councilman24

Ripcord pins are made to Mil spec drawings, or at least they are supposed to be. Capewell discovered they were actually using the wrong steel, according to the drawing, for more years than their records covered (15 to 20). They believe they were using the proper steel, just not the spec'd steel. In fact the Mil spec has now been changed to represent practice. . They also discovered their dies were worn and have replaced them and instituted maintainence. These things had NOTHING to do with the problem. The pins are made by a cold forging process and must be able to be swaged to the cable. It's a trade off between strength (or stiffness) and malability to enable manufacture and swaging. Too hard and you can't attach them to the cable. Of course the mil spec was for pins used with cones. The sport industry, and the military in borrowing from the sport side, are now using them for something completely different. I agree there should be a better pin for sport applications but the time and sales needed to recover the engineering costs and tooling are probably prohibative. Main pins, and RWS RSL reserve pins, which are not swaged could be and were readily adapatable to stronger materials. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

You didn't just start having it, you just starting noticing it. Older Racer's seemed prone to bending pins also, in a similar way to my Reflex. I don't have any experience with newer Racer's. Again, I and some other riggers I respect believe the "bend" standard in the Capewell bulletin is too restrictive, especially for non suspect pins. Pins that bend that much during the test are suspect, but pins that have that much bend or more from use can be just fine. We've all been straightening slightly bent pins for decades. I think your going to find that you'll have a "bent" pin by that definition every pack job. This is one area that needs a little common sense applied. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

The geometry of my Reflex supports the end of the pin "higher" than the grommet. The other one that always bends in a 1991 Talon. On this particular rig / reserve the grommet is the highest point, so any pressure on the pin protector is pressure on the pin. I've serviced a number of other rigs over the years that seemed to bend the pin. In the early days (20 years ago) I thought I might have them too tight, but some bent it no matter how loose the loop. No, they're not bending from the shock load of releasing the tension. It's not abuse either. It's just normal use of some particular rigs. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Back in the "good ole days" people used to go out the exit window over the wing. Saw this a couple of times at Freak Brothers. The exit is bigger than the window and has the window in the middle. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Mandatory under the service bulletin for "All Capewell Supplied Ripcord Pins and/or Ripcords from November 28, 2001 through to July 15, 2003." But I wouldn't apply the standard of "0.012 mm" or "not straight, as visible without magnification" as madatory for pins not showing deformation under the service bulletin and it's testing procedures. If I did there are many rigs on which I'd have to replace the ripcord every pack job. And unfortunately only indirectly "mandatory" at all based on the "manufacturers instructions" since the FAA refuses to issue airworthyness directives, which have the force of law, for parachutes or their components. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

For years and years we've straightened pins like this. I use a small copper hammer against a block of wood. If you use a vise make sure its well padded with something like leather. I have had several rigs over the years that no matter whether I replaced the ripcord or not, it would come back in with a slightly bent pin. One guy took very good care of his rig and it wasn't very tight. But the geometry just made the pin bend a little. My reflex tends to bend the pin also. Capewell's service bulletin seems to me and others I've talked to (including the manufacturer who helped Capewell write it) to be overly cautious for non suspect pins. I recently retested a Ripcord that was puchased in Sept last year. It was tested by the manufacturer and marked. This pin bent under the 11 pound test condition but only in one of the four axes. This worried me because the pin doesn't seem to be symetrical in strength. It didn't bend very far, but because it only bent in one direction we're replacing it. It's never wrong to replace it, but pins have been bending like that for decades. If you replace it you may get the rig back with it bent again. Remember, these pins were designed to work with cones and may actually be too soft for the current sport applications. Also, just because it was ASSEMBLED recently doesn't mean it didn't use the suspect batch of pins. They weren't all recalled, simply tested. Capewell sells pins, pins on cable, and fully assembled ripcords. And there is no maditory or even sugested marking to indicate that it is made from post bulletin pins. So new ripcords, even with a later DOM on the handle, may have old pins that were tested, or new pins. Right now we have no way of knowing for sure. We also have at least one pin out there that was marked as tested but broke on retest, along with mine that bent. Never easy is it? I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Really cheap rigs are likely to be one or two generations old in design. The harness may not be appropriate for free flying. The reserve may be an older design (i.e. original swift, orion, saftey star [shudder]). The main is likely a non zp 7 cell or older 9 cell. These are all rigs similar to the kind I used to jump .... 20 years ago. Right now I could put together (from the stash in my basement) a second generation swift reserve, a non zp 9 cell pd, and an older javelin or vector II and ask $1200 or less. I could also put together an old two pin reserve harness with no riser covers, an original swift, and a 1981 cirrus cloud and only ask about $500 for it. It would be as airworthy as when new but not something I would recommend. I have (really my girl friend has) a late 90's javelin, triathlon, modern reserve (don't remember which one), and cypress that between the sale price and the cypress service needed is about $2700. This is virtually state of the art for medium performance, if not high performance or high style. (I call Triathlon, Sabre, etc medium and non zp low.) So anything below about $1500 without an AAD and $2200 with is getting to really questionable range. Again airworthy is available cheaper, but maybe not recommended. A vector III, pd reserve, Triathlon, and cypress with 13 jumps but 5 years old recently sold in my area for $3100 including the cypress service. Just some general guidelines. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

