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Black Diamond Airbag backpack (Jetforce powered)

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Ghini
Posts: 2261 - Karma: 3,002
I posted this in the 'Enjoys: long walks in the mountains' Cult forum but no reactions wich surprised me.. So here it is:

Black Diamond is working on a Jetforce powered airbag backpack. First info was on Wildsnow last week:

http://www.wildsnow.com/10794/jetforce-black-diamond-airbag-backpack/

'Word is out on Black Diamond’s battery operated avalanche airbag backpack. Look for more details in this space, but for now PopSci has the scoop. In a one-page teaser they detail the Black Diamond “Jetforce” as having a two inch fan that spins at 60,000 RPM and fills the bag “instantly.” After three minutes the fan reverses to empty the airbag, and the rechargeable battery gives you 4 inflations so you can practice pulling the trigger, or if you’re not too lucky, repeat your latest avalanche ride.'

Thoughts?

Sep 16 2013 6:26AM
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Ghini
Posts: 2261 - Karma: 3,002
Click for larger image

All teaser factoids from the article:

- Trigger is a button.
- Fan is two inches wide and turns at 6,000 rpm.
- Airbag balloon is 200 liters.
- Bag constructed with some version of silnyl.
- Fan can keep bag inflated with some degree of tear damage.
- Fan reverses after three minutes to deflate bag.
- Battery is lithium, does 4 inflation cycles.
- Euro style complex naming: “Halo 28 Jetforce.”
- In harsh cold down to negative 22 F, battery can still deploy bag one time.
- Weighs 7.4 lbs.
- MSRP $960.00

Sep 16 2013 6:29AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Button trigger. Hmmm
Sep 16 2013 10:45AM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
I fly R/C planes, jets, and helis in the summer and the power of an electric ducted fan should not be doubted. Those things can deal a lot of thrust at the pipe and can move some serious volume, especially when compared to a cylinder.
Sep 16 2013 1:17PM
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snurfsup
Posts: 96 - Karma: 135
er mah gerd i herv a bakpak my marm bert me, i lerv bak to skewl prezentz. ima go ryde down that windloaded face, oooh all dat snow is moving, so glad i have mah 1000 dollar bakpak, i bet if i use it i tern into supermanz or tanner hall.

seeeriously. i don't get it at all...spend your 1000 bucks learning how to read snow conditions

http://avtraining.org/
http://www.skioff-piste.com/avalanche.htm
Sep 16 2013 1:17PM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
Why get a beacon, probe, or shovel when you could just spend that money learning how to read snow conditions.

Sep 16 2013 1:25PM
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snurfsup
Posts: 96 - Karma: 135
i concur, but mistakes happen, ive gotten buried in bounds because i bounced funny off a pillow, hit a tree and landed with my head below my feet, i was incredibly glad when my friends near me dug me out (with shovels). take as many precautions in life as possible, but most cannot afford all precautions available. shovels and probes are cheaper than buying a new saga coat...beacons are spendy unfortunately. most burial scenarios that result from safe skiing involve partial burials. in those scenarios, your eyes are more useful than your 500 dollar beacon. i'm assuming that you ski safely on lines where your homies got eyes on you.
Sep 16 2013 1:43PM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
Yeah, if you can afford it go for it. No doubts about: training > gear.
Sep 16 2013 2:10PM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
I would hope the buyers of this pack already have spent the money on training and other needed gear. If you only have $1000 to blow on your first bc outing, then yes, there are other vital pieces to invest in first.
Sep 16 2013 8:43PM
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noparking
Posts: 1123 - Karma: 50
sounds like more shit things can go wrong with.
Sep 16 2013 9:39PM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
A switch, a fan, a battery, and a timer. It's a really simple circuit. Doesn't leak, and I'm sure that BD could easily incoporate a test circuit into this thing so it see's full voltage on the battery, and that the fan spins.

After that, it's the same as any other airbag.
Sep 16 2013 10:51PM
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Ghini
Posts: 2261 - Karma: 3,002
Now you can read the text..

Click for larger image

There is a normal handle you can pull to deploy the airbag, but there is a on/off button. 'Before heading into questionable terrain' - that sounds a bit like you cant have it switched on the whole day to me? That would suck..

The airbag is made of some strech materaial, so less likely to rip open if it hits rocks,trees etc.. and if it gets a hole in it the fan keeps filling the airbag with air (3min max) - thats pretty sweet..

After 3mins the airbag deflates.. I wonder why? Why not a valve and keep it filled? If it deflates it could create an airpocket if you are under the snow, but it would be awesome if you could tunnel that air into your mouth..
Sep 17 2013 3:55AM
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Top_Gun
Posts: 258 - Karma: 469
I saw this is PopSci when I got the magazine and it looked pretty cool. It's awesome you don't have to go refill a cartridge after every use. You can just keep on using it. Anyone know when it's supposed to come out? I might look at getting it.
Sep 17 2013 2:01PM
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snurfsup
Posts: 96 - Karma: 135
sorry for being a hater, I just truly strive to be as safe as possible in the first place, safety meetings and all, as well as skiing safely...of course. what i meant to say, was that I do not think this jetpack is a product for me.
Sep 18 2013 2:54AM
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MacMahoooon
Posts: 9009 - Karma: 3,305
I guess my only question is where does the air volume come from if you deploy this once you are already in the snow? The intake would be covered and nothing to inflate the pack with
Sep 18 2013 12:07PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Some people will just never get it. I wouldn't spend $1k on a pack either especially at +7.5lbs but the fact that the technology is being advanced is never a bad thing dude. Nobody is right 100% of the time.

Sep 18 2013 12:27PM
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