I have proposed the quantum theory of BASE. There is a probability distribution describing your opening heading, which is influenced by random chance, packing technique, wind integral, pilot chute symmetry, body position, state of sobriety, karma balance, and the observed angle between Jupiter and Saturn.
Like Schrodinger's cat, your parachute is literally simultaneously open facing all heading directions until you deploy it, and thus collapse the waveform by making an observation.
In other words, nobody really fucking knows, and my theory is not provably worse than anyone else's.
- pilot chute out of trim - winds ( meteo and relative - from a running exit ) - pc and bridle pendulum going past center I’ve seen this mostly from a hard throw stowed with too short of a delay ( 0 to 1.5 sec with a 42 “ ) works out most of the time - random chaos
What about bigger PC's, 46" or 48" stowed? I don't like it, but sometimes I have to do (mostly because tricky exit). But i saw two almost clear 180's at this type of jump at two different jumpers. In my opinion that was too big PC+hard pull= oscillation PC with packjob to left side..
(This post was edited by Kadel on Jan 3, 2021, 3:02 PM)
I’ve never done a jump with a pc over a 42”. I wouldn’t want to introduce a possible hard pull into the mix at low altitude. For your jumps , I’d take a pca, static line or just pass altogether. For the off headings I’ve seen with a 42 stowed short delay. It’s a hard throw to bridle extension and then the momentum of the bridle/ pc pendulum carries the pc past center to the left side of the container for the off heading. A little more airspeed from a longer delay helps to keep the pc centered. If a longer delay isn’t available, I’d go handheld.
I think, it's a combination of PC size and delay in that case. I'm not sure, if there is a difference between going stowed and handheld (if body position is stable).
I noticed some kind of pattern jumping a 46'' PC based on delay. As soon as delay reaches approx. 2 sec, heading performance gets worse. No 180s, though, but 45° to 80°...
Anyway, I guess the reason is a combination of a too big PC (for the delay), resulting in to high air speed = much air spilling the PC = oscillation. I all those cases, PC thrown to the right with oscillation to the left resulting in an off-heading opening left. I think, that matches your observation.
Like Schrodinger's cat, your parachute is literally simultaneously open facing all heading directions until you deploy it, and thus collapse the waveform by making an observation.