My First Jump Last Sunday

[TheCapt 7]

Last Sunday I did the accelerated free fall, five hours of really great training followed by jump number one from 13,000 feet. Out the door and the free fall to 5,500 feet was uneventful - it was great and everything took place like it was supposed to. I pulled my rip cord. I did not expect there to be such a hard shock (actually two of them about a second apart). Then everything was peaceful and quiet. All was well except there were no yellow toggles to steer with. There were two red ones up there, but I knew from my training that I shouldn't be pulling anything red unless there is an emergency. I spent a lot of time poking around trying to find yellow toggles, and as I was running out of altitude, I tested the red toggles by pulling on the lines above them. Sure enough that caused a turn, so I grabbed them both and steered to a safe landing about a half mile from the LZ.

After the jump I was advised that my reserve deployed right after my main, probably because I grabbed my harness after the shock of the opening main, thereby pulling a little on the reserve cord, enough to disengage the main (which disengation pulled a cord that deployed the reserve). The reserve rip cord handle was not deployed. (You should see the video!)

Last night I did jump number two. It was a lot more fun, and this sport is really going to take hold!

[AFFI 0]

So you had 2 parachutes out?

Glad everything worked out and you enjoyed enough to make the second jump! Rock on!

Are you jumping in the USA?

Mykel AFF-I10
Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

[mark 107]

Quote

So you had 2 parachutes out?

Well, yes and no. Dislodged SOS handle on main deployment; departing main started RSL deployment of the reserve.

Mark

[Guest]

wow, that's crazy! Was the handle secured in the plane? Protect those handles!

[NickDG 23]

Outstanding!!!!

Nice job thinking it through under canopy . . .

NickD BASE 194

[mark 107]

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Was the handle secured in the plane?

Yes. The Telesis SOS handle is located on the left side of the harness, above the chest strap. It is very easy to see to pull it in an emergency, but the trade-off is every now and then a user grabs his harness on opening -- a very natural reaction, I think -- and every now and then grabbing the harness dislodges the handle.

It was a fun jump: good freefall performance followed by excellent judgment for the canopy check, flight, and landing. The second jump was even more fun, and I'm looking forward to the next!

Mark