AboutDan Liddy Expertise Nearly anything pertaining to safety , and technique. 1100 jumps experience and some extreme altitude jumps.
Experience I was an active skydiver for over 24 years, participated in competitive meets, and in relative work meets quite a lot. Also I could be found at a drop zone nearly any weekend. I have made numerous intentional water landings, several night freefalls, and have participated in numerous large formation attempts.
Question hi. i am a mathematics student and hoping to join the raf on completing my course. i have been given 3 weeks to construct a model using mathematics for a military style jump in which an expert skydiver must reach the ground as quickly as possible so that he is less vunerable during decent. to do this i need to know what is considered the maximum vertical velocity considered safe to land at to an expert?
Answer I would think a maximum SAFE rate of decent under a parachute would be less than 20 feet per second vertical speed. 12-13 is comfortable under one of the old ParaCommander canopies.
However , vulnerability is hampered dramatically by the manouverability of the ram air type 'square" parachutes in modern day use. It would be quite difficult to hit such a jumper with a rifle at any distance.
I sense that your question might involve other factors as well , such as jump altitude and freefall speeds, if so , feel free to write again.
Incidentally, even though I'm a Yank, I AM a member of POPS UK or "Parachutists Over Phorty Society" and have met many friends from the "Mother Country" at meets over here.
