FAQ

Is this a new division of R/C?

R/C Skydiving is around for some time already. R/C Modellers have been busy with R/C Skydiving in Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Czech Republich) and other parts of the world since the 1980’s. Many have started out with the Robbe Charly which is no more in production.

Are they properly controlled?

Yes! Starting off as a novice you will quickly learn how easy it is to fly a R/C Skydiver. These Accuracy parachutes are like their real counterparts fully steerable. R/C Skydiving is a lot of fun and exciting. You and your friends or family can have a good time flying these skydivers. As your jump experience pick up and you become a more advanced flyer you will be able to do better with each jump to land at a marked spot.

For the more competitive R/C Skydiver pilot you can get involved through competitions where your skills are tested to the fullest extend to get your R/C Skydiver to make an accuracy jump by touching down on a 32 centimeter diameter-pad with 1 meter increment circles off which the bull’s-eye was up to now 3 centimeters and will be for the European Para Trophy competitions which is held every year around August/September.

A year was spent developing a very well designed V.1 Easyup 1/4 scale R/C Skydiver with basic capabilities to the V.7 Free-fall capabilities as well as Flag deployment and continuing with revisions for better performance and an already well designed Accuracy Parachute which is in use since 2009.

The latest in production is the V.10 Easyup R/C Skydiver with its dynamic advanced capabilities. In 2014 after we (Skydiver Hettie and I) have been to the 33rd European Para Trophy in Germany, the parachute lines have been adjusted for high performance for the sake of accuracy sport jumps. This parachute performs excitingly well in windy conditions of >25-30 km/h.

Newly designed in production is the Easyup Junior r/c skydiver/jumper. Perfect for the park-flyer in mind weighing a mere quarter ( less than 300 grams) of its big brother. The Junior is a perfect starting point for the budget flyer in mind as well. Let not the small size discourage you till you see it performing well in >16 km/h wind conditions.

Is R/C Skydiving costly?

Just like any other sport it can be if you want it to be. Our proven performance kits is adored and used by many a modeler around the world who are ecstatic with it’s simplicity of build. Built from laser cut Beech ply and Aircraft grade aluminium parts on the 1/4 scale jumper and the Junior 3D printed. With a very competitive price considering all the man-hours going into the production of each.

Would your parachute always deploy?

Your success rate is heavenly when you take care of preparing for each jump. Like any sport troubles can be caused due to several reasons. Just like the real life occurrences of which packing the chute wrongly, Taxi Pilot not throttling back before releasing the r/c skydiver from the plane or turbulence caused by excessive prop wash. Very important is the CG of the jumper. Free-fall must be without tumbling or spinning. This could cause the lines of the parachute to twist and tangle which will cause the parachute not to open fully. It is custom to let the Jumper free fall for at least 3-5 seconds counting 1001, 1002, ….., …., 1005 so the r/c skydiver/jumper can stabilize it’s free-fall before opening the parachute.

What if the parachute fails?

Unlike real life, under normal circumstances, there is no reserve chute. Malfunction is a rare event, but due to the nature of the hobby/sport it can happen. With excellent ground preparation, it can be avoided. In the event of a chute malfunctioning, the jumper can handle a dirt dive to a certain degree of impact and dependent which surface it might dirt dive onto. If it so appears afterwards, minor impacts can be repaired under an hour and jump again. How this test had its moment you ask, pilot not keeping his head at what is at hand and forgot to switch on the jumper. If it so happens that something breaks there is replacement parts available for either skydiver size.

Could a parachute be left packed in its backpack?

It is strongly not advisable. Store it loosely in a container and attached to the diver. It will prevent the chute having too much creases which will prevent a good packing of the chute. Pack the chute just before the next jump. It is advisable to at least let the chute breathe a day before its next event. Always store in a cool dry place and out of direct sunlight.

What kind of fabric is in use?

For our parachutes we use Aeronautical F1.11 and ZP parachute rip stop. It is the same material being used for the real life parachutes.

Are there any competitions?

Locally in South Africa we are busy growing every year a little bigger in participating of events. Abroad competition is big in the European countries with the most competitions in Germany (11) and the Netherlands (6) of which the European Para Trophy (EPT) and (Deutsche Meister) is held in Germany annually as earlier stated around August/September. Countries being involved in competition being Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Czech Republic and now South Africa. Also in Muncie,IL, USA a competition is being held every year. More and more countries are getting involved on small scale but it’s good to know that this sport is growing positively. More countries involved are Australia, Brazil, Italy, Tanzania, Namibia, United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia that comes to mind.

What servos are used?

Parachute release is with a standard size servo of 3,5 kg @ 6V and on the arms a standard size but heavy duty metal gear (MG) is used with torque rating of 13-16 kg @ 6V. It’s best to make use of a voltage regulator when a 6,6V LiFePo battery or maybe even 7,4V LiPO battery is in use. We normally make use of a humpback 5cell 6V 1500mAh NiMH battery.

The Junior use 3.9 kg @ 6V on arms and 1.0 kg @ 6V for parachute release and a NiMH 6V 350 mA battery.

How do I find my skydiver when it drifts away or get lost?

It is advisable to use a LMA (lost model alarm and is also Mandatory to have it for competition) which also indicates low battery voltage and is also switchable with an open channel or by switching off the transmitter which will sound the alarm. Very useful to find back your Jumper when it gets lost around the possible close dense grass/maze fields or trees.

What does the skydiver weigh?

The weight is 1,1 kg – 1,4 kg for the Easyup 1/4 scale and 260-300 grams for the Easyup Junior. The Accuracy parachute handles up to 1,8kg yet advisable to stay with 1,1 kg -1,4 kg for safe handling and competition purposes.

The Junior’s parachute works perfectly with an AUW of up to 310 grams for windy conditions of 16 km/h.

In windy conditions you’ll make your jumper weigh around 1,4kg AUW for best results when wind is pumping at 30 km/h.

Demonstrations?

Yes, on request we do demonstrations. On notification in advance at a registered SAMAA (South African Modell Aircraft Association) facility. For more information on this or any other questions: info@easyup.org.za