Alvitz

".. "Pull the soft handle first" is not a good way to teach.." I know, but that's how it happened.... This is the reason I keep practicing in freefall too, to make it very smooth and VERY automatic, independently from the feeling I get from the handles. ;-) "....they said in a typical malfunction you will be most likely 'sitting up' in your container (like you are under canopy)....." What about a bag-lock? Blue Regards A.

Wanna see a really UNUSUAL emergency procedure? Go to: http://www.worstcasescenarios.com/adventure.htm and read "How to Survive if Your Parachute Fails to Open". The really scaring thing is that that is supposed to have been written by an "expert"........... About the real thread disscussed, I've been tought "one hand on each, and pull the soft one first". I've never had any problem with this method, but I don't know if I'd be so quick with a "two soft handles sys". I usually practice my handles procedure every time I jump alone. I finish my exercise at 4,000 and reach the handles as many times as I can before 3,000. Without loosing stability. I suggest to do it, sometimes. Indipendently from the procedure choosen and that work best (and quicker) for any of you. It is A LOT different to do it in the air than on the ground. Just my opinion. Blue Regards A.

Well, at least now we know why they were able to sell them cheaper....... A.

PalmettoT., You got exactly what I was thinking about when I started this thread. Yes, the three rings system is fine as it is and, analizing that accident, the FIRST point is really not why the yellow cable was sucked in the grommet but how/why somebody can, not only board, but dive out of an airplane with his rig so badly assembled. However, the point I was trying to focus is exactly "idiot proofness": IMO we should never, ever, stop working on that! Even if it could look like a lost battle... (Always) respectfully A.

Question for riggers (and whoever has an opinion about the problem!!!!): Lately I've been thinking a lot about a fatality happened about 1 year ago at a dropzone near where I lived: a highly loaded Stiletto deployed with a serious line twist. The guy tried to cut away, but the 3 rings sys was wrongly set up (2nd and 3rd both passing through the first, PULLING THE YELLOW CABLE THROUGH THE GROMMET). He deployed his reserve, that didn't entangle with his main but went immediately in downplane and hit the ground at about 50 mph..... Now, my question is (besides all the obvious considerations that it is something to think about that somebody can get on an airplane with a rig in that conditions...) why the three rings grommet is so big to allow the yellow cable to be sucked in? Why isn't it half (or even less) of the diameter it is? There would still be room enough for the loop to pass through it without any hesitation and release the risers but not for the yellow cable to fold and get in. Well, just a though. LET ME KNOW YOUR OPINIONS! Deep Blue Skies A.

Hi ditch9276, Do these german guys you're talking about have an English version of their site or are they only for the German speaking market? Or maybe it's just me that's unable to find the link on the geman page...... If this is the case, will you give me the URL for the English version? THANKS! A.

My dad use to psycho a Springo 120, and I usually psycho my Safire 149. And Both with GREAT, consistent results! Expecially for the Springo, that is equipped with the first kind of slider PdeF equipped it with (i.e. the tiniest I've ever seen). There's only one thing I STRONGLY recommend: have a rigger make you a bridle extension! Without it you're at risk of: Burn the top skin of your canopy Induce a severe line twist during deployment as, if the bridle begins pulling on the canopy-bridle connection ring BEFORE the canopy is completely out its bag, all the rolls given to the canopy while packing will be transferred to the lines. In my opinion (but that's only my own, PERSONAL opinion) this is what gives a bad name to Psycho-packing: a lot of people do it without having a proper bridle extesion installed, that makes a lot more likely a line twist mal. I think that "pulling the ring out of the roll" isn't enough. But, again, this is only my opinion and I think this is a great packing method for "nervous opening" canopies if properly executed. Hope this helps A.

Quick question, lads (and gals): Somebody told me that PD Reserve Slinks have actually been TSOed BY THEMSELVES, as to say that, even if PD state quite clearly that they didn't test them with different parachutes than theirs, they should be legal with any (legal) reserve canopy. Is that true/right? Thanks and blue skies A.

I fly a Safire loaded at 1.35 (that often becomes 1.4…). I’ve done about 25/30 jumps on it. Always great openings, but Wednesday, on my second jump, I had a quite serious (four or five) line twist. Well, the canopy was just STABLE and SOLID as a ROCK in the air! Only a little bit of turning to the right due essentially to end cell closure (that happens quite often, actually) and not to the twists, that stopped by itself long before I managed to untwist them lines… Well, if I was happy with my new Safire, now I’m absolutely in love with it! Blue Ones A.

craddock, Yes, I agree with you when you say that after a mal. the most fabric above your head the better, expecially if the mal has caused some kind of shock or even panic or body injuries. But, in my two cents worth opinion, it should be obvious to everybody also that the factors that make keeping main and reserve balanced a better option are many and all important. First of all, for example, a "Two squares out" situation, where a big difference in sizes can give you lots of problems (see PIA report on this issue). I've seen people killed by that situation and, everything you can do to make it "easily manageable" should be done. In this context, I personally think that if you don't feel confident with 150 sqft above your head, independently from the no. of cells or the fabric, you shouldn't go for it. Neither main nor reserve. Canopy manufacturers usually recommend reserves no more than one size bigger than main. I suppose that has some reasons in it and not only that they fancy this option. If you jump an 85 sqft it probably means you have the experience and the skills to do it and to deal with the smallest reserves available on the market. What I'd like to point out is that what some people consider obvious, it's just another "catch 22" choice (like almost everything in this sport), where what at a first glance looks really obvious has ALWAYS "side effects". "side effects" that maybe concern less likely situations. But always possible. But, i repeat it, that's only my 0.02 worth opinion... A.

Just a quick question: I don't know very well the container you bought, but if the volumes for main and reserve you're quoting are right, it won't fit a MAIN bigger that 150 (and probably not even that as, for example, Sabre 150 needs about, if not more than, 400 cu.in.). So, the question is, if you feel a 160 reserve is too little for you, how can a 135/150 main be big enough? A.

Aviatrr, I completely agree with what you say about "fabric burns", but, in my opinion, we should also add that psycho packing WITHOUT the bridle extension could also give you a bad line twist, as if you pull out the ring from the roll, all the rolls you gave to the canopy are transferred to the lines.... BTW, I use to psycho WITH a bridle extension a couple of inches longer than what it should be: in this way I have to pay more attention that it's not going to get messed up with the bridle when I bag the canopy, but I'm sure the roll is definitely out from the bag before starting unrolling. And... I LOVE the openings it gives me!! A.