High-risk activities -- What do YOU do?

Diana said:
Well, I don't know if this is the same thing, but I've been the chase crew many times for a friend who has a hot air balloon (he even launches from our farm sometimes). So far, I've only run into snakes, ticks, brambles, barbed wire, cow pies and farm dogs. Not too many armed guards in rural Missouri. :)

Toby, if there's time when you come to the farm, we can do that, too. :)
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Oh, yes! That, and getting me checked out in the tractor. :)
 
judypilot said:
Toby,

Good thread! You and others said it: Risk is so subjective. I don't consider anything I do to be risky, whereas others think I'm a wild woman.

I guess the riskiest stuff I've done is camp and do field work (geology) in the wilderness by myself for weeks at a time. I never thought of this as risky. I figured the worst thing that could happen is I'd fall off a cliff, but then I'd probably be dead, and besides, I'm so afraid of heights I never get close enough to cliff edges to fall off. I get sick to my stomach when I see others get within 4 feet of a cliff edge, that's how afraid of heights I am. (Needless to say, I'm not a rock climber, but a rock climber would claim that rock climbing isn't risky, either.) As you might guess, severe injury scares me more than death.

Unlike a lot of people, I find myself willing to take more risks, at least if I'm alone, than I was willing to take when I was younger. My problem isn't my body, which is still pretty fit for a middle-aged lady, but time. Now I would actually like to try my hand at rock climbing, but I don't have time to get the necessary instruction. My free time is limited enough that I would view learning to rock climb as stealing from my flying time, and I LOVE to fly.

I was lucky. I grew up being completely unafraid of taking risks. I'm just like my dad, careful and prepared but willing to try new stuff, so I obviously learned it from him (and Mom, too, when you come down to it). I'd say this attitude has proved most useful in my career. I've taken some pretty big risks with my career and have benefitted tremendously.

Judy
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Judy,

You've come closest to what I was looking for, in your response. Perception of risk, and its relation to fear; balance in life; and our risk-taking compared to others we know. These are the things that interest me. Most of my friends and coworkers seem to have a different idea of what constitutes risk than I do. Or maybe they have the same perception -- they just don't go there!

I have taken a lot of risks with my career, too, come to think of it. That always seemed safer than what I'm doing now.

Thanks for your response.
 
Toby said:
Oh, yes! That, and getting me checked out in the tractor. :)
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Toby, I will have to send you the checklists for both tractors so you can study them and then Tom, our CTI (Certified Tractor Instructor) will check you out in both tractors. There may not be time for the brush hog training session this visit, but you might get enough time with the front end loader to haul dirt or something equally fun. :)
 
Ken Ibold said:
In
Go to Madison, Wisc, and, down by Camp Randall Stadium, find a street called Spooner Street.
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the last time i was down there was uh... can't remember the year, i know the MadCity Men were playing Purdue and i was too hung over to watch the game.
 
Diana said:
Toby, I will have to send you the checklists for both tractors so you can study them and then Tom, our CTI (Certified Tractor Instructor) will check you out in both tractors. There may not be time for the brush hog training session this visit, but you might get enough time with the front end loader to haul dirt or something equally fun. :)
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You're serious, aren't you! OK, send me the checklists. Can I mow the runway with you, too? :goofy:

What in the world is a brush hog training session???? :confused:

And maybe balloon chasing. And I really want to go to that place where they throw the rolls at you (high-risk). But maybe that will have to wait.
 
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I live in New Jersey and drive to work? Heck the safest part of my day is flying.
 
Toby--to answer your question about balloon chase--it's what Diana said. When the balloon has to come down on the private estate of some famously rich person who used to live in NJ about twenty five years ago when/where I did this and didn't allow anyone on her property--that's where the armed escort came in.

Diana--ohhh-fun with tractors and brush hogs. Add ten foot mower decks, rakes, manure spreaders, haybines, augers, disc harrows, snowplows, and bobcats on there too. Makes me nostaligic for the good olds days...uhm, sort of. :D

terry
 
Toby said:
Judy,

Most of my friends and coworkers seem to have a different idea of what constitutes risk than I do. Or maybe they have the same perception -- they just don't go there!
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Now that is an interesting thought. I never really thought about it that way, I always assumed their perception of risk is different from mine. But the idea that maybe it's the same but they don't go there is intriguing. However, I probably shouldn't go there. I can already hear myself saying "Wimp!"

