al@infoswx.UUCP (12/03/85)
> > I disagree with the "always" cutting away. With a T-10, a green student > > is less likely to screw up a reserve depoloyment with deploying the > > reserve without a cutaway. The success of the Military with this method > > should indicate that this is true. > The only reason the military teaches hand-deployment is that > they typically jump from altitudes too low to permit > a safe cutaway. HALO (High altitude, low opening ) jumps > in the military are made with cutaway gear. > > As for their success, I quote Dan Poynter's book, The Parachute Manual: > "A 1955 survey was conducted to evaluate the frequency of reserve activations > (WADD TR 59-17). The troop reserve was activated 0.2% of the jumps and it fun- > ctioned properly 75% of the time. These were throw-outs under a main canopy." > Fred Wamsley ihnp4!sol1!s255 D8844 > /* End of text from infoswx:net.rec.skydive */ I know reserves don't always work perfectly, but when your average skydiving center runs a FJC in 6-8 hours, I believe more students will be seriously injured or killed screwing up a cut-away than seriously injured or killed with reserve malfunctions. Al Gettier D 5850
al@infoswx.UUCP (01/04/86)
This talk reminds me of one old jump story (no sh*t, there I was). When in the Army, we used to jump out of huey's almost every weekend. One extremely good pilot would play a game with the jumpers. When he would hear the ready of "Ready, Set , Go", he would pull back on the cyclic, and bring the huey to near a hover by the time "go" was yelled. I can remember leaving the the Helicopter, hearing the "wop, wop, wop" of the blades, thinking I have never heard that before, usually I hear only wind. From there, the tumbling starting. The really amusing part of the jump was the Air Force Combat Control Team guy. Having ~100 jumps, he was fairly new. Since he never felt this strange on exit, he decided do do a full military-style jumpmaster check on himself during the first 5 or so seconds of the jump. As I tumbled, I saw him go through the "Capewells, check, reserve, check, etc, etc" Al Gettier D 5850
al@infoswx.UUCP (02/08/86)
Well, here are my opnions! Title : Parachuting, the skydivers handbook Good book for beginners, and wuffos. Nice to have around to house to explain something to a whuffo. Title : United we fall I liked it, but I have not read it for a while. Title : The parachute manual Great! A must for riggers. A factual book on detail of parachutes. Sort of like a repair shop manual for parachutes, and more! Even the FAA uses it as a reference. Title : Sport Parachuting Good book, if you intend to jump really old equipment. Really, a good book that is many, many years out of date. Title : Skies Call 1, 2 & 3 Excellent picture books. Good to look at, g reat to show to the whuffos Al Gettier D 5850