masterrigger1

Yes, that is just his personal net worth. His eldest son actually owns the business and is considered to be a business genius by those who know him. Also of note; all but one of the siblings hold at least a Masters degree from different highly ranked colleges. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Henderson Sewing gets most of their folders from TAC; which is Tennessee Attachment Company. http://www.tennattachment.com/ATTACHMENTS%20MAIN.html Generally these people make a really good product...BUT I did have problems with the last two or three items I received from them. Hopefully they have resolved their in-house issues. Folder #775 is probably what you are looking for or at least the style of folder that you need. Atlanta Attachment Company (which Terry already gave a link to) is a good company also. If you do call Henderson Sewing, ask for Bruce Moore.He will help you with what ever you need. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Letters to a AAD manufacturer are one thing. Documentation in the ACO Manual is another. Also there is a big difference between the Owners manual and the ACO manual. One is used for certification, the other is obvious. Looking a the Aerodyne letter, it states that they have included the authorization in their ACO manual. If they did they would have been the first one to do so. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Well actually she had asked me at the beginning of the day to see if i could put a Cypres in her rig sometime and I said "sure". I had been packing the Power racers with the Cypres a lot back then and having great success. This is one time that I wished that I had pursued this! MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

According to Washington ...NO!! Again, it is not listed in any ACO manual which means absolutely nothing until it is. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Obviously you missed this paragraph: This rule clarifies that the FAA requires that a person must hold an appropriate current parachute rigger certificate or be under the supervision of an appropriate current certificated rigger to maintain or alteration of parachutes. Exactly my point! Yes you have me beat with the number of years in the sport as I only did my first jumps in 1976. But I also have spent the last 10 years or so with a definite focus on the regulations; seven years and then some on the document that I just posted. ..and yes I did ask what Washington (not my local FSDO) the interpretation of part 65 and qualified maintenance personnel. The only difference between certified components and non-certified components is paperwork and/or authorizations. Both still require an appropriately rated rigger to maintain and assemble them. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Total Hogwash! Any maintenance (...except minor cleaning and assembly neccessary for transport...see attached) to any part of the system requires a riggers certificate and it needs to be appropriate to the work at hand. f. Parachutist’s Handling of Equipment. The user of a parachute system may perform simple assembly and disassembly operations necessary for transportation, handling, or storage between periods of use if the parachute’s design simplifies such assembly and disassembly without the use of complex operations Also, you need to read the attached document carefully. Absolutely True. Not one manufacturer out there has documented "X" AAD to be included in their manual; thus basically they are not really approved by anyone out there except for a headshake or nod. Exactly my point! MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Handy cam Video? I just paged through several tandem cutaways with handy cam video and most you cannot tell much of what is going on until after the reserve canopy is deploying. Just saying.... I would have to think they were bent from the shock loading of the RSL-top Flap-Quick-Loop-Pins. A quick shock load calculation of a 500 lb load dropping 6 inches equals 2296 lbs. This is with stranded 1/4" wire cable as a medium in the calculation. It would be lower with material that had more elasticity and also lower with lesser travel distance. Of course we know that we never achieved that amount of force or the quick loop would probably have broken. I am guessing that you re-created the loaded scenario with two people in the harnesses (450 lbs) and then pulled it. So, in the video, the handle just popped out of place???? John, Your RSL system (or mis-rigging of it) has a built in error trap which played a role in these fatalities whether you will admit to it or not. ....Yes, I know read the manual! The reason that I brought this up is this. I think that the pin puller is the way to go provided there are no bent pins. It is a better way to go IMHO. But.....Ironically your system (with the RSL attached) has the highest probability of bent pins. More so that any other rig out there with the above scenario. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

I have never heard of or seen these from an impact. Also, probably the two bodies impacted before the rig did. Lastly, the pair loaded the top flap which then loaded the pins,loop, and etc.... The reason that one pin was bent more was the way the load was applied. The top pin is probably the one that was bent the most just by the angle of the dangle is my guess. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Well, this may qualify as an incident. The pins were said to have some bend in them by Nancy herself. Also, the floating ripcord theory could be a mistaken theory. How do you not know that he was pulling all the way until impact and the handle was probably released AFTER the impact? Here are the two fatalities: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3678254;page=5;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Negative! At least for the most part here in the US. I think the new Strong tandem system has the first legally binding life limit out there right now as they just completed a new TSO with it. Also a Vector II (or a Vector III for that matter) does not have a life limit on it. It's airworthiness is determined at the time of each repack. See attached. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

You will be needing a 19-20" lift web at least. Shoulder size will determine if you need a "C" or "D" yoke. The yoke size is important to know because unlike the harness size, it cannot be changed. Also if you have too short of a yoke size, it may be hard to get to the PC when you get ready to throw out. Guessing with just the info that you gave above, you are looking at a C-19 or C-20 sized H/C. But get measured to be sure. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

They can have that effect, but AFS-100 would set that straight for the twelve gray haired ladies in the witness stand. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Yep!But mostly true things probably 90% of the time hopefully. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

I knew that. I just did not know anyone had ever did one for just a ripcord! Cheers, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Roger! I did not know that anyone had ever held a TSO just for a ripcord which why it was confusing to me. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Jerry, Which TSO of yours did you spec that out and why? Also was that part of your H/C system or just a ripcord? Yeah I had seen them in the past from Mike @ Altico. The only ones I see anymore are homemade ones though. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

If it is not written into their ACO manual and instructions, it is NOT a requirement that it has to come from them. This goes back to the time the equipment was TSO'd. As far as I know, not one manufacturer out that did this. There are some manufacturers out there that will tell you they did, but if you check with their controlling ACO, I think you will find out something different. Sun Path, for example, does not have any statements in their manual that requires safety stows to come from them. They do in fact "RECOMMEND" that major repairs be done by the factory. This means a master rigger can still do the work legally. If the part in question is TSO'd under the same exact TSO series, then a part can legally be interchanged if again there is no stipulation in the ACO manual that limits it from being used. TSO'd parts include: The Harness The Reserve Container The Reserve Risers Harness Hardware Ripcord Reserve Pilot Chute Reserve Bridal Molar Bag ( if used...not needed if using a round canopy) The safety stow is part of the Molar bag BTW... And lastly the complete cutaway system on TSO 23d and 23f if I remember correctly. In the earlier TSOs like TSO C23 b., there were no stipulations that required the ripcord to be made by the manufacturer, there were no safety stows back then, and also there were the certified parachute lofts. The certified parachute lofts carried a cert from the FAA and was treated about the same as any manufacturer with regards to FAA inspections, material tracing,and etc.... So when Part 146 (certified lofts) went away, it left somewhat of a gap in the system. If you have equipment that is certified under 23b, I know for a fact that you can make a ripcord and make safety stows because it was never written into the manual. JFYI, Mirage and UPT (Relative Workshop) products are still manufactured under 23b. TSO 23c, is one that I think that you can also do the same, but will have to check on it for you. Repair or Replace is the answer here.It just depends on what you are doing. Replacing Velcro is considered a minor repair. Replacing a Ripcord is a minor repair. If you have to make one, it is a major repair. Same with a safety stow. If making one, I would consider it to be a major repair. Most (..not all) Senior riggers do not even own a 308 stitch machine anyway. A 308 machine is really needed to make one in the first place. Cheers, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

A Master Rigger can absolutely make parts and use them. There is no regulation that prohibits this. The only line is whether the part in question is TSO'd or not. If it is TSO'd then, authorization from the manufacturer OR the FAA is required. If the part is not TSO'd, then authorization is not required. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Most of the machines that come out of factories are in fact 3 phase motors. At least that is true here in the USA. [inline Three_phase.JPG] The newer servo motors are a little better with regards to speeds and HP. You can now set the ramp up speed as well as max speed on these new ones. Cheers Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Well maybe you should use something different. The results are so diverse between two it is readily apparent to just about ant current jumper. I suggest you get some new equipment because yours can't be working correctly. If you get your line from CSR (which most people do these days); it will come pre-stretched. Also, the manufacturer that built the canopy in question uses pre-stretched Spectra from CSR. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

John, I just saw this post,,sorry I am late to respond. Again, the proof is in the pudding so to speak,. It is simple to prove that line material does make a difference in the openings. Simply put a spectra line set on a canopy, let someone test jump it, and then change the line set to other types and test jump it some more. We have! Now it is your turn if you do not believe it. Spectra was being used on the Strong SET 400, Flight Concepts canopies, and Precision Canopies before you built the Firebolt. I would love to see the data! The Army Demo Teams only will use Dacron on their canopies. Spectra is not allowed to be used. ( at least on their mains that I know of) It might be lighter and stronger size for size, but it will not hold trim better. I have yet to see 12 plus inches of differential on a Dacron lined canopy like I have with Spectra. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Here you go;The Singer 144W: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Singer-144W-Singer-20-Long-Arm-Sewing-Machine-/221255882433?pt=BI_Sewing_Machines&hash=item3383e0d6c1 These can sew E thread to 5 cord and has the smoothest walking foot action out there and has a very, very large hook and bobbin. Here is a shorter version and looks to be in great shape. http://www.ebay.com/itm/144W-10-heavy-walking-foot-sewing-machine-/221076062336?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3379290080[url] MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Have you ever jumped a Safire II, Crossfire 1 or II, or a Pilot? I am guessing not.... BTW,there are plenty of other canopies that open softer that a Katana and also not as heading sensitive as the Katana. You have got to be kidding The Katana has a high angle of attack and when flown simply straight, it still carries a lot of speed. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Well, the Micro-Raven is really different from the bigger Ravens, so it probably should not be included in the mix here. Also, this was a very nasty malfunction that had me unstable during deployment. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com