KCJumper 0 #1 August 19, 2004 Ok so my DZ started up a wednesday jumping for it's staff. Giving us a chance to jump during the week when weekends get hectic. It's been a very nice change. So tonight was a little slow with only a few jumpers. We did three loads, two hop and pop and one to altitude. First two went great on the third jump, which was a hop and pop, i deployed only to see a bag and pilot chute floating about 100 feet behind me. I immediatly thought someone used their reserve. Nope everyone under the right canopy. Turns out it was mine. Some how the link came undone and was floating behind me. I made lots of attempt to catch it while under canopy but only succeeded in landing off. I watched it till i had to turn on final. Then i lost it. So this weekend we are going on a hunt for my stuff. So tonight was good and bad. Patrick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 August 19, 2004 There's a reason why I use a Slink for my d-bag/pc attatchment. It doesn't unthread and pop off, if I had an opening hard enough to break it...well, I have more important problems. I started doing that after I chased down Skybytch's d-bag/pc in Eloy a few years ago. CHECK with your manufacture to makesure they're cool with that.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vt1977 0 #3 August 19, 2004 Gremlin got down from a jump last year complaining of a very slow and “strange feeling” opening and asked if I would pack for him. As I cocked the pilot chute something just didn’t feel right, so I looked inside the bag to discover that the link had bent itself open and only the kill line remained on the link. It was no wonder he had had a strange and slow opening! Needless to say this prompted a lot of people to check their links! A soft link was suggested, but I haven’t seen this done. Can anyone post a photo? Vicki Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faicon9493 141 #4 August 19, 2004 Remeber the risk involved in trying to snag items while under canopy. It is better to try to keep an eye on it, land safely, and then go pick it up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jb092 0 #5 August 19, 2004 I must say I like that idea with the slink, I will have to hook one up today. What could possibly go wrong? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrogNog 1 #6 August 19, 2004 I think if rapide links are unthreading themselves during skydiving use then they aren't tightened correctly or they're broken. But if there are any rapide-knowledgable engineers around, I'll listen to some disabusement. And I would be very, very shocked to hear any hard opening could ever cause the d-bag/pc attachment to receive enough shock to suffer damage. The only way I can see this link getting a lot of tension during opening is if the PC is still attached to the airplane, or someone packed up a 60" pilot chute for you as a joke. When a regular hard opening occurs, nothing above the canopy (a.k.a. sky-anchor, during a hard opening ) is supposed to get whacked. -=-=-=-=- Pull. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #7 August 19, 2004 One more reason to get a vector3... linkless bridle attachment. RWS has put so much thought into the rig... they just don't do a good enough job marketing how well thought out the rig is. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #8 August 19, 2004 Quote I think if rapide links are unthreading themselves during skydiving use then they aren't tightened correctly or they're broken Well, yes. That's why the Slink. You set it, you leave it and damn near forget it. I pack for myself maybe *maybe* once every 2-3 months, so its my failsafe since most packers won't check the rapid link for tightness.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrogNog 1 #9 August 19, 2004 QuoteQuote I think if rapide links are unthreading themselves during skydiving use then they aren't tightened correctly or they're broken Well, yes. That's why the Slink. You set it, you leave it and damn near forget it. I pack for myself maybe *maybe* once every 2-3 months, so its my failsafe since most packers won't check the rapid link for tightness. OK, that does add up. I must admit that rapide link "care and feeding" instructions suggest using marking paint to check for loosening, so clearly they aren't guaranteed to stay put. A Slink that takes a proper set wants to stay that way until it rots. -=-=-=-=- Pull. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The111 1 #10 August 19, 2004 QuoteOne more reason to get a vector3... linkless bridle attachment. Yes, that's actually all I've seen, so until you posted this, I'm thinking, rapide link on bridle attachment, wtf are these people talking about? QuoteRWS has put so much thought into the rig... they just don't do a good enough job marketing how well thought out the rig is. Agreed again.www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #11 August 19, 2004 ***One more reason to get a vector3... linkless bridle attachment ================================= Ive had this on my rig since before the Vector 3 came out. Many bags can be larks-headed onto the attachment point of the canopy. It may take a little work to get the bag/PC/bridle through the opening, but it can be done. Viola, linkless attachment. Vector 3's are nice, though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #12 August 19, 2004 I had the exact same thing happen on my first jump after graduating AFF. I deployed and as I am doing my Canopy/Control Check, I notice a Pilot Chute and Bag Floating away. I started looking around to see who had the Cutaway. After I landed I discovered that it was My Pilot Chute and Bag that was gone. The attachment point on the Main had failed and the canopy was retired (it was an old PD 230 F111 Student main). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeffrey 1 #13 August 19, 2004 Patrick, The best way to attach the main bridle to the canopy is the good old larks head knot. After attaching the bag to the bridle line, simply pass the looped end of the bridle through the attachment point on the canopy, then pass the PC and bag through the looped end of the bridle and tighten. I have seen rapid links used for this purpose on student and sport gear but the best and most common way is the larks head knot. It will not come undone. Now where the bag is affixed to the bridle line for C-Line PC's is another mater. This is function of the kill line only, and is to keep the bag at a fixed position. There are many methods to accomplish this like, rapid links, slinks, sewn in, and the lock in type. They all have good and bad points. If this attachment point was to fail, your PC would just begin to collapse prematurely (not good) and you may end up with some burns on your canopy. Jeff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,111 #14 August 19, 2004 > One more reason to get a vector3... linkless bridle attachment. Most rigs nowadays have linkless bridle attachment. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