This is a really interesting topic, though I often find it depressing because I think people's perception of risk has gotten really skewed, especially that risk can be avoided entirely. Hence the CYA attitude that has led to all kinds of restrictions on our lives. I was just reading a post on another forum by someone who won't fly anyone other than family because he feels that if he does and something happens, he'll lose everything in a lawsuit. He's losing the opportunity to share flying with friends and others, and they're losing the opportunity to go flying, which can only hurt GA. I just flew a bunch of Young Eagles. If I thought about that part, I wouldn't, and where would the young, wheelchair-bound man to whom I gave the controls, to his utter delight, be if I'd decided that it wasn't worth it?

Sigh. Now you've done it, Toby. :(

Nah, not your fault. I've got to quit thinking so much. (hey! where did the wine-glass-toasting smiley go????)

Judy
 
judypilot said:
Now that is an interesting thought. I never really thought about it that way, I always assumed their perception of risk is different from mine. But the idea that maybe it's the same but they don't go there is intriguing. However, I probably shouldn't go there. I can already hear myself saying "Wimp!"

This is a really interesting topic, though I often find it depressing because I think people's perception of risk has gotten really skewed, especially that risk can be avoided entirely. Hence the CYA attitude that has led to all kinds of restrictions on our lives. I was just reading a post on another forum by someone who won't fly anyone other than family because he feels that if he does and something happens, he'll lose everything in a lawsuit. He's losing the opportunity to share flying with friends and others, and they're losing the opportunity to go flying, which can only hurt GA. I just flew a bunch of Young Eagles. If I thought about that part, I wouldn't, and where would the young, wheelchair-bound man to whom I gave the controls, to his utter delight, be if I'd decided that it wasn't worth it?

Sigh. Now you've done it, Toby. :(

Nah, not your fault. I've got to quit thinking so much. (hey! where did the wine-glass-toasting smiley go????)

Judy
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:cheerswine:
 
terzap said:
When the balloon has to come down on the private estate of some famously rich person who used to live in NJ about twenty five years ago when/where I did this and didn't allow anyone on her property--that's where the armed escort came in.
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Ah, I get it. I was beginning to think my perception of risk was way off. ;)

I did balloon chase in Idaho years ago and the only risk I could think of was defending the balloon from cows that wanted to eat it. :eek:
 
Diana said:
Aren't those also called "power surges?"
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more like being tossed into a volcano....:mad:
 
gkainz said:
Dave - I think we may have traded emails on this back on the other board. I go to church with a Col. (ret) who has a similar background. Got a ride in a Fulton Recovery Harness after extricating himself from being "guest of honor" for a few weeks by a tribe in some mountains where "we were not there"
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======================================================
Greg:

Sorry, I was just able to get back on the board and see your post. Oh yeh, the Fulton Recovery Harness!! Geesh. I missed that one, but did come out on what was called an Air Force rig (as opposed to the McGuire Rig). One large sling seat and a wrist strap in case you lost consciousness--which I did. Guess you could say I came out on a "wing and a wrist" :P

Best,

Dave
 
Oh yeh, the Fulton Recovery Harness!! Geesh. I missed that one, but did come out on what was called an Air Force rig
Dave
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you guys must have a picture or link of these fun contraptions?
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
you guys must have a picture or link of these fun contraptions?
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Google "Fulton Recovery System" for information. I didn't see any videos. The system is pretty rough on the person being extracted and they haven't used it in years.

-Skip
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
you guys must have a picture or link of these fun contraptions?
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from http://www.vegsource.com/articles/john41.htm

"To assist in recovery of downed pilots deep in enemy territory and beyond helicopter retrieval range, SOG had three specially configured C-130 aircraft, modified for the "Fulton Extraction" package. I was flipping through TV channels the other day and stumbled onto one of John Wayne's worst cinematic efforts : "Green Berets." If one were willing to suffer through this turkey, one would see a "Fulton Extraction" rig in operation. (Don't run out and buy the video).

The concept is as follows: a downed pilot who manages to evade the enemy establishes radio contact with friendly forces. A "Fulton Extraction" package is dropped to the pilot. The package consists of a harness, a helium-inflatable miniature blimp, and a long coiled tether connecting the harness and the blimp. The downed airman gets into the harness and inflates and releases the blimp with tether attached. The specially configured C-130 homes in on the balloon and snags the tether with a "V" shaped device attached to the nose of the aircraft. The downed man is jerked into the air and reeled up to the open cargo hatch of the aircraft, which is moving at 200-300 knots."

