(HOWEVER, returning to the main subject, I'm not really refering to the many free pack and free line stows that were quite common in the late seventies and early eighties. The great majority of them still used a pilot chute to get the show started, whether a throwaway or a pullout. I'm specifically asking about the method where a few brave (or crazy) souls did away with the pilot chute altogether and used a pullout method to pull the center cell of the canopy itself into the airstream to initiate deployment.)
In the mid thru late 70s at the Akron Skydivers Club (Akron Oh) free packing was the rule not the exception and a few of us played with direct deploy for quite a while. Squirrely openings but usually quick. HOWEVER, I do have some 8mm movie footage somewhere in the archives of Ward Peterson's Stratoflyer laying on his back like a blanket not cathing any air. It finally took off when he sat up after about 4 to 6 seconds.
We started using frap straps with line stow bands after hearing the horror stories of lines half hitching around container flaps then free stowing had to be abandoned when ZP fabric hit the scene. It only took one jump on my free packed brand new Sabre to convince me to start using a D-bag. Wink.
I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
