BHawks 0 #1 February 27, 2009 Hi our DZ has a Hitfinder FF-2. This thing looks archaic, I found that Airbournesystem's had once sold or still does... Other than that I haven't been able to find out much about them, does anyone actually use them? Is there a market for them? I was thinking it would be more of a collector piece. If anyone has useful information about FF-2, it would be greatly appreciated. THANX! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites SEREJumper 1 #2 February 27, 2009 Used by theUS military, mainly the Air Force and Navy. We used them on the MC-4 military parachute system and I'm sure they were used on the old MT series. It only works off barometric pressure, like an altimeter. The Army primarily used the AR-2 (AR Square) AAD. IMHO the FF-2 was more reliable than the AR-2 and rarely malfunctioned. My first 100 or so freefalls I used the FF-2 until our unit got the military cypres. I did have a unknown premature activation (while still in the aircraft, on a 23,000ft jump about 15 minutes into a 45 min pre-breathing of oxygen, cruising around at 10,000 waiting to go up to the top. Obviously I couldn't jump, so I ended up being stuck on oxygen for about an hour and a half while the others jumped and I got to ride the plane down until we got below 10,000. Still don't know what caused it, everything was set correctly. If I remember right, the manufacture stated that after 40 activations on the unit, it had to be inspected by a qualified rigger (opened up). I believe it also had to be sent in every 4 years for a factory inspection. In the USAF at least, all FF-2's were recalled back in '05-'06 timeframe because of some unauthorized individuals doing the inspections/pencil whipping them. The FF-2 was connected to the MAIN pin only (straight pin, ripcord style) and activated on every jump, even if you pulled your main at he right altitude. After the jump, the individual jumper had to "log" the activation in FF-2's book to keep track. Procedures for using it were: 1. Calculate the activation altitude with the "whiz wheel" and set the dial on the face of the unit to the appropriate number (usually with a coin). 2. With the red lolly pop inserted, cock the device with either the cool cocking devise (which we never had) or place the end of the cable under your boots with your feet together and pull up until in locks in place. Ensure the cocking window has the white bar lined up. 3. Insert the twist locking mechanism into the "navy stiffiner" on the closing flap of the MC-4 rotating it in place to secure it, nsert the FF-2 housing into the side pocket. 4. There were a couple ways to put the end of the cable around the pin. Do one of those. 5. On the way to altitude normally @ 6000ft, twist and pull down on the red lolly pop to arm the FF-2. Wait 5 seconds to ensure it didn't activate. Make sure you have your back to the side of the aircraft in case to does (spring loaded pilot chute). If you have to air land, re-insert the red lolly pop back into the FF-2, or it will fire. Disclaimer: It has been over 3 years since I have set/jumped one. I might have left something out. Contact the manufacture, make sure it is inspected/certified for use, and get proper training (not this DZ.com thread) if you plan to use one.We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites LouDiamond 1 #3 February 27, 2009 Yes, they were used and in some units, still used only for water jumps. Not too long ago,they used to be the primary AAD used by the US military, even after the joke that is the AR2 was introduced. The Military Cypress is what is the current standard but the FF2 was a damn reliable piece of kit in all of it's simplicity. What kind of info do you want about it specifically?"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites BHawks 0 #4 February 27, 2009 Thanks for info, our DZO wants to sell it. I wanted to find some general information about it. I don't think anyone around the DZ would actually use the FF2, but it is currently a great conversation piece. Before we put it in the classifieds would someone actually purchase it, and any idea what it would go for? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites LouDiamond 1 #5 February 27, 2009 Quote Thanks for info, our DZO wants to sell it. I wanted to find some general information about it. I don't think anyone around the DZ would actually use the FF2, but it is currently a great conversation piece. Before we put it in the classifieds would someone actually purchase it, and any idea what it would go for? I doubt anyone would purchase it for us, at least anyone with good sense IMO since the history and maintenance is unknown. Like any piece of equipment, the FF2 requires service and maintenance at regular intervals to work correctly. I think(hope) its probably going to remain a good conversation piece for who ever owns it. If you want the technical manual and general info sheet on it, send me an e-mail and I can send it to you. I warn you though, it's really boring reading."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites vidiot 0 #6 March 4, 2009 Seems to be very similar to the KAP-3. Keep it and use it for drinking games: Wind it up, and have one after the other completly pull-out and reinsert the red lollo-pop you mentioned. The one who fires the unit buys the next round. My Logbook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites LouDiamond 1 #7 March 4, 2009 Quote Seems to be very similar to the KAP-3. Keep it and use it for drinking games: Wind it up, and have one after the other completly pull-out and reinsert the red lollo-pop you mentioned. The one who fires the unit buys the next round. Yep, very similar type of device."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JerryBaumchen 1,468 #8 March 5, 2009 H Hawks, QuoteIs there a market for them? Back in the mid-60's a guy by the name of Gary Patmor was modifying them for sport use; they never really did catch on. If you were a jumper in the mid-60's you WOULD know the name Gary Patmor. JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites rkenzie 0 #9 May 4, 2011 Hello. I came across this thread because I was searching for Hitefinder on Google. My father, E. Dennis Kenzie, was actually the inventor of the Hitefinder when he worked for Irvin Industries in Letchworth, UK. At the time the UK division of Irvin did not put much faith in the Hitefinder. After being made redundant in 1973 we emigrated to Canada where my father was then employed by Irvin Canada in Fort Erie, Ontario. It was there that the Hitefinder was embraced and became a highly successful product with the US, Canadian and many foreign militaries. As far as I know it was not marketed or designed for the recreational jumper. My father designed many parachute and aerospace related products in his lifetime. Nice to see his legacy is living on! