councilman24

I wanted one that yelled "Pull before you break me!" My pager was vibrating on my belt while I was riding my motorcylce the other day. I think it took a couple of times before I felt it. Then I was only sure I felt it because I knew it was there. Normally it's very obvious. A single AA battery last about 3-4 months with two pages every day and only a few others. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

NO GOOD! Not long enough to pack in! Some buddies had a stripped, carpeted bus that they used to take to WFFC. Air conditioned packing!! I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

If your a warm body and you say this out loud you WILL be a packer. RUN AND HIDE! Do almost anything else! I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

For most rigs, shorter leg strap pads can be ordered and installed easily by a local rigger. It's the pad that keeps you from tightening the leg strap. The excess length can be stowed. Don't have it cut off, it limits resale. As you said the chest stap isn't an issue because there isn't a pad to get in the way. The issue that can't be as easily delt with is the length of the lower lateral band and or diagonals. This essentially mean the waist and chest size of the harness. A harness with the connections between the main lift web (front of harness) and the container, sometimes called the lower laterals, that is too long for you will allow the container to shift from side to side on your back. This can effect flying and potentially be dangerous in other ways. If you see a rig that your thinking about, call the manufacturer and see if the the lower laterals can be shortened. In some cases they can, in some they can't. Some older rigs had adjustable lower lateral bands. They may still be available on some student gear. Also, depending on the canopy sizes you may end up with a rig that is wider than your body. This can be an issue in flying, not so much safety. Summary, legstraps easy to fix (but maybe $100+). Waist size tougher. This may be the one component that you want to buy new and custom but I know a lot of tall skinny skydivers. Should be able to find something. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

When we used CB for student canopy control we had someone giving false directions. Went to Motorola radios with assigned frequency and pager receivers that fit in the helmet. One way ground to air communication but we don't want them talking back. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Some of the initial Reflexes had some problems with both the riser covers and the main pin protector. They were still working on the patterns for some of the sizes when I bought mine in 1999 and they had to make a second one for me. (The size was wrong for the canopies stated and you could not install a cypress because bartacks were in the way in the channel.) They also had (have?) a larger shark fin for the main flap that's available for some rig sizes. Anything made after the first few months should be ok. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

It'll never get to 5000 if they can't get the 727 there when it's "confirmed." That was a big draw for lots of folks both this year and in the past. But with weathered out, no jet when people expected it, no jet when people didn't expect it and now no jet when it was "confirmed" they might as well give up even trying. Reading the letter on the WFFC site they (the jet) didn't have insurance yet the week of the convention. Doesn't sound confirmed to me. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I saw your low number of jumps. If this is a new rig or a new combination the reserve may be too small for the rig and not provide enough bulk to fill the rig and create the "crater" for the PC. From the pics either the rigger didn't come close to getting it tight enough, the reserve is too small and the container isn't full enough, or it slipped drastically. If this rig has been successfully packed by someone else, then some thing went wrong with this pack job. One key I learned from Fliteline is to put ALL your weight on the the poptop to while tightening the loop. If you just kneel on it with partial weight its much harder to get it sucked down. Also, getting a replacement loop made with just the right amount of finger trap and in the right place takes some practice. If the rigger suggested a "shorter loop" then I'd be suspicious. As stated before the loop length is created while tightening the cap. It starts out several inches long. I get to go do one tonight.

Can also recommend Ed Cummings at http://www.cummingsrigging.com for new gear orders. Not much for "shopping" on his web site but offers good advice and prices. Another source of links is the yellow pages at http://www.pia.com/. Picking colors is the hardest thing about a new rig. BTW in 24 years and about 10 or 11 harnesses I've only ordered two custom. Others I usually bought out of stock or lightly used. Custom canopies are another story. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I don't pack anything much more than HALF as old as I am. Too bad it's not in a Navy Back. That would be an adventure. Of course, I had to dig up my old hook for stowing lines for the Preserve V. And PhreeZone, I like rounds. Most are pilot rigs. You get to stand up. You usually don't sweat. Most of them are easy to close. And pilots are used to paying alot for maintenance. Of course my first rig was a round.

