First cutaway

[Griff69 0]

AFF level 6 was yesterday. Floating exit was new and odd. Something didn't go exactly right, but I don't know just what. Maybe I wasn't squared with the wind or maybe it was just the new (to me) exit. Anyway, it threw me off for a second, but arching stabilized things. Next new bit: backflips. Much harder to get the momentum than I expected. The first attempt yielded nothing but a new and intriguing position. Trying again, I got part way there before rolling to the side and back to the arch. Second one was pretty much the same, except I was on my back for a couple seconds. Both times I was able to get back to stable without problem, but that's the best that can be said for them. Next, some tracking. Not great forward motion as my legs apparently weren't fully extended, but it worked.

Here's where things got wonky (yes, that's the technical term). Wave off at 4.5 and pull. After pulling, though, for reasons still unknown to me, I reached back for the risers, rather than flying through the deployment. I saw that on the tape, but once the main started out, the recording stopped, so beyond that is guess work. I don't remember seeing the main deploy, but the next thing I do remember is seeing the main, nice and square, in front of me. Now, a logical, earthbound brain at this point would figure out that I was hanging vertically, but looking at the main, so there must be something else above me. Instead, my brain in the sky thought, 'well, there's one I didn't see on the tape. I should put that back above my head where it belongs.' Altitude is good, and I proceeded to unstow the brakes and apply them very gently. It floated up over my head, and as I watched it approach where I thought it should be, I noticed the nice bright reserve already there. Shit, two out. That isn't good. OK, gentle inputs on the rear risers. I reach back for the risers, and the main starts to descend again. Seeing the two moving apart said downplane to me, and altitude was still good, so I followed emergency procedures and chopped the main. I had some line twists in the reserve, but they cleared very easily, and I had a very fast ride down on the reserve. It seems much faster both horizontally and vertically than the beefy 290 I've been flying.

Now, the not so clear parts... First, I suppose, is how I got two out in the first place. My instructor pointed out that the brain fart during deploying (reaching back for risers that aren't there yet) would have made for a harder opening. It didn't seem any harder than past ones, but with only five other reference points, I'm not certain of that. With the strange body position and harder opening, could that have jolted the RSL into deploying? On an unrelated point, I was also told by one of the other jumpers in the air that at one point one canopy or the other was wrapped around my foot. I didn't notice anything, and I couldn't find him again after debriefing to clarify which canopy it was.

Overall, it surprises me how foggy some things are, but I landed safe and sound under a good canopy, so I'm happy. I look forward to the guesswork on here as to how I ended up with two out.

Level seven this Saturday!

Chris

"Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is two wolves attempting to have a sheep for dinner and finding a well-informed, well-armed sheep."

[Frenchy68 0]

Congrats on landing safely.Did your instructor give you a (reserve) pin check prior to exiting the plane?

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[Griff69 0]

Yes, several times. I'm confident everything was good to go when I left the plane.

Chris

"Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is two wolves attempting to have a sheep for dinner and finding a well-informed, well-armed sheep."

[hookitt 1]

Since a hard opening was mentioned.....

Even if it was a hard opening, the reserve ripcord should not become dislodged. If it was caused by a hard opening, that would indicate the reserve ripcord cable is too short. There needs to be a couple inches of extra cable at the handle end. If there's no extra cable, a hard opening can cause the harness to stretch enough to pull the pin.

I won't guess without seeing the rig so who knows.

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[GQ_jumper 4]

Well whatever ended up happening up there props to you for keeping your head about it, and much respect for you wanting to get back up and go again.

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

[bigorangemd 0]

Can't imagine what could have happened. Doesn't make any sense but doesn't matter. Cool head prevented bad things. Glad you are O.K. Check with the rigger next week as I'm sure he'll throughly check the rig and may have some idea.

[Feeblemind 1]

Congrats on 1st cutaway can we all say

Also, glad all went well!!

Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked