Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mcnc!uvaarpa!haven!umbc3!umbc1.umbc.edu!robie
From: robie@umbc1.umbc.edu (Mr. William Robie; POSI (GRAD))
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Bungee jump from a plane..Huh?
Message-ID: <5257@umbc3.UMBC.EDU>
Date: 4 Mar 91 08:28:12 GMT
Sender: newspost@umbc3.UMBC.EDU
Reply-To: robie@umbc1.umbc.edu
Distribution: usa
Organization: UMBC University of Maryland Baltimore county - Baltimore, MD, US
Lines: 24
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4

Ok...I'm not an aeronautical engineer (and I dont play one on tv) but I AM a 
pilot and skydiver. Frankly, some of the discussion that has been passed 
around about bungee jumping from an airplane sort of amazed me. More than
a little appears to be plain ole BS. First of all, the key seems to me to
have the bungee attached at or very near the plane's CG. Since the cord is
flexible, not rigid; and since the force of the body falling against it HAS
to be, basically DOWN, and a bit aft; and since the force of the falling body
can't possible exert many Gs (or bungee jumpers would die), I fail to see
why this would be such a big deal?!?? All the talk about C-130s is a bit of
nonsense. General aviation planes can handle their entire weight at four,
or more, Gs (positive) - actually much more. The force of a bungee jumper
would be MUCH less, and would not have near the dead-fall pull of a
static line entanglement stopping abruptly at the end of the "dope rope."
If I were flying such a plane, I would want some form of bridling system
to suspend the bungee from a central point beneath the plane (like is used
on water ski boats to centralized the forces of the tow rope), and of
course a cutaway system to let the bungee go would be a swell precaution
(as is used in glider tows), but the rest of this stuff is nonsensical. 
Other than rigging, the only big factors would be keeping the weight of
the plane's load down, and having a way to get rid of the cord (it would
probably be a real pain to retrieve). With proper planning, and enough
$$$ to pull it off, the thing sounds quite "do-able." As for asking
BJ Worth, good idea! Tell him I said Ptttbbtt! from the hairlips of
Louisburg.