Stewart,

The reserve chutes are designed for simplicity, reliability and fast
opening times. There have been recorded saves as low as 100 feet.
This is of course not a deployment attempt in free-fall at terminal
velocity. When a wing takes a collapse of such magnitude as to
require the reserve it still provides for a reasonably low vertical
velocity.

If I were to take a collapse at altitude I would do my best to work
the situation out while altitude permitted. Passing through 1000 feet
I would start thinking hard about the reserve and certainly toss the
laundry at no less than 500. Given the opening times and altitude
loss in a typical thrown reserve situation that should give me enough
time to finish ****ting my pants and prepare for a proper PLF. :-)

Gus Rasch





Stewart Kissel wrote in message ...
I see these guys in the morning flying around off the
ski lifts, the ones I have talked to are very respectful
of the big mountain air. You got me curious, if you
have a collapse and decide you need to throw your reserve,
how much altitude do you need?




Worst case scenario... The wing has collapsed dramatically
and all
attempts to fix the situation have failed miserably,
I would go to
plan 'B'. Plan 'B' is of course the chest mounted
hand deployed
parachute.

Gus Rasch