ChrisClark

The old manual is attached, the bridle was folded across the bottom and the pilot chute material evenly split top and bottom. The method was revised about Feb 1993 after some riggers were stuffing the top half of pilot chute material under the flaps or even the free bag thus hindering the launch. I presume the newer bridle stow method was to accommodate the extra pc material under the bottom flap.

My rigger does not unpack the main before packing the reserve.*** Quote How does he/she inspect the container?

John, Try Iain Robertson, he used to make his own ripcords. Drop me an email and I can forward you his number if you don't have it available.

In 1995 there was a BPA SI (safety information) report about those types of AFF secondary handles, a rigger got a table top total. The pilot chute spring has to force the flaps apart in the opposite order, the flaps have to slide apart instead of flipping off of the loop as they are trapped by the pin which is still in the loop (Imagine a closing loop in reverse). This all depends on the flexiblility of the loop material, normal 2a sheathing etc is too stiff. There are better systems that pull the pin directly. Concerning the Cypres loop, on a visit to Airtec I asked about my Javelin and the reserve loop placement, ie the whole loop once cut must be pulled out of the container through the freebag & PC so that the top flaps seperate and you get a deployment. The answer was the loop material is flexible enough and it is lubricated, this factor was considered in the design and all cypres set-ups and cutter placements are checked by Airtec. The rigger there regularly packs and test fires containers (similar to the video) to check that the design works. Sloppy rigging in the field has obviously taken the design to the limit. If you have a rigger that is a fool then buy fool proof gear otherwise get a riiger who understands the limits on your gear.

Icon free bag stows picture, taken as there was no mention of how stows were done in manual about year and a half ago. The design is unusually similar to the PDF Atom which has been around a while. It was mentioned to me by another very experienced rigger that the Racer was changed due to the greater distance between mouthlock stows, greater mass of line would mean more chance of line dump. More of a problem on a free bag as this could involve bag strip ie leaving canopy in the container! Don't know if that is the case, not many Racers around here, poptops are mainly the TearDrop.

I don't think I was very clear earlier, in the first photo all the lines are covered by the stabilizers. The stabilizers should be pulled away completely from all lines (see new picture), this stage is very vague in many manuals however the new Talon FS manual shows it very clear as does the Smart manual. I asked Precision about this and George Galloway replied confirming this fact. The reason I have posted this is because of the number of pack jobs that I see with lines covered, I have probably been guilty myself of not knowing what to do with that last stabilizer.

It was too big, have edited it so it should be on original post.

The picture is of a Raven 3 reserve just out of the freebag. My question is who places the control lines under the final stabilizer material (as per photo) and who places lines on top seperated from A-D line groups. Comments?

Use 130/21 size in round point, this is usually denoted by an R. Do not use leather needles as the point cuts the material. Your needles are probably breaking due to the small size and they can't handle the E thread or material thickness.

http://www.relativeworkshop.com/pdt_skyhook.html Download the packing instructions for the Skyhook from this page. The manual explains the Collins Lanyard part of the RSL. The Collins is designed to release the other riser if the RSL attached riser should break or release for some reason.

The guy was a visitor from somewhere South, real Skygod. Thought that since the strap hardware was rated at 500lbs and thus not load baring it was then surplus to requirement! Should have given him the hot knife so he could have done it himself and proved some of Darwin's theories. Oh and I saw one of those cable ties around a reserve handle as well. The bloke in question was scared his handle would get pulled whilst travelling on an airliner on route to a boogie, so he secured it with the cable tie, however he forgot about it for a good few jumps.....in the pre cypres days

We had a very experienced skydiver who wanted the chest strap removed from his gear as he was convinced that it was not that necessary!

Shipping costs aren't that bad, I will give Bob a call if things done work out with Gravity Girl. I get most of my rigging materials from Para Gear and my gear from US sources so I understand the costs involved.

Thanks for the replies. The Javelin sounds ideal. I was planning to do some harness stitching practice as well in the future so it would be fine. If you could email me we could discuss this further.

I am looking for an old either unairworthy or just surplus container that can be used for a rigging project. The container and harness will be disassembled so it does not need to be in good condition. A more modern design using tuck tabs instead of velcro would be beneficial. For once size doesn't matter. My funds are limited but I can pay for the container and shipping costs.

Send the Cypres back to Airtec and claim the discount on a new unit, or if you don't want a new Cypres then give it to someone who will be buying one. Airtec like to have then back so they can analyze the data in the memory, helps with R&D. The reason the unit has a life of 12 years is because the manufacturer believes this is the limit that they can guarantee the reliability of the electronic components. Giving or selling an expired Cypres to someone to use simply because they may get away with it is simply irresponsible. I am a rigger and I would never knowingly supply or certify equipment that was substandard to another skydiver, no matter where they live.

Only use a shock cord (bungee) pilot chute that is made with ZP fabric as F111 type fabric will wear out quicker (think F111 canopies against ZP canopies) gradually producing less drag to stretch the bungee cord and eventually not inflating enough. With a kill line pilot chute made from either ZP or F111 type fabric the problem will be with the kill line shrinking and shortening the centre line, making the pilot chute less efficient. There should be enough slack in the kill line so the centre stretches to its proper length, this should be checked on a regular basis.

http://www.dj-associates.com/ They sell 2 variety packs of 12 (1 oz) spools either in standard or fluorescent colours.

The sealing thread is tacked onto the outside layer of fabric next to the pin grommet which is set in stiffner plate. The rigger doesn't tack through the plate (pretty hard to do with small hand needle) so the tacking does't go anywhere near the reserve, freebag or other flaps.

Reserves in the UK can be sealed by Riggers, Advanced Packers and packers with an endorsed certificate. The sealing thread is not tied to the ripcord cable. This means that no force is required to break the seal.

Older Javelins required an extra stiffner plate fitted to the riser tuck flap pockets to make them more secure. My previous Javelin, made in 1993, had to have this mod done. The flaps never came loose after the mod. Contact Sunpath or your rigger for more information.

Those risers do look like they are the original Sunpath (Javelin Makers) made risers. DO NOT thread the type 2a loop through the ring and DO NOT cut the ring off. The best advice in this situation is to contact the manufacturer, so go to the Sunpath site http://www.sunpath.com/ and drop them an email. Chris