Basejumper.com - archive

Just a wild theory: would it be at all possible to buy a large, empty space of land (~5 acres) and then...

purchase an antenna of some sort... like this: http://towerdirect.net/used-265-rohn-ssmw-tower/

or this:
http://towerdirect.net/used-400-guyed-solid-leg-tower/

Then set it up on the new property, design a medical release waiver, and let people BASE off of it if they sign one...

Think of it...

you could even charge like $35 for a day pass to let them jump it all day as much as they want, or like $200 for a 30-day pass...

You'd eventually make a profit after 10 years or so, it being the only antenna that is consistently legal to jump off...

It'd be like the bridge that is jumpable year-round, except you'd make some dough!

Just a thought

In theory, Yes. you could do this. But there is an issue you are missing. Most people arent going to pay, or sign a waiver to jump an antenna, let alone drive any long distance to jump a 400ft tower.. when people have 2000fts, near them, with low or a non existent bust risk. Then your going to have to have some kind of security to keep the ones that want to jump YOUR tower without paying, then your risking yourself and your investment and properties because they didnt sign a waiver. Just a thought.

Although, there are many people who don't want to do illegal BASE jumps. If you put it in an area with lots of BASE jumpers, it would do especially well... you could even build multiple sites across the country and make it the first legal BASE site company in the USA. I was just thinking. You could probably also work out a system to make absolutely sure that they signed a waiver... and in terms of keeping people out, you'd do what other antennas do... keep them off your site, unless they could provide proof of paying.

I'd just sneak in and open it without paying your communist toll.
Then I'd name it "Cheeseman's Wallet"

If you owned an antenna on private land you would probably find people approaching you to put dish's, micro wave and directional antenna on it. It would most likely be more profitable in that case to generate a solid income from renting out space on the A.

And then you'd sell out and everyone would hate you forever...

And then you jump off it without a rig because no one likes you...

I can just see it happening that way

Electrifed antenna keeps people off AM:-/ it would be like a bug zapper see what idiot jumpers tried to climb your antenna!

Build a 350'-400' freestander jumpable on all side with soft grass all around. Put a nice big overhanging grate platform on top. Throw some speakers on the bitch and light up the LZ. Open a bar on the bottom and allow camping with showers.

Who wouldn't go? It would be like the first skate park. A stupid idea.. and now... they're super popular.

Sell space to cell phone companies to hang cell arrays that don't stick way out from the antenna. 1. You make some extra money and very little radiation hazard.. 2. The arrays will be used as "hooks" for all the off heading antenna strikes. Ha!

Do it!

Svin

BTW.. Has anyone ever set up a slackline/highline inside a freestander? I've thought about it many many times, but didn't want the "bust factor". Would be cool to do if you knew you wouldn't burn the antenna if you got caught.

Surely you'd be better off building a permanant Bungee tower (with overhung arm) to allow for non base jumpers to use it?

Theres a disused 220ft A near me, and I've considered this idea, but bungee seemed to have had its day, with cranes only spending 3-4 hours at each place due to lack of demand here in the UK

Nice idea, but it wont work, unless its an event and a super nice building/tower, I personally wouldnt pay to BASE

But imagine it... put wonderful, soft, luscious grass all around the LZ and maybe even a bigass foam pit or something. Provide free drinks to an extent and encourage people to hang out. Have an air-conditioned packing area, maybe even gear rental. It would be exactly like a skatepark for BASE! I have no doubt it would work out well. You'd just need a ~$50k starting budget

The Perrine is free and has all of those things.

What about...

Sub-lease a construction crane (Those that just sit around waiting for a building needing to be built...I know they're commonly available to at least 350'...I'm sure you could get over 400' easily). Might not even have to tell them what it's for?

Make sure you already have the ability/certification/etc to move and put it up yourself (that'd save serious money).

Take it to your prime location of interest....put a big platform for it to lift up (could stabilize it too), so now you also have an elevator. And since it's a crane...heading clearance ....maybe even have it near cities from time to time and do a tandem crane BASE


P.S. I'd suggest the first step be contact a BASE jumper who's a damn good lawyer and beg him to be the person whose sole job is to handle the liability prevention paperwork nightmare.


EDIT to add:

Holy shit
http://www.towercrane-cn.com/page/Luffing%20Crane%20LTP40%206027.html

Maximum.hoisting height: 255m = 837ft

Put that baby over a nice deep pond...PROFIT

If it was close to a dropzone with a tunnel (Eloy or Perris).... it might be viable. Otherwise, I think the crowd has spoken.

thinkin out loud... two towers 100ft apart with a walkway between them at the top. Each tower would have 2 guy wires each and the walkway would act as the third wire. That should give a lot of room for error



seems like the exact opposite of communism...

Been thought of many times. Even Carl Boenish, priced building a 1300' tower back in the early 80's. Due to costs, liability, etc. it never happened. With today's gear allowing super low exits and the abundance of towers, it's just not cost effective. We had a great spot here on Galveston Bay where an old tower once stood. We even had a free 900' tower offerred to a friend who worked for a tower company, but had to pay to ship it and buy the land. Land would have been 17 acres to cover a square which included the existing concrete guy wire anchors which are really expensive to re build. Need all new hardware, cables, etc. and free labor of BASE jumpers with his guidance. Even then, cheapest cost was $140,000. up front. Be happy sneaking around in the dark. It's just a part of the rush.
Rick

You really have no idea what base is about.

So fuck you and your stupid antenna!

oops looks like I was blazed & feeling wordy earlier

oh well, go fuck yourself

Ok, I'm sorry, you're right. I feel I should have chosen my words in more wise manner.

In my opinion, You really have no idea what base is about.

So in my opinion, fuck you and your stupid antenna!

I hope now it is more politically correct as I only express my feeling, which might or might not reflect what other think.

Yes, I knew that I would get responses like this :)

I wasn't saying I was going to do it or anything. It was just a wild idea.

BASE is about jumping with a parachute from non-aircraft launch points, and the "A" specifically refers to antennae, so how exactly is his proposal to create a more accessible antenna evidence that he has no idea what BASE is about?


Given that "politically correct" is generally defined as brain-dead adherence to a logically unsupportable point of view by people who feel instead of think, I'd say you were correct in labeling your comments as such.

LOL

44

Thank you very much. I can now sleep peacefully knowing that you think I think correctly, at least when labelling my comments.

On the other hand I think ( or feel, choose whichever you wish) that you should chill the fuck out and not take this forum so seriously.
Even cheeseman543 doesn't seem so offended as you do.

You could always turn it into a tandem operation...

FNGs...

LOLELN!

44

If you want to invest money I think the better way would be to organise some sort of big jumping event, one time or annually. One antenna 365 days a year would get dull really fast + all the reasons above.