That's what it took to qualify for my A License.
On jump 24, which was my very first pack job - actually it was my 3rd, but it was the first one I jumped - I had what I can only describe as an ugly opening. It started out OK, it was there and square, but it was less than flyable. As I watched the end cells inflate the thing started turning left. I thought maybe I forgot to stow my right brake so I released both toggles and gave 'em a tug. That only made it worse, the left turn became a diving spin.
I opened high, because I wanted to have plenty of time, so I played with it a little bit. I was going left so I tried countering - right toggle all the way down. No luck. I actually started feeling some Gs at this point. I was looking 'up' at the canopy with my belly to the ground and spinning.
In the time that it took me to say "Oh shit! Fuck this!" my training kicked in and I reached for the release and reserve handles.
I found it surprising just how quickly that reserve opened. I couldn't have fallen more than a few hundred feet between the chop and and being back under a much better canopy. It was there, square, steerable, and the most beautiful red I've ever seen.
I was still at about 5K, I had dumped at 7.5. I circled above my main as it fell towards the airport. I wanted to make sure that I could give someone a good idea of where it landed.
At 3K I broke off and flew back to the landing area. The landing was ugly as hell, I flared high and PLFed it - it was a good PLF, so other than the grass stains on my jumpsuit I was fine. I was up on the next load on a different rig and landed that one well, under the main.
Bought beer for my first chop and bought my rigger a bottle of Cabo Wabo Tequila.
Turns out that it was my packing instructor's first time having a student chop on a first pack, lucky me... I was back the next day to pack another one, which went much better. And I qualified for my License the day after - more beer to buy...
Looking back, after talking to my rigger, there may not have been anything wrong with the main. I've spent the last couple of days second guessing it, maybe there was something simple I could have taken care of with 7K to go... Then again, maybe I would have fought it into the ground.
Glad to be writing about it myself, instead of someone else having to write about it. I no longer have the thought in the back of my head, 'what if I have to cut away?'
Tons of learning left to do and twice as much fun left to have.
Blue Skies and Soft Landings!
ric
