lintern 1 #1 August 21, 2004 I have recently purchased a used Wings container with an Icarus Safire 2 145 main canopy. It is my first rig and although I bought it second hand, it was (and still is) virtually brand new - with the exception of the Cypress it only had about 20 jumps on it . And I've only put about another 20 jumps on it. ....which is nice.... apart from when I'm trying to learn to PRO pack the bloody thing ! I've been taught how to PRO pack and I am fairly sure how to do it now - although it does take me a long time and it normally always goes wrong when I'm trying to get the canopy in the bag ... especially as the canopy is almost new ! So firstly..... I overheard someone at the DZ today say to colour code the 4 sets of line groups (A, B, C and D lines) with a pen. It takes me a long time to find the line groups and even then I'm still not sure I have the right ones. Having looked at my canopy I could mark the little bit of tab material where the line joins to my canopy - this seems a great idea . Although there is not a spare piece of tab on the stabilizer lines so I would have to mark the actual line or not mark the stabilizer lines at all (see attached picture - lines_tabs.JPG). But I was wondering if this is OK to do ? I mean, is it a problem if I mark the little bit of tab with a marker pen? Or is there a possibility that the ink could weaken the material or the lines or cause any other problems? I would only need to mark the A lines and the C lines - just so I can distinguish between the A and B lines that go through one slider grommet, and then distinguish between the C and D lines that go through the other slider grommet. Secondly.... can anyone give me some advice on getting the canopy in the bag Unfortunately I quickly loose my patientce and I end up throwing the whole pack job across the floor - then someone else ends up packing for me But that won't always happen so I need to learn to pack mself ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #2 August 21, 2004 I just replaced the lines on a Spectre, with the line connection points, the white webbing in your picture, marked with a No. 2 pencil A,B,C,D. It isn't very noticible yet, while packing, shows-up quite well. I'd be careful as to using marking pens in that, we don't know what exactly is in the colored ink. Try this, after cocooning the canopy, make the first 'S' - fold (upper end of cocoon), place that in the bag. Then, make the last 'S' fold (line end of cocoon) and place that in the bag. Get as much of the material contained in the bag as possible. Make your fisrt locking stoe. This will really help hold things together and gives you both hands free to 'neaten' the pack job by pushing all the material into the bag. Make the next locking stoe and so - on. Hope, this helps. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fields 0 #3 August 22, 2004 http://www.icaruscanopies.com/order_forms/ownersmanua.pdf http://www.sidsrigging.com/Articles/packing/packing_index.htm http://www.icaruscanopies.com/canopies/Safire/packing.htm"And the sky is blue and righteous in every direction" Survivor Chuck Palahniuk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jazzjumper 0 #4 August 22, 2004 I have a wings and my first canopy on it was a Safire 149 (similar to your Safire 2 145). New ZPs are pretty slippery, so the bottom line is practice. Marking the lines with a laundry marker won't hurt anything, but be careful and enusre you are marking the proper ones. Maybe if you pulled the slider up and over your shoulder while flaking you could see the line sets and folds better (what I do.) There is also a good video out there called "Pack like a Pro." It's worth the 25 USD, and I've loaned mine to many friends to help them get better packing. Pack it during the week at your house, the more the better. You'll get where you can dominate the canopy and get it in the bag nicely. No matter how good she looks, someone, somewhere is sick of her shit! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamUK 3 #5 August 25, 2004 I love those packing manuals... one picture, the canopy is out of the bag.. then next one, it is neatly in the bag. My old maths tutor used to put in his lecture notes whilst missing out a few steps... thus xXXX can be shown 'with a little difficulty' i.e. took chuffin ages. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamUK 3 #6 August 25, 2004 QuoteUnfortunately I quickly loose my patientce Ahh.. your canopy senses your frustration and impatience... and deliberatley misbehaves itself. Petulant little buggers they are - they know when you are frustrated. You have to approach your packjob with Zen like calm and a clear mind. 2 hours meditation beforehand might help (or it might not). I have found the more time spent getting the air out and tucking it all away neatly whilst making the cocoon makes getting it in the bag much much easier. This is on a Pilot 188 in a wings with 4 jumps on it... yikes! good luck grasshopper. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