A loop lasting only 10 jumps is not normal and means something is wrong. The pin may have a burr or other rough spot, but that's rare now. The grommets may have some sharp spots, need to be reset or replaced. Check out the grommets. They get can get beat up. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I don't pack Racer's anymore because there are virtually none in my area and I'm not current. I can do it but it would take me twice as long as the things I'm familiar with and someone else will do a better job. I used to pack lots of Racers, with rounds. I've done a few with ramairs but the last customer I had with a Racer got his own rigger ticket in 1991. Some riggers have more personal reasons/opinions for not packing Racers, or other particular rigs. But I do pack Preserve V pilot rigs. You want to see something weird check out that manual. And I charge more. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Is it worth trying your last chance to live to cutaway a fully open canopy? I have the impression that most newer jumpers only consider the inconvenience, cost, etc. of using their reserve. But, it is your LAST chance to safely get back to earth after throwing yourself out of an airplane. I think those of us that grew up skydiving when the malfunction rate was more like 1:300 vs 1:2000 have a different view of the danger and risk of the sport. I've seen several people land with canopies on backwards. They weren't little pocket rockets. But on F-111 seven cells or even the one I described that was a 1:1 sabre it's not necessarily that big a deal. Some people have even done it on purpose over the years. Half brakes into the wind in the grass, maybe a flare, and a good PLF makes it not so bad on lots of canopies. Obvious there are canopies and situations where serious injury is more likely and cutting away is appropriate. And it's always the individuals decision on what is right for them. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

In addition, don't cut off the excess steering line. You may still need to adjust it. Make sure the bag isn't inside out. Don't assemble connect the collabsable pilot chute to the canopy with only the kill line. Tie down any slider bumpers. Decide you really do know how soft links work. Make sure the steering lines go through the slider grommets, and the proper grommets. Make sure the toggles can't fall off due to tying them on wrong. Hmmm, what else have I seen people do wrong. I don't mind less experienced customers trying to assemble their new main, too much. But it takes be about as long to inspect their work as to do it myself. Watching once might be a better choice. And the best one was a jumpmaster who had a new main delevered to the DZ. He another jumpmaster spent about an hour and a half hooking this main up. (Can take about 15 minutes, with out canopy inspection) They spent about half an hour making sure that it was on right, doing line rotations, triple checking. I was kind of chuckling that they didn't want to ask for help. But they never looked below the toggles to make sure the right side was attached to the right side of the harness. And I didn't notice it walking by every once in a while. So, of course he jumped it and landed flying backwards. Medium performance, no injuries, no need to cutaway, so it was a good chuckle. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

What used to wear out main loops quickly were the variety of pins used. Some were plated. The plating would start to flake and leave "sharp" edges between the plated and unplated. Some were wire with a loop welded into the end. These would corrode and generally had a rougher surface. Until the current stainless pin became popular main loops could last a little as a month. With the advent of stainless pins I rarely see a loop that needs changing. This is no reason to pick a deployment system, the difference will be minor, and monitoring and maintaining the loop is trivial to do. Hmmm, now why did I answer this question? I know! Better than turning around and starting work. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

