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| The instructions were to push myself out sideways, and then spread eagle into an arch, while counting, "Arch thousand, two thousand, three thousand, four thousand, check thousand." My jumpmaster, Baxter, shouted into my ear moments before I jumped, "Smile for the camera!" This is how you smile when there is a 100 mph wind in yer face. Baxter has his hand on my static line and will pull it in as soon as it detaches from my chute. |
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Things are happening really fast at this point. I'm forcing myself to complete my count, while the wind whips me sideways. I can feel the tug on my rig as the pin gets pulled and releases the chute from the pack.  |
Is it there?
Is it square?
Will it flare?
They taught us that when jumping from 3000 feet, we have about 21 seconds of free fall time before hitting the ground. After completing our count, 6 seconds were used up. By that point our chute should be fully open and we begin a visual 3 point check, "Is it there? Is it square? Will it flare? (Flare refers to the control check where I grab the control toggles and pull them down to see if the "brakes" work.)
If the control check is good, then I was free for the next 4 or 5 minutes to fly around and enjoy the view before landing. I was in radio contact with the ground, and he instructed me where to steer as I neared the ground. "Right toggle.... left toggle....more...more....and let it up.....Landing position.....OK....and......flaaaaarrrrrre" Those commands are what brought me into line and then slowed down my forward motion at the last few moments for a soft, easy landing.
The control check is extremely important. I needed to know as soon as my chute opened that it was controllable, otherwise there could be lots of risk of not being able to land safely. I could land slowly, but would have no control over where I landed (e.g. slamming into a building, a tree, a power line, or landing in the middle of Highway 48 - none of these prospects are good!)
If, during the "Will it flare?" part of the control check, there was a "low-speed" problem and I was unable to steer the chute properly, then I would immediately have to cut the main chute, using the emergency release handle on my right strap, then pull the reserve handle. This is not something you want to delay, since as soon as you cut away the main chute, you begin a free fall!
The other possibility is a high-speed problem. During the check count, I look and ask, "Is it there?" Obviously, if there is no chute there after a 5 second free fall, I've got 16 seconds left to quickly cut my main chute and pull my reserve handle. If my answer to "Is it there?" is YES, then the next question, "Is it square?" helps me evaluate the condition of my chute. Possibilities here are, 1) YES it is square - continue to "Will it flare?" and control check. Possibility 2) - NO it has twisted lines. Solution: reach up and untwist yourself by pulling your hands against the straps. Possibility 3) - NO a corner is slightly collapsed. No problem, go on to control check and the corner will open up. 4) NO my chute looks like the proverbial "Ball of shit," meaning it is hopelessly fouled up and tangled. This would also be accompanied by the strange sensation of still falling fast and a big blast of wind all over me. This is a high-speed problem, and to delay making a decision here would be fatal, since there is only about 15 seconds of time before impact. Actually, I would have only about 5 seconds to make a decision, because if I waited too long to cut my main chute, there wouldn't be enough time and altitude for my reserve chute to fully open. So, as we were learning about this, it dawned on me that I was actually going to be fully responsible for my own safety in the event of an emergency. There would be no one there who could help me, rescue me or save me. "You are completely responsible for what happens."
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| Taken about 300 feet above the ground or so. I'm listening to the ground instructor's last minute instructions to guide me to the landing place. As it turns out I ended up landing just beside the runway and almost took out the photographer because I ended up zooming right towards her! |
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| This the look on my face when I realized what I have just done. It was worth the wait and all the training! I want to share this experience with someone else now.... I wonder who will be "up" to it? |
