billbooth

That Skyhook that got out the door sewn on backwards more than a year ago, was never inspected (long story). There is wording on the Skyhook itself, and a color picture of a correct installation sewn right next to it, so the rigger that tried to assemble the reserve noticed the problem immediately. Since that time, a production jig has been developed that makes sewing a Skyhook on backwards again virtually impossible. In addition, there is a large red seal, that is attached to the pilot chute end of each Skyhook, which is initialed by three separate inspectors in the production process, and then removed by the rigger at first packing. Since each and every Skyhook installation is now inspected by 4 separate people, I think I have done everything possible to prevent a re-occurrence.

Just like everything else, there is a right way, and many, many wrong ways to install riser housings. Infinity's method is good...so is Relative Workshop's. Some others I have seen are not. Improperly installed risers housings can kill you if they prevent you from cutting away. They are worse than no housing at all. 1. The housings should not be able to move downward toward the riser closing loop. The housing could interfere with the 3-ring. 2. The lower housing ending must be visible, and the channel around it tight, so that you cannot accidentally insert the cutaway cable in between the housing and the channel. This is a very hard, or no cutaway situation, even without riser twists. 3. The upper end of the housing must be capped, so that excess cutaway cable cannot stick out. With twisted risers, this would be a no cutaway situation.

RSL's and cameras; 1. If you snag your left riser only on cutaway (with a right mounted RSL), your RSL will activate your reserve, but that will most likely be the least of your problems. You will now be under a rapidly spinning canopy, creating lots of "G's", SUSPENDED BY YOUR NECK, and most likely quickly dead. Does your camera release operate under high load? 2. If you snag your right riser (or both) on your camera with a right mounted RSL, the RSL will not activate on cutaway, but you will still be suspended, at least partially, by your neck. It would make a lot of sense, if you suspect riser entanglement with your camera, to cut away the camera first. It would also make sense to use the most snag free mounts available. To prevent suspension line entanglement, I would suggest longer risers for camera jumpers. If you don't have an RSL, you are probably going to deploy your reserve at terminal. How much experience do you have launching a spring loaded pilot chute through a burble, especially the extra large one that can be created by camera wings? A burbling pilot chute, and 15 foot long freebag bridle, represent a rather significant snag hazard when bouncing around behind you head. Knowing this, a Skyhook just might be a good idea for camera jumpers. (I am not one, by the way.)

The "total velocity" requirement of TSO C-23d has been removed from the draft C23e, mainly because no one could make a reserve that anyone would buy (because of pack volume), that actually passed that requirement. I'm not primarily worried about a reserve safely landing an unconscious jumper, because no reserve can guarantee that. I'm worried about a reserve that might open in an un-recoverable spiral, because of something as simple as body position or line twists.

I haven't heard of any Vigil misfires since the Static Electricity fix.

Type 17 does have a rated strength of 2,500 lbs., although it usually breaks at just over 3,000. New, reinforced Type 17 risers break at about 3,500 lbs., because the webbing is doubled over. Riser breaks almost always happen where the riser goes around the RW-8 harness ring. The very dull "knife edge" of the harness ring actually "cuts" the webbing.

I can only hope the "market" doesn't drive the manufacturers to make "tiny" high performance reserves, similar to mains. We all ought to be at least slightly conservative when it comes to our "last chance" parachute.

Relative Workshop is on the show too. These guys really seemed interested in how gear is made. It will be nice to see a show about Skydiving that isn't all "sport death". Well, let's hope anyway.

All square reserve canopies are packed with three intentional line twists, just below the slider, for TSO drop testing. They must be "fully open and functioning" within 3 seconds for a "normal sized" sport reserve. This requirement should weed out designs that are susceptible to line twist induced spirals.

The slider was invented and patented in the '30's for round parachutes. It was re-discovered by an engineer at Pioneer in the '70's.

When I first conceived the Skyhook, I to was worried about colliding with the recently broken away main. However, after watching literally hundreds of Skyhook breakaways. I can tell you that it does not seem to be a problem. If your main is directly overhead when you breakaway, the forward surge on reserve opening carries you away from your released main, even if it is a bag lock. If you are spinning when you breakaway, your angular acceleration ("centifugal force" to those of you who aren't physics majors) "throws" you away from the broken away main, often up to 50 feet. There are over 3,000 Skyhook equipped rigs out there now, in actual field conditions, with real (not test) jumpers, so almost every kind of main malfunction that can happen probably already has. Even I, whose job it is to worry about everything, am beginning to feel very good about this device.

