Ep 101 How do RSL and MARDs work

Love it, thank you!

[@PFryderyk]

I'd say the comparison between 300 ft from TSO requirements with 20 ft between pulling the cutaway handle and having the reserve out of the freebag isn't fair as the reserve that just got out of the bag is definitely not survivable. Moreover, after the cutaway one always goes back to freefall, no matter whether the reserve deployment is initiated by pulling the reserve handle, the RSL or the MARD. The only difference is the time and height of that freefall. I'm not saying the difference isn't there but there's always the freefall that follows the cutaway unless the reserve has been deployed before pulling the right handle. I think one more advantage of MARD wasn't mentioned in the video. It's not exactly safety-related but it doesn't mean it's irrelevant. When the MARD initiates the reserve deployment following the cutaway, more often than not the reserve pilot chute and the freebag stays connected with the main meaning one only needs to find one element instead of two, usually located at two different positions. And the freebag with the reserve pilot chute aren't particularly easy to find given their dimensions as compared to the main canopy.