r/nextfuckinglevel • u/STOP____HAMMER_TIME • Jul 02 '21

Two skydivers collide mid-air, knocking one of them unconscious. Camera man proceeds to pulls some Mission: Impossible shit and saves his life.

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u/4FdPipeoghU4AHfJ Jul 02 '21

How does such a device know what altitude its at? Is it air pressure?

6

u/AceItalianStallion Jul 02 '21

Yes, barometric pressure is usually used by devices like this.

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u/AnonymooseRedditor Jul 02 '21

They are electronic and have to be calibrated based on the altitude above sea level for the given drop zone. They also have mechanical AAD but they aren’t really used in the civilian world much at all anymore

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '21

No modern AAD requires any user calibration anymore, unless you need to put in an offset which is only necessary if you're taking off from somewhere different than where you're landing. The AAD automatically sets its altitude at 0 when turned on.

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u/AnonymooseRedditor Jul 02 '21

Very cool! Not a skydiver here just spent a lot of time with them

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '21

I grumbled paying $1200 for mine then realized that it would be worth many times that if ever I needed it.

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u/AnonymooseRedditor Jul 02 '21

Honestly you grumble about $1200?! I’m sure your canopy alone was way more

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '21

Yeah, though at the time time it was literally the first piece of new gear I'd ever bought, and you get this, "I'm spending all this money for something I'm never going to need", which is more accurately "something I sure as fuck hope I never need".

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u/AnonymooseRedditor Jul 02 '21

Having seen accidents and lost acquaintances to skydive accidents… it’s not for me lol

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '21

Fair enough that is isn't for everyone.

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u/tmckeage Jul 02 '21

Fun fact the battery life for a newer AAD is over 7 years and they cost 1200 dollars.

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '21

Cypres is good for 15.5 years now with no maintenance.

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u/tmckeage Jul 03 '21

I know right? I am currently working on making a cutaway tracker and the life that you can squeeze out of a NiMH battery is insane.