For years, Relative Workshop has made a freefall harness with a "swing seat" option for HAHO military operators, who may open as high as 30,000 feet, and have an half hour canopy ride. It isn't necessary for 5 minute or less canopy rides.

The tandem student harnesses we have been making for the last 4 years (Sigma), have gone a long way toward eliminated students getting sick or passing out. With the older harnesses, it was a real problem. Those older harnesses really should be replace as soon as possible. It will make the students much more comfortable, therefore increasing repeat and referral business, and make me more money all at the same time. (At least I'm honest about it.)

A 2-1 pulley would result in twice the toggle stroke. No one I know has arms that long...well, maybe one or two TM's whose knuckles drag the ground when they walk.

Reinforced Type 17 (1") riser breaks are very rare. However, a single sided RSL (without a Collins' Lanyard) could kill you if the RSL riser breaks. For this reason, you should consider your options if you jump a Micro Lined canopy that opens even a little bit hard, especially if you weigh over 190 lbs.

I apologize. The number of Vigils in the world right now is closer to 1,500, not 5,000 as I stated earlier. Alzheimers must be setting in earlier than planned.

Gee...I'm beginning to think I heard the number wrong. I'll check and get back to you guys.

These questions should be directed at the AAD (Vigil) factory. I do not have a great enough knowledge of electronics to answer them with any authority. However, I will discuss this Swedish report with Vigil and get their take on it. Thanks for the "heads up".

I think Vigil's position is that the device is very sophisticated, and runs a complete diagnostic each and every time you turn it on, so it will tell you if something is wrong. In other words, each individual unit (and how it is treated) will determine its own "service interval". The Vigil has only four basic parts, and each is user (or rigger) serviceable (replaceable) with an allen wrench and a small screw driver, so you don't have to send it off to a service center. (It's so simple that even I can take one apart...put it back together...and it still works!) However, I wouldn't be surprised, with the passage of time, that something might come up that would require that you return your unit for service. Hell, it already has.

I have been told by the factory, that since its early problems with static electricity were fixed, there have been no more "accidental" firings on the Vigil, and several saves. I have also been told that 5,000 are in use worldwide. These figures come from the owner of Vigil, and he has always been very honest with me, especially when there were problems. I personally know that DeLand Majik jumped them all the way through the World Meet with no problems. I also have a Vigil in my own rig. Ps: In the interests of full disclosure: My company sells both Cypres and Vigil. They are both are fine machines, but we make more money on Vigils...for whatever that is worth.

The three ring release divides the force put on the risers by a factor of up to 200, depending on which size 3-ring system you use. Go to Relativeworkshop.com and look at the 3-ring riser pull force chart. You will see that even a mini 3-ring system can easily handle a 600 pound load on each riser.

I don't think many of us appreciate how quickly we can be rendered blind (redout or blackout), or even unconscious by a rapidly spinning malfunction, especially when you start with a "killer" opening shock that can easily scramble your brain in an instant. Your chances of regaining stability, and pulling your reserve handle quickly after such a breakaway, decrease with every extra second you ride your malfunction. You must be "spring loaded" in your reaction to such a perilous situation. It must be "automatic". There may not be much time to think.

I must remind you of an incident about 10 years back. A young jumper decided to "lurk" his mother on her first tandem jump. The tandem master allowed it, but told him to keep his distance. To make a long story tragically short, he collided with, and killed his mother at opening. Enough said.

Correctly made, and maintained, mini 3-ring risers will easily cutaway even under a 6 "G" spin, which by the way, would render the jumper unconscious in just a few seconds anyway.

Every reputable manufacturer I know 100% tests ripcords (3 seconds @ 300 lbs., pin-to-handle test). As long as stainless steel cable was used, I know of no pin which has ever detached from a cable, even many years later, after passing this test. Recently, most of us have added a series of pin side load tests on every ripcord we sell. Most aircraft control cables also employ swaged fittings, and have for nearly 100 years. While nothing is perfect, a properly swaged fitting on the end of a cable is a damned reliable system.