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Ground Launch off a Building
Any one ever ground launched off a building or is that just bloody stupid?
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Re: [northcave] Ground Launch off a Building
Water Tower at Couch Freaks.
Drunk dude tried to kite canopy off and streamered in.Unsure
But that was pretty low.
You can see the water tower in the back ground of this pic.
ronswoop.jpg
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Re: [northcave] Ground Launch off a Building
northcave wrote:
Any one ever ground launched off a building or is that just bloody stupid?

Yep it's been done at least once successfully with a speed rider, was probably 'bloody stupid' but that's what you get when you are a pirate.... yarr!!

Edited to add-Pirate
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Re: [northcave] Ground Launch off a Building
I did it from my work's three-story building with a 135. More novelty than anything. Note that I've also launched off cliffs many times before doing this one.

Disclaimer: Do not try this unless you know what you're doing. Launching from a sheer face is a totally different technique than from a slope. Get lots of ground launching/paragliding/speedflying experience before taking a BASE or skydiving canopy (meant to open at terminal velocity) from anything straight down. Learn to get lift from flat ground before stepping over an edge.
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Re: [northcave] Ground Launch off a Building
I have launched BASE canopies from level cliff launches, and soared them for upwards of 20min on hills in utah and colorado. I have also 'ground launched' from an 'abandoned' radar relescope (satelite dish).

it was kinda like a really fast rollover opening off the radar dish. nothing to sketchy i thought, other than the trailing edge of the canopy could easily have caught on the sharp edge if it was in to deep breaks(i e i let it surge for the 'opening')