Amputee skydiving
Francis Mullin
I'm on a fact finding mission for a fellow skydiver at my local club.
A few years back Stephen lost a leg - above the knee - in a biking
accident. Not one to let that slow him down he has since being up to all
sorts of sports - skydiving being one obviously.
Despite having good awareness what his real and artificial limbs are
doing, Control of the false leg isn't so easy. What we have noticed, is
that as speed builds up, the false leg is causing stability problems.
The main problem that we can think of is that as the joint is above the
knee - and stephen has no knee control the leg shakes quite a lot in the
freefall wind.
Now Stephen isn't the first to try this - so hopefully someone out there
has either been in this situation themselves - or knows someone who has.
I'm just looking for some help/advice or whatever on how we can overcome
this problem - or better still on how someone has done so.
For information sake we're at a small dropzone in N.Ireland. The
progression system is in use - due to a lack of AFF instructors, and
lack of consistent weather.
Thanks in advance,
Francis Mullin.
--
BVAskydive
I have seen one fellow at West Tennessee Skydiving, home of Mullin's King Air,
that had one leg. His other leg had been amputated just below the pelvis, at
least it looked that way.... he walks around with a full mechanical leg
prothesis. But for his jumps, he leaves the artificial leg on the ground and
jumps with a special modification to his rig that compensates for the missing
leg, and makes it safe for him to jump. He lands just fine on his one leg when
conditions are good, and sometimes slides in if he's coming in fast enough that
most people would have to take a few steps or more to run it out.... I never
jumped with him during the boogie, so I can't say how he flew in freefall with
one leg, but he must have figured out how to handle it....
Ask Stephen if he has considered a jump or two without the false leg to see how
it goes, if he's confident he can land safely.... it's worth a try...
But don't take my info at face value.... someone who is a leg amputee and
skydives can give you the best details....
Blue Skies
Billy
Jeweljumps
both legs (one above one below the knee) he builds and developes prothesis for
sports and probably will be able to help. I believe Jay can be reached at
Skydive Arizona in Eloy. Good luck to your friend and tell him to keep on
jumpin. =^) Allen
Allen H. Williams D-8066
David
could benefit from what my friend Bob Clark has finally come up with.
His leg is amputated above the knee, and he jumps with a special "leg"
that is actually a telescoping device that he retracts for the
skydive. It is very simple, and stays retracted by use of a pin.
After landing he can then pull out the pin, extend the leg, and walk
back to the hangar without having to get someone to bring his crutches
to him.
The absence of one leg in free fall not only does not hinder his
flying ability, but he is in fact one of the absolute best skydivers I
know; not to mention one of the best people. He has been jumping sans
leg for many years, and told me when I first met him that trying to
jump with his regular artificial leg was out of the question; that it
would be much more of a hinderance than a help.
If the original poster of this question would like to get his friend
in touch with Bob, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to help him with
information. You may email me for me to ask him about contacting him
directly.
David Ferree
Mike Maguire
latest prototype that lets him come in on one bent knee. It is an attachment with
shock absorbers and roller blade wheels that is attached to his prothesis, Very
cool!!!! And yes he is at skydive AZ....
Later
Mike Maguire
Darin Ninness
I jumped with him about three years ago at Chambersburg, and he was flat out
incredible in freefall. I have all my original components, and he could fly
circles around (and over/under) me.
Dunno how he did it, but boy, it sure was inspirational!
Darin
D-19617
Jeweljumps wrote in message
<19990203163322...@ng-ca1.aol.com>...
WGrulkey
Bill Dunham (amputee above the knee) and Bob Clark (amputee above the knee)
both jump with us in Northwest Arkansas. I am sure that the person mentioned
that jumps at Mullin's dz in Memphis is Bill.
Bill is a jumpmaster, teaches students and jumpmasters them. He jumps without
his prosthesis. Bob jumps with a telescoping "peg" that he uses after he lands
to walk back to the hangar. Bill simply lands next to his prosthesis. Both can
rountinly "stand up" their landings.
I can put you in contact with both if you wish.
Wolf Grulkey dzo
Skydive Skyranch
715 Fayetteville Ave.
Alma, AR 72921
www.skyranch.com
rec.skydiving
Jeweljumps
Allen H. Williams D-8066
Jennifer Richter
Look up Jay Humphries. He's an excellent skydiver that jumps with both fake
legs. He's got some funny stories about that too. He's a great guy and I'm sure
he'd help you in any way he can. Good Luck.
