Precision Aerodynamics, Inc.
P. O. Box 386
Highway 127 North
Dunlap, TN 37327

Dear George,

The 5 way spider with Jay, Collis senior, Collis III (Buddy) and Collis Jr. (father, son and son) broke off early. Jay and I went into stand ups and I proceeded to begin six layout backloops. Now the fun begins. I decided to continue the fun with a series of tracking barrel rolls. Great fun screaming to earth at 180 mph as green, blue, green flashed past my eyes. Okay, okay, here we go. My bag prematurely deployed whilst in the middle of a barrel roll. My first indication that something was amiss was my pilot chute streaking past my belly. I continued to barrel roll to free the pilot chute so that it could continue deployment without the bag following across my belly and under my arms. As I went head-down, I looked over my right shoulder to see my bag going past my right foot. I knew I was going to malfunction and I knew that my opening shock would be significant. I attempted to brace myself for the hammer and did the best I could. I believe that if I had not prepared myself I would have been knocked unconscious. ( I remember something about Mental Alertness during training). Upon opening, the risers were twisted down to my right release rings with the left riser across my face trying its best to continue to rearrange my nose. I looked and the twists continued up the lines, Yea really!! No surprise there. My next thought was to get rid of this baby.

I made sure I had each handle before I cut away. I did this because I was beginning to get into a violent left spin and did not want to be left searching for the reserve handle. Well hell, I said cutaway and I could not pull the handle with my right hand. I assume that the twists were so tight that the cable was hung up in the twists. So over with my left (like slow motion) and bam, out pops the handle, bye bye problem, back to the silver and clean and smooth and what do I see? The most beautiful, the bluest, the prettiest canopy in my life, a Raven III.

Okay, nice, free bag spotted, main spotted, landing area spotted, beer spotted. Smooth ride and clean soft landing. Thanks for a nice canopy!

P.S. I never looked at my main during this event. I knew I was in a malfunction due to my body position and the violence of my opening. I want to close with the following: Mental Alertness, Mental Alertness, Mental Alertness. This is a beautiful sport!!

John V. Barron (Alias, Barrel roll Barron)
D-16391
Air Adventures-Rome, GA