skydiverek

HVance, Check this document, written by the inventor of 3-ring release system: http://www.velocityrigs.com/manual/infinity10.pdf Also, make sure your cable is all the way in thru the white loop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzGwZNfbNuQ

Are these magnetic riser covers?

Vigil supporters coming into action in 3... 2... 1...

HUPRA: Hooked Up Parachutists Release Assembly.

Here is where I look for SBs and similar info: http://hq.apf.asn.au/index.php/Rigging_Advisory_Circulars http://hq.apf.asn.au/index.php/Service_Bulletins http://www.cspa.ca/technical/english/technical.htm http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk/cms/index.php?/forum/291-service-bulletins/ http://www.parachutemanuals.com http://rigminder.net/servicebulletin.asp http://www.pia.com/PIAPUBS.htm

I believe this is the document in question (attached).

My Infinity routes the RSL lanyard without a Velcro (the lanyard is secured by a special 'flap', which creates a 'channel', instead). Maybe this is the solution...? You can see it here: http://velocityrigs.com/products.php?product=infinity&sub=features&film=5&flmpos=3 Some scary tandem bag-lock videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5lcf-kll7E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-EJLcPjMVk

Lars, Check this out: http://www.chutingstar.com/expertadvice_en/rant-and-rave/52-is-your-rig-freefly-friendly.html

OK, how about this (attached)?

The 28-inch Zero-P pilotchute (very common) generates approximately 160 lbs of force at terminal. I bet it required no more than 10 lbs to pull your pin. So, no worry. Old rule is: "If you can close the container by hand, it is not too tight". Bet on the 'tight' side, you don't want a horseshoe... For different PC sizes and delays check the attached file.

Well, it should be the opposite. The V3's reserve pin cover flap design does not take force to open. Check this WHOLE thread: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=542700;page=1;mh=-1;;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC Also, most rigs can be 'totaled' like this one, so I don't know if Mirage and Vector3 that you observed were both packed 'ideally': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYIUjKGxagI

IIRC there is a certian percentage of your canopy size that should determine your PC size. I went with F111 on my new rig because it seems after talking with several very experienced riggers, the F111s don't 'bounce around' while trying to inflate. I could have sworn there is a video about that somewhere... but I can't seem to find it off the top of my head. Yup, F-111 does not "spill" air. PD told me recently they recommend a 25-27 inch Zero-P, or a 27-28 inch F-111 type PC for most canopies. Also, check the attached document from PD.

I am very great full for your post. I am going to order a set of dacron lines tomorrow and install them while I recover. My body cannot afford another one of those and I will do anything and everything to make sure it doesn't. Thanks again Your welcome

How come if Vectror3 and Mirage are using the SAME spring for their reserve PC (same manufacturer, spring strength, model number)...?

the document listed here begs to differ somewhat... http://riggers.pia.com/post?id=3512199&trail= usual disclaimers .... ;) I know. Also, please notice that the file you referenced is 7 years old. Vector3 uses a reserve spring with up to 45lbs strength (40 to 45 lbs, it is).

Vector has one of the the strongest reserve PC springs (45 lbs). Javelin has one of the weakest (19 lbs).

