Basejumper.com - archive

I found this video and wondering why this guy's canopy collapsed?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ955kIhtSU

Because he commanded it to. Front riser input seems to be the cause, I dont see evidence of turbs.
take care,
space

cuz it's a Raven, that's how you set up your approach.

It appears to me that he is on the verge of a stall at the exact second he initiated the front riser input, then it may have been a wind gust on the top skin of the canopy that caused the depressurization. He is lucky he had the altitude for re-inflation & that he was over water.

I wish all base jumpers would get their paragliding P2 rating and then we would all understand what an asymmetric collapse is...

We had some nasty turbulence this year at BD as well...

In my opinion, he was turning right, and loading the left side of the canopy less, (lower cell pressure and wing rigidity) then there was enough turbulence to cause the tuck on the left leading edge...

That is chris, BD 2005. I was jumping that day with him. It was pretty windy and turbulent as hell. Sure, he was doing wingovers. Without the turbulence it would not have collapsed like that, but he was doing fast roll maneuvers.

I too wish "canopy pilots" (anyone who flies a parachute) would learn more about aerodynamics.

It doesnt take a P2 rating to know what an asymmetric collapse is...

true, but understanding specifically how and what it can do to a canopy/pilot system and more importantly how to avoid one and minimize the negative effects is very helpful to flying any parachute. I started power kiting when I was 10, and since I have been more and more convinced that any aerodynamic experience, especially ram air kites on strings (and that is all a paraglider or parachute is) is paramount.