Hello everyone
I have been reading through the multiple posts about flying actors and it appears that most comments are against flying actors for safety reasons which of course is a good reason to be cautious. However, I did notice that most hesitations and criticisms were in reference to counter-weight fly systems. I couldn't find much detail on flying an actor safely on a Vortek hoist computer system.
So here is my question: if I were to consider flying an actor safely using a vortex hoist system, what details might I keep in mind?
Here are my thoughts so far as I brainstorm a solution.
We are doing The Wizard of Oz- and I would like to bring Glinda in on her globe and take the wizard out on his basket. My idea was to build a steel platform with steel railings, all welded and bolted and rigged with 3/8" aircraft cable, using double nicopress crimps on each cable. I would source chains, shackles and turn-buckles that could handle 800 lbs loads. I see using 4 aircraft cables, one in each corner of the platform run through a vertical 1" pipe in each corner that ties the railings together. The aircraft cable would be fastened to the underside of the platform on each corner by running the cable through the vertical pipe in each corner and then through a pre-drilled hole the size of the aircraft cable under the platform where it would be crimped again so that the cable cannot slide out of the pre-drilled hole. So each corner of the steel platform would have its own cable directly to the batten. Each of the four cables would be attached to the batten using shackles, turn-buckles and chain link within 18" of where the hoist cables are attached to the line-set.
Our vortex hoists are rated for a maximum load of 2500 lbs distributed equally across a 42' pipe. Each line-set has 5 cables spaced equally apart. I would use two line-sets married together, the computer can run two line-sets together simultaneously. Our hoists run accurately to the millimeter; so no creeping to worry about. The vortex computer can be programmed to operate with in and out load variances, for example the line can be set to stop or halt should the load go beyond what-ever you program into a cue. Likewise, the line can be set to halt/stop or not start should a downward pressure beyond a certain variant be applied to the pipe. Other fail safes can be programmed into the computer to control multiple variables on a line-set.
Finally, the steel platform would be decorated to look like Glinda's globe or the wizard's balloon basket; basically facades that can be attached and removed from the steel structure of the platform. An added security blanket would be that the actors playing Glinda and Oz would wear harnesses under their costumes and a black nylon rock climbing rope with appropriate knots and carabiners, rigged independently of the line-sets used on the platform, would fly in with the actor baleyed by a crew member. The steel platform with railings would have one gate that can be opened and the actor can step out once an ensemble member 'discreetly' released the carbiner from their harness through the back of their costume.
I do believe that the hoists, aircraft cables, nico-press sleeves, shackles, turn-buckles and chain link will not fail. I've rigged long enough to know how to deal with these elements and have hung heavy loads over my years for various shows. I am concerned about the platform and railings that a live actor would fly in. The design needs to be flawless. I would appreciate some advice on designing something with the appropriate product, joints, welds, bolts, braces, etc... to create a sturdy, reliant platform to fly a 150 lbs actor with 1000 lbs of safety built into all aspects of the design.
Your advice and criticism is appreciated.
Let me have it
Chad
I have been reading through the multiple posts about flying actors and it appears that most comments are against flying actors for safety reasons which of course is a good reason to be cautious. However, I did notice that most hesitations and criticisms were in reference to counter-weight fly systems. I couldn't find much detail on flying an actor safely on a Vortek hoist computer system.
So here is my question: if I were to consider flying an actor safely using a vortex hoist system, what details might I keep in mind?
Here are my thoughts so far as I brainstorm a solution.
We are doing The Wizard of Oz- and I would like to bring Glinda in on her globe and take the wizard out on his basket. My idea was to build a steel platform with steel railings, all welded and bolted and rigged with 3/8" aircraft cable, using double nicopress crimps on each cable. I would source chains, shackles and turn-buckles that could handle 800 lbs loads. I see using 4 aircraft cables, one in each corner of the platform run through a vertical 1" pipe in each corner that ties the railings together. The aircraft cable would be fastened to the underside of the platform on each corner by running the cable through the vertical pipe in each corner and then through a pre-drilled hole the size of the aircraft cable under the platform where it would be crimped again so that the cable cannot slide out of the pre-drilled hole. So each corner of the steel platform would have its own cable directly to the batten. Each of the four cables would be attached to the batten using shackles, turn-buckles and chain link within 18" of where the hoist cables are attached to the line-set.
Our vortex hoists are rated for a maximum load of 2500 lbs distributed equally across a 42' pipe. Each line-set has 5 cables spaced equally apart. I would use two line-sets married together, the computer can run two line-sets together simultaneously. Our hoists run accurately to the millimeter; so no creeping to worry about. The vortex computer can be programmed to operate with in and out load variances, for example the line can be set to stop or halt should the load go beyond what-ever you program into a cue. Likewise, the line can be set to halt/stop or not start should a downward pressure beyond a certain variant be applied to the pipe. Other fail safes can be programmed into the computer to control multiple variables on a line-set.
Finally, the steel platform would be decorated to look like Glinda's globe or the wizard's balloon basket; basically facades that can be attached and removed from the steel structure of the platform. An added security blanket would be that the actors playing Glinda and Oz would wear harnesses under their costumes and a black nylon rock climbing rope with appropriate knots and carabiners, rigged independently of the line-sets used on the platform, would fly in with the actor baleyed by a crew member. The steel platform with railings would have one gate that can be opened and the actor can step out once an ensemble member 'discreetly' released the carbiner from their harness through the back of their costume.
I do believe that the hoists, aircraft cables, nico-press sleeves, shackles, turn-buckles and chain link will not fail. I've rigged long enough to know how to deal with these elements and have hung heavy loads over my years for various shows. I am concerned about the platform and railings that a live actor would fly in. The design needs to be flawless. I would appreciate some advice on designing something with the appropriate product, joints, welds, bolts, braces, etc... to create a sturdy, reliant platform to fly a 150 lbs actor with 1000 lbs of safety built into all aspects of the design.
Your advice and criticism is appreciated.
Let me have it
Chad
