MrHixxx

Well that is ideal isn't it... The first set I received were requested from PD for existing Slinks that I already owned. I knew that some of my customers would be asking for them with the fatalities in Eloy and CA (I don't use them). I received two pairs in a bag with no instructions. I looked at them knowing they were to keep the slider up and also considered what rubber bumpers do (protect the line attachments and links). So that is the way I installed them the first time (on a Vectran lined canopy I might add). Since then I have only had to install them once, because most folks pull their sliders down. Well, one of my customers pointed out that they were upside down, but wanted to keep them that way for the protective reason too. So you see, I am not trying to be a rebel about the whole thing, cause I am generally an instruction reading type of rigger. Yet there was some interesting discovery in the mistake about increasing the functionality of the bumpers. -Jon

Yes, but it doesn't protect the top of the Slink and the line attachment points to repeated beatings by the Slider grommets on deployment... -Jon

Esteemed Colleagues, I was just looking for a little feedback on Slink bumper installation. I just learned that I have been installing them upside down with the bumper side high instead of fitting them over the top of the riser with the bumper side low. My reasoning in doing this is to keep the slider grommets from striking the Slinks and line fingertraps with repeated deployments and causing premature wear. I was just curious what everyone thought of this and if there is a hazard I haven't considered in doing so. thanks, Jon

Another example of a Wings vs Mirage container is the webbing. Mirage uses combinations of type 8 (3500 lb.) and 7 (6500 lb.) or just type 8. Wings uses type 7 all the way through. Mirage probably needs a heavier stitch count for the lighter, cheaper material used in the harness. An articulated G4 with chest rings is all type 8(3500 lb.) webbing... Concerning the p/c spring, The Mirage has to travel through 4 flaps with its 40 lb spring. the Wings has to travel through 2. Once the p/c has cleared the wings is about 80% f-111 and 20% mesh. The Mirage is about 50/50 of each. So, I like the the actually deployment force of the Wings with more material. Also I am not that excited about secondary riser covers. I find if the design is good enough with primary ones, why add extra material to restrict the risers during deployment and increase chances of inducing line twists? The point is, both are great rigs and one is not noticably more functional than the other as the marketing rhetoric can go both ways. As a rigger I am pretty impressed with craftmanship and ingenuity of both companies. However, I like the Wings for the durable harness and price. Happy Hunting, Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

Incest, Watersports, Republicans -Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

I had 1 out of 18 openings do this on a Xaos 27 cell with the exect same remedy. It was bowtied with the slider up and one pop on the rear risers and it inflated and sent the slider down. It was flying well enough that I didn't even lose that much altitude either... -Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

I responded with this on another thread... I'll go ahead and add my two cents on this one and I'll qualify my answer. I originally bought my Wings out of interest in the design. There have been 2 Wings in the family (mine) and 2 Javelins (my sister's). My opinion comes from inspecting and packing both Wings and Javelins for my rigging customers. The main reasons I prefer the Wings over the Javelin specifically because: The main lift web and risers are all type VII webbing (rated 5,500-6,500 lbs). The Odysseys I've seen are either a mix of type VIII (rated 3,000-3,500 lbs.) and VII or all type VIII. Both of course are strong enough, but I like the extra strength for some of the extra curricular beating rigs take. Further, I like the geometry of the Wings harness which is comfortable without requiring chest rings. I see Odysseys with chest rings and the main lift web is contorted 45 degrees between the junctions, so there is not only an added junction, but it is under more than just a vertical load. The anchoring plate for the reserve closing loop in Javelin is notoriously weak and susceptable to being bent or "tented-up" by positive leverage devices. I don't know why it wasn't improved with the Odyssey, but it wasn't. The anchoring plate in a Wings is thick enough that you can snap closing loops off it all day long and it doesn't bend. The Wings freebag is cool because of the split design, which is neccessary when you consider the added bulk that needs to go in the ears. I only make one s-fold at the bottom and put the thickest part of the canopy (around the d-attachments) up in the ears with one fold back. However, what I love about the molar bag is the velcro pockets. The hook velcro will never come into contact with the lines. I also like the main closing tray design of the Wings with the side flaps wrapping the corners instead of just an added piece of material on the bridle side and prefer the security of the midflap tucking back up into itself to protect the pin. The RSL design is a touch better on the Wings because the lanyard has its own dedicated pocket insulated from the reserve risers and every rig is RSL ready. It is as simple as having the lanyard and snap shackle hoop on the riser and it can be installed. With a Javelin, the RSL design has the lanyard sandwiched between the reserve risers. If the velcro becomes unmated, you have hook velcro munching on the inside of one of your reserve risers. Further, if your adding and RSL to a rig, call your master rigger cause it is a modification. Concerning legstraps, I've heard people comment that the Odysseys have 2 pieces of webbing vs. 1 piece on the Wings. What they fail to notice is the type of webbing used. The Odyssey is 2 pieces of type VIII and the Wings is 1 piece of type VII, which is comparable in strength. Additional reasons: I also like the "d-handle" front dive loops on their riser. They are an easier grab setting up a front riser turn. I prefer the kevlar kill-line collapsible p/c of the Wings, it never shrinks and chokes of the p/c like Spectra. It will just eventually wear and fail resulting in an open p/c, no malfunction. Reserve p/c is more f-111 with less mesh. Less of a chance for trapping mesh and locking enough of the spring to be an issues. Replaceable Pop top, if it gets damaged it is serviceable without working on the whole p/c spring assembly. -Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

I found them cheap at Home Depot for my Finley sight... Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

Here are/were my babies 98, 00, 02. I had a little affinity for the R1... Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

There is a medical term for this. Quasi-mammaries err something like that... Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

Wings freebags are neon yellow... Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

I'll go ahead and add my two cents on this one and I'll qualify my answer. I originally bought my Wings out of interest in the design. There have been 2 Wings in the family (mine) and 2 Javelins (my sister's). My opinion comes from inspecting and packing both Wings and Javelins for my rigging customers. The main reasons I prefer the Wings over the Javelin specifically because: The main lift web and risers are all type VII webbing (rated 5,500-6,500 lbs). The Odysseys I've seen are either a mix of type VIII (rated 3,000-3,500 lbs.) and VII or all type VIII. Both of course are strong enough, but I like the extra strength for some of the extra curricular beating rigs take. Further, I like the geometry of the Wings harness which is comfortable without requiring chest rings. I see Odysseys with chest rings and the main lift web is contorted 45 degrees between the junctions, so there is not only an added junction, but it is under more than just a vertical load. The anchoring plate for the reserve closing loop in Javelin is notoriously weak and susceptable to being bent or "tented-up" by positive leverage devices. I don't know why it wasn't improved with the Odyssey, but it wasn't. The anchoring plate in a Wings is thick enough that you can snap closing loops off it all day long and it doesn't bend. The Wings freebag is cool because of the split design, which is neccessary when you consider the added bulk that needs to go in the ears. I only make one s-fold at the bottom and put the thickest part of the canopy (around the d-attachments) up in the ears with one fold back. However, what I love about the molar bag is the velcro pockets. The hook velcro will never come into contact with the lines. I also like the main closing tray design of the Wings with the side flaps wrapping the corners instead of just an added piece of material on the bridle side and prefer the security of the midflap tucking back up into itself to protect the pin. The RSL design is a touch better on the Wings because the lanyard has its own dedicated pocket insulated from the reserve risers and every rig is RSL ready. It is as simple as having the lanyard and snap shackle hoop on the riser and it can be installed. With a Javelin, the RSL design has the lanyard sandwiched between the reserve risers. If the velcro becomes unmated, you have hook velcro munching on the inside of one of your reserve risers. Further, if your adding and RSL to a rig, call your master rigger cause it is a modification. Concerning legstraps, I've heard people comment that the Odysseys have 2 pieces of webbing vs. 1 piece on the Wings. What they fail to notice is the type of webbing used. The Odyssey is 2 pieces of type VIII and the Wings is 1 piece of type VII, which is comparable in strength. Additional reasons: I also like the "d-handle" front dive loops on their riser. They are an easier grab setting up a front riser turn. I prefer the kevlar kill-line collapsible p/c of the Wings, it never shrinks and chokes of the p/c like Spectra. It will just eventually wear and fail resulting in an open p/c, no malfunction. Reserve p/c is more f-111 with less mesh. Less of a chance for trapping mesh and locking enough of the spring to be an issues. Replaceable Pop top, if it gets damaged it is serviceable without working on the whole p/c spring assembly. good luck shopping, Jon

Well I can verify that a soft loop is built that way. It just has tape around the cable instead of it being inside a pillow... Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

"Help a brutha out and give me my insulin, I got no fingas." Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

Yessir, gottem right here... The honorable WingsuvHixxx. -Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

I believe that is called a "Range Rodgering". -Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

We bear a certain family resemblence, namely we both have huge melons. Gargantuan melons with their own weather systems and orbiting satellites. We're definately a big pillow family. I had to get a rigging ticket just to make proper pillow for the both of us. Here is a rare picture of Drake and I when our melons were trapped together by their own gravitational forces... -Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

His tail is too big and he's only got one nut. Otherwise, he doesn't look too bad. Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

Here's a couple for ya... Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

Okay, so maybe the other photo wasn't so funny. This is my boy Drake who is turning 5 next week. They call him "The Dude" at the dz. -Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

Here's my boy. Ain't he cute? I pretty big eater and all, but a guy's gotta eat. -Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

This is the definative cute puppy. Yours is nice, but Chewy is cuter. -Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

You should probably check again. Definately a double check is in order... At the course you want to take your own life after failing a packjob, but now you'll take someone else's if you fail (is the doubt creeping in yet?). Yup, better do it again so you can get some sleep tonight... Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

It was ground. The bottom of the interior of the ring is a no contact point for webbing and it is ground there. There are grooves in the steel from the filing, just enough to open the ring a little more. -Hixxx death,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when

Hey Folks, I am looking for info concerning grinding the large ring of a 3 ring. I have seen a few rigs where the interior of the ring has been ground for what I assume would be more clearance in a release situation. Nonetheless, this would remove the cadmium plating exposing the steel underneath to the elements. Can this cause embrittlement with just common exposure to air? I know it can happen with hardware that is being replated if it is done incorrectly. thanks, Hixxx