Date: September 15, 1994
To: George Galloway and the employees of Precision Aerodynamics

I have been an active skydiver for over 35 years. During that time I have participated in several United States government test jump programs, accumulating over 8500 jumps, and I have experienced 65 reserve rides! I have deployed, ridden, descended, flown, and been thumped, pounded, hammered and dragged by most every kind of round and ram-air reserve known to man. Some have been good to me, and some have merely allowed me to escape with my life.

I recently became involved with an extensive government test jump program evaluating candidate canopies for a new emergency crew escape rig for the U. S. Air Force and Navy. We were only three jumps into the program when the expected (unexpected) began to occur.

I was weighted up with ballast to 258 pounds, and fitted with bulky computerized data collection devices. A cutaway rig (especially designed to accommodate a test canopy in addition to a main and a reserve) was used because of the unknown characteristics anticipated with the new and untested experimental canopies.

The test canopy was successfully deployed and flown while data was collected, then it was cut away as planned, but deployment of the main canopy resulted in a pilot chute in tow. Now below 1800 feet, the decision to deploy my Raven 3 reserve resulted in a soft but quick opening with a smooth flight and a stand-up landing. Despite still being so heavily laden with ballast, computers, and a (still-packed) main, I was pleasantly impressed with such a comfortable reserve ride and landing.

We are now 85 jumps into the evaluations with over 150 jumps to go. To this point in the program, I have experienced several major malfunctions, including line-overs, broken risers and catastrophic (global) failures.

While this certainly isn't the first time I have used a Raven Reserve, as a professional parachute test jumper I hereby resolve to never be without a Raven Reserve again.

Sincerely,

Jim West
Skydive Greene County