Will I Die With A 100lb Wing?

[Wendy]

Pro's: help keep the wing more streamlined when not inflated.

Are you sure about this, cuz I have always heard the opposite. Wings with bungees shure don't look that streamlined to me, look all bumpy.

 

[mempilot]

Are you sure about this, cuz I have always heard the opposite. Wings with bungees shure don't look that streamlined to me, look all bumpy.

Just going off their tests, but obviously this could have marketing guys twist. Anyway, I never hear anyone comment on this point to say you should only dive wetsuits vs trilam drysuits since a drysuit produces more turbulence over the entire body than a bungee'd wing ever would.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't buy a bungee'd wing. Not because of the possible drag, but because I've tried to orally inflate one I took down to 135' with me. Very difficult under that much pressure overcoming the bungees. I don't have the biggest lungs.

 

[Cave Diver]

Will I Die With A 100lb Wing?

Yes.

No matter what you do, you're going to die. It's a medical fact. The minute you're born, you start dying. No amount or type of dive equipment can change that fact, it just makes living more fun. :54:

 

[mempilot]

Are you sure about this, cuz I have always heard the opposite. Wings with bungees shure don't look that streamlined to me, look all bumpy.

Here's the data I was referring to. I don't think the drag is an issue, just the fact that they force air out when you don't want it out. And, they can be more difficult to orally inflate.

______________________________________________

Drag Tests

This test was devised to measure the approximate drag or resistance to movement through the water by a fully equipped diver with these two BC's (with and without retraction bands). The diver was secured by 15 feet of line behind a 25-foot commercial dive boat that was secured to a dock. The boat's engine was put in forward at an idle speed of 800 rpm, thus creating a current of 0.95 to 1.10 mph as measured by a calibrated underwater speedometer. Placed directly in front of the diver and attaching the diver to the line to the boat, was a spring scale. The diver took readings while in the current of the propeller wash at three to six feet underwater. The tests were repeated multiple times on two different days.

(Conclusions)

BC with bands caused an average of 6.3 to 11.3 pounds of drag when empty.
BC without bands caused an average of 7.5 to 11.5 pounds of drag when empty.
These tests indicate no significant difference in drag (when inflated).

 

[Albion]

MEMPILOT, why would it be harder to inflate them at depth than at surface????
Pressure in your lungs is same as the ambient pressure, you only need to overcome the bungee, which in theory would offer less resistance as you went deeper
Lung pressure vs ambient pressure + Bungee resistance
At greater depths the bungee would be a smaller part of the calculation
PS im not advocating bungees im just confused by your comment

 

[mempilot]

MEMPILOT, why would it be harder to inflate them at depth than at surface????
Pressure in your lungs is same as the ambient pressure, you only need to overcome the bungee, which in theory would offer less resistance as you went deeper
Lung pressure vs ambient pressure + Bungee resistance
At greater depths the bungee would be a smaller part of the calculation
PS im not advocating bungees im just confused by your comment

A bungee provides the same extension elasticity at depth that it does at the surface. The bungee is a constant, but offers resistence to inflation. Inflating an empty bag under 5 ATA is more difficult than inflating an empty bag under 1 ATA. Try it manually. You'll see.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Even the manufacturer would probably lay odds on you dying if using a 100 lb wing with a single tank. A large wing like that needs some support in the form of a set of doubles on top of it to force it to hold it's shape. In this case, bungees are not going to be enough to prevent air trapping and will most likely just aggravate the problem.

 

[Twomixdiver]

You probably won't die... but most assuredly you'd look silly in one; not unlike using a hammer to swat a fly.

 

[steevke]

I used to dive an OMS bungeed 100 lbs wing. It was possible to use it with larger (15L) steel singles, but I did not like the fact that the inflator hose is on the side facing the diver (it trapped a bit of air).

Some people claim that these wing have lots of drag. Personally I did not notice that, maybe it is only noticeable when scootering.

Some people claim that 100 Lbs is too much lift. I agree, unless you go diving and take a large crowbar and a lumphammer with you.

All in all, if you plan on diving 90% of the time doubles, and ocasionally singles, you can use this wing. If you dive mostly singles, buy something else (e.g. a transpac).

As always, YMMV.

steven

 

[ScubaSarus]

As a tech diver I dove in a 100 lb lift wing. I was using just a single tank at that time just to do the dive to be a buddy to someone. What I didn't know (and should have checked) is that the tank I was using was my helium tank. At 60 fsw my inflator stuck open and I rocketed to the surface flaring and ahhhhhing bigtime. Since I had helium in the tank, when I hit the surface, I floated in the air and as I was about 30ft up in the sky a big wind caught me and carried me a half a mile away before I descided to disconnect the inflator a let out the helium slowly and made a soft landing on land.

Ok Now on the serious side

You'll be able to sell that wing on ebay and buy a smaller one. These divers here know what they are talking about and I would trust their word for it. What you are attempting to do is dangerous and I wouldn't mess with the potential for an embolism let alone DCS. You may be a tough guy but is your lung tissue also tough.

Take care