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From: al@infoswx.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.rec.skydive
Subject: Re: Re: First Time Jumper!!!
Message-ID: <10100008@infoswx>
Date: Tue, 27-Aug-85 00:11:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: infoswx.10100008
Posted: Tue Aug 27 00:11:00 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Aug-85 20:01:30 EDT
References: <41800022@hpcvlo>
Lines: 37
Nf-ID: #R:hpcvlo:41800022:infoswx:10100008:000:1482
Nf-From: infoswx.UUCP!al    Aug 26 23:11:00 1985


> I know this is not fun to talk about, but would any of you frequent
> jumpers care to relate your experiences of chute failure? Such as
> how long it took to figure out your main was a streamer, etc.?
> I realize this doesn't happen often, but would like to hear from
> people who've had to deal with it. 

I have had only two malfunctions in ~675 jumps.  Both of which I can
attribute to packing errors.

The first malfunction was very minor, so minor I probably could have
landed with it.  It seemed like a good openning, but due to sloppiness,
I did not look at the main!  I was at 1200' when I looked at the main
parachute, and all the lines on one side were twisted pretty bad.  Since
I was very low, afraid of the main collapsing and inexperienced, I 
elected to cut-away.  No further problems & a standup landing under
a 26' navy conical.

The second was a radical spinning malfunction.  Because it was very easy
to recognize, I was open well over 1500'.  

I found that after both malfunctions, there was no hesitance to pull the
reserve, nor any time delay at looking at the main.  The only reaction
was "RATS!  I have to repack my reserve!"

Also, there was an add in Skydiving Magazine my a reserve manufacturer.  
The add went something like:

	"You are at 2500', you pull you main.  You have a malfunction,
	it is an [etc, etc, etc]

	You pull you reserve, it opens, and you land safely.

	Now let's face facts, that was kind of fun, wasn't it!"

 Al Gettier 
 D5850