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newtoskydiving

Sewing your own main/reserve parachutes or rig?

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I thought of making my own BASE container. When all was said and done, the materials, the time, and the fact that I don't sew that good, etc...I opted just to buy one.

Give it a shot, though. Let us know (or have your heirs let us know) how it works out.

;)
_____________
I'm not conceited...I'm just realistic about my awesomeness...

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So does anyone have experience making a homemade parachute (main/reserve) ?

Are there schools or classes for that anywhere?



Use a California King size bedsheet, and rooster entrails for lines.
Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW.

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Ooooh this is not good......:ph34r::D:ph34r:;) learn to fly it first, then ATTEMPT to make one.....get Stitch to jump it......;):P


Bobbi

Why me?? [:/] Wha'did I ever do to you??
"No cookies for you"- GFD
"I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65
Don't be a "Racer Hater"

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So does anyone have experience making a homemade parachute (main/reserve) ?

Are there schools or classes for that anywhere?



Use a California King size bedsheet, and rooster entrails for lines.



Some people should just stick to buying their rigs. Your recipe for a parachute is just appalling exAFO .B|[:/]:S

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So does anyone have experience making a homemade parachute (main/reserve) ?

Are there schools or classes for that anywhere?



Making your own reserve is not realistic. For it to be legal to jump, it has to undergo some pretty serious (and expensive) testing.

Making your own main *is* possible, but very rare because it's a HUGE undertaking. Years ago, a company in Texas sold a "build your own parachute" kit. IIRC, the canopy was called the "Shrike" and was the brainchild of Clark Thurmond, who was a pretty sharp guy. It never really caught on, though, and I have never heard of any other kits.

Walt

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I've jumped a home made canopy. by the time he brought it to the dropzone, he had 50 jumps. He figured out how it was constructed just by looking at one and taking notes. He bought all the supplies and sewed it together on his Moms kitchen floor.

It flew, not very well, but it flew. It was in a 3 canopy rig so I didn't land it. A couple years later, he trimmed the nose down and it flew a LOT better. The aspect ratio was really high and the brake lines didn't pull much of the tail down so I opted to cut it away again. With an additional brake line and another jump or two, I think it was safely landable. Unfortunately he took it back before I got around to putting another brake line on it.

Except for the actual container part, I've jumped a lot of my own stuff. Harnesses, D-bags, risers, pilot chutes, reserve and cutaway handles, and a complete BASE rig, but have never considered making a canopy.
My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

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> So does anyone have experience making a homemade parachute (main/reserve) ?

I've built a few harnesses/rig parts but never a whole canopy. A few people have done it, though, with varying levels of success. If nothing else you will learn a _lot_ about sewing.

>Are there schools or classes for that anywhere?

Yep. The senior and master rigger ratings would be a good start, and working for a canopy manufacturer for a while would get you some really good experience.

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Sorry baby....;)first name that came to my mind.....fine, fine...Turtle then!!


Bobbi



I'm SECOND behind Stitch?:o

:|
I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

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Sorry baby....;)first name that came to my mind.....fine, fine...Turtle then!!


Bobbi



I'm SECOND behind Stitch?:o

:|

That's possibly because of your GIVING personality:ph34r::ph34r::ph34r::ph34r:
You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

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Sorry baby....;)first name that came to my mind.....fine, fine...Turtle then!!


Bobbi



I'm SECOND behind Stitch?:o

:|

That's possibly because of your GIVING personality:ph34r::ph34r::ph34r::ph34r:




Well, yeah . . . I'll let you be First.
I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

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Sorry baby....;)first name that came to my mind.....fine, fine...Turtle then!!


Bobbi



I'm SECOND behind Stitch?:o

:|

That's possibly because of your GIVING personality:ph34r::ph34r::ph34r::ph34r:




Well, yeah . . . I'll let you be First.

low flying plane alert:ph34r::ph34r::ph34r:
You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

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Making your own rig and parachute is possible, but it's only been done by very few people with a great deal of experience.

I would suggest that you forget about making a rig or parachute for now. Posisbly if you would like to presue that, become a good skydiver, also become a awesome rigger. Then you should have enough knowhow to decide if you would like to take on the task.

Good luck whatever you do.

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I have done all 3, but then I used to manufacture equipment. The reserve and harness have to be TSOed to be legal from and airplane. Not practical for an individual. Building your own main is possible but if you don't understand some of the dynamics of the fabric it can be very frustrating. Also sewing the Z-po fabric can be a challenge, to say the least.
I'm not trying to discourage you, by all means give it a try if that rings your bell. As others have pointed out learn to rig first and go from there. The more you know about your gear the better off you will be.

Bob
GUNFIRE, The sound of Freedom!

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There used to be (someone here will remember their name) a company in Texas that sold a main canopy kit. It was a generic 7-cell and it came pre-cut and you sewed it together. It also came with a couple of extra ribs and panels so you could practice before you started in on the real thing.

NickD :)BASE 194

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