What ever happened to stowing your slider?

[headoverheels 334]

I remember a few years ago (okay, maybe 20 years), it used to be common to stow your slider into a rubber band which was attached at the top of some line, maybe the center cell B line. Basically, grab the center of the slider and stuff some of it through said rubber band before putting the canopy in the bag.

Why did we do that, and why did we stop?

Edited to make it clear that I'm talking about stowing during packing, not after opening.

[jjiimmyyt 0]

I think thats because we have collapsible (sp?) sliders now. Not that I've ever used one

"This isn't an iron lung, people. You can actually disconnect and not die." -Dave

[davelepka 4]

You're talking about stowing it at the canopy as a final step to a pack job (just before wrapping the tail). The original purpose was to hold the slider up in the canopy for an extra second during the opening. This would help to slow the opening of some of the old F-111 canopies.

It's not popular anymore because the canopy manufacturers have learned to make canopies that open well without the need for that. Although, I do know some people who do just that with a modern canopy, but wouldn't you know it, they are mostly older (like the idea) themselves.

Nowadays, if you say 'stow a slider' most people think of what you do to your slider after opening, down at the connector links. Collapsing your slider at the links keeps them from flapping and making all kind of noise, eliminates excess wear on your lines, and helps to reduce drag for HP canopy pilots.

[headoverheels 334]

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I think thats because we have collapsible (sp?) sliders now. Not that I've ever used one

Nothing to do with that. This stowing was during packing, not after opening.

[masterrig 1]

On some parachutes, back then, the openings were really 'slammers'. So, to slow-down the opening, some jumpers would take some of the leading or trailing edge of the slider and put it in a rubber-band attached to either an A or B line at the attachment point of the line. The idea was, it would give 'hesitation' to the slider, enough to get the slider inflated first thus, slowing the opening. One of our folks was doing that recently with a 21-cell he had. He claimed, it worked.

Chuck

[jjiimmyyt 0]

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Nothing to do with that. This stowing was during packing, not after opening.

Ah ha. I bow down before all with the "D". Interesting.. Understand now.

"This isn't an iron lung, people. You can actually disconnect and not die." -Dave

[mjosparky 4]

Para-Flite canopies had a small loop on the top skin, center seem, about 10" from the tail. It was for stowing the slider.
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[masterrig 1]

That's right! I had forgotten about the Para-Flites. Thanks!

Chuck

[riggerrob 643]

Supposedly stowing the slider in a rubber band caused it to hesitate for an extra second.
However, if the rubber band was attached to the tail, it caused the tail to scoop air earlier in the opening sequence, negating any benefit.
Circa 1981 Pioneer published a packing manual for the Viking main canopy that discouraged rubber-banding the slider to the bottom skin.
Relative Workshop tried to re-introduce the concept in 1986 when they were trying to cure hard openings on Pioneer High-Lifters and PD-360 tandem mains. One week Skydive Kangaroo got a message from RWS encouraging us to rubber band the slider to a C or D line attachment tape. Ziggy tried it, experienced a streamer and we promptly dropped that concept!
Hah! Hah!

[masterrig 1]

Thanks, Rob! Really interesting, what you said. I appreciate your in-put. After a streamer, I can fully understand, dis-continuing the practice. It's all a 'learning curve'.

Chuck

[steve1 5]

When I first started packing my Hornet, I was getting some slammer openings. An older rigger showed me this trick, where he used a rubber band up inside the canopy to hold the slider up on opening. It did seem to slow the openings and it did open fine. I was a little paranoid about packing this way though, so I discontinued the practice. I now psycho-pack with a rolled nose, and no longer have hard openings.