SEREJumper

Howard, It is the called the "PLD" or Personnel Lowering Device. Worn in the USAF on bailout rigs and most ejection seats. 150 ft of flatten 3/4" tubular nylon webbing S-folded and stowed in elastic retainers in the "tray". There is a small friction device the is on one end usually kept in a zippered pocket on the left main lift web. If you are caught in a tree, take out the friction device, on the free end above the friction device is a small snap hook, you route that through both "v's" in your risers, or a large branch. Connect the snap hook to a little metal ring just above the friction device (now creating a secure loop through your risers). Hold vertical tension on the system, release the capwell that is connected to the less secure risor first, switch hands, release the other side and descend to the ground. The last 25 feet changes color so you know when you are about to run out of tape and the end is doubled over a sewn to prevent you from sliding off inadvertently. At the AF survival school, all students use this device twice while suspended 30 feet above the PLF pit. Good times! Don't go to fast cause when that friction device heats up...it will leave a mark on whatever you touch with it We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

So true! Don't worry about what others think of your rig though. If it's safe for what you are doing and fits you, who cares. Use that extra money to get more jumps and gain the needed experience before you buy new. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

At least with the para-twin (and I'm sure it would be the same for any other interchangeable rig), you can't just interchange them at will, since the reserve risers when packed are only packed for either a bellymount or the pig rig. If it was hooked up the wrong way, the worst that would happen would be that the reserve/ steering would be backwards. Thats not so bad right . We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

The military cypres comes in a variety of activation altitudes. A few are 1500 for MC-4/5 (and a few others) and 1000 for experienced/instrucotrs using conventional throw out rigs. You can always set the offset as well for a higher activation altitude if you want to. Basically you are telling the cypres that you are jumping over an area that is higher than your take off field elevation (but really not). So setting your cypres for 240 UP ARROW will have your cypres activation altitude at 990 ft (750 normal + 240 = 990). Consult your local rigger and or SSK. http://www.cypres-usa.com/altadj.htm We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Well I'm glad I have the updated ones I've had a chance while training pilots/aircrew on emergency egress to use with the Koch/ Koch 2 and Frost releases. The Koch 2nd generation is a nice design, but if I can remember right, they are ridiculously priced (as with anything sold to the govt.) We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

I hear you. Poynter's called them releases, but "connection" does seem to be a more fitting word. Considering that each of these connections has a lanyard with a cotter pin that secures the latch in the closed position as an (optional) safety wouldn't make it so much of a quick release either. So I guess my idea of a 3 ring release and cutaway pillow on the reserve of my modern gear isnt's a good idea either Back to the drawing board. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Well there goes another "name that container" thread! You are good, didn't even have to use a picture! Yes, it is a Pro (Professional) Para-Twin with the option of putting the reserve on the front or back. How many rigs back in the day had these releases, I'm guessing not that many. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

One of my old rigs has Rocket Jet releases for the reserve. I did a search and didn't come up with any info on them here, Poynters gave some good info. Anyone have any old stories/ opinions on that type of release. Pros/Cons? We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Search Ebay right now, there are Ripcord DVD's for sale. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Now that is funny. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

White paint = sticker magnet! We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

I'm interested, please check your messages. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

All my jumps are onto a landing area that is just sand and rocks. It has been my experience the the dust wont come off by just jumping it more. Granted, landing it on grass, will help, but it is still going to be there. Aerodyne's main canopy manual doesn't have anything to say about washing/cleaning it. I checked out PD's owner's manual and they had some good stuff to say (bottom of page 20). http://www.performancedesigns.com/docs/MainUsersManual.pdf We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

I haven't seen much info/news on the new Cookie Composite Atomic helmet on the forums or elsewhere. For those that are looking forward to it, I just got an email back from them saying: We hope to have the first helmet ready in July. Stay tuned Regards Jeremy Hunt Director Cookie Composites Link to a YouTube Video showing the Atomic (speed up to 2:00): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnUmfkwtqSY&eurl=http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit2 We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

+1 We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Skybill got the harness, its a DOM Dec 1977 Strong Fastback container. Andrew got the harness as a Strong Stylemaster, same DOM. Yes it is in nice condition. Only 30 jumps on it. The jumper who owned it saw a friend die and quit jumping. That one was easy! Thanks for playing. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Ok, it's Friday night, time for another name the H/C thread from me. This one should be an easy one (well at least easier than the first one). If you have any stories about this H/C, lets hear them as well. Enjoy! http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/Gearpics/Vintage%20Container%202/ We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

I also found it difficult with gloves on to open it, no gloves not to much of a problem. I ended up going with a Bonehead Mamba and really like the latch on it. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

No one knew who it was, no packing data card with the rig. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Ok, so not F-111, but some weight of ripstop nylon then? We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Strat, Sure enough it has the F-111 style apex. Very cool info! so there are 5 airworthy RWB MK1 PC's that you know of. I hear an all US Team load in the future! I wonder if the other US team PC's have similar serial #'s since they probably would have been made around the same time. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Nothing, just that I was expecting to see a factory made slink, not a homemade slink. I'm sure they would work, but it is up to owner to jump them. Just something to look for on a rig when they say, "canopy comes with slinks". We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

My wife is gone visiting family this week, so I had a chance to dig into my collection. I like to hear your guys stories about the old days! 1964 Para-Commander MK1 Serial # 64736. This was received from the children of a deceased old pioneer, USAF Test Parachutist, and Master rigger. His name was "Grammer". On the pilot chute cap was also the name "Jesse James" with a 413 area code number which is Western Massachusetts. The PC is in excellent condition. I was suprised to see a "Para-Commander" label on the stabilizer, I haven't seen one on another MK1 before. I also noticed a big difference in the material, it almost felt like plastic while as the others I had handled felt like a regular lopo. The others had alot of jumps on them, and this one I'm guessing did not. I uploaded a few photo's of a similar PC (maybe the same one?) from Happyarms Flickr photo page as well. Anyone know the official name? http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/Gearpics/ParaCommander%20MK1%2064736/ We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Found something interesting when inspecting a canopy the other day. Looks normal? Look at the next one in the series. Look at the pics before reading below. Not saying it wouldn't work by any means, just was thinking it was different. 4 wraps wraps of specrta and then bar tacked. http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/Gearpics/Slinks/ We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

It's easy to see why it went for $810, because it's the T-10R Modified Improved Reserve Parachute System (MIRPS). The yellow binding tape on the top of the reserve flap is the outward indication. Inside includes a spring and pilot chute. http://www.irvinaerospace.com/pdfs/T-10R_T-10R_MIRPS.pdf And it was probably sold to some dude in Hong Kong... We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar