councilman24

good reason I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Crazy at the time but maybe not so crazy now. This was in the middle of the 'mystery bulk' issue. Manufacturers were making more tailored and smaller rigs. Jumpers wanted the largest reserve that would fit in the smallest container. The French wanted a definitive, comprehensive, and exclusionary list of what make/model/size reserve would fit in what make/model/size of container. In other words each container manufacturer would have to publish a list of reserves that WOULD fit in each container size, and these would be the ONLY reserves that could be put in these containers. The problem of course is canopies can vary by +/- 10% and container can vary also, lets say +/- 10% although its harder to measure the volume of an individual container. So if you have a 'big', +10 reserve canopy and a -10 container the reserve may vary well not fit at all. But if you have the same makes/model/sizes but have a -10 canopy and a +10 container it may fit easily and well. But to the French they wanted a the list to 'guarantee' that a particular reserve would fit (function) in a particular container. Anybody that has rigged for very long knows that the worst customer is the one that orders the biggest canopy in the smallest possible container. While not a dealer I've had customers have to send back rigs that simply wouldn't hold the same canopy that worked for the last one ordered at the DZ. So in order for this list to work it would have had to prohibit any reserve canopy where an individual specimen might have been too big for any individual specimen container of a particular size. This was good in theory but impractical in the real world. BUT, in light of events of the last 10 years maybe they were right. This discussion was at least 10 years ago, maybe longer. If such a list were mandated manufacturers would have to limit there list to probably one size canopy smaller than usually fits just to cover the combination that didn't. At the time all around the table except the French were willing to trust the riggers to determine the final size compatibility of a particular set of gear. Maybe misplaced trust in some cases. And of course some manufac. still don't publish volume data in part so that some customer doesn't say "you said it would fit!" As I understand it, and someone please correct me if needed, the French government itself does the certification testing for all the French made gear. So with that control they could more easily impose such conditions. Another proposal was that all harness structural testing be done on a static table designed to hold and pull on the harness in to destruction in several configurations. Again, the French government had such a fixture and used it. To my knowledge none existed in this country (at least in the industry) that could anchor and pull on multiple points (two leg straps, four risers in various percentages, loaded chest straps) at that time. I don't know about now. Also at that time most reserves were still C23-b (even though c was out and d was brand new) and forces generated by reserves were not known/published for most/many. Again, this may not have been a bad idea but more easily implemented by a government funded testing organization. Any one know if any one has such a fixture, 2D, maybe even 3D, with multiple anchors and instrumented tension points? Military, NASA, parachute or other industry? Again, it may be a good idea. I think they wanted drop testing of all possible combinations of canopy/container (on the list above) but I don't remember that as clearly. Again, maybe practical for a government run testing organization but and most likely a good idea but impractical. Imagine trying to take every reserve make/model/size and test it in each of your container sizes that it might fit in. A good idea? Probably. Possible?, not in our marketplace. I can't remember the representatives name right now but clearly remember the meetings when the PCSC said these suggestions just were not practical. He was a good guy and he got along well and was friends with many of the other committee members. But he didn't see that in our environment (not government run testing) that these things just wouldn't work. I think the U.S. manufacturers are still a long way away from these suggestions, and we (the buyers) might be able to afford to support them, but in their situation they very well may have made good sense. This was for the most part before the beginning of the AAD fire bounces. Before a lot of the issues with freebag extraction forces, table totals after AAD fire, etc. The above still largely impractical but maybe would result in better safety. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Europe tried to agree on parachute rigger licensing standards but the effort fell through because they couldn't agree. The French were in the PIA Parachute Certification Standards committee until they left in frustration that they couldn't get their way. Some ideas were okay, some were crazy. Standardization never going to happen. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Which is why rigger/buyer is the last and most important inspector. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

MEL, I don't see a lot of new machines but it seems that even though they may all come from one factory they have different level of parts used. Cheap ass no name crappy parts and Consew maybe better parts put on same casting. Think this is true? Example is a no name 20u that friend that has, bought new, that has always sewn like crap. Manual supplied in chinese only. I think, although I haven't seen one in person, that consew or singer versions must operate better. Sewing Machine Sales in Ohio mentioned in other thread seems to be out of business. Phone numbers disconnected and website domain for sale. Who else does reverse and high lift modifications to 7-33's? I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I keep running into these, partly because of some Midwest searches. Taizhou Mingyuan Hightex Special Sewing Machine Co., Ltd (Cowboy Sewing Machines) http://www.cowboysew.com/en.htm I see them on leather working websites usually with good reviews. They have a SK-6 clone (my not be imported) along with other flat beds one that is available in the US with a 7/8" foot lift upto 6 cord. http://www.cowboysew.com/America4.htm I did search and didn't find any mention here. I actually thought I asked this question before. Anybody here have any experience? Not that I'm dropping for a new harness or 29 machine but would like to know if these are reasonable alternatives. Gotta wonder if these are coming off the same line that the Consews come off of. Seem to be a 30-40% savings for similar models. Flat bed alternative to 733 at less than half the cost. Also, anybody here ever see/play with the 733-Pro computerized tacker based on 733 head? Do any of the manufacturer's use one? At $60,000! http://industrialsewingmachineman.com/machines/mach.asp?dir=sewmach&brand=Consew&Model=733-PRO&ProductType=Industrial+Straight+Stitch+Machines I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

