Beginner, Parachutes?

On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:57:11 -0800 (PST), Andy
wrote:

I was impressed by a sucessful bail out from 400ft. That's a huge
difference from doing it at the top of a typical winch launch.

So Andreas what is the full story? Did she realize she had a problem
at the start of the launch and decide to get out at 400ft and then
actually depart the aircraft at top of launch, or did she really get
out at 400ft?

She realized immediately after takeoff that her elevator wasn't
connected, and the ASW-19 was relcutant to enter a steady climb - it
climbed in a wavelike motion. So she stayed in the glider until she
felt that it had reached its maximum altitude, and bailed out at the
moment the glider was flying horizontally.

Bye
Andreas