You'll also need the instruction for the type of container; military (air force, navy), softie, butler, etc. The instructions for military containers in Poynter's manual can be confusing if you don't have any experience with them. Also confirming that all of the parts of the assembly are appropriate can be a pain. Most of the older military stuff I get has mismatched parts. C-9 canopies are a military design contracted out to any number of companies. Reliance is just one. You won't find instructions for "Reliance" in Poynter's manual, but will find instructions for the part number on your C-9. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

You should respect the manufacturer's instructions. The last packing demo I saw for Sunpath Javelin at the 2001 PIA symposium, they (don't remember who did the demo) that you can't pack one correctly without using something. A kneeling plate spans the PC and doesn't allow it to be set deep enough. For us old and moldy guys the best thing I ever bought was ratcheting closing aid. Uses a socket wrench, axle, cog, and u shaped support. Their not cheap (a few hundred dollars) but a well know rigger sells them to the military. I'm not saying who it is because I'm not sure he want's to sell them to the general public. But I can rip a rig apart if I don't us it carefully. I also liked the idea of the shoulder strap and b-12 snap. I've seen that used. (Of couse these days most people would have to BUY a B-12 snap to make one!) Hey, what's Dave device for keeping the pin in look like? I don't remember that one. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I use rubber bands, large for locking stows and small for rest on 825 microline. I lean toward rubber bands since I was jumping years before tube stows were out. I also subscribe to the idea that rubber bands have higher friction and more surface area. One thing I observed about tube stows. A customer brought me his rig for reserve service. It was in the winter and his rig had been in his car for a while. When we pulled out his main the two black locking tube stows stayed stretched out and limp until they warmed up. Then they regained their elastisity and shrunk back to normal size. So, when cold they essentially were putting no tension on the lines. That was enough, living in Michigan, to turn me off tube stows. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Here's John's seminar. http://www.performancedesigns.com/docs/wingload.pdf It's very enlightening and I subscribe to the conclusions. Because of less drag, shorter lines (shorter pendulum), etc. a similarly loaded canopy in the small version will seem more "high performance" than the bigger version. This why a lot of newbies on lightly loaded small "low performance" canopies are in over their head.

From rec.skydiving january 2000 "APS is currently building parachutes in Texas. Bob Chafin is running the company now. Dave Davenport, now working for Eagle industries, was the founder of the company. Back then, they were the rage in Alabama, Georgia and Mississipi. They also make the Laser, Bogy, Ranger and Shark mains, as well as Rascal and Laser reserves. Rascals and Lasers are still quite popular as demo mains. The Shark a zero-p eliptical nine-cell. There was a time when you could get seven, EIGHT, and nine cell parachutes from these guys cut with the same airfoil. They made a few eleven-cell parachutes also. One weird thing that you still get from these guys is a parachute with ALTERNATING zero-p and F-11s cells. Why? Who knows, but some people liked them. Chuck Blue D-12501 "

Call up the manufacturer and talk to them. In the old days when containers weren't quite so "engineered" this wasn't too uncommon. Usually it was just main containers done in the field. My guess is that the answer will be all new containers on the old harness. This may or may not be cost effective.

Kernmantel line .... Yeah, just like 400 lb type II and 550 type III nylon on T-10 and C-9 military rounds! This discussion probably could have taken place in the eighties when they first tried to use kevlar lines. (if the internet existed) I still service one hobbit reserve with them. They too started to break routinely and unexpectedly after use in the field and were withdrawn from mains. Maybe we should all go back to Pegasus's, 7 cells, F-111, and Dacron.

I've asked that question at several PIA symposiums over the years and hadn't found a rigger that used a wavier. Of course just trying to defend a lawsuit will bankrupt most riggers. Remember it cost Para-Gear $10,000 to be dropped from a case that they were named in because the data card had their name printed on it. They didn't do the work, they sold the 2 cent piece of paper. I hope I'm covering myself by trying to be the most professional I can be. I had a customer blow up a round reserve by tumbling into it during deployment. He lived but had severe injuries. I visited him in the hospital after I convinced myself I didn't have anything to do with it. He didn't blame me either. But he did send the canopy to the manufacturer for their opinion. Of course they said, which was true, the if you deploy tumbling and unstable these kind of failures can occur. If we don't want to be sued, we shouldn't rig, jumpmaster, instruct, or jump with others. But that's the risk we take either to have fun, make money, or both. Terry

Not having a useful dealer nearby, I need a recommendation for an internet/mail order commercial sewing machine dealer. I need to get a 20U, clone, or similar capability machine. I'd appreciate recommendations of companies you've dealt with. I can find plenty on the internet but would like some personnal recommendations. Thanks in advance. Terry

Went to Austria for business in Feb. Got spoiled. Haven't drunk much than Paulaner Hefe-Weizen since then. " High in effervescence, low in calories, with a uniquely crisp, refreshing fruity flavor. Appearance: Authentic Bavarian-style wheat beer, naturally cloudy with tones of deep gold. Aroma: Clovey, fruity nose. Service: Typically served in a traditional Weisse glass or champagne flute. Recommended with light meals, chicken, fish, salads and dishes served with lemon. Often served with a lemon garnish - the lemon lightens the overall taste while brightening the fruitiness. Lagering Time: 6 weeks. Alcohol Content: 5.6% by volume. 4.4% by weight." Of course there's always Bud!

Make sure your leg straps are tight. You don't want to hit the "bottom" of the harness after opening. If you're skilled enough to "set up" into a head high position this will load the forces straight down your spine rather than having to pull "up" on your shoulders. If your eating your altimeter you're already whipping your neck. Of course to us old farts this is the way a parachute is supposed to open, none of these 1000' streamers that clear themselves. Of course I'm an inch and a half shorter than I was 23 years ago. Terry

As others have pointed out, a misrouted bridle can result in a PC in tow that cannot apply force to the main pin. The example given above is a ROL where the leg strap has been flipped through the main lift web. This results in the bridle wrapped around the legstrap and through the main lift web. So horseshoe is from risers to bridle wrapped around harness, with PC inflated merrily trying to open something. My point is that if you pull the pin on a PC in tow by hand you may be (and she did) creating a horseshoe. Again, with a BOC its harder to do, but I have seen a bridle misrouted during closing the main container that would have resulted in a PC in tow. Pulling on the bridle leading to the PC wouldn't have worked and the pin protector would have been closed. Sure, you can reach back, open the pin protector and pull the pin; but can you do it in freefall in two seconds? All of the types of tows listed are great but when you throw out at 2000' to 2500' feet and get one towing you don't have time to do anything but pull your reserve (with a nod to those who want to cutaway first.).

For a lot of people, when they recognize a PC in tow they're going to have less than 7 or 8 seconds to get something out. And do you want to put out your new snivelly canopy down there? It's not so much true these days but in the old and moldy times PC's in tow were caused by twisted belly bands (someone explain it for any under 40), twisted leg straps, flaking plated pins, etc. etc. In the unlikely (now) event you have something else causing the tow other than a tight pack job and wimpy PC, do you really want to create a horseshoe under 1500'? I watched a friend at the Richmond boogie have a PC in tow, reach back and pull the pin, create a horseshoe, end up hanging from the mess on her side in freefall spinning like a top. We watched her round reserve snake through the mess about 300' and open. She was still adding twists to the lines from the freefall spin when she landed. PC in tow was caused by twisted leg strap. I used to know one instructor who first told you to try and reach back and pull it, if that didn't work to ROLL over, reel in the PC (hang it out a car window and try it), roll back over and pull the reserve. Some time about the first roll I figure you'd go SMACK! I usually went over and straightened out the people he told this too. Couldn't tell him anything. I had a PC in tow, my last malfunction in 1987. Cause by tight mid winter (Michigan) pack job and tired F-111 PC. Fired reserve and got both opening as I went into the top of a tree. (OK so we got out at 2000' on a demo. That was the old days.) Don't waste the time you have left.

Back on track. I try and keep my hands out of the risers now. In the mid ninties I had a finger ripped to the bone next to the nail, through a set of newman gloves! The gloves weren't damaged but I had to go get stitched up in the middle of the boogie. I got used to wearing gloves all the time jumpmastering static lines. I always pulled the static line by hand. (Yes it was hooked to the airplane too.) I needed gloves to keep from tearing up my fingers. I've gotten so used to it that I don't like jumping without them.

The Knights and other have used a system that includes a velcro closed tube suspended from the line attachment points and a separate line that runs down to a ring on the risers like a flag pole lanyard. The Knights supplied me with a copy of the design and directions. I made one up, put it on my Triathlon 190 and had some problems. I didn't have to cut it a way but had two funky openings. I didn't have time then to trouble shoot or adjust the trim. I usually use a drop flag anyway. Two flags could be on the same line or on two separate lines, one on each riser. The flags are NOT on the suspension lines with this system. Flight Concepts offers it as an option. http://www.flightconcepts.com/demo.html