Baksteen

When I dump I look up and I can’t land it, it’s gone. No second guessing and no screwing with it. I lived with that rule for 30 years. Several others broke that rule and are dead. Fair enough. But sometimes "can't land it" is not clear cut. There have been a number of times I've had minor problems where the first instinct is always to go for the cutaway handles. But then, upon quick reflection, that minor tear in the fabric really isn't a big deal. It's flying straight, it's stable, it flares okay - I'll land it! The first instinct is not always the only necessary course of action. That's different - depending on the experience of the jumper. I admit the situation you describe is a grey area. I can see how you would reflexively reach for the handles while consciously deciding that the canopy is landable after all. But noone should continue to fuck around with what should have been a definite chop for someone of their experience. Let's take Ron's original malfunction as an example: spinning, twists and getting low. Many novice and intermediate jumpers should have cut that away as soon as the canopy started spinning. Very experienced jumpers could try somewhat longer, if current on that canopy. But they too shouldn't go below their personal hard deck. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

There is no "I" in 'Team'. There is a "Me", though.... "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I totally forgot: I recently saw a jumper whose AAD control box (Vigil I believe; don't know what rig) was on their main lift webbing. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I'm not sure your AAD would spook at all. I suppose you would either act appropriately, or you'd probably fail to exceed the AAD-activation speed while faced with an "exiting very low"-scenario. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

"The adventures of Huckleberry Finn". I must confess that the book sometimes makes me greatly uncomfortable. For instance, you read the n-word every other sentence and there is a lot of unthinking racism expressed by the characters. Yes, I can understand that was the way of life in the bad old days, but I'm not sure yet what to think. Though I can't quite put the book aside it's already taken me several months to get to where I'm now; the point where Huck finally gets rid of the King and the Duke. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

That goes without saying. CReW-dogs, and even puppies like myself, generally own rigs which can only stay closed for three seconds. That is because we know how to perform a stable exit. Therefore we can pull well within those three seconds instead of having to flail around for 8000 ft "on every axis" before having sorted out our body position. Fact of the matter is, we don't need that new-fangled freeflail friendly gear. The basics work just fine for us. (edited for spelling) "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Don't worry... We've got all that stuff hanging out of our rigs just to scare the crap out of the freeflyers. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I guess that redefines the term "simple." Well, at least I only needed to google 2 out of the 3 flavors. Oops... I must have accidentally on purpose supplied the italian names instead of the English ones. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Just a simple cone with one scoop each of Straciatella, Malaga and pistaccio works best for me.

A canopy like the Katana, Crossfire or indeed the Stiletto requires commitment to jumping, especially when highly loaded. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I didn't have that real 'fear factor' until my fourth static-line jump. I was trained jumping from a cessna 206. During my first three jumps there were few of no clouds and hardly any wind. Jumping was simply fun and all was well. During my fourth jump, I was jumping from a Cessna 182 for the frist time (different exit), there were many clouds and (for a student) high winds. In addition to that, a 182 climbs a lot slowerr than a trubine 206 so I had more than enough time to get extra nervous. I remember that I was scared almost shitless when we got above the clouds and thought that I'd just stay in the plane and ride it back down. Then the door opened and when my JM gave the signal I took a deep breath and forced myself to climb out under the wing. I looked at my JM, almost in a total panic now and felt my cheek flap in the wind. That surprised me and made me laugh... My fear was gone, I made a great exit and went on to make over three hundred jumps from that very same plane. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

You realise that you've just said that your penis fits into a slot which is supposed to recognise something finger-sized, don't you? "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

When it's so early that it's almost still late. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Vertical separation is no separation at all. All it takes is a mal in the second group out, and you have someone cutting away above the first group. Additionally, the higher vertical speed of the freeflyers does not compensate for the higher drag that RW-groups experience. Soon after exit the forward speed of the plane bleeds off and the RW-group starts to drift down jumprun due to the winds at altitude. The freeflyers fall much faster, giving the formation less time to be blown off course. Before you know it, the eight-way RW is opening directly above the freefly head down two-way. Reverse this, and the freeflyers will be opening further away than just éxit separation'. As to the landing area: The RW group could lose some altitude, being relatively close to the dropzone. The freeflyers could hang out in brakes a little, letting the first group land first. Problem solved, no congested landing area. Also, if you do not like all that traffic setting up for the peas / swoop pond, you're more than welcome to land in the student area or some other less busy area. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I won't comment on gymnastics rolls since I do not know how to do them. However, I do not believe a martial arts roll is the answer. It's hard to describe after fifteen years, but I was taught to do a martial arts roll over my shoulder. Combine that with a high forward and downward speed resulting from a poor or nonexistent flare and it seems like a recipy for a broken neck. I was also taught to slap the ground with my arm to lose energy from my fall after being thrown by another MA student. I would not recommend that in skydiving. So I teach the PLF. If the forward speed is high, simply keep rolling after your PLF until you stop. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

For students there is only the PLF. Getting fed up with one of my students nagging about butt landings, I put him on a picnic table. I told him to look down and asked whether he'd like to jump off and land on his butt . He declined and went on to make a sterling PLF after his first jump. When I teach the FJC I routinely tell my students that if they do a standup during their first five jumps I'd make him PLF all the way back to the packing area. Seriously, I once saw a student flare at about five meters and land on his ass.. it's not something I want to see again soon. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I disliked jumping with a camera "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

We do? "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

The problem with DZ's is that they are a lot scarcer thab let's say bars and clubs... Furthermore, it's a small world so you'll run into your ex sooner or later, at a boogie for instance. This didn't stop me from having a healthy relationship with another skydiver, of course.. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

At times like these, I really miss the quality that N1pple boy used to provide. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Just to clarify for others, a Lightning is a CReW canopy, which means that you would do a full altitude clear-and-pull in order to be open right away and begin building canopy formations. So when he describes elbowing his rig to dislodge a PC in tow, he would have been a 10k ft or higher, and had plenty of time for that maneuver. A PC in tow down at normal pull altitude is another story. You will not have much time at all, and spending it trying to dislodge the PC in tow by jabbing your rig with your elbow is not an 'official' or 'approved' method of solving that problem. A mis-routed bridle or similar problem will never be 'fixed' and you would still be at terminal while wasting time doing something besides your EPs. Oops.. thank you for correcting my omission. At the time I was doing a jump from 6k and was saddled out at 5k (about ten seconds of freefall) but Dave's point remains very much true. Had I jumped from 3500 feet and/or had I been jumping my Freefall canopy which ever has given me any trouble, I'd have wasted no time at all. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

We teach the following: No opening? --> full reserve procedure While it's absolutely true that a full procedure takes more time then just pulling your reserve ripcord, you run the risk of the student wasting much more time in the decision making process than they would have if they just cutaway and pulled the reserve. As to your question when to introduce have them change from that, there is no clear cut answer. It depends on the individual. Let's briefly look at line twists. We teach students to cut line twists away at exactly 2000 ft. But no upjumper is going to cutaway if they have only two linetwists left. It's an understanding that comes with experience. Me, I had a PCIT once due to a tightly packed Lightning 176 in my regular rig, combined with a smallish pilot chute. I had over 400 jumps at the time. When I pulled nothing happened. I quickly realised what was going on, beat the crap out of my rig with my elbows and found myself under an inflated canopy before I could think 'ouch'. However, if that hadn't worked, for instance if I had misrouted my bridle, I would have cut away my main. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I got The Cord in April 2009, when Ken was one of three CReW dogs who went out of their way to introduce a Dutch newbie into four-stack rotations. Not that I ever held the illusion I was a very active participant in that formation.... My role was limited to looking about me going "wow"... I'll always remember the first words he spoke to me: "And remember: The first rule of CReW is: don't kill Kenny". You'll be missed, Ken. CReW Skies. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Or, you could just reverse the argument. According to the PD canopy sizing charts, other reserves comparable to the PD160R are actually more like 143 square feet. Cut the BS, people! If you need to hide behind such arguments to justify your choice of reserve canopy, you simply need a bigger reserve. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I have a Techno 190 reserve, and switch between a Storm 190, Lightning 176 and Lightning 160 main canopy. I used to have a PD160 reserve, but I decided to upsize my reserve because I like the idea of having more fabric above my head... especially if i ever have to 'share' my reserve. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom