15 (realy fifteen) rescue jumps from gliders were reported by the German BFU
(air accident investigation agency) in summer 2003 in Germany or out of
German registered gliders abroad. 14 succeeeded. Most jumps were caused
by mid air collisions, others by structural failures.
Double seaters as well as single seaters were involved.
One jump was directly out of a winch launch (ASK21, aileron not connected),
some others were also close to ground, including the fatal one.
Since there are only about 30,000 glider pilots here, roughly one of 2000
had to jump!
Those who want to board a glider without a parachute should keep this in
mind!
(In other years only about two or three rescue jumps were registerd.)
Happy flights
Walter