This is some of the craziest footage ever captured on camera! đłđ„
https://video.nostr.build/1f8931ee859019e775ea2915f5ca684d627a5520040d220a16fe7b1c5fdf209b.mp4
Discussion
Thatâs an âoh shitâ moment. Check out this post on one of my fave stunt skydives for context on how easily this can happen. Formation exits can be sketchy.
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This was pilot error on the part of the pilot flying the top aircraft, and the jumper that was designated as spotter for that loadâs exit. There was no need for the two aircraft to be flying so closely for this formation load. And certainly not with one aircraft in the turbulent air above and rearward of the bottom aircraft. Once the upper aircraft entered the turbulent air in that position and at that proximity, you can see he totally lost lift.
Even during a relative work skydive, you have to make sure you never fly into the âvacuumâ above another jumper or a formation of others that you are coasting in to join. The result is called a âfunnelâ. Your descent rate suddenly increases and you will slam into whoever is beneath you.
We had this happen on an 8-way formation I was on, when the last diver to join (our buddy Seiji) accidentally got over top of the seven of us that were already linked up. He bombed right through the formation and blew it apart.
In addition to being dangerous, youâre never very popular back on the ground, when youâre responsible for blowing apart a formation and risking injuring everybody, when everyone has paid $25-30 for their slot on the aircraft. You usually end up buying a bunch of beer lol.
Iâm so glad everyone including the two pilots survived this incident. I hope the drop zoneâs business can remain open, having lost 2 aircraft. But someone is going to get their ass chewed.