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How much altitude do you think is used up in a Mckonkey before the canopy is inflated and flying. Say on an unvented BASE canopy with no slider. I've only made 2, both with the above setup, but it was off a 486' span, and we don't have one of those here. A nice 325' freestander looks real doable, any advice??? I'd imagine it varys on you skill level, but for the beginner, I 'think' I used somewhere around 100-125 feet?????
Thanks
Blair

I've never done a McConkey, but the first thing that comes to mind when I read your post, is that a freestander tends to be under hung.
Dunno about yours, or how much of an issue that would be.
Thoughts anyone?
-Josh

I've heard that most BASE jumpers from the Carolinas are underhung.

Of course it's nothing more than rumor and I know they make up for it in the dimensions of their marbles.

I myself have 12 inches but I don't use it as a rule...

Playfully,

Skinfull

Plus we kan't evun spel mick-honkey
Jist pikin'
Blair

You just had to go and put your foot in your mouth didn't you?

(you wish! )

I beg to differ my friend.... we have some of the biggest sticks in the country
Peace, 570

I've not played myself with the unpacked stuff but I have done more than a few jumps alongside folks doing them and had a chance to gauge opening altitude pretty well.

In my experience, the McConkeys are getting open perhaps 10-20 feet higher than traditional static lines. I'm not sure I'd bet my life on this on a, say, 130 foot object as I am not sure how consistent this is (in other words, I don't know the shape or distriubution of the probability curve of opening heights for the unpacked stuff).

I believe that one's exit has a substantive effect on how quickly the canopy is pressurized and flying, but it is better for folks with firsthand experience to speak to that issue.

Peace,

D-d0g

Ummm, if that A is as the name implies, I believe that's ours. Unless there are TWO such named As in the US.

Exactly, our sticks are so fukin big they stretch all the way to TX
Let's just say there is definatly more than one 'pooh', but you ought to try and decifer the code in these guys log books, its as if they'd posted them on American towers sight.

Thanks for the words Dog, I was hoping Huck himself or McConkey BASE 1 would speak up. I'm sure the exit has alot to do with it, mine suck right now so I'd love some pointers on that too, but I feel 325' is plenty for a slider down one, just looking for info. o and actually the tower I'm thinking of is actually overhung, at least most of the way down, due to the platform at the top. I'm sure I can check it out on the way down with my packed rig
Thanks in advance, especially for listening to my drivel.
Blair

Sir, I'm humbled by the dimensions of your impressive erection.

Nice picture of an antenna too.

Skin.

Oh no my friend I believe you are the one mistaken. If you are referring to the name of the picture then I can assure you that I just pulled that name out of my ass, we actually call it something else. If you were reffering to the "one of the biggest in the country" statement, I can assure you that it is true. I realize that you Texans think that you have the biggest everything out there but really there are big sticks like that all over the country, not just in your area.
I'm not saying my stick is better than yours, I think they are probably equally good. We just need to make sure that we play with them and give them the attention they deserve!!!
570
here is another nice one...

Blank picture

And in my drives in NC I've seen a lot of big sticks to play with... one every 15 minutes or so in one section almost...

(Just trolling through old posts...) I've done them from 168ft over land. Canopy ride was about as long as a PCA from that object (5-6sec). I've done one from 120ft into knee deep water as well. Not a long canopy ride but I think it would be doable onto sand or some other soft surface if you were very quick.