Re: Chief Silk

From: Zvi
Activity_Date: 8/25/01
Remote Name: 172.182.66.170

Comments

I would much rather do jury duty:)

I think you did well to toss the reserve and not sort out the cravatte - a full stall is not difficult but it requires practice. Performing it during a real emergency in low altitude requires the sort of confidence that can only come from real-life practice. Even then... if there's a doubt you miss your deployment window ... I would still deploy. There's always a chance you will not clear the cravatte or create a new one if you don't exit the stall symmetrically.

1. From my experience, it pays have a quick initial glance at the wing to identify what you are dealing with.

2. It does sound like a cascade of events... i.e. your input did aggrevate the situation. If the wing is uncontrolled but not gyrating... and you don't know what to do... you can lean back, hands up and watch it (watch the ground also. The Carbon is designed to return to a pilotable state within 4 sec)

3. Full SIV training -- A must for anyone flying the mountains!

4. The Carbon, though DHV 1-2 can be quite dynamic. I always thought it's a real intermediate wing... not a 1st wing. Also... any wing... incl. a DHV 1 can do what yours did in strong turbulence.

5. I am very interested to hear about the deployment sequence... was it easy to find the handle... what did you see... feel... and how fast you saw the ground coming etc...

6. It sounds like you made the best decision under the circumstances - A safe deployment is a 100 times better than risking an impact in a spiral. You proved that in a real emergency... you were able to cope and come on top.