Post-Deployment Sequence with the SUIT?

imported_mknutson · October 9th, 1999, 11:29 AM

When do you decide to unzip the sleeves after deploying versus using the cut-away handles?

I am jumping a stilletto 107 but do not have lots of line twist problems with this canopy.

I am going to be using my Mojo 260 in a skydiving container to get used to the suit at first. But I really want to understand these sequences better.

Mick

guest · November 7th, 1999, 10:15 PM

I do not unzip my sleeves until my canopy is fully open. There are only two situations that I can think of where pulling the suits cut away handles would be absolutely neccesary. The first is a water landing. The other would be in a situation with a partial malfunction that you think you can fix. For example a spinning malfunction under your stiletto 107. However this is a situation that you should never be in. I jump a stilleto 107 myself. When using the wingsuit I jump a sabre 135. Due to the deployment angle of the suit you have very little to no control over the openings. If you have line twist with a stiletto you will not be able to reach the risers to get the twist out before it fully inflates. If you unzip the sleeves during the deployment, you will not be able to provide the stiletto's required 100% attention to the deployment. My stilleto opens on heading and without line twist approxmately 95% of the time. I still would never use with the suit. I have considered it, but I don't think it is a good idea.
Keep in mind that the suit functions just like an airplane in descent. You cover more ground by flying with the uppers. Thus your longest flights will be on windy days. Your mojo should work fine. Just be sure not to put yourself in a position where you will back up under canopy. Remember the wing between your legs will catch air and slow you down just like an uncollapsed slider (more surface area). Long Soars

guest · November 16th, 1999, 08:09 PM

Stilettoes are definately in the catgory unstable during any opening. I have myself chosen, however, to continue to jump it. Stilettos are always a cutaway chance. It increases with the birdman wingsuit, but so far I have been getting stable openings. Afew off headings as expected, one linetwist, no reserves. Look at my posting : how to fly the birdman suit. At pull, collapse, pitch, recollapse, and find your handles if the canopy decides pilot input to risers is needed.

guest · November 16th, 1999, 08:14 PM

I realized after I posted it (why not preview?) that my info was wrong. I can recollect 3 cutaways of the wings due to funny openings with my stiletto 135 loaded at 1,5. Most openings are off heading. Less so in Base, but probably due to canopy size and opening characteristics (mojo 240 at 0,85 or so) and less of a problem as you are far away from the object.

guest · December 1st, 1999, 12:22 PM

There are a few different occasions when the cut-away option for the wings is needed.

1) Unstability during the flight. If you get tensed the wings tend to control you more than you control the wings. Cut-away the wings and continue your skydive untill pull time. I have seen this happening twice (the second time went well in both cases).

2) Partial malfunction. You have a linetwist which you want to clear. Cut-away your wings (or unzip the zipper) and deal with it. This is the most common reason for cutting-away the wings.

3) Urgent need to reach your risers/togles. For example after cutting away your main and using your reserve, you may want to get to your risers x-tra quickly. This may also be the case after the pull in the base jump (depending on the opening altitude)

4) If your zipper is being stucked and it doesn't work. It is very important always to have a back-up system. That is why we have both zippers and the cut-away system.

We have over 650 jumps with the suits, 99% of the jumps are with Impulse 95, wingloading being 2.0-2.1. We have got nice openings and horrible ones but not once we needed to use the cut-away system for real. Once I had to cut away my main due to serious spin.

In our opinion the biggest reason for the linetwists and such is the packing errors and the design of your container. We are using Wings container specially design for the BirdMan (I believe it is now awailable for anybody). The trick was to open the corners of the bottom flaps (so that the d-bag has straight access to airstream) and pack the D-bag with the gromment facing the bottom of the container. It works good.

Jari
BirdMan Int.