freeflir29 0 #1 July 16, 2002 So...it's Sunday afternoon...I'm enjoying a 5 way head down jump. A bit of a zoo dive but had fun chasing the base. ~5000 I turn, clear, and track. get in some nice clean air and wave off. I dump...(Kinda hard pull)...wait....wait.....wait. About 3 seconds goes by and nothing. As my hand twitched for the cutaway pillow I felt the P/C inflate, pull the pin, then extract the bag, and had a normal deployment from there. I was open about 1700. So, my deployment took about 1300Ft instead of the usual 600-700ft. Wasn't a very nice experience. Worst thing is...I'm not really sure why it happened. It may have been a lazy throw since I had a bit of a time getting the P/C out of the pouch. Whatever it was I know that the P/C took a LONG time to inflate. Anyway....Once again I avoided my first reserve ride. Went up a little later..did outside video for a 2 way FF and deployed kinda high. ~3400 and was in the saddle by 2800. P/C worked fine. *shrug* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nws01 0 #2 July 16, 2002 What is your hard deck Clay? I probably would have chopped that. Did you have good altitude awarenwss the whole time? Congrats on getting out of your first reserve ride. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freeflir29 0 #3 July 16, 2002 QuoteWhat is your hard deck Clay? My personal hard deck...My reserve handle must be pulled before 1000 Ft. I really don't worry about alti though. If I recognize a problem I'm going to cut away immediately. Unless I pulled really high like above 4000 ft. On this one my pin was out by 2300-2200 ft. So...I hadn't even burned through 2000 yet. I hate to even say it...but...I never even looked. I tossed...thought...Hmmm...didn't feel it inflate. (1-2 sec elapse) Give it another second (Probably should have checked right there but didn't) My right hand twitched for the pillow and I felt the pin pull. It was about 1 more sec from being chopped. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Merrick 0 #4 July 16, 2002 Quote"It may have been a lazy throw" that may have been a shot in the dark, but logically you may not be far off. If your bridle fits tightly under your closing flap, or you stuff it up in there REAL good, and then you barely pulled your PC out because of the hard pull, it could have taken a minute to get everything out above you. Hell, you may not even have gotten the PC all the way out... just enough mesh out to catch a little air and it took a minute to pull it the rest of the way out..... *shrug* Blues! Merrick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freeflir29 0 #5 July 16, 2002 I didn't look back at it but I could feel the bridal dancing around. I could also tell that the PC wasn't inflated. I think maybe a lazy throw leaving the PC in my burble or tangled bridal caused it. The bridal wasn't tangled when I got on the ground but you never know what was happening when I deployed it. I just know that it didn't inflate properly and took about 3-4 seconds to do so. I came very close to chopping it. I'll take a spinning mal over that crap any day!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites tlshealy 0 #6 July 17, 2002 Clay, I had the same thing happen the other day, we were doing a 22 way and sometimes when there is a lot of jumpers in the air , I'll hold my PC for a moment as an additional wave off then let it go, instead of just throwing it. I suspect it did the same as yours, nothing for a couple of seconds then when I turned to look it deployed normally. I had also just switched from a 30 inch F111 PC to a 27 inch ZP kill line and the normal deployments were noticeably slower, but consistant and soft. I would suspect that throwing the PC out harder would fix this, but I wish I would have had a video of it. Blue Skies and no hesitations, Tad Quote Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites thrillseek 0 #7 July 17, 2002 Clay, I have had this happen to me twice. The first time freaked me out, and when i got on the ground, i recieved some good advice which i'll pass along: If you throw out and nothing happens, you don't have much time, BUT take the time to dip a shoulder before chopping...this will change the burble that your pilot chute is most likely hiding in and cause it to inflate as it should. By going for your handles like you did, you probably did very much the same manuver. On my first time, i almost had a tight grip on my handles when i felt opening shock...sure am glad i didn't cut away as the main opened...that thought hung around in my head for a while Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wlie 0 #8 July 17, 2002 2 weeks ago I was jumping with this guy who had just bought his own gear and has jumped it about 10 times. He didn't know about having to cock his PC. On the next jump, he said that it opened a lot brisker. I felt bad because I gave him a gear check and missed the little window. Mine has one of them retractable pins that don't come out unless the PC's cocked. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freeflir29 0 #9 July 17, 2002 QuoteBy going for your handles like you did Thats the weird thing. I never even moved my hands that I remember. I was about to reach...thinking about it but never actually did it. I should have checked over my shoulder like I was jumping a springloaded PC....but it's just been too long since I had to do that. Wasn't a reflex..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites thrillseek 0 #10 July 17, 2002 i made it a reflex for me....on the ride to altitude, i include that in my psychological pre-jump preps...I think:"if i throw out and don't feel anything after x-amount of time, i will slip to either side to get some air on my back, and if i still don't feel anything, CHOP CHOP...time's a wastin'! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites riggerrob 643 #11 July 18, 2002 Yes, your problem may have been created by a lazy toss. Another factor to consider is how deep you stuffed the bridle under the side flap. If you stuff too much bridle, too deep under the side flap, it can hook around the corner of the bottom flap stiffener, delaying your opening while the bridle tries to straighten itself out. I have repaired dozens of Vectors with holes worn near the corners of the bottom flap stiffener. The short term solution to this problem is limiting how deep you stuff the bridle under the side flap. The long term solution involves sewing on a bridle-hider flap similar to the latest Javelins. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freeflir29 0 #12 July 18, 2002 QuoteAnother factor to consider is how deep you stuffed the bridle under the side flap Yep...I'm very careful about that. I like to get it well under the upper flap but make DAMN sure it doesn't go past the one on the bottom. I also am very careful about making sure there aren't any lines, bag, etc hanging out at that corner or even any space between the two flaps. Don't need those problems. I don't think it was hung up. I very clearly remember feeling the P/C flail around UNINFLATED. Then felt it inflate and immediately pull the pin. It MUST have been in the burble. I can't see any other reason it wouldn't inflate properly at first and then work fine a few seconds later. Then work fine again on the next jump. *Shrug* Must be more careful about getting a good toss I guess. It's funny.....watching the video it doesn't really look like anything happened. The total pause was only 3 seconds or so. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0 Go To Topic Listing
freeflir29 0 #3 July 16, 2002 QuoteWhat is your hard deck Clay? My personal hard deck...My reserve handle must be pulled before 1000 Ft. I really don't worry about alti though. If I recognize a problem I'm going to cut away immediately. Unless I pulled really high like above 4000 ft. On this one my pin was out by 2300-2200 ft. So...I hadn't even burned through 2000 yet. I hate to even say it...but...I never even looked. I tossed...thought...Hmmm...didn't feel it inflate. (1-2 sec elapse) Give it another second (Probably should have checked right there but didn't) My right hand twitched for the pillow and I felt the pin pull. It was about 1 more sec from being chopped. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Merrick 0 #4 July 16, 2002 Quote"It may have been a lazy throw" that may have been a shot in the dark, but logically you may not be far off. If your bridle fits tightly under your closing flap, or you stuff it up in there REAL good, and then you barely pulled your PC out because of the hard pull, it could have taken a minute to get everything out above you. Hell, you may not even have gotten the PC all the way out... just enough mesh out to catch a little air and it took a minute to pull it the rest of the way out..... *shrug* Blues! Merrick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #5 July 16, 2002 I didn't look back at it but I could feel the bridal dancing around. I could also tell that the PC wasn't inflated. I think maybe a lazy throw leaving the PC in my burble or tangled bridal caused it. The bridal wasn't tangled when I got on the ground but you never know what was happening when I deployed it. I just know that it didn't inflate properly and took about 3-4 seconds to do so. I came very close to chopping it. I'll take a spinning mal over that crap any day!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tlshealy 0 #6 July 17, 2002 Clay, I had the same thing happen the other day, we were doing a 22 way and sometimes when there is a lot of jumpers in the air , I'll hold my PC for a moment as an additional wave off then let it go, instead of just throwing it. I suspect it did the same as yours, nothing for a couple of seconds then when I turned to look it deployed normally. I had also just switched from a 30 inch F111 PC to a 27 inch ZP kill line and the normal deployments were noticeably slower, but consistant and soft. I would suspect that throwing the PC out harder would fix this, but I wish I would have had a video of it. Blue Skies and no hesitations, Tad Quote Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites thrillseek 0 #7 July 17, 2002 Clay, I have had this happen to me twice. The first time freaked me out, and when i got on the ground, i recieved some good advice which i'll pass along: If you throw out and nothing happens, you don't have much time, BUT take the time to dip a shoulder before chopping...this will change the burble that your pilot chute is most likely hiding in and cause it to inflate as it should. By going for your handles like you did, you probably did very much the same manuver. On my first time, i almost had a tight grip on my handles when i felt opening shock...sure am glad i didn't cut away as the main opened...that thought hung around in my head for a while Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wlie 0 #8 July 17, 2002 2 weeks ago I was jumping with this guy who had just bought his own gear and has jumped it about 10 times. He didn't know about having to cock his PC. On the next jump, he said that it opened a lot brisker. I felt bad because I gave him a gear check and missed the little window. Mine has one of them retractable pins that don't come out unless the PC's cocked. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freeflir29 0 #9 July 17, 2002 QuoteBy going for your handles like you did Thats the weird thing. I never even moved my hands that I remember. I was about to reach...thinking about it but never actually did it. I should have checked over my shoulder like I was jumping a springloaded PC....but it's just been too long since I had to do that. Wasn't a reflex..