You had the harness replaced on a Vector I? Seems like putting the money the wrong place to me. That may have cost.more than an excellent condition Vector II. And while replacement of Vector I reserve PC's was never legally mandatory many riggers, including.myself, wouldn't and.wont.pack an original Vector PC. Change it. I hesitate to.ask what reserve is on this. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Feel lucky if you get to learn how to spot. Many/most dz's don't even bother to teach it and.if.they do you don't have a chance to practice with the pilot using his gps. Those of.us who learned to spot jumping.round knew the.spot was.a particular tree, not a particular side of.the airport. And original sabre openings are just.fine. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

That the company. I was too lazy to look it up. Not sure if they're still in business. Number is disconnected. Anybody else in the midwest (or anywhere) do the reverse/high lift addition? I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Class 7 on ebay. Was $1200, reduced with relisting to $900, head only. But does anybody who might have done the work and put yellow presser foot lift lever and thread take up lever on it? http://www.ebay.com/itm/SINGER-class-7-Heavy-Duty-Industrial-Sewing-machine-7-31/371224707145?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3D3f3d3288826541ceb3c579936cc7fb6c%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D20131017132637%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D371224707145 Also, I've never seen one with a reverse added. Can you tell from typical photos and if so what is it you look for? Trying to learn something new today. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

This isn't a blown call, this is not knowing the rules. If a ref doesn't see a holding foul, or misses a step out if bounds on a run back or misses a tag at second base that's the way it goes and humans make errors. In this case no one is disputing a call. It's the application of the rule after the call. This is actually fixable by playing the final minute of the game with the proper score and possession. Taking a blown call to court, stupid. Asking for a blown rule to be fixed seems fare. Accepting a win this way, bad sportsmanship. Blown call, bad luck. Blown rule, bad training. I wonder if all voting read the article. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

See the helmet thread in the Women's Only forum. Not everyone's head can wear every brand of helmet. No way will my head fit in any Cookie helmet. I've tried. Phantom fit fine. Don't pick a helmet based on features, advertising, hype, recommendations, or cool factor. FIRST, make sure it will fit, with the audibles, glasses etc that you want to use with it. THEN pick from the ones that will fit. This may require a road trip or waiting until a skydiving event (PIA symposium is a good one) to try various brands on. At 75 jumps you can wait awhile. Or be sure you can return them and be willing to eat return shipping. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Now that you've used reasonable sentences to ask your question... We need the makes and models of the machines to be able to answer your question. If these are two home machines at walmart neither will do what some one working on parachute needs. But we also need to know what you want to do with them. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I'm sure what your asking. Your question about "bobbins" doesn't make sense. Bobbins ( the small round metal or plastic spool that you put thread on) are a few cents to a few dollars depending on machine that they are for. They have nothing to.do with whether a machine.is rotary or oscillating. A machine is either a rotary hook design or an oscillating hook design. At that point you buy the bobbins, bobbin cases (if needed), hook (if needed).that is the.proper part for the machine. No part you buy can change.a.rotary machine to an oscillating machine. Not sure what you think is $70 different. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Remember, Raven's (yes not micro ravens) were mains also. This is back when parachutes opened. Not malfunctioned for 600-800 then decided to open. Remember, reserves are supposed to open in less than 3 seconds (or 300 ft if low speed deployments can't meet 3 seconds). Frankly if a customer didn't grunt pretty hard from the force of a terminal ram air reserve opening I'd say that it was too slow. It will be significantly harder than any modern design main. The mains have been slowed down so much like I said above I call them malfunctions that clear. That's why I still jump original Sabre's and Triathlons. When I want to stop the skydive I want it stopped now. And I'm willing to get out or pull at 2000'. My guess is that they had normal reserve openings. Just something they've never felt before. And other than making sure the slider is up against the stops when you put it in the bag I can't imagine a rigger wanting to slow down a reserve opening. Remember the alternative to a fast opening may be hitting the ground. Because people are going faster and over loading reserves one major manuf. is now shooting for 2.8 sec during TSO testing instead of 2.2 sec. Again against the requirement of 3.0 sec. And as discussed above loading a Raven above 1.0 is asking for a stall on landing. Especially for people who have never flown a Raven or other older design F-111 canopy. They lived and didn't break anything. Tell them to stop complaining and buy you your bottle. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Nothing new. I here about things like this every so often and I'm sure it happens routinely. Think of all the machines that came out of the textile industry that no longer exists in this country. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

