PLF

[mrhoop 0]

I was in the 82 airborne. The "PLF" is a military term for parachute landing fall. The practice of feet and knees together is great under a round canopy. If you are jumping a "ram air " parachute you might land faster than the military's range to do a "PLF'. I dont think we jumped if the winds more than 13 knts. How do you safely do a "PLF" at that or greater speeds.

[beej 0]

I have done the same plf's on squares as I was taught in the early 80's on rounds in the British Army. Abit ugly to look at, but always stood me in good stead!

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If the shit fits - wear it (blues brothers)--

[aneblett 0]

dude,

even if you are coming in a little faster than than the round, the PLF is preferable to any alternative I can think of..

Age

S.E.X. party #2

..It is far worse to live with fear, than to die confronting it.

[jsaxton 0]

A VERY experianced camera flyer I know said that he now prefered the "Third base slide" as an alternative landing style. Of course to do this safely you MUST have eliminated your vertical speed component or you risk serious injury.

[aneblett 0]

Quote

Of course to do this safely you MUST have eliminated your vertical speed component or you risk serious injury.

Precisely why the PLF is used..

Adrian

edit: spelling

S.E.X. party #2

..It is far worse to live with fear, than to die confronting it.

[jsaxton 0]

I agree, although I have used this procedure a lot while I was on my first (no flare) canopy. Used it a lot in fact :-\

[skyyhi 0]

As an "EXPERT" in PLF, I will tell you that with my AFF level 2 and 3, should I not have used PLF, I would have been seriously injured. . .instead I walked away with only sore muscles and a bruised ego. . .

________________________________________
Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ
FGF #6
Darcy

[freefaller76 0]

I must sadly say that after 30+ jumps I still have not mastered the stand up landing and a PLF has saved my ass (well....ankles anyways) more than once. Especially if you flare too high!

[AggieDave 6]

After having 4 years of martial arts training, I know how to fall, I've used various shoulder rolls when my forward speed was way to fast and the slide didn't work out. (read: end of swoop, can't shut it down and a foot catches tossing you back up forward into the air).

I have used a PLF, though. More then once even. The most recent was an off field landing about 9 months ago. Basically, I was having to sink into a tight spot, and my canopy stalled, and dropped me the last 4 or 5 ft or so. I did a textbook PLF and I got up without even being sore or anything.

I've used PLF before that as well, before I started swooping.

Bascally, with a PLF, don't think about it, if you have to do it, do it. Even under a ram-air canopy it still works (although it will be a little different then when you jumped rounds). It can and will save your ass!

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Nightingale 0]

I can relate...

after 15 yrs of martial arts, I just can't seem to get my body to want to PLF! Too many years of having aikido style breakfalls drilled into me. My instinct is a forward shoulder roll, which does work, but you get tangled in your lines. So far, I've walked away from every landing, though... even ones that I flared 20 feet too high, and ones that I didnt' flare at all. I really need to keep practicing my PLF, though, because its a much more efficient way to fall with a rig on your back.

[riggerrob 643]

How do you safely do a "PLF" at that or greater speeds.

[Shark 0]

Quote

As an "EXPERT" in PLF, I will tell you that with my AFF level 2 and 3, should I not have used PLF, I would have been seriously injured. . .instead I walked away with only sore muscles and a bruised ego. . .

I guess you have proof that you were listening to me and paying attention during the FJC.
Did IslandCool take pictures of the PLF portion of the class??

[nightjumps 1]

Hey Airborne.

Same thing, only faster. I came in once at around 40mph (I screwed up at the WFFC and had to make an off-field downwind landing). Ten years of military PLFs prepared me for the hit. Three right side PLFs from the inertia and I rolled up on my feet on the last one and brushed myself off.

[skyyhi 0]

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Did IslandCool take pictures of the PLF portion of the class??

Yep, and he got my plf's on video for proof that I was actually listening. . .LOL. . .

Saturday was better, no PLF needed. . .

________________________________________
Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ
FGF #6
Darcy