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites thrillseek 0 #10 July 17, 2002 i made it a reflex for me....on the ride to altitude, i include that in my psychological pre-jump preps...I think:"if i throw out and don't feel anything after x-amount of time, i will slip to either side to get some air on my back, and if i still don't feel anything, CHOP CHOP...time's a wastin'! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites riggerrob 643 #11 July 18, 2002 Yes, your problem may have been created by a lazy toss. Another factor to consider is how deep you stuffed the bridle under the side flap. If you stuff too much bridle, too deep under the side flap, it can hook around the corner of the bottom flap stiffener, delaying your opening while the bridle tries to straighten itself out. I have repaired dozens of Vectors with holes worn near the corners of the bottom flap stiffener. The short term solution to this problem is limiting how deep you stuff the bridle under the side flap. The long term solution involves sewing on a bridle-hider flap similar to the latest Javelins. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freeflir29 0 #12 July 18, 2002 QuoteAnother factor to consider is how deep you stuffed the bridle under the side flap Yep...I'm very careful about that. I like to get it well under the upper flap but make DAMN sure it doesn't go past the one on the bottom. I also am very careful about making sure there aren't any lines, bag, etc hanging out at that corner or even any space between the two flaps. Don't need those problems. I don't think it was hung up. I very clearly remember feeling the P/C flail around UNINFLATED. Then felt it inflate and immediately pull the pin. It MUST have been in the burble. I can't see any other reason it wouldn't inflate properly at first and then work fine a few seconds later. Then work fine again on the next jump. *Shrug* Must be more careful about getting a good toss I guess. It's funny.....watching the video it doesn't really look like anything happened. The total pause was only 3 seconds or so. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
thrillseek 0 #7 July 17, 2002 Clay, I have had this happen to me twice. The first time freaked me out, and when i got on the ground, i recieved some good advice which i'll pass along: If you throw out and nothing happens, you don't have much time, BUT take the time to dip a shoulder before chopping...this will change the burble that your pilot chute is most likely hiding in and cause it to inflate as it should. By going for your handles like you did, you probably did very much the same manuver. On my first time, i almost had a tight grip on my handles when i felt opening shock...sure am glad i didn't cut away as the main opened...that thought hung around in my head for a while Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wlie 0 #8 July 17, 2002 2 weeks ago I was jumping with this guy who had just bought his own gear and has jumped it about 10 times. He didn't know about having to cock his PC. On the next jump, he said that it opened a lot brisker. I felt bad because I gave him a gear check and missed the little window. Mine has one of them retractable pins that don't come out unless the PC's cocked. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #9 July 17, 2002 QuoteBy going for your handles like you did Thats the weird thing. I never even moved my hands that I remember. I was about to reach...thinking about it but never actually did it. I should have checked over my shoulder like I was jumping a springloaded PC....but it's just been too long since I had to do that. Wasn't a reflex..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thrillseek 0 #10 July 17, 2002 i made it a reflex for me....on the ride to altitude, i include that in my psychological pre-jump preps...I think:"if i throw out and don't feel anything after x-amount of time, i will slip to either side to get some air on my back, and if i still don't feel anything, CHOP CHOP...time's a wastin'! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #11 July 18, 2002 Yes, your problem may have been created by a lazy toss. Another factor to consider is how deep you stuffed the bridle under the side flap. If you stuff too much bridle, too deep under the side flap, it can hook around the corner of the bottom flap stiffener, delaying your opening while the bridle tries to straighten itself out. I have repaired dozens of Vectors with holes worn near the corners of the bottom flap stiffener. The short term solution to this problem is limiting how deep you stuff the bridle under the side flap. The long term solution involves sewing on a bridle-hider flap similar to the latest Javelins. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #12 July 18, 2002 QuoteAnother factor to consider is how deep you stuffed the bridle under the side flap Yep...I'm very careful about that. I like to get it well under the upper flap but make DAMN sure it doesn't go past the one on the bottom. I also am very careful about making sure there aren't any lines, bag, etc hanging out at that corner or even any space between the two flaps. Don't need those problems. I don't think it was hung up. I very clearly remember feeling the P/C flail around UNINFLATED. Then felt it inflate and immediately pull the pin. It MUST have been in the burble. I can't see any other reason it wouldn't inflate properly at first and then work fine a few seconds later. Then work fine again on the next jump. *Shrug* Must be more careful about getting a good toss I guess. It's funny.....watching the video it doesn't really look like anything happened. The total pause was only 3 seconds or so. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
