skyGeek742 0 #1 November 4, 2004 That's what it took to qualify for my A License. On jump 24, which was my very first pack job - actually it was my 3rd, but it was the first one I jumped - I had what I can only describe as an ugly opening. It started out OK, it was there and square, but it was less than flyable. As I watched the end cells inflate the thing started turning left. I thought maybe I forgot to stow my right brake so I released both toggles and gave 'em a tug. That only made it worse, the left turn became a diving spin. I opened high, because I wanted to have plenty of time, so I played with it a little bit. I was going left so I tried countering - right toggle all the way down. No luck. I actually started feeling some Gs at this point. I was looking 'up' at the canopy with my belly to the ground and spinning. In the time that it took me to say "Oh shit! Fuck this!" my training kicked in and I reached for the release and reserve handles. I found it surprising just how quickly that reserve opened. I couldn't have fallen more than a few hundred feet between the chop and and being back under a much better canopy. It was there, square, steerable, and the most beautiful red I've ever seen. I was still at about 5K, I had dumped at 7.5. I circled above my main as it fell towards the airport. I wanted to make sure that I could give someone a good idea of where it landed. At 3K I broke off and flew back to the landing area. The landing was ugly as hell, I flared high and PLFed it - it was a good PLF, so other than the grass stains on my jumpsuit I was fine. I was up on the next load on a different rig and landed that one well, under the main. Bought beer for my first chop and bought my rigger a bottle of Cabo Wabo Tequila. Turns out that it was my packing instructor's first time having a student chop on a first pack, lucky me... I was back the next day to pack another one, which went much better. And I qualified for my License the day after - more beer to buy... Looking back, after talking to my rigger, there may not have been anything wrong with the main. I've spent the last couple of days second guessing it, maybe there was something simple I could have taken care of with 7K to go... Then again, maybe I would have fought it into the ground. Glad to be writing about it myself, instead of someone else having to write about it. I no longer have the thought in the back of my head, 'what if I have to cut away?' Tons of learning left to do and twice as much fun left to have. Blue Skies and Soft Landings! ric Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dixieskydiver 0 #2 November 4, 2004 Congrats on a safe first chop, don't worry about it anymore. Get back on the pony and ride! If you post this in the incidents forum they may be able to give you some insight into what might have been going on with your main. Dixie HISPA #56 Facil Rodriguez "Scientific research has shown that 60% of the time, it works every time." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cloudseeker2001 0 #3 November 4, 2004 Turns out that it was my packing instructor's first time having a student chop on a first pack, lucky me... I was back the next day to pack another one, which went much better. And I qualified for my License the day after - more beer to buy... You bought beer for that! Sucker! "Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance, others mean and rueful of the western dream" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
girlygirl 0 #4 November 4, 2004 Wow, glad you're okay. I've been packing for awhile now but will probably have same number to qualify. Congrats and good luck. What do I get a rigger who doesn't drink alcohol, mine says he quit now he's a daddy? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slug 1 #5 November 4, 2004 QuoteWow, glad you're okay. I've been packing for awhile now but will probably have same number to qualify. Congrats and good luck. What do I get a rigger who doesn't drink alcohol, mine says he quit now he's a daddy? A outfit for his kid or something nice for his boss. . R.I.P. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #6 November 4, 2004 What do I get a rigger who doesn't drink alcohol*** My rigger doesnt drink much, so I take him and his wife out to dinner when I have a reserve ride. RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
larsrulz 0 #7 November 4, 2004 My rigger doesn't drink, so we buy him a couple cases of Diet Dr. Pepper, since he goes through about a case a day...although I have yet to have to... I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjackson 0 #8 November 5, 2004 --------------------------------------------- Randy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BETO74 0 #9 November 5, 2004 and the most beautiful red I've ever seen. *** That's so true I feelt the same way after my first reserve ride, I had this fear of not performing well during a mal for my first 200 jumps good thing my cut away waited until I had 350, I found admirable what you did with only 25 jumps, good to have yoou here for the next one. Carloshttp://web.mac.com/ac057a/iWeb/AC057A/H0M3.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
