psustang89 0 #1 December 17, 2004 How many people here have had to use their reserve? How many times? How common are malfunctions requiring pulling the reserve? What typically causes these malfunctions? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #2 December 17, 2004 QuoteHow many people here have had to use their reserve? How many times? How common are malfunctions requiring pulling the reserve? What typically causes these malfunctions? Have used my reserve 10 or 11 times in 2500+ jumps over 28 years. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reginald 0 #3 December 17, 2004 1 reserve ride in 326 jumps. It was a spinning mal (picture a hard spiral toward the ground with multiple line twists and me with my back to the ground) You'll get different opinions but my current guess is cutaways happen about once every 500 jumps."We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LawnDart21 0 #4 December 17, 2004 1 reserve ride in 1750 jumps. Spinning line twists on a HP canopy at about my 600th jump. Pilot chute got stuck in burble of my wing jacket and spun the dbag before the canopy came out. I dunno the stats, I've heard 1 in 1000 for main malfunctions, but know many people with multiple cutaways with under 1000 jumps. Others without any cutaways that have thousands of jumps. I think jumping a HP canopy increases the chances of a cutaway as line twists on larger canopies aren't as quick to turn into cutaways. -- My other ride is a RESERVE. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmdrennan 2 #5 December 17, 2004 Twice. Both before I had 500 jumps. The first was a spinner on a heatwave and the 2nd was a bag lock around jump 420 or so. Blues, IanPerformance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattjw916 2 #6 December 17, 2004 none so far... *knocks on woodNSCR-2376, SCR-15080 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
samhussey 0 #7 December 17, 2004 1 reserve ride so far, in only 25 jumps. I couldnt get the pilot chute out, so I went for it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedy 0 #8 December 17, 2004 4 reserves in 1500 jumps. 1 was broken lines 3 were spinning mals All on sub 100 sqft canopies. Dave Fallschirmsport Marl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rsibbald 0 #9 December 17, 2004 1 reserve ride in 426 jumps. Was inexperienced jumper on one of my first jumps on my new Sabre 2 150 at the time, slider jammed a steering toggle. I didn't fancy landing it on rear risers, so I found some clear airspace and had really nice transition to a PD-R 143 :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #10 December 17, 2004 Per your previous post introducing yourself, you have done tandems, right, but no further training???? If that is the case, let me give you a tidbit more information, just in case this is an issue that might have you a bit nervous, as I was when I had the same question two months ago when I was still in AFF... In my poll http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1322083;#1322083 I asked the same question and found some interesting ratios... When I asked someone who happened to have a reserve ride while teaching me, what was his reserve history, he said… “I had 1000 jumps and no reserve rides, and then three this year, two this month... The only thing I changed was my canopy." Note – the canopy he was flying, with the wing loading in pounds per square foot of canopy, requires more than 1000 jumps of experience to do somewhat safely, so it is something most people never use. But – the point being – some expert canopies can have higher chances of reserve rides because they are more twitchy and less forgiving. I have talked to a few people right after their rides - and the general consensus is - no big deal. They had practiced the maneuver so many times the real thing was easy… You asked what types of things cause malfunctions… These are the general concepts: 1) You pull the pilot chute and you can’t pull it, or once you pull it, the canopy never makes it overhead and open. Basically – a total malfunction, nothing is slowing you down. You need your reserve immediately. 2) The canopy opens up overhead, and it generally is slowing you down, but for some reason you cannot control it. These slow malfunctions you have some time to analyze and try to fix before using a reserve. 3) The canopy ends up overhead and either never opens past a ball, or once it is open you find yourself spinning real fast. These high speed malfunctions generally require immediate cut away and pull reserve. Anyway, I hope I gave you some tidbits of info to answer your questions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
psustang89 0 #11 December 17, 2004 Thanks tdog, that helped. I've got the bug real bad now and it's 28 degrees in PA today. It'll be a while before I get the chance to go up again and go through AFF. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,419 #12 December 17, 2004 0 reserve rides in 1500+ jumps IMO - poor packingNobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #13 December 17, 2004 2 rides, both within a week of each other, both on tandems. QuoteIMO - poor packing Yes and no. The second one was, that packer doesn't pack for us anymore. The first one was a tension knot from the dacron lines getting grabby, then going downhill from there (I couldn't get it to clear).--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,419 #14 December 17, 2004 I can see that - hence why I use Vectran on my tandem rigs. But, I think you'll agree that overall it's a packing issue for sport rigs.Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #15 December 17, 2004 QuoteBut, I think you'll agree that overall it's a packing issue for sport rigs. Most definately. You and me need to sit down over a good handful of beer. We have much to discuss...--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #16 December 17, 2004 0 in 250 jumps. however i'm hoping to make an intentional cutaway this weekend. also i've always heard the avg malfunction rate for mains was 1 in 350. MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #17 December 17, 2004 Quote Have used my reserve 10 or 11 times in 2500+ jumps over 28 years Quote Hummmmm...! I have the about the same in all areas.. Jumps~reserve rides~number of years. BUT YOU'RE A RIGGER! ...And you saw how " I " pack... remember...you started shaking and stuff! I did have a line-over on a reserve once too... ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LawnDart21 0 #18 December 17, 2004 There a packer up here that grew up on a DZ, he's in his mid 20s now, and his streak was approx 14,500 pack jobs (sport and tandem) before packing his first mal. Even his 5 minute pack jobs are flawless. -- My other ride is a RESERVE. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ElMarco 0 #19 December 17, 2004 3 in 36 jumps, that's 1 every 12 jumps... Must be some kind of record for screwed up pack jobs... My first was on jump 13, on an old f111 canopy, got a bitch of an opening that tore the top skin.... I didn't pack this one. The next one on jump 26 (=13*2 notice the trend) I opened at 5000, the canopy went in a super fast left spiral, I was going faster and faster, the slider was down, the canopy fully inflated, I got the time to go straight again by burying the opposite toggle. tried to turn left, got in another violent spiral, got stable again and cut away... by that time I was at 1500 feet. That's when I learned not to play around with spinning mals on a zerop... I probably screwed the pack job. Last one was on jump number 35, after 1 month without jumping, I didn't stow one of my brake right, the canopy only partially inflated, I did 3 turns and said good bye baby... As everyone said poor packing was the main reason for my malfunctions. now according to the stats I should be good for another 350*4-35 = 1315 jumps without a mal, that's if I get better at packing... Which I am working at real hard!!!! But at least now every time I jump I expect a mal... I practice my emergency procedure on the ride up to the happy place evey time :-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
killler 2 #20 December 17, 2004 Zero in 1600+ jumps and over 2500 pack jobs on student rigs and reserves with out a malfunction on those rigs........ 27saves It's all about the packing IMO.... Killer...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,073 #21 December 17, 2004 4200 jumps and: 1 mal on a PD190 1 mal on a Sabre1 3 mals on tandem mains Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #22 December 17, 2004 Quote 4200 jumps and: 1 mal on a PD190 1 mal on a Sabre1 3 mals on tandem mains Quote Yeah..sure...easy for you to say! ~you know what you're DOING! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #23 December 17, 2004 QuoteQuote 4200 jumps and: 1 mal on a PD190 1 mal on a Sabre1 3 mals on tandem mains Quote Yeah..sure...easy for you to say! ~you know what you're DOING! Some of the stuff we used to jump I am not sure was made to open, just look cool during the door jam up. But then I do have close to 100 reserve rides. Want to come along for the ride. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #24 December 17, 2004 8 in 2500 for me! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liemberg 0 #25 December 17, 2004 QuoteBut then I do have close to 100 reserve rides. If nothing else, at least you must be current. "Whoever in discussion adduces authority uses not intellect but memory." - Leonardo da Vinci A thousand words... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
