riggerrob 643 #26 August 20, 2002 Both scenarios occurred while I was jumping F-111 canopies. Once my entire top skin went slack while I was hanging under a Strong 520 tandem 300 feet above California City. I kept my hands up and prayed for it to re-open. Fortunately it re-inflated before I needed to flare. It got even scarier when the left half of my 220 square foot F-111 9-cell collpaed at 75 feet over California City. That was the time a PLF saved my bacon. As for your advice about leaving the toggles up and just praying for re-inflation, that manuver had not come into fashion yet. The drill on lightly-loaded F-111 canopies was to apply partial brakes to improve pressurisation while flying through turbulence. Also I learned many years ago that when an approach goes to !@#$, applying 3/4 brakes and clampign my knees together means that I will probably walk away from the landing. As for applying brakes unevenly to promote re-inflation, years ago I found that pullin gboth brakes down evenly always resulted in quick re-inflation. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #27 August 20, 2002 Rhino, I know there's not as much need to know how to do PLF's today as days gone by, but I'll bet there are still times when they are good to know how to do. In the army we spent days and days practicing these, yet I still managed to sprain my ankle on my first jump. My feet were together, but my knees were apart. I'm a slow learner I guess. Sport jumping rounds, back in the 70's, was real scary on windy days. I hated doing a rear PLF while backing up. Many of mine went feet, ass, and then I cracked the back of my motorcycle helmet on the ground. I found it easier to turn slightly off the wind line, in this situation, and then twist to my side. Later I learned how to run with the wind and then hook turn my para-commander into the wind at the last second. If you timed it right you could get a nice soft landing without backing up. If you were late you would hit the ground hard, but I still liked this better than backing up. P.C.'s were very forgiving. I agree with Rigger-Rob. A good PLF will sometimes really "save your bacon". They do take a while to learn how to do properly though. Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