Blue Skies
Jen
Skyscotty
Bob is one of the finest people I know and I am sure he would be glad to help
you out in anyway he can,,,Bob lost his leg to a grenade in Vietnam,,so he
learned to skydive without it,,and progressed into the sport all the while
without it,,I am not sure if he ever wore a prosthesis, but if he did try it ,
he gave it up years ago...,,...for years we'd have to bring his crutches out
to the landing area,,so that he could walk in...
A few years ago ,, a machinist at our DZ fabricated a telesoping aluminum leg
that bob wears in a little pocket on his jump suit..when he lands (stands up
nearly every time,,incidentally) he pulls it out pops it on ,,and walks in
with the rest of us...
Tell your buddy not to Fret,,Bob has somewhere around 2500 jumps now,,and is a
great skydiver and the best video man in our area ,,bar none,,,
You know its funny though..I keep offering,,but can just never get Bob to try
my Stiletto!!!..
Scott Watson
D-19166 BJDS#5
SL and IAD JM and I
"Why stay in an airplane with all those parts that can break, when you have two
perfectly good parachutes on your back"----me
Skyscotty
I rhink about it....
Now while reading this story, keep in mind that Bobs original "peg Leg" as we
call it,,,had about a 2 inch diameter Rubber Stopper, as a foot, Kind of like
you'd see on the bottom of a cane or crutch...
just after Bob got his peg...he and another Jumper had an off DZ landing near a
road that led to the DZ.. As Bob and his cohort were walking along the road
back to the DZ,,Bob was commenting on how great it was to have his new leg...he
said "you know its great,,it used to be that I'd have to just hang out and wait
for somebody to find me and give me a hand back to the DZ..if I landed off the
airport" the words were barely out of his mouth when he stepped in the Cattle
Guard,,LOL..,,,,
Soon after his friend made him a larger FOOT!!!!!...
and if you are wondering what costume Bob wears to the annual Halloween Party
at the DZ,,,you guessed it,,,,He's a PIRATE!!!
David
>and if you are wondering what costume Bob wears to the annual Halloween Party
>at the DZ,,,you guessed it,,,,He's a PIRATE!!!
>Scott Watson
You know, I asked him once how he lost his leg and he said he couldn't
remember. "No, really?" I asked.... and he said "Really man, I'm
stumped."
Skyscotty
Tom Caulfield
Francis Mullin wrote in message <36B87A89...@ee.qub.ac.uk>...
Hi Francis
I'm a Waterford lad..... now living in London
I seem to remember a Golden Knight skydiver that lost both legs during a
horrific skydive accident. I read somewhere he had the same problems as your
friend.
I think you may find it helpful to web to www.uspa.org or e-mail
us...@uspa.org they should be able to put you in touch with this guy, I think
his name is Dana Bowman. I have a video of him skydiving........ if you let
me know I will copy it for you.
Tom
www.dropoutclub.freeserve.co.uk
free...@dropoutclub.freeserve.co.uk
Cricket202
at Cushing Skydivng in Oklahoma
not sure if it is call skydiving Oklahoma or excatly what it is called, but I
am sure there
are people on here that do, Bob is a great man that I had the Honor of
meeting last Feb 14
while I was in Stillwater OK, for the weekend and needed a jump, he is/was on
the all amputee 8 way called" Pieces of 8 " they are as the name says...an
8-way team of all amputees, I'm sure anyone of them should be able to help you
or your friend on what direction to go!!
blue skies
The above message is "MY OPINION" and nothing more ( no claim to be fact!) ..so
take it as the good humored 2 cents worth it was meant as..and don't e-mail me
telling me I spelled something wrong!!!!!
BLUE SKIES!!!
MLGsurf777
My brother is an amputee skydiver and is a part of the "pieces of eight" guys
that get together once a year. His left leg is amputated just below the knee,
so I'm not sure if he has had the same problems as your friend. If you don't
get in touch with Dana Bowman let me know and I'll do some research for you and
your friend. He would also be very welcomed by the 20 guys that get together
every year, and they're from all over the world. I'm sure they would love to
have his address so they could send him an invitation to the next one. Its
supposed to be in Australia.
Good luck and keep in touch!
Michelle Germain
Tim Miller
currently jumps in Eloy and is a freeflyer extraordinaire!
He is missing parts of both legs (one above the knee and one
below). Way back when he was flat-flying, I believe he had
a bit of webbing attached above and below his knee joint
that he could tighten up or loosen depending on what he was
doing on his jump. This prevented his knee from bending too
much. There are a few pictures on him freeflying at
www.monkeyclaw.com. I'm not sure if he has internet access
right now since Eloy isn't exactly the high tech hotbed, but
you can also call the manifest (in the afternoon!) and see
if they will page him for you. Also, you can send me an
email and I'll get it to him if you like.