fensittr

I read the thread. This makes a lot of sense: Since you jump with your main a lot, you want something that is relatively easy to use and reliable at the same time. Body position shouldn't be an issue, since, if you're off student status, you should be deploying stably, and if you are a student, someone should be making sure you're deploying stably. For a reserve, the extra care necessary to properly pack the spring-loaded PC is not as big a deal, since you're not expected to use it as often. I think that summarizes the thread. Makes sense. Thanks for pointing it out.

First of all, I want to thank everyone for clarifying the issue for me. I won't make the deployment method a huge consideration for which dropzone I pick, though all things being equal I'll probably go with one that teaches with throw-out. I do have another question, though: If throw-out is better for main parachutes, then why do reserves use ripcord? I know that you can't use an AAD with a throw-out, but what about the days before the AAD was around? People have written that pilot chute hesitations can be a problem with ripcords? Do pilot-chute hesitations happen on reserves? If not, is there a way to get those features incorporated into a main ripcord system? Very interested to hear people's thoughts. Once again, thanks again for the helpful advice. Blue Skies, James

Will do. Thanks for all the advice

My plan is to just rent a student rig. I just know that depending on the dropzone, some AFF courses use ripcord deployment, and others use BOC throw-out. From what people are writing, it seems like both are about equally safe. So it probably makes more sense to go with a dropzone that teaches using throw-out, right? This way there's no need to switch later. Anyway, thanks for the advice.

This actually brings up another question: What are the advantages of the throw-out over the ripcord, that makes it very popular with jumpers? I've read that ripcord deployment is more likely to work in an unstable deployment, and since pulling the ripcord opens the container, you can't get a pilot-chute-in-tow.

Hi, I'm shopping around various dropzones, to find the one I'm most comfortable with to do the AFF course. I've been reading a lot about the three different deployment methods (pull-out, throw-out, ripcord), and I wanted to know what is the best deployment method for a student? I know the answer will either be throw-out or ripcord (since I checked the USPA rules on this), but I would like to hear some opinions first-hand. Thanks!