old CDs.. like all those that AOL gives away free.. make great signaling
mirrors in your landout kit.

never ever leave your airplane unless it is 1) on fire (signaling done for
you), 2) its going to fall on you, 3) it's going to fall off a cliff

he found a clearing.. and I'm guessing his parachute was white.... and not
blaze orange.. granted he did not have to use his chute and was concerned
about using it as his $1000 signaling device (cheap insurance)

a lot of people don't realize.. you can see things you cannot walk to
because of roaring streams or cliffs in the way

great article though..

BT

"JJ Sinclair" wrote in message
...
Ups, forgot some stuff.

The only thing I would add to this excellent write-up is that USAF
survival
training is to stay with your downed aircraft unless you have a compelling
reason to leave. The aircraft is much easier to spot than a lone survivor.
Splice the antenna lead, if the radio is otherwise working.

Make use of your parachute. spread it out during the day, it's a good
marker
signal. Wrap up in it at night. Use the riser lines as rope. splint a
broken
leg with chute container and shroud lines, etc., etc. One could write a
book on
the use of your parachute, other than for the traditional, *nylon
descent*.

During daylight hours, make smoke from a small fire. During the summer, in
the
California woods, you are likely to have a Forest Service spotter plane on
you
in a heart beat. Don't start a forest fire, just a very small *smoke*
producer.
What most of us accomplish whenever we try to light a camp
fire------------Just
smoke, no flame.
JJ Sinclair