 sheckles worth...

[fastpete]

Yo Rob,

check this

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/foru...t_reply;so=ASC


FastPete

[sitflybaseboy]

I have static lined my Dagger 244 from 162 ft. However, be very aware of the wind. No non vented canopy does well low when there is wind(more than 2-4mph)Belive me, We had to learn this lesson the hard way.
321CYA
Sitflybaseboy
PS Hey Mac, I just got a new vented canopy today, with the thought in mind of keeping my Dagger as a second rig!

[Raymond Losli]

"No non-vented Canopy does well when there is wind more than 2-4 mph. ?"
-
That is a pretty misleading statement. BUT not totally FALSE. Dude a human being walks an average of 4-MPH
The only major thing that should be considered on ( Wind ) when doing low SL-jump would be if you had any type of Tail-Wind which might affect pressurization.
Or, on opening you had a Off-Heading which put your Canopy Heading to be hit with a tail-wind. ON a Low SL-jump. or PCA.
.
I would say. A jumpers Choice in non-vented canopy has more to do with what you are talking about When doing sub-200 foot jumps. A Dagger would be my last choice in low PCA or SL.
.

[fastpete]

I PCA:d my girlfriend from 176ft Freestander 3 weeks ago, and she has 266 dagger. she had about 5secs of canopy time...so i think 200 is pretty easy if you have good LZ there. hmmm...i want to go to Japan..

[Raymond Losli]

I would like to add something else to the consideration of wind when you (pulliam5555) are doing a Low-sub-200 ft. PCA/SL
Non-Vented or Vented canopy will have slightly positive/better pressurization if there is a slight head wind. You will fly and have better control quicker. I mean light head-wind like 2-4 MPH is a Tool to be used in your favor when doing low PCA/SL on the kind of Bridge (set-up)you got here. That is a Real Nice Corner you got there on that FAT-pillar. With free movement of air passing through.
But if the slight Headwind is the clincher on the deal as to exiting Real LOW or if you are so low as to need the extra bump in pressurization to Not pound-in. Then if you by chance you did get the off-heading. To have a Quartering of full on Tail-Wind you will most likely will be pounding-in.
ALSO: From looks of the Pic. you are providing. It looks pretty good. It looks like you we be taking a Support Pillar exit. Looks like a nice Rail to tie-off to also. I would just be cautious/aware of a Tail-Wind that would be passing through and under the Bridge. For Rotor or stealing some of your canopies flight caricteristics.
170 ft. PCA/SL is not that bad of a BASE jump but don't fall under the Safety Illusion of ( BIG Sq. Footage ) just because you are loading it low. A big canopy is a nice cushy tool in your favor but just because your Canopy is open does not mean that you are going to be able to fly it or it will be able to respond to and pilot input you will give it. When you start to getting down 170-feet and Lower. You are Roiling the Dice some on when you are going to have to take a Hard PLF. There is also a lot of argument over a smaller canopy opening faster than a bigger sq. foot Canopy. A open but non flying Canopy on a Low Jump can happen to both equally. The bigger Canopy only means you are just not going to Pound-In quite as Bad but you are still Pounding-In. (in my opinion) Big is still better.
170 foot PCA or SL is not that bad of a jump over ( Hard Ground ) when all goes good. The odds in your favor are high for a normal jump. From your Pic. and description looks Good. but I would start getting into the finer details when you start getting down closer to the 160-ft. or lower.
HAVE A GOOD JUMP.
.

[pulliam5555]

Hey all,

Thanks for the good info. Yea I was thinking 1-2 mph would be good on this jump. I have been very happy with my heading performance on the other S jumps I have made with a small headwind.

Pete, hope you can make it out here before I take off.

Thanks,

Rob

[Faber]

personaly if i should SL the object you showed i would do so in slightly x wind or as Ray says even less head wind,then my brakes would be shallow.Pins would be primed in my spectra loops i would use a backup cord and a 46´pc as a extra back up..

I would only do so in a vented canopy,and whith a harness whith the force to pop my pins to be low.

I cant tell how long time you get whith your unvented canopy,but by my vented canopy i get aprox 5-6 secs under canopy as i freefall 180ft and about the same as i SL 150ft whith the above setup(NOTE VENTED CANOPY)

[pulliam5555]

Thanks Faber, I'll be upgrading my canopy to a vented Rock Dragon, and will be waiting till then before I jump this support. There are just too many variables with using my Dagger. In the mean time I’ll do my best to avoid the cops and jump from the top of the bridge till my Rock Dragon arrives. As for your 180ft freefalls, yes I have seen them, very intense. Don’t think I will be going there any time soon, way past my comfort level ;-)