At 5FTS Oakingtone we had to practice bailing out of the Varsity forward hatch wearing a chest parachute (while parked on the apron, I hasten to add!). You had to open the cockpit inner floor door and then the outer door with the handle thus exposed. You then slid gracefully to the ground, with both hands on the facing hand grip as you swung out. Somehow I must have caught the ripcord on something as I dropped out of the hatch. Red face and a white canopy that billowed everywhere! Told to gather it all up, go to the parachute section and handover chute and five bob (which was the agreed fine for such misfortune).