http://www.pia.com/pia-members/yellow-pages Probably best your going to get. Most won't serve up personal (non public) contacts they have. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Take out every screw you can see inside and out and shake out all the pieces. Then will the box full of parts to you kids. Not sure what you want to disassemble. Usually pulling the covers off the end and top is about as far as you can go. Unless you want to start pulling the hook. A vacuum, canned air or compressor, and oil for lube is about as far as you can go. Not sure how caked up the self oiling mechanism will be. There is actually more in the manual for this one than most. http://parts.singerco.com/IPinstManuals/241.pdf I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Oops, I always get it wrong. Aerosport with a free sleeve. (Aerostar is the post acid mesh phantom) See this thread. NOT talking about Starlight main. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3970385;page=2;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; Manual was on line at Strong and other places but couldn't find it fast. My copy is on my other computer. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Manly has two versions of 'sliders' that he puts on his high end high speed/load rounds. The original is a hemispherical shaped fabric and mesh slider that has a ring for each suspension line around it's circumference. It's pulled up and flaked into the canopy and wind channel as the round is flaked. Controls opening and keeps lines in proper position. Haven't read the sale pitch lately but I expect it eliminates partial inversion malfunctions. On a somewhat lower price point version the slider is flat circular rather than hemispherical. I service several pilots with these and usually recommend one for my heavier pilot customers. http://www.butlerparachutes.com/ click on personnel parachutes. Strong had a round out in 1995-96 called the Aerostar. It used a spider slider that was not connected to anything (i.e. PC Bridle like Para Foils) It was prevented from coming up to the skirt of the canopy by short sections of line sewn between to suspension lines. It again would restrict spreading of the canopy until pushed down. This canopy was also deployed in a free sleeve. The three ring photo in the Parachutist article is too new. The original three rings harness rings were just a round ring, not a slotted piece of hardware like shown. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Here is the link to the UPT web page. http://www.unitedparachutetechnologies.com/index.php/og/item/rasta-rig But 'loop' works in either position. As on website you grab the loop, as in photo above you grab the riser. Either way the bottom of the 'loop' takes the load against the side of your hand. In the old days I've seen regular dive loops on the front again with the intent to grab the riser and still keep your hand from sliding down. But photo and OP description is different from web page. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Peter got the function right. The two side plates had a tapered end.that fit into grooves milled into.the triangular piece attached the harness. Loop kept plates from separating. When cable was pulled plates flipped up and away. Worked well. But the problem with it was it didn't have the amp fitting on the end of the housings to hold the housing to the release. Without it if you pulled a housing you cut away the release. Locally I don't think that ever happened. I've assumed that it was a patent issue that prevented Dan from putting the fittings on but never asked him. One advantage if it to me was no part had to go through another part like the 3 ring. The story I have is that this release actually came from the marine barge tow industry and was a quick release in some of their straps. Once the supplier found out Dan was using it in parachutes they cut off the supply. Trying to remember who's rig this was. I remember it well. Notice that it has Maverick reserve SN 091 on it. I'll have to look in my logs. About 1982 Dan T bought Paraphernalia and moved out west from Michigan where I'm at. Some of the best parties were at his and Marcie's house. He introduced the Chrysalis (I don't know the spelling either) mid 80's for a few years. Since he was from this area Northern Lites were very popular here and there were probably between 5 and 10 with this release at our small DZ. I bought a Northern Lite in 1982 and this wasn't available then so I never had one. I've been trying to find one around here for.a.long.time but have never asked the right person. I have three from that era but none with the Chrysalis. I'll have to see how rich I feel. Went and got my log. I serviced lots of these but only packed this one twice. Once with a round and this time putting the ram air in it. And for the second owner. This originally might have been rigger owned because I did most rigs and the only other riggers were the DZO and another guy who I think had an older one. I'll have to track down who the original owner was. I should know of the top of my head whose this was. Also curious how it got to California. Lots of memories tonight. Too cool. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

buy these http://www.ebay.com/itm/Airplane-Emergnecy-Inflatable-Life-Vest-China-Southern-/281530045925?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item418c7f95e5 put it in a $6 fanny pack, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fanny-Pack-Man-Purse-Travel-Pouch-Money-Passport-ID-Holder-Waist-Bag-1-Pocket-/161428544856?pt=US_CSA_MWA_Backpacks&var=&hash=item2595e41d58 and have something that might actually save someones life. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Use Chuting Star and buy used gear ASAP. You may very well have fit problems or other issues with a new rig. No sense taking the depreciation on a new rig when your jumping so much and know you want a new one. You'll actually save money buying used now even if you order a new one. Remember your used rig will have resale value and may only cost you a dollar or two (or less) per jump after resale. Your used AAD can go in any future rig. (I'd probably save the headache of finding a used one and just buy a new one with all the latest features. It can go in any future rig.) Get something to Chuting Star ASAP for evaluation and get it to you ASAP so you can stop renting. Work out you dream rig. Order it when your ready and can afford it and jump a whole lot cheaper until then. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I'm not at home to look but either 0 or 00. Not necessarily brass. Can be any material. Brass not best. The.original paraflite free bags didn't have safety stows. Locking stows were O rings. Safety stows were a retrofit. I think I still have one kit including channel, stow loop, and grommets. Hmm, must have.been.0 because I don't have a 00 set. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE