🚀 go-pugleaf

> I know this is not fun to talk about, but would any of you frequent
> jumpers care to relate your experiences of chute failure? Such as
> how long it took to figure out your main was a streamer, etc.?
> I realize this doesn't happen often, but would like to hear from
> people who've had to deal with it. 

> I haven't jumped since my first time in 82, owing to limitations on
> time and money, but I plan to get back into it.


     I'm not a frequent jumper myself, as I've only made 360 jumps since I
started in '72.  In that number of jumps I've had two occasions to ride a 
reserve, and both of them were with old military surplus gear which was in
common use when I started jumping.
     My first 'function occured when I had about a dozen jumps.  I had just
purchased my first set of gear (military surplus, of course).  My 28' 7-TU
opened into a Mae West which was slowly spinning.  I was taught that with
a "mild" malfunction it was better to hand-deploy the reserve before cutting
away the main, so that's what I did.  (By the way, that is an OK procedure
for military surplus gear, but generally NOT for more contemporary gear,
especially with square canopies).  Almost as soon as the reserve opened,
which of course reduced the hanging load on the main, the line-over which
had caused the Mae West slipped off, allowing the main to open fully.  This
all happened before I could cut away the main, obviously.  Since both 'chutes
were now open side-by-side, neither one could be steered, so the only solution
was to get rid of one of them.  Interesting dilemma.  The main was larger and
would thus give a softer landing, but the reserve cannot be cut away.  Cutting
away the main would commit me to a hard landing under a 24' reserve.  So, I
grabbed handfulls of reserve lines and began pulling down one side.  Eventually
I "spilled" all the air out of it and it collapsed.  I wadded it up between my
knees and proceded to fly the main normally for the remainder of the descent.
     My second 'function was a "total".  Same gear as before.  Back in those
days the container flaps were held closed with "pins" and "cones" -- rarely
seen anymore except on old gear.  If dirt or sand got into the holes of the
cones, the force required to pull the ripcord could become quite large.  When
I had about 25 jumps or so, I experienced this problem and could not pull the
main ripcord, even with both hands.  I eventually quit trying (none too soon)
and dumped my reserve at about 900 feet.  I don't recommend waiting that long!
     Over the years I've made well over 200 jumps on Paracommanders (PC's),
and never had a single malfunction.  In recent years I've been jumping squares,
and also have not had any problems.  The only hair-raising incident I've ex-
perienced is a mid-air canopy collision (see note titled "USPA Boogie Tales").
     As far as recognizing a malfunction, it shouldn't take more than a FEW
seconds.  It takes about three seconds for a canopy to open, from the time
you pull the ripcord (or whatever).  Sometimes a canopy will "snivel" for two
or three seconds before deciding to open, but then still takes a couple more
seconds to completely open.  A total of maybe five or six seconds.  NEVER wait
any more than three or four seconds, if it's snivelling.  If it ain't making
any noticable progress by then, it probably isn't going to.  Thus, if you
aren't sitting under a good canopy within six seconds, it's reserve time.  I'm
sure you were taught to begin counting at the moment of exit or pull.  This is
why.  You'll probably never get to six, but if you do, don't go any higher!  

             *
            / \
       |---/---\---|            Ken Scofield    C-9355
       |   Gone    |            Hewlett-Packard PCD
       |  Jumpin'  |            Corvallis, OR
       |-----------|
			{ucbvax!hplabs, harpo, ogcvax}!hp-pcd!kas