_{Leaving Aircraft. \} Grasp the door edges

about waist high, and place your feet together over the edge of the hatch, as shown in figure 5-10. Pull your body forward and exit the aircraft.

The NB-8 parachute used in the P-3 aircraft does not have automatic opening features. Therefore, the aircrewman must manually pull the rip cord. Grip the rip cord handle as shown in figure 5-11 and pull it to the maximum length of travel. This allows for complete release of pins from the parachute pack.

_{Parachute Descent.} \ Immediately following

the opening shock of the parachute, check the condition of the parachute canopy. Assuming you have a fully deployed canopy, locate the two beaded handles on the LPA; pull them down and straight out to inflate the life preserver (fig. 5-12). You may need to squeeze the waist lobes to release the hook-and-pile tapes on the collar lobes. Sometimes it is necessary to manually release the hook-and-pile tapes to allow full inflation of the collar lobes (fig. 5-13). At this point you should raise the visor on your helmet if you are over water and lower it if you are over land.

_{Four-Line Release. \} Actuation of the fourline release system reduces oscillation and provides a method of maneuvering the parachute to an

optimal landing site.

Figure 5-13.\Aircrewman releasing the hook-and-pile tapes on collar.

Figure 5-14.\Aircrewman pulling lanyard loops.

Figure 5-15.\Aircrewman grasping left main sling webbing with right hand.

WARNING

Carefully inspect the canopy and suspension lines prior to using the four-line release. If any parachute damage is evident or if there are broken suspension lines, do NOT use the four-line release system.

The four-line release system should not be used at night since parachute damage may be difficult to determine.

To operate the four-line release system, you locate the two lanyard pull loops. They are on the inside of the rear risers. Pull the lanyard pull loops sharply downward (fig 5-14). This takes approximately 20 pounds of pull force. This action frees the rear four suspension lines, which allows the canopy to form a lobe in the rear center and permits a steady escape of air, which reduces

Figure 5-16.\Aircrewman releasing left leg strap quickejector snap.

oscillation and allows directional control. By pulling down on the right lanyard, you steer your canopy to the right. To steer your canopy to the left, you pull down on the left lanyard.

Parachuting. \ Try to determine the wind direction at the surface by watching white caps or smoke from the aircraft wreckage or known surface winds in the vicinity. Winds at the surface may be quite different from those encountered at altitude. When nearing the water, maneuver the parachute so that you are facing into the wind. Begin preparing for water entry as soon as possible after your chute is opened, because judging your altitude over water is difficult in daylight and nearly impossible at night. Grasp the left main sling webbing with your right hand (fig. 5-15). With your left hand, release the chest strap and left leg strap quick-ejector snap (fig. 5-16). Now grasp the right main sling webbing with your left hand. With your right hand, locate the right leg strap quick-ejector snap and release it upon water entry (fig. 5-17). Your

Figure 5-17.\Aircrewman releasing right leg strap quickejector snap.

buttocks must be well back into the harness seat at all times. After you have entered the water release your parachute harness and get out of it; in the water the parachute can quickly become your worst enemy. It can easily drag you under and cause you to drown; therefore, it is important for you to get out of your harness as quickly as possible.

To remove the harness, place your right hand between your body and the right main sling (fig. 5-18); turn 90 degrees to the left and roll out of the harness (fig. 5-19).

A fact that may not be obvious is that when you bail out of any aircraft equipped with multiplace life rafts, such as the P-3, you will not have a life raft available when you reach the surface. Even if the life rafts are jettisoned before bailout, your chance of landing close to one is very remote; therefore, you will have to depend entirely on your life preserver for flotation.