caldwellbuilder

The first 300 Strato-Flyer owners(I was one) were asked to evaluate deployments utilizing just two locking stows on the mouth of the deployment bag and to simply coil(neatly) the remaining lines in the bottom of the container. Para-Flite asked us to make 100 jumps utilizing this method and then send in a reply form. I had no problems or hard openings, etc... Para-Flite was able, in theory, to get 30000 test jumps very quickly and used this info to justify the currently standard reserve deployment bag which stows the lines in a velcro pouch. As a result, I would propose using a system that evenly loads the lines and in my opinion, a rubber band that only needs a single wrap is the best option. I use large tube stows to lock the bag and 11/4" bands for the remainder with about 11/2" bites past the rubber bands. It works well for me.

A good canopy pilot will always be learning more about his canopy. CRW is an excellent platform for getting feedback about your canopy's performance.Sticking with the same canopy for at least until you're sure you can't learn anything more will enable you to refine your swoops. Finding a canopy that challenges you will help you learn faster, but remember to step down one size at a time.

I continue to use the thumb test. It is good to have an old sun damaged canopy to practice on. I am working on a prototype of a new test instrument that will be much faster than the spring and clamp system that can inadvertantly damage fabric. The thumb test is not a maximum push test. You can practice using a torque wrench on a nut and pushing on the wrench with your thumb till it clicks at 40 lbs. I like using the thumb test during inspections because it is fast, accurate, and I end up testing every color on multicolored canopies. I test components like the freebag and PC. I once got a freebag and PC that had been out in the field for over a month. If I had used the spring scale and clamp test, it would have passed, but because I thumb tested it , I found the side that had been facing the sun--it failed! So, test and test often. I also rejected a main canopy because of weak ribs. Yes , you must crawl up inside the canopy and some of those ribs would tear like tissue, while the adjacent top and bottom skin fabric was ok. Once again I say test and test often.

I have packed them for years. It seems to me that if the container is properly sized for the canopy , then it is no problem, however there are some racers that have the smaller reserves such as the pd-113 and precision 109 that are hard on my hands due to the exhorbitant amount of kneading required to remove the air and conform them to the freebag. I like the larger caps more than the smaller cap models, but I don't charge any different for any reserve. There are a number of tricks to making it easier.