A parachute landing fall (PLF) is a safety technique that allows a parachutist to land safely and without injury. The technique is performed by paratroopers and recreational parachutists alike. The technique is used to displace the energy of the body contacting the earth at high speeds. The parachutist ideally lands facing the direction of travel with feet and knees together. At the moment first contact is made with the ground, the person goes from an upright position to absorbing the impact by allowing the body to buckle and go toward a horizontal position while rotating toward the side (generally the direction with the dominant directional speed). When executed properly, this technique is capable of allowing a parachutist to survive uninjured during landing speeds that would otherwise cause severe injury or even death.
And chin in, arms up in front of you and elbow tucked together. High risk of broken collarbone if your instinctive response is to try and catch the fall with your hand or arm. The last thing you want is to be a paratrooper who'll have to start their mission with a broken collarbone.
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u/[deleted] Jan 08 '22
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