al@infoswx.UUCP (11/13/85)
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. I also believe that if the Main is either a PC-type parachute, or a ram-air, a cutaway is required. Some DZ's can afford the more advanced gear, but most are till using the old T-10s (or MC1-1B). Since most students are after a "high speed carnival ride", the training should be geared for a student making less than 5 jumps. I believe not cutting away is the best bet for when a T-10 canopy is used Al Gettier Teknekron Infoswitch ihnp4!infoswx!al convex!infoswx!al
s255@sol1.UUCP (alcmist) (11/19/85)
> > 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