Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
Michael Doelle <michaeldoelle@co*.co*> writes: >> ... the first parachutists did not use a backup chute and it worked >> fine for them. Uh, at least most of the time. But when the idea came up >> to have a backup chute everbody started using them. > > German paratroopers did not use backups in WWII. I understand that the leading cause of death on a combat jump is getting shot by the guys on the ground who don't want you visiting; under canopy you're a sitting duck, so modern military technique calls for extremely low opening to reduce the casualty rate to only the guys whose primary didn't open. In that situation, a backup is useless to you since you'd never have time to use it. Meanwhile, for civilian jumpers unworried about getting shot, higher opening altitudes and a backup chute are very good ideas. Relevancy for technical diving is that there are all sorts of techniques and bits of equipment out there, and many are at least good for the conditions for which they were designed, but there are many situations where they don't work. The best way of approaching one dive may be the worst way of approaching another dive. A lot of things designed to solve one problem create more trouble than they're worth, or require convolutions and limitations to use them. I could start with examples but I'd be here all night; just look at all the lovely crap in your local divestore. -- Anthony DeBoer <adb@on*.ca*> -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]