Yes, it was on my 230 Spectre with Microline. Quite surprising that such a soft opening canopy would bite me, but I guess they all will if something ain't right. I quess Dacron lines are another line of defense. They could have made a difference in your case (taking the G-forces' spike off). I posted it a while back, but here is what BILL BOOTH has said on dropzone.com about DACRON LINES. Great source of info!: "My tests show up to a 300% increase in opening shock felt by the jumper using Spectra vs. Dacron suspension lines. It is not always that much different. It depends on how quickly the force is applied...and canopy makers have done a good job of designing canopies that open slowly enough to allow the routine use of Spectra. However, when a rare hard (quick) opening happens, Spectra lines will definitely make it hurt more." "Anyone who doubts that suspension line stretch is a factor in reducing the opening shock felt by a jumper, should make a bungee jump...only replace the normal stretchy bungee cord with a stainless steel cable. What's going to happen when you hit the end of that steel cable? Your leg is going to be torn off, that's what. Now remember, Spectra line stretches about as much a steel cable." "If you are not using Dacron lines, they would help. They stretch a little, and also slow the slider down due to surface friction. Spectra (micro) line does not. If you are already using Dacron lines, and still having hard openings, get a canopy that opens slower." "The best way to avoid injuries from that occasional super hard opening (as well as the hard openings themselves), is not to jump no-stretch lines. Ask yourself, "Do I really need the (slight) advantages no-stretch lines offer?" If not, get Dacron. Your body will thank you, because even if you are not ever seriously injured on any single jump, each even slightly hard opening on no-stretch lines is damaging your body...and it all adds up." "Spectra (micro line), Vectran, Kevlar, and HMA are "no-stretch" lines. They do not "absorb" opening shock the way Dacron does. This means that the same "hard" opening can hurt you a lot more. It's like doing a bungee jump with steel cable. The same force is applied...but a hell of a lot more shock is felt by the jumper. All the opening shock caused broken harnesses (two PDF tandem harnesses recently broke), injuries (a guy just broke both femurs), and fatalities (4 in the last two years that I know of) have all been on "no-stretch" line canopies, and could probably been prevented if Dacron line had been used. No stretch line is used because it is thinner, lighter, and has less drag than the same strength Dacron. While this is an "advantage" in a high speed swoop, it has no place in tandem. 85 year old grandmothers jump tandem. They, and many other tandem students, need the softest opening shock possible. This is why we only use Dacron line on our tandem products. Not to mention that our tandem equipment was NOT drop tested with no-stretch lined canopies. I don't care if you have 1,000 jumps on a particular canopy with no-stretch lines with no problems. Ever canopy opens hard eventually. When that happens, I want some "bungee cord" between that canopy and the tandem passenger." "One thing is for sure, if you jump "no-stretch" lines, especially Spectra (because it's so slippery, and reduces slider drag) your chance of being injured or killed by a hard opening shock is much greater than if you jump Dacron line, which stretches just enough to absorb some of that shock before it hits you." "Spectra (or micro-line) is strong and tiny, so it reduces both pack volume and drag , which means you get a smaller rig and a faster canopy. Unfortunately, It has a couple of "design characteristics" (this is manufacturer talk for "problems") It is very slippery (less friction to slow the slider), and stretches less than stainless steel. This is why it hurt people and broke so many mini risers when it was first introduced. Now, I must say that the canopy manufacturers did a wonderful job handling these "characteristics" by designing new canopies that opened much slower than their predecessors. However, the fact still remains, that if you do have a rare fast opening on a microlined canopy, Spectra (or Vectran) will transmit that force to you (and your rig) much, much faster, resulting in an opening shock up to 300% higher than if you have Dacron lines. (It's sort of like doing a bungee jump with a stainless steel cable. At the bottom of your fall, your body applies the same force to the steel cable as it would to a rubber bungee cord, but because steel doesn't stretch, your legs tears off.)." "Reinforced type-17 webbing risers rarely break. They have a new breaking strength of around 3,500 lbs. This is not that much less than type-8 risers breaking strength of 4,000 lbs. The real difference is whether you have mini rings or large rings...and the difference here is in cutaway forces, not breaking strength. While properly designed mini-ring risers can easily release even a 250 lb. jumper in a 3 or 4 "G" spin, the problem is that it is harder to manufacture mini-ring risers correctly. What causes any riser to break is usually a combination of a heavy jumper, a hard opening canopy, and no stretch (Spectra, Vectran, or HTML) line. Broken risers on Dacron lined canopies are very rare indeed." "Single rear riser break is very rare. Risers usually break where they go around the large harness ring. It is obvious that since the "reinforcement" in type 17 risers is below the confluence, it does nothing to prevent this kind of damage. When this riser broke, it "released" a lot of energy, thus preventing much more serious injury of the jumper. Which is a good thing. The only way I know of to prevent "killer" opening shocks, is not to jump Spectra (Microline) or Vectran. They don't stretch at all, and therefore do nothing to help absorb the energy of a really hard opening. As long as we insist on jumping non-stretch lines, incidents like this are bound to happen. (Canopies with Dacron lines can still open hard, but much less shock is actually felt by the jumper.)."

Did it happen on your Spectre? If so, was it lined with Microline or Dacron?

This is what I have on my Infinity .

Really hard to tell so far since I'm still getting use to the fact that the PC actually collapses. But I understand with a sniveling canopy like a Spectre it may be hard to tell. I switched to collapsible PC on my Dacron-lined Spectre 190, and it is like a snatch force disapeared. I CAN feel big diference.

Micheal Fournier quoted $10 million for his jump (one attempt ;-) ).

+1 +2

Like when Tommy Piras failed to turn his on? So are you implying that he did turn it on, and that the facts were changed after the incident, in favor of manufacturer?

Bill Booth talks about a similar case here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSVRSIicQDk

Yup, no freebag on round reserves, and the reserve PC was permanently attached to the reserve canopy.