rick@uokvax.UUCP (12/06/85)
I had two spinning malfunctions on a 28 ft. 7-tu back when I learned to jump in the mid seventies. On both occasions I did not cutaway and hand deployed the reserve. The first malfundtion was on jump #11, a spinning mae west. Even though I threw the reserve in the wrong direction (not into the direction of spin but away), it opened rather quickly. I then landed under two canopies which limited my ability to steer. On jump number 21 I had the same type of malfunction and again hand deployed the reserve, this time in the correct direction. Once again the reserve opened quickly. This time I pulled the reserve in after the mae west cleared on the main. It was easy. Before you discuss your options of cutaway or not cutaway you better ensure the reserve is rigged with a pilot chute. The reserves we used did not have pilot chutes and were intended only for hand deploy malfunctions. On a high speed the proper procedure was to pull reserve ripcord and "punch" the side of the chest mounted reserve, I never have tried this myself. Rick D 6448
brent@poseidon.UUCP (Brent P. Callaghan) (12/19/85)
> Before you discuss your options of cutaway or not cutaway >you better ensure the reserve is rigged with a pilot chute. >The reserves we used did not have pilot chutes and were intended >only for hand deploy malfunctions. On a high speed the proper >procedure was to pull reserve ripcord and "punch" the side of the >chest mounted reserve, I never have tried this myself. > > Rick D 6448 I've heard that deployment without pilot chute tension greatly increases the risk of a blown periphery or "line over" malfunction. It seems that pilot chute tension keeps the periphery even and presented correctly to the relative airflow. There is a good photo of the deployment of a front mounted reserve without pilot chute in Dan Poynter's "Parachute Manual". It shows several stages in the deployment. At one stage the jumper seems to be almost completely enveloped in canopy. Yuk! I've done a cutaway on to a 24' ripstop without pilot chute. I remember looking at it sitting in the container for several seconds before I nudged it out into the airflow where it realised it's resposibilities ! -- Made in New Zealand --> Brent Callaghan AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft, NJ {ihnp4|mtuxo|pegasus}!poseidon!brent (201) 576-3475