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. 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SEREJumper 1 #2 February 27, 2009 Used by theUS military, mainly the Air Force and Navy. We used them on the MC-4 military parachute system and I'm sure they were used on the old MT series. It only works off barometric pressure, like an altimeter. The Army primarily used the AR-2 (AR Square) AAD. IMHO the FF-2 was more reliable than the AR-2 and rarely malfunctioned. My first 100 or so freefalls I used the FF-2 until our unit got the military cypres. I did have a unknown premature activation (while still in the aircraft, on a 23,000ft jump about 15 minutes into a 45 min pre-breathing of oxygen, cruising around at 10,000 waiting to go up to the top. Obviously I couldn't jump, so I ended up being stuck on oxygen for about an hour and a half while the others jumped and I got to ride the plane down until we got below 10,000. Still don't know what caused it, everything was set correctly. If I remember right, the manufacture stated that after 40 activations on the unit, it had to be inspected by a qualified rigger (opened up). I believe it also had to be sent in every 4 years for a factory inspection. In the USAF at least, all FF-2's were recalled back in '05-'06 timeframe because of some unauthorized individuals doing the inspections/pencil whipping them. The FF-2 was connected to the MAIN pin only (straight pin, ripcord style) and activated on every jump, even if you pulled your main at he right altitude. After the jump, the individual jumper had to "log" the activation in FF-2's book to keep track. Procedures for using it were: 1. Calculate the activation altitude with the "whiz wheel" and set the dial on the face of the unit to the appropriate number (usually with a coin). 2. With the red lolly pop inserted, cock the device with either the cool cocking devise (which we never had) or place the end of the cable under your boots with your feet together and pull up until in locks in place. Ensure the cocking window has the white bar lined up. 3. Insert the twist locking mechanism into the "navy stiffiner" on the closing flap of the MC-4 rotating it in place to secure it, nsert the FF-2 housing into the side pocket. 4. There were a couple ways to put the end of the cable around the pin. Do one of those. 5. On the way to altitude normally @ 6000ft, twist and pull down on the red lolly pop to arm the FF-2. Wait 5 seconds to ensure it didn't activate. Make sure you have your back to the side of the aircraft in case to does (spring loaded pilot chute). If you have to air land, re-insert the red lolly pop back into the FF-2, or it will fire. Disclaimer: It has been over 3 years since I have set/jumped one. I might have left something out. Contact the manufacture, make sure it is inspected/certified for use, and get proper training (not this DZ.com thread) if you plan to use one.We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #3 February 27, 2009 Yes, they were used and in some units, still used only for water jumps. Not too long ago,they used to be the primary AAD used by the US military, even after the joke that is the AR2 was introduced. The Military Cypress is what is the current standard but the FF2 was a damn reliable piece of kit in all of it's simplicity. What kind of info do you want about it specifically?"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BHawks 0 #4 February 27, 2009 Thanks for info, our DZO wants to sell it. I wanted to find some general information about it. I don't think anyone around the DZ would actually use the FF2, but it is currently a great conversation piece. Before we put it in the classifieds would someone actually purchase it, and any idea what it would go for? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #5 February 27, 2009 Quote Thanks for info, our DZO wants to sell it. I wanted to find some general information about it. I don't think anyone around the DZ would actually use the FF2, but it is currently a great conversation piece. Before we put it in the classifieds would someone actually purchase it, and any idea what it would go for? I doubt anyone would purchase it for us, at least anyone with good sense IMO since the history and maintenance is unknown. Like any piece of equipment, the FF2 requires service and maintenance at regular intervals to work correctly. I think(hope) its probably going to remain a good conversation piece for who ever owns it. If you want the technical manual and general info sheet on it, send me an e-mail and I can send it to you. I warn you though, it's really boring reading."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vidiot 0 #6 March 4, 2009 Seems to be very similar to the KAP-3. Keep it and use it for drinking games: Wind it up, and have one after the other completly pull-out and reinsert the red lollo-pop you mentioned. The one who fires the unit buys the next round. My Logbook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #7 March 4, 2009 Quote Seems to be very similar to the KAP-3. Keep it and use it for drinking games: Wind it up, and have one after the other completly pull-out and reinsert the red lollo-pop you mentioned. The one who fires the unit buys the next round. Yep, very similar type of device."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,468 #8 March 5, 2009 H Hawks, QuoteIs there a market for them? Back in the mid-60's a guy by the name of Gary Patmor was modifying them for sport use; they never really did catch on. If you were a jumper in the mid-60's you WOULD know the name Gary Patmor. JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rkenzie 0 #9 May 4, 2011 Hello. I came across this thread because I was searching for Hitefinder on Google. My father, E. Dennis Kenzie, was actually the inventor of the Hitefinder when he worked for Irvin Industries in Letchworth, UK. At the time the UK division of Irvin did not put much faith in the Hitefinder. After being made redundant in 1973 we emigrated to Canada where my father was then employed by Irvin Canada in Fort Erie, Ontario. It was there that the Hitefinder was embraced and became a highly successful product with the US, Canadian and many foreign militaries. As far as I know it was not marketed or designed for the recreational jumper. My father designed many parachute and aerospace related products in his lifetime. Nice to see his legacy is living on! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
