Can one actually do a reserve repack on a small Wings according to the manual?

[pchapman 279]

It just doesn't seem to be as simple as the manual says to pack a Wings. (This somewhat applies to all the semi external pilot chute rigs, in their smaller sizes.)

The Wings manual says to close the side flaps, compress the pilot chute with the fabric inside it, and that's it. No fiddling, no tricks.

There are of course other instructions on the bridle and last 2 flaps. And there's an html packing guide online that adds the obvious suggestion to kneel in the center of the bag early on to form a nest for the PC.

Can anyone out there actually close a small Wings by just following the manual, with the recommended short loop length? Just close the flaps and pull the loop up? (And in low humidity conditions too.)

I've got 700-odd reserve packs (all types) and I still don't see how it can be done.

Even with the tips and tricks I've seen, it is still hard to get everything looking neat, with the loop often longer than recommended to get it closed.

-- I start with a low bulk reserve pack job, nicely microreefed in one of the many variations, rather than the traditional PD style pack job with all of AB, BC, CD wrapped downwards together.

-- I always end up working a lot at creating a well in the middle of the bag, often using a packing paddle after the side flaps are closed, to work the molar ears away from the loop.

-- It's also good to really seat the bag in towards the main tray, to line its grommet up with the loop. Otherwise the loop tends to angle towards the yoke to get through the bag grommet, wasting length, before proceeding upwards.

-- The pilot chute tends to pack up really tall if one fully distributs the fabric throughout the coils. I've see a little cheating done, to keep more of the fabric near the top of the coils, and also to have a little sticking out from the top and bottom of the cap, areas which will get covered by the top and bottom flaps anyway.

-- After the rig is packed, like on any rig one can shape the rig. For the Wings, it really helps to push the sides inward, to bulk the rig up around the edges of the pilot chute to close any minor gap.

Any better Wings tips out there? I'm willing to learn!

Even with what seems to be good technique, some tricks, going beyond the simple steps listed in the manual, and having a torque device, I'm just not seeing how one would keep the closing loop right down to spec.

[riggerrob 643]

I have packed dozens of Wings according to the manual.
Never used a torque device.
After the pilot chute is compressed, try inserting a packing paddle (as per Talon 2 manual page ?) and twisting it to shift freebag bulk away from the base of the pilot chute.
After everything is signed and sealed, slap the sides to "raise" them closer to the edge of the pilot chute cap.

[ChrisClark 0]

I had trouble with smaller Wings at first and so did two other riggers here. Between the 3 of us we had about 70 years rigging experience!
Wings have a better set of instructions on their website:
http://www.skydivewings.com/pdf/wings_reserve_packing.pdf
I found these to help. It is the bulk distribution (size of ears) that really matters.

[chutingstar 1]

Quote

It just doesn't seem to be as simple as the manual says to pack a Wings.

I don't know of any rig that is as simple to close at the manual states. All take a number of extra steps that you have to figure out on your own or from other riggers or from updated tips articles and such. And a lot depends on reserve sizes vs. containers sizes vs. AADs vs. humidity levels...etc., etc., etc.

But all your extra tips and the rest in this thread are right on...as well as time, patience and experience.

Mike

ChutingStar.com

[pchapman 279]

I should note that the manual doesn't actually give suggested loop lengths for the Wings. I have however seen an unofficial list of lengths from the factory.

[ficus 0]

I've found that the loop specified in the manual is a little too long for the smaller Wings. My own personal rigs (W-5 with OP-143s) have loops about 3.25", maybe a hair longer.

Instead of my knee, I like to use a softball in the crotch of the freebag. I find that this makes more of a valley for the PC without mushing the big ears that make a Wings packjob look good.

Also, the packing tips document from Sunrise that was posted above is useful.

Ficus