DZBone

Oh, and the packers at Perris get pissed off if you ask them to pack, never mind teach you something. Very surly bunch for some odd reason.

Didn't you know? They don't have rainy days in Southern California.

Don't they make little aviator helmets for dogs? You know, the leather jobbers that the barnstormers wear. I checked the Foster Smith catalog, but they don't seem to have them. Maybe one of those places that sells dog costumes. As far as going in to save the dog, I would think that you would be motivated to work to save both of you. Wouldn't want to leave the little guy (and the big guy) without an alpha, would you?

Yes. As others say here, take responsibility for your training. Start by finding the right place. Yes, people absorb information at different rates, but it sounds like you are ready to drink from the firehose. They should see that and pick up the pace. Michele had to cut away from a spinning malfunction early in her AFF career. Would she have been as heads up with the training program you are in? Carl

People actually said these things? I hope that they follow that with "but I now realize how dumb that was". I heard another one a couple of weeks ago from a CRW dawg who let a streamer go from about 10k to 3k, then cut it away. "I wanted the main to land on the dz". Gulp.

Your choice, but I think this is a dangerous approach that will lead people to put off an important decision until too late. Things happen VERY fast up there, and the ground waits for no one. I take a more conservative approach: try once, try twice, then chop. I have confidence in my reserve, more so than I would a damaged or not-fully-there main. Even my round reserve, whatever winds, etc. won't come into my mind. If I feel I can't land it, I suspect it might become unlandable in the near future, and I have done what I can (TWO attempts only), its gone. I figure that what the thing is there for! I haven't spent $50 every 120 days just for it to take up space in the container. But that's me. Carl

CRITICAL POINT: don't do a backflip here, or you will make the situation MUCH, MUCH, WORSE!

Congrats, man! Now the real fun (and work) starts!

I was thinking that the hook knife would be handy to clear a bridle around the wrist, but as you say, time would not likely permit it. You would probably hit a decision altitude before you could make much cutting progress. Good thinking - forget the knife, focus on efforts that will have a more immediate payoff. Good point about the streamer vs horseshoe entaglement risk, too. Thanks, G. Carl

Man, that hurts just thinking about it. That broken coccyx thing has to be painful as well! Seriously, tho. Hope the sitting pretty/donut/whatever helps. Sounds like you're in for a difficult weekend. Yuch.

I would have cut it much earlier, but it sounds like your approach worked. You had the time, it was still controllable, why not? The only thing you might want to consider is how much time you would have before getting so out of control that a cutaway would either be not possible, or toss you silly. Some folks have redded out at these Gs also, which is something to take into account. Nice work, tho.

Again?

It seems that one of the most catastrophic class of malfunctions gets the least coverage in the emergency procedures. My guess is that this is not a coincidence. So, what would YOU do in the case of a horseshoe? Of course, there is a variety of scenarios, which makes matters worse, including the different procedures for pull-out and throw-out deployment systems. Specifically, when would you cut away, and when wouldn't you? When would you reach for a HOOK KNIFE and why? Under what conditions would you just leave it horseshoed and go for the reserve (other than hard deck)? And what are the various types anyway? I could only think of these: - Bag out, pilot chute not (throw-out only) - Bag out, p/c snagged on container or body part (probably pull-out only) - bag/lines snagged on container or body part The "body part" ones specifically give me chills, as cutting away could cause pain and damage, but may also mean survival? Or cause pain/damage and make no difference? Have any of you experienced a horseshoe mal?

Note to self: don't read this post at work, unless followed by heavy amounts of freefall.

Congrats, man, and happy birthday!!

Yet another reason to visit Perris, mouth!

Well, Chuck, you still have fewer hits than the CAR. On the other hand, you have twice as many as the NAKED CHICK! Waddup wid dat?

Yes, but then you get a new VOODOO!! YAHOO!

Guys, is it really that much of a difficulty to do a line check? You have to pack it anyway. I usually just take the extra time and have never had a problem. Carl

Oops, try http://www.mentalgear.com. Carl

Is it possible (it's software, anything is possible) to save sent private messages? Quoting, etc. would also be handy. Thanks!

Chris, you walk around with broken ribs?

What a PAIN IN THE ASS! HAHAHAHAHA HAHA ha ha ha. Never mind.

Dead Presidents?

Happy birthday, d00d! I'll be there in spirit, painting the house in RI in body. Carl