rob 0 #1 July 9, 2004 On my AFF stage 9 I experienced some line twists, which is the first time I've experienced them, even with some interesting 360+ turning during deployment previously. The difference in this case was that my canopy was assymetrical and started to spin, and I soon I could see the ground wizzing past while contemplating my canopy and the twists in my lines. Yes, a reasonably common occurence and a familiar scenario when considering low speed malfuctions, but not from the first person perspective! As the turn became a spin I was contemplating the potential necessity of using my yellow handle, but I managed to get the twists out faster than they were occurring.. this time. Believe it or not, there is a point to this... The strange thing was that when I caught up with my instructor, instead of the trouble I expected to get in to for not cutting away, he just commented that I had some twists and had a bit of a laugh, implying that they happen all the time. I know that TWISTS occur frequently, and are simple to deal with, but twists with breaks/lines caught in such a way as to induce a turn and 'flat' spin...? Is that common? I hope not! Although I'd be afraid to suggest it to my instuctor, I'm thinking he can't have seen what actually happened... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flypunk 0 #2 July 9, 2004 It is common and it can and probably will happen again. Just keep your head level and good alt. awareness and you will determine if its something you can untwist or if you use your handles. After a couple of times, you'll (hopefully) know when its hopeless. ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrogNog 1 #3 July 9, 2004 How bad it is is affected by a lot of factors. You will almost certainly learn to reduce the frequency and severity of line twists by your body position at deployment and throughout the opening. Packing, gear maintenance, and canopy type can also have some effect. I have only had two line twists in 220 jumps that disturbed me. The first was a student canopy twisted up far enough that it wasn't fully inflating, so I had a "medium-speed malfunction" and almost chopped, but it finished inflating and flew straight high enough that I decided to try kicking out (and flew out of the multiple twists). The second was a couple weeks ago when I got one full twist but I must have lowered a shoulder as it went in because the canopy was turning. Because my canopy is a tapered square and I load it at 1.15:1, the turn wasn't fast, losing a lot of altitude, or swinging me severely, but it got my attention and I kicked with alacrity. If I had been on a smaller canopy or an eliptical one (which would almost certainly have been smaller than my 190), the spin would have been worse, possibly brutally so. (i.e. chopping not optional.) Minor line twists - a 180 or a single 360 - seem to try and happen to me maybe once every 7 to 10 jumps, but by feeling what is going on up there during opening and knowing what my canopy likes to do, they don't cause any drama. -=-=-=-=- Pull. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
