Ruffles 0 #1 June 27, 2003 Many have said that you should disconnect the RSL before cutting away a down plane. The RSL is connected to the main canopy risers. When you cut away the main, the RSL will just pull a pin that is already out, right? SO why is there a need to disconnect it? BillVon? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samurai136 0 #2 June 28, 2003 The RSL is also velcro attached to the reserve risers. Why would you disconnect the RSL in a 2-out situation, considering this new information?Ken"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #3 June 28, 2003 you disconnect the RSL because you don't want that foot-long piece of webbing with a metal ring on the end whipping around and entangling on your reserve parachute as you chop the main. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #4 June 28, 2003 Quoteyou disconnect the RSL because you don't want that foot-long piece of webbing with a metal ring on the end whipping around and entangling on your reserve parachute as you chop the main. How likely is that to really happen? Has anybody ever died from it? I'm just trying to figure out how important is really is to disconnect it... I mean if I'm at 2000 feet with a downplane, I'll do it, but what if my cypres gives me a 2 out downplane at 700 feet? Is it more important to disconnect the RSL or to save time, which can be used to find a good landing spot? MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hookitt 1 #5 June 28, 2003 2 out with the ripcord not pulled. The ripcord still passes through the the RSL ring and the guide rings. The Riser is attached to the Rsl Snap Shackle. Cutting the parachute away could hang up on the ripcord causing a Main in tow. That's the explanation, personally I don't buy it. If you have a racer with a Dual Rsl and the reserve opened first, if you DON'T release one side of the RSL it will ride up the reserve and choke it off. That will be bad. Just say no to dual RSL'sMy grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ruffles 0 #6 June 28, 2003 I looked at my RSL just now and I traced it from pin link to risers and it is NOT velcro'd to anything at all (Mirage). Assuming it were, I have a hard time believing that a fully inflated or even partially inflated main canopy being cutwaway will not pull hard enough to separate a few inches of velcro. I'm not seeing how this changes things. .. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brabzzz 0 #7 June 28, 2003 By dual RSL I'm assuming you mean one per riser and it won't dump the reserve until both have pulled free. Sure they could rise up and choke the main as you have said, but a single RSL could also f*** you over pretty well if on cutting away the non-RSL linked riser was to stay attached for whatever reason. I suppose it's the lesser of two evils really, both of which are, I hope, never going to happen to me, mainly cos I don't have an RSL . I used to jump with a student rig that had an RSL that was fixed. It had advantages and disadvantages - i suppose it just depends of what you're more afraid might happen. If I had one i'd agree that I'd remove it if I had time in a two-out. And apart from a low level downplane, that's dosn't seem an issue. What would worry me more is trying it with a fullface, under stress, wearing gloves with the harness shifted round a bit and the ground rushing up. Regards, Mike --------------------------------------- Ex-University of Bristol Skydiving Club www.skydivebristoluni.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alan 1 #8 June 28, 2003 QuoteThe RSL is also velcro attached to the reserve risers. On some rigs it is and on some it is not.alan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deleted 0 #9 June 28, 2003 It was my understanding that the "Disconnect the RSL" rule, came about years ago, because of the design of the Racer RSL. That is, to say that it was cross-connected at the risers and stood a very good chance of entangling with the reserve...a good portion of the training video was sponsered by Jumpshack, so this was part of the training that was included... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alan 1 #10 June 28, 2003 Quote In Reply To -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- you disconnect the RSL because you don't want that foot-long piece of webbing with a metal ring on the end whipping around and entangling on your reserve parachute as you chop the main. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How likely is that to really happen? There is not a high probability of this happening, but it can happen. There is a dual square out report available on-line that details how a riser from a cutaway main can snag on the reserve, so it would seem that an additional piece of webbing flopping around would increase the probability. I think the report is somewhere here in Dropzone.com and maybe in PD's website. QuoteHas anybody ever died from it? I can't recall any fatalities in the last 12 or 13 years as a direct result of the RSL snagging the reserve, but then my memory is not perfect. You could search the fatality reports. Keep in mind that it would not always result in a fatality. Although the circumstances were not exactly the same as what you are asking, I can recall Mike McGowan having a riser from a cutaway main snag on his reserve slider and drag the slider up and choke off the reserve. He crashed into some trees and survived. QuoteI'm just trying to figure out how important is really is to disconnect it... I mean if I'm at 2000 feet with a downplane, I'll do it, Good plan.....if you have time and presence of mind, do it, it can't make the situation worse. Quotebut what if my cypres gives me a 2 out downplane at 700 feet? 700 feet? You may still have plenty of time, but that would depend on you and how well you could assess the situation and respond. QuoteIs it more important to disconnect the RSL or to save time, which can be used to find a good landing spot? Just curious, you are in a downplane at 700 feet, just exactly how are you going to steer yourself to the landing spot? Once you are there, assuming you find a way to do that, do you intend to land the downplane? I know what you are asking though, disconnect the RSL then chop or just chop. You have to chop, even if time and altitude do not allow you to disconnect the RSL. What is the limit? Depends on how cool you are under pressure. You asked the right questions.alan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alan 1 #11 June 28, 2003 QuoteIt was my understanding that the "Disconnect the RSL" rule, came about years ago, because of the design of the Racer RSL. That is, to say that it was cross-connected at the risers and stood a very good chance of entangling with the reserve.. You're right, years ago Jumpshack included the disconnect rule in their owner's manual because of the cross-connected RSL. Dig around here in Dropzone.com, I'll bet you can even find a discussion on it by John Sherman. The rule seems to have stuck around though, even since Jumpshack dealt with the problem, mostly I believe because of the dual square out studies that have been done. The cross-connected RSL had its' merits by the way. It was intended to ensure that when BOTH risers were released, the reserve would deploy. Jumpshacks design was less than optimal. The Collin's Lanyard currently seems to be the best option for ensuring that when the RSL deploys the reserve, both risers are cutaway. Odd that it is not standard on all RSL equipped rigs. That brings to mind a question for Bill Booth...........alan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
