Dropzone.com - The single best source for skydiving information

How about some input on this one... I had a super hard opening and broke a line and ripped the canopy. I opened really high (5000) to work on canopy control so I had all kinds of time to make my decision to land this. I hit the brakes really hard several times to see how this was going to respond, and the rip didnt grow. I made several turns and it seemes to be flying ok, so I made the decision to fly it to the ground. I took it easy and made a perfect landing. What would you have done with this?

R.I.P. Sabre 1

In the words of Porky the Pig "Th, tha, th, tha... That's All Folks!"

A still from my first cutaway

My main after a premie mal

080809 August 8, 2009 - I saw a Cutaway. I was watching jumps with my binoculars and happened to be looking at this skydiver. As I watched the canopy open up it appeared like the right side of the canopy was curled under and didn’t open completely. It looked like that was a problem. After a few seconds I saw the canopy start to fold in and the skydiver started to loose altitude and drop. I saw him do the cutaway and open the reserve just seconds before I could switch from my binoculars to my camera. I was able to take this picture of the canopy. The skydiver made it safely to the ground. 1 of 2

080809 August 8, 2009 - Second picture of the cutaway canopy falling to earth. 2 of 2

fun ride until opening, damn packers, ha ha

The PLF really wasn't needed but I was going through all of my emergency procedures. Of the four jumpers on this load I was the second closes to the target. I don't know if that was through luck or skill but atleast I have the rest of my life to debate over it.

The image is dark but you can tell just how F'ed up the situation was.

Using my rear risers to steer I managed to make it to the DZ with enough altitude to make my last turn that put me on final.

I used my rear risers to steer back to the DZ. I didn't want to unstow my brakes out of fear that it would make a bad situation worse. It was flying (with a limp) and it was controllable, why risk changing that?

Pulling the reserve bridal in an attempt to seperate it from my main pilot chute did nothing but collapse my main parachute more. Three attempts at this and I gave up.

Pulling the reserve D-bag up between my legs allowed 4-6 feet of slack to pass up to the reserve bridal. My main canopy inflated a little more and took a heading towards the ocean with a slight left turn.

Main and reserve pilot chutes are spring loaded. They deploy at the same time and become entangled. Reserve bridal goes over the nose of the main canopy, passes through the suspension lines, and wraps around behind me and my risers. Reserve stays in its D-bag and dangles below me to my right.

Break off altitude

Military free fall at Boca Chico, FL

Larry was a great person. Love hischildren with all he had. and We miss him. He's now our Angle looking over us. He went before his time. We Love You

082408 2 of 2. 4:36PM in Pepperell. Close-up of original. Cutaway.

082408 1 of 2. I was taking pictures at the “New England Boogie” in Pepperell, MA on August 24, 2008. At 4:36PM Ron Peterson cut his main parachute away when it malfunctioned. He returned safely with his reserve parachute. The first picture I took of this is in the November 2008 issue of Skydiving Magazine. The lesson is pack carefully and wear a reserve. Cutaway.

Thursday July 10, 2008. RSL snag caused the reserve to deploy. Landed fine on target.

Katana 107 loaded 2.15 lbs/ft2

Hackysack with the bridle cord knotted perfectly about 6 inches from the base of the pilot chute.