what do you pull to open a parachute
You pull the parachute handle (also called the ripcord or pilot‑chute handle), not the canopy itself.
What Do You Pull to Open a Parachute?
Short, direct answer
- On modern sport skydiving rigs, you pull the pilot‑chute handle at your hip or lower back; this throws out a small “mini‑parachute” that deploys the main canopy.
- On many reserve or older-style systems, you pull a ripcord handle on your chest that releases a spring‑loaded pilot chute to open the reserve parachute.
How it actually opens (quick story-style walkthrough)
Imagine you’re in freefall, stable, and it’s time to deploy:
- You look and reach for the deployment handle (pilot‑chute handle or ripcord, depending on system).
- You pull and throw the pilot chute into the airflow behind you.
- The pilot chute catches air, creates drag, and yanks a bridle that pulls the deployment bag out of your container.
- The lines unstow and stretch; the main canopy inflates above your head and slows you down into a controlled glide.
So when people say “pull your chute,” they really mean “pull the handle that deploys the pilot chute,” not grabbing the big fabric canopy itself.
Quick FAQ style notes
- What is the thing I physically grab?
Usually a fabric or padded handle (sometimes with a little “hacky sack” or tab) attached to the pilot chute, or a metal/fabric ripcord handle on your chest for a reserve.
- Is it the same for every parachute?
No. Sport skydiving rigs use a bottom‑of‑container pilot‑chute handle; many emergency aircraft rigs use a chest‑mounted ripcord that fires a spring‑loaded pilot chute.
- What do beginners actually get taught?
A simple routine: look – reach – pull – throw – then check canopy at the correct altitude.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
TL;DR: You don’t pull the parachute fabric itself—you pull the handle that deploys the pilot chute (or activates the ripcord), which then opens the main or reserve parachute.