korvus

Not a bad analogy, but flying and floating have some significantly different properties. The main factor that keeps a raft afloat is the relative density of (raft + passengers) versus water. It would be a better analogy if we were talking about flying hot air balloons. I don't have any definite answers here because there are too many factors interacting, but an open cell canopy "breathing" is changing size (and shape). One way to think of it is that your wing loading is dynamically changing. Lift = [some coefficient] * density * velocity^2 * wing area. Shrink the wing and you lose lift. For a stalled canopy, the rate at which you fall is presumably relative to the amount of fabric area above you, which would also be decreasing if the canopy was doing an accordion impression. Flying or falling, it would seem to make sense that a wing that stays rigid makes you less likely to hit the ground hard. Of course, in turbulence, the density of the air is changing as well, so that messes with the equation. But I'd also think a rigid wing may maintain speed better, which would keep lift up. Even if we aren't talking about hitting the ground, more lift means more tension on your lines, which helps you stay in control. I think most of us would want airlocks if we were flying in air likely to collapse a canopy. I think in other cases, you may not notice these effects, but if you do, I'd think it would be in favor of an airlocked wing relative to the same wing without airlocks.

Why on the knees? I`m happy to leave Caravan even from sitting in the door, just like from C207 :). Same thing really. It's just an arbitrary rule to avoid certain types of exits. They are mostly trying to avoid floater exits, but I'm sure if someone jumped UP out of the plane, it would be similar, so they just made a rule where your only option is to fall out of the plane. I doubt anyone would complain about a seated exit. The part that really got me is that I was *TRAINED* to do a floater exit in a hop-n-pop emergency situation. I didn't realize at the time that it is a great way to exit an Otter, but not so great for a Caravan.

I'd like to point out that I had the EXACT same thing happen on a Grand Caravan. I think as long as your head is below the door on exit, and you don't jump up, you are ok. But a floater exit not only puts your head high relative to the tail, but helps you catch wind faster (ie, slow down relative to the plane faster) which makes the problem worse. My DZ ended up making a policy after my impact that everyone on a hop-n-pop has to leave from their knees. It's a mildly irritating rule, but as far as I know, I am the only person who has hit the plane, so it seems to be a good idea. Of course, the pilot was pretty freaked out about it, so I think he might have started slowing down a little for hop-n-pops after that. I'd like to say that asking for a briefing before you jump a new plane would be the solution, but I recall asking someone about that plane and being told that since I was used to jumping an Otter it is exactly the same.....

I was having trouble putting a face to the name, but seeing that picture cleared that right up. I haven't been up there this summer at all, but last summer I talked to him on a number of occasions. I have no doubts about his ability, so I think I am a believer now that this was a freak accident. He will be in my thoughts...