spoons 0 #1 January 12, 2005 Hi there, I own a Safire 149 and was thinking of replacing the big metal ring and metal connector link at the top of the canopy (attaching it to the bridle and d-bag) with a soft link (which i'd tack into place to stop it coming undone!)...was just wondering why my Safire has this big-ass metal ring on the top of the canopy in the first place? [and also if replacing it with a soft link would create any problems?]. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkwing 5 #2 January 12, 2005 The metal ring is to prevent the top of the canopy from getting sucked through the grommet on the top of the bag. If this happens it almost always results in major canopy damage. Often I see both a connector link and a ring, but whatever you have, it better insure against the aforementioned problem. You can certainly use a soft link to take the place of a hard link in many cases though. -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #3 January 12, 2005 If you do not know what it is for, do you think it is a good idea change it? Why would you want to change it in the first place, to make the rig weigh less? SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #4 January 12, 2005 History lesson: back in the days before kill-line pilot chutes, that metal ring was the only thing preventing the pilot chute from sucking the entire canopy up through the grommet in the top of the D-bag. Now that most kill-line pilot bridles have a Maillon Rapide - or some other large, ugly piece of metal - near the bottom end, the ring sewn to the top of the canopy becomes less important. Caveat: consult your local rigger before cutting anything off of your canopy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spoons 0 #5 January 13, 2005 oh no i wasn't going to do anything before i consulted my normal rigger - not quite that stupid :P I was just thinking that maybe keeping lumps of ugly metal away from my canopy could be a good idea, nothing to do with weight reduction as it would be neglible. Thanks for the input though. Al. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #6 January 13, 2005 Quoteoh no i wasn't going to do anything before i consulted my normal rigger - not quite that stupid :P I was just thinking that maybe keeping lumps of ugly metal away from my canopy could be a good idea, nothing to do with weight reduction as it would be neglible. Thanks for the input though. Al. You are welcome. You may not believe it, but I do worry about you.SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