First, the museum and USPA will not SHARE land. That's like saying that a McDonald's and a Burger King who happen to be adjacent "share" land. USPA owns land, and the Museum corporation owns land, each separately. Who cares if a different office building ends up next to USPA if the museum proves unworkable? USPA has been a minor contributor to the museum's fundraising efforts. That's it. USPA bought their land independantly and before the museum decided to buy adjacent land. Have they been talking? Sure. It only makes sense to coordinate the national organization head quarters and the museum of the sport. PIA is the major other player in the museum, and a major contributor. You can decide not to like the monetary contributions that USPA has made, but USPA is not "building," "funding," "doing," the museum. Supplying a email forwarding address is hardly "REALLY" involved. You can be pissed at USPA, but you need to find another reason. That USPA protects its name and logo should make you feel good. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

USPA is NOT building a museum. The American Museum of Sport Parachuting is an independent corporation. Lowell Bachman of ParaGear is a principle. Both USPA and PIA have contributed funds to the corporation. The corporation has independantly purchased land NEXT to USPA's land in order to colocate. While the to building may eventually be joined for effeciency, the construction of the museum is several years away. The following quote is from Skyxtreme Vol. 6 - March 2000 - English Edition The Magazine from Skydive World http://www.skyxtreme.com/archive/march2000/features.html "The American Museum of Sport Parachuting Alexandria, Virginia -- The U.S. Parachute Association™ (USPA) and the Parachute Industry Association™ (PIA) are pleased to announce matching $25,000 grants to the American Museum of Sport Parachuting and Air Safety™ (AMSPAS) in order to launch the fundraising campaign for a museum dedicated to skydiving and skydivers. The AMSPAS, incorporated in 1986 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit association, will make a reality a decades old dream of establishing a museum for and about skydiving. The purposes of the Museum are to: promote public awareness and understanding of the sport of skydiving; recognize the contribution to skydiving by its participants, suppliers and supporters; capture and preserve forever the history of the sport through its events, equipment and personalities; and enhance aviation safety as it pertains to skydiving through research and education. As its initial step in the fundraising process, the trustees of the Museum have selected Goettler Associates of Columbus, Ohio to conduct the feasibility study and develop the case for support for the fundraising effort. As part of this process, Goettler Associates will conduct interviews of sport and industry leaders. Part of the long-term vision of the AMSPAS is to collocate the offices of skydiving related organizations into a national skydiving headquarters. The USPA has already approved in concept the collocation of its headquarters with the Museum, if a suitable site can be found. Full details of the proposed skydiving museum will be made available to the public following the conclusion of the fundraising feasibility study. Pending the establishment of its own home page and Internet site, please refer inquiries to Museum@uspa.org. U.S. Parachute Association, USPA, and the USPA Wings logo are all trademarks or registered trademarks of the U.S. Parachute Association. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners." I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Did you get yours? (PC-05) Your post prompted me to bite the bullet and order one. Got tired of the youngsters at the DZ being better equiped than me. Mine came in Monday. Still trying to play with it. Time to build a mount. To cheap to buy those high priced hemlets. Beach Camera doesn't list them on their web anymore. We just made it. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Sorry, but this poll represents what is wrong. You can not pick a one size fits all newbie canopy. With out individual skill level and awareness, experience, WEIGHT, KIND OF CANOPY, etc. This is just like the newbie who asked "I've jumped a 210 so a 190 is the right size, right?" What 210, what 190, what w/l, what experience etc. etc. etc. A dozen factors go into a canopy recommendation. Size DOES NOT stand alone. Your question is too simple. Are you going to put that 230 lb novice under a 170 Stilleto? It's a 170. I know you don't really mean that but you've got to consider all the parameters and make INDIVIDUAL recommendations. Rant off. 26 years, 2600 jumps. Not that it matters, but you asked. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Hmmm, Brain power and skydiver, you really associate these together? I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