Precursor to bungee jumping, only in reverse...
 
Dave T:

I don't know if I have seen a pic of the rig I came out on but it's easy to discribe: Nylon rope tied into the o-rings of a huey: I'm not sure of lenght, but 50 to 75 feet I believe. They put an ammunition box full of sand on the end to weight it down so it could be dropped into trees and folage and still get to the ground. Daisy chained the rope so it was heavier and the knots would pull out when the rope was weighted. Sling for each leg on the bottom and a wrist strap along the rope. One grabbed the rope and tugged a couple of times to get the daisy chain out; the helo then raised up higher and tightened the rope. The victum--ah excuse me--evacuatee then put each leg through a sling, hand throught the wrist strap and tightened it. Then the helo raised you up and evacuated you.

Now add combat conditions: They were shooting at the helo; I'd never seen one before and couldn't communicate with the helo crew; so, I openened the ammo box thinking it was full of ammo or something!! Turned out to be sand. Couldn't figure that out for a second. I'm on the ground being shot at and let's see; they are dropping in boxes of sand!!
Luckily, my interpreter was getting into the rig; so, it dawned on me I was to climb in. As the helo raised, it just pulled him up--the daisy chain didn't come out. I ran over and grabbed on. It pulled us both up. Helicopter dipped forward and began to go (to avoid fire) as we were still just above the ground. Pulled us through a tree which knocked me lose and I fell to the ground. Rope stretched when we hit the tree and kind of slingshotted my interpreter through the tree. He was cut up pretty good on has face and one arm.

I woke up on the ground with another helicopter hovering over me. They dropped another rig with a box of sand on the end. Sound like fun yet??

Dave
 
gkainz said:
from http://www.vegsource.com/articles/john41.htm

The concept is as follows: a downed pilot who manages to evade the enemy establishes radio contact with friendly forces. A "Fulton Extraction" package is dropped to the pilot. The package consists of a harness, a helium-inflatable miniature blimp, and a long coiled tether connecting the harness and the blimp. The downed airman gets into the harness and inflates and releases the blimp with tether attached. The specially configured C-130 homes in on the balloon and snags the tether with a "V" shaped device attached to the nose of the aircraft. The downed man is jerked into the air and reeled up to the open cargo hatch of the aircraft, which is moving at 200-300 knots."
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Don't know about the speed but I don't believe 200-300 knots is correct. I do know the C130 was configured because when my father-in-law learned that I had a "thing" for C130s he finally told me what he did in Vietnam and then loaned me a book on the C130 development project. I also know the CV-2 Caribou was configured during testing of the system. I also know that the sensation for the extractee is one of immense acceleration followed by a feeling that the chord broke and you are plummeting neck low, face-up towards the earth. I also know that test extractee #12(?) convinced himself that the chord actually had broken and pulled the safety chute, which left a CV-2 flying at near stall speed at tree top level suddenly equipped with a drogue chute. The CV-2 pilots pulled the extractee release knob, came back to base, cleaned their shorts, and firmly decreed "no more chutes". A few extractees later the chord actually did break, and since the extractee no longer was wearing a chute the end result was the death of a general's son, which put some serious crimp on the program. I know these details only because the man in test line behind extractee #12(?) was an ex-boss of mine. As he put it, "I was a young and dumb 18 year old. They didn't tell me the guy before me had a chute. I figured if he could do it without a chute I certainly could." My boss had a certificate on his office wall attesting to the fact that he had been extracted from the Uwharrie National Forest, NC, by a Fulton Recovery System equipped CV-2 Caribou.. The certificate was signed by Mr. Fulton.
 
Ed Guthrie said:
Don't know about the speed but I don't believe 200-300 knots is correct.
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Thanks for the additional info, Ed. I agree with your assessment about 200-300 knots not being correct. A number of other sites I've seen show a significantly slower "catch" speed, as well as a number of other a/c configured for Skyhook retrievals.
 
I miss Toby. This was one of the many interesting threads that she started (Scott M. motivated me to bring it back to life). Anybody seen Toby lately?
 
Put me down as a big fan of Toby; miss her posts also. Last I saw a lot of her posts is when she was working out issues with her plane; did that all get done, or is she still messin with it?

Best,

Dave
 
I automatically assumed the user name had to be made up for the board. Out of curiosity, I looked up the aircraft registration for the N-number shown. Sure 'nuff... the owner is one Toby Speed.

As far as high-risk activities, my life and health insurance companies say it's my flying small aircraft. I say it's being a courier on Atlanta interstates. :eek:
 
I learned to drive on the narrow "B" roads of rural Surrey and Hampshire in a mini in the late 60's. Horses and sheep crossing here and there, not to mention guys in E types/Morgans/Spitfires straight from the pub and lorries almost as wide as the road trundling along at 20 mph. Then I bought an old Austin Healey Sprite with a clapped out 948cc engine, later to discover (on an exceedingly steep hill in Bristol) that the hydraulic lines were not what they should have been.

You survive that, you've pretty much got it made, statistically speaking (well, not exactly). Riding through the Holland Tunnel on my Suzuki Gixxer (1100) in very heavy but fast-moving traffic - that was about as exciting as anything I can remember. Other than launching a paraglider off of an 800 ft cliff for the first time ......
 
Seems this young lady might understand high risk stuff!!

Best,

Dave
 

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Toby said:
How many and what kinds of higher-risk activities do you participate in?
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Over a lifetime? Most of them.

Toby said:
Do you find that you increase the amount of risk you are willing to take as time goes on?
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Definitely not. I'm down to driving over 35k a year, living next to public housing, flying little airplanes, and riding little plastic boats over large bodies of water. Oh, my job occasionally has it's scary moments.

Toby said:
If you are involved in more than one higher-risk activity, do you deliberately choose some lower-risk activities to balance things out?
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Why?

Toby said:
I've noticed among pilots a large number of motorcycle riders, go-kart riders, race car drivers, and skydivers. I'd say, for the purposes of discussion, that we include all risky activities, such as smoking, or walking through a high crime area.
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How about live in a high crime area? If you think smoking is scary try purchasing controlled substances. One thing I really like about not smoking is spending MUCH less time in scary little "convenience" stores.

Toby said:
... I was always told to be careful, stay home, drive in the right lane, and if it's dangerous don't do it.
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My mom encouraged me to live life to the fullest because you might die tomorrow. My dad is risk averse, he just smirked and shook his head.

I've never been attracted much to the crotch rocket. Got smacked by bugs early and saw too many young friends hurt or dead.
 
gkainz said:
Thanks for the additional info, Ed. I agree with your assessment about 200-300 knots not being correct. A number of other sites I've seen show a significantly slower "catch" speed, as well as a number of other a/c configured for Skyhook retrievals.
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IIRC: The movie ON TOP OF THE WORLD, shows an extraction by a military DC3. Rare footage of a flight by an F82 twin Mustang and C47 flying with fighter jets in mountainous, polar panoramas combine to make it a decent film.
 
Gotta be honest- that scares the crap out of me.

But it sure looks like fun.
 
SCCutler said:
Gotta be honest- that scares the crap out of me.

But it sure looks like fun.
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Lots of fun. Except for the fact that I've got seven speeding tickets in the last couple of years.

So today-- I decided to slow down a bit and explore the country side. I ran into the KLNK radar it seems.

bandit_radar.jpg
 
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gibbons said:
Jesse's To-Do List:

1) Chain maintenance

:D
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I think you're just jealous of my super clean chain. The chain was shot when I bought the bike. I ended up spending somewhere around $250 for a new chain and set of sprockets. After several hours of cussing I had finally installed the new one. It was at that moment that I decided this chain would have to last the rest of my life.

I've been applying "Chain Wax" every 500 miles. It's simple--just spray it on. It does not fling all over the bike and keeps it nice and clean. I take pride in my chain.
 
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Toby said:
If you are involved in more than one higher-risk activity, do you deliberately choose some lower-risk activities to balance things out?
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I plan on doing everything I ever wanted to do before I die, assuming I can afford it and it won't put me in a third-world jail :dunno:

But your question (I know it was a long time ago) was apropos for this afternoon - I've listed my high-risk activities elsewhere in this thread, but today I spent three hours blueberry picking out my back door. As long as you dodge the bears and the bull moose it is low risk, and very relaxing.

Image011.jpg


My home is not much to look at, your typical gov't hovel. But it has a great yard.
 
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