Packing Icarus Tandems?

[Rdutch 0]

We just had a Packing Seminar by Scott Miller, and he demo'd how to correctly pack a PD sorry (RWS) Tandem canopy. He also explained exactly what not to do, and why. Now when I pack Icarus tandem's (The way I was taught) you clearly pull the brake lines (attatched to the d lines via rubber band) to the side of the canopy. I know with the lines this short that it would be hard to get a lineover, but I still feel like I am doing something wrong. Anyone know how to get enough tail to wrap the canopy without pulling the brake lines to the side of the canopy? Note: I have a ton of pack jobs this way and we havent ever had an Icarus Malfunction yet, also Im not the only one that packs that way. I went to the Icarus web site and they mention psycho packing their tandem mains, and that isnt something I want to do. Anyone know a link or have an idea on how to "CORRECTLY" pack an Icarus Tandem, i.e. Manufacturers recomended way?

Ray
Small and fast what every girl dreams of!

[skygod7777 0]

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We just had a Packing Seminar by Scott Miller, and he demo'd how to correctly pack a PD sorry (RWS) Tandem canopy. He also explained exactly what not to do, and why. Now when I pack Icarus tandem's (The way I was taught) you clearly pull the brake lines (attatched to the d lines via rubber band) to the side of the canopy. I know with the lines this short that it would be hard to get a lineover, but I still feel like I am doing something wrong. Anyone know how to get enough tail to wrap the canopy without pulling the brake lines to the side of the canopy? Note: I have a ton of pack jobs this way and we havent ever had an Icarus Malfunction yet, also Im not the only one that packs that way. I went to the Icarus web site and they mention psycho packing their tandem mains, and that isnt something I want to do. Anyone know a link or have an idea on how to "CORRECTLY" pack an Icarus Tandem, i.e. Manufacturers recomended way?

i don't know of any "Manufacturuers recomended way" other than what they say, psycho pack.

i pro pack them, but i rubber band the brake lines to the C lines.

you really don't need to pull the tail that far around, i only pull a little bit past the 2 seams that line up when rolling it. i have A LOT of packjobs doing this, and hasn't failed me once (looking for some wood, there it is knock knock knock).

i was also packing the icarus tandem for a while without doing anything to the brake lines, just letting them hang, and was very careful about what i did with them.

another thing you can do, which i'm not sure if you do, after rubber banding the brake lines, take them and tuck them into the center, kind "around" the D lines. that's how i pack everthing.

hope that helps some

later

[Hooknswoop 19]

I have been kicking around the idea of a tailgate for Icarus Tandems. With the rubber band to the "D" lines, one can release before the other, resulting in line twists. With a tail gate, they will release at the same time. Half-hitching the rubber band to the tailgate will prevent it from coming off each deployment, making it easy to use repeatly.

Derek

[skygod7777 0]

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I have been kicking around the idea of a tailgate for Icarus Tandems. With the rubber band to the "D" lines, one can release before the other, resulting in line twists. With a tail gate, they will release at the same time. Half-hitching the rubber band to the tailgate will prevent it from coming off each deployment, making it easy to use repeatly.

Derek

derek

just kinda wondering, have you ever seen it cause line twist?? i have been packing icarus and strong tandems (you also have to rubber band the brake lines) for lone time and have never seen this happen, but maybe we're just lucky.

i do see where you coming from though. i don't personally rubber band them that tight (just a double stow, which is still some what "loose")


later

[Hooknswoop 19]

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have you ever seen it cause line twist??

No, I can't say that stowing the steering lines in separate rubber bands have caused line twists. I have had a lot of line twists on Icarus tandems and I suspect that that is a possible cause/contributing factor. It wouldn't take much, just get the canopy turning a bit, to cause line twists.

I would like to try a tailgate. It would help to prevent line-overs, just like stowing the lines in rubber bands, but eliminate the possibility of the steering lines not releasing at the exact same time. It is just a theory.

Derek

[riggerrob 643]

I doubt if extra rubber bands cause line twists.
By the time you consider, flailing students, TIs with uneven shoulders, etc. rubber bands become a minor point.
One trick I use to keep steering lines center rear is to grab them from the outside - squeezing them into the center seam - while wrapping the tail around the canopy. I continue holding the steering lines with my left hand while rolling the tail with my right.

[rigging65 0]

We anchor the break lines to a D-line, but we still experience line-over type damage once in a while. We do PRO-pack, and I think there's a lot of line movement when the packers lay the bundle down on the ground...it's just a lot of canopy to move and keep everything in order. They go back in and clean it up, but I still don't think it's as clean as it could be (say, on a smaller canopy).

When we started rubberbanding the break lines, there was a noticeable reduction in "loose flapping lines" seen in videos...so I'd say overall it's working well for us.

FWIW: We also have shortlined our canopies by 24 inches. We had problems with unrecoverable line twists early on, and the shortlining fixed it.

"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."