This is the first I've heard of expecting DPRE's to investigate fatailities. I don't know if it's part of their training and listed duties, but with so few DPRE's in the country and of varying engagement with the sport I'd be surprised if this was the norm. I have both helped investigate a possible gear related fatality and had a severe malfunction of a reserve I packed cause severe injury. In the first. The jumper landed of the DZ in some woods. Search my FLIR equipped helicopter, mounted possie and numerous volunteers took about 4-5 hours to find the victim. During that time as the Safety and Training Advisor and a local rigger NOT involved with the jump or rig in question I tried to exstablish a rapor with the State police. I explained the importance of my (or someone else trained) being able to view the equipment in place. I thought we had come to an understand but when word of the body being found came in I was told I couldn't come out with the police investigators. They did bring the gear back fairly intact and allow me to examine it with supervision. Later, I was able to review the jumpers log and photos of the gear taken in place. I had spent some time educating them on removal and photos that would be important during the search, just in case I wasn't allowed out, as happened. This was not a gear related fatality as best could be detemined. No apparent effort had been made to pull either the BOC or the Reserve handle. The cutaway handle was missing, either stripped by the trees or pulled high and thrown away. The only other "aviation" investigation was a FAA field inspector who came out later in the week to view the gear. This was a NON rigger. The victim was from England and no lawsuits or criminal charges ensured. The other was a low time poor jumper who pulled his Phantom round reserve while tumbling. He tumbled into it, and split the lower lateral band and the canopy to the apex. He survived the injuries. No Police, FAA, DPRE, or even rigger investigation insued. The victim sent the canopy to National before I could see itand they said yep, that's how a round fails. No lawsuit or blame insued. As the chairman of the PIA rigging committee I have asked the question about waviers several times at PIA meetings and symposia. I've never directly spoke with someone who uses one, but I heard rumors. If there is anyone here who uses one, or knows directly someone who uses one, and are willing to share a copy with me I'd appreciate it. I'd like to collect any that are available as examples. I know these may have cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to use and would maintain them as confidential and not distribute them for use. What I would like to do is summarize use and provisions for education and discussion. Please PM me. Thanks, PIA Rigging committee chairman I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Rob, Do you maintain that properly installed cutaway cables in soft housing pulled just as easy as hard housings? I took great care in the routing of cables in RI and Sunpath products. But still believed the soft housing were harder pulls. Not necessarily unacceptable, but still harder. And with the possibility of misrouting by others were worth removing. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Reverse risers are essentially incompatible with ALL rigs if the current criteria in these discussions are used. When Type 17 (1 inch) risers started breaking this was one answer to solve the problem. Reverse risers were sold and retrofitted on many rigs. The problem of not releasing without clearance was balanced against the danger of breaking a riser, especially the one with the RSL hook up. While there might of been some rigs designed with higher harness rings I can't remember any. I do know that at least one factory was offering the reverse risers as direct replacements to the standard risers on existing rigs. This is NOT something that I would call wrong. I would educate the user to their limitations and alternatives now available. But I'd never consider pulling someone off a load. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

You don't know for sure that the only reason it's towing is the uninflated PC. Why waste part of you last 8 seconds to live manually pulling a pin that might create a horseshoe if the bridle is twisted or caught somewhere else? I watched this happen in Richmond about 93 or so. PC in tow, pulled the pin, created a spinning horseshoe mess. She fired her reserve into it. The round snaked through and opened. She was still ADDING line twist from the momentum when she landed uninjured. Less likely now but too many people die doing things that won't save their life. Yes, there might not be enough drag, or there might be. But since you don't know why it's towing I'd suggest not doing something that might make it worse. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

The bromocreasol green solution will only measure a specific pH change. Multi level pH strips (not litmus paper) with distilled water would be best. But then you have to know what pH matters. Nylon is pretty resistant to weak acid. The acid mesh problem of the rounds was an interaction with something on the nylon material with the acid mesh. IMHO. Of two panels the same color next to each other and adjacent to the same mesh panel one could be tissue paper and one just fine. The actual degradation pathway was never deternined to my knowledge and very well may not have been solely acid catalized. I, like Bill, have had smoke stains on lots of things. On mains and containers and your face you just keep going. On a reserve and reserve bridle I would now be conservative and repace the bridle. I also would test the pH with the strips and neutralize of particularly acidic or basic. (Probably acidic from possible sulfur in the) Monitor the stained portions, maybe remove and patch (may not worth it) http://www.vwrsp.com/catalog/product/?catalog_number=EM-9590-1&resultNum=0[/url] only maybe narrower range. Search for pH test strips. This is the kind of thing you want. PM me for more info. 24 years experience as analytical chemist. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Just make sure it's clear of the lights. Hard to tell. Also, adding a table top or box fan to circulate the air will greatly speed drying. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Don't know your machine but I just use a thread holder next to the machine. You should have to try to rewind. Fabric stores sell 69 nylon thread as upholstery thread. You can get 4 oz. and 8 oz. single spools, and 1 oz. smaller spools of e thread as a set from http://www.dj-associates.com/nylon_thread.htm. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Here's a purple Cascade helmet. I've seen these in the kayak store. Look pretty good. http://www.hardheadedsports.com/casfulearcov.html I've got a baby blue Protec I'll sell. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE