riggermick

Back when I was active as an AFF instructor at Perris I helped train Patric Swayzee (sp ?),ground school only though for his upcoming role in Point Break. I believe I was one of Don Swazees JM's at one time or another, it's hard to remember as I did so many AFF jumps with so many different people. I did several AFF jumps with Dave Mustaine the bassist for the band Megadeth (they were big in the late 80's/ early 90's). I was on a few fun jumps with Judy Norton Taylor (Mary Ellen from the waltons). Does any of this count? Not that ANY of this matters anymore to anyone, hell even I don't care anymore, but the question did float some old memories to the top. Mick.

Right, that is all I have said in this thread. Anything else just isn't there. Derek So NOW do you hear what I'm say'n to you? There are rules and there is the interpretation of thee "rules". Although it's written in black and white its really a shade (or several) shades of grey, welcome to Governmental oversight. Mick. PS: Your'e doing a good thing by asking the questions that no one thinks of, well done. You'll go far i'm sure.

Containers, due to their complexity and the multiple canopy combinations cannot be 1:1 scaled. If they could, every mfg out there would offer as many combinations of container as there combinations of canopys. Container scaling is one of the mysterious "dark arts" that take a long time to learn and an even longer time to master. Things like riser cover geometry and reserve loop length are generally fixed points of reference. This gives the container designer somthing to build out from and around while trying to stay within the confines of the backpad. Hope this helps. Mick.

Not a dactyl dude, it's Russian. Don't know the name of though, riggerrob might. Mick.

A properly assembled canopy that becomes tangled after, say a really rough landing will have entanglements above the slider, below the slider or both. Tangles below the slider have to be taken out by passing the harness/ container through the lines (always below the slider though). Tangles above the slider can be taken out by running the brake lines clear all the way up to the tail of the canopy and flipping/ passing the the canopy/ lines through the gap between them. Before this manouver can be done the lower entanglements have to be cleared first. Remember all this presupposes the canopy is correctly hooked up in the first place. Mick.

You are right that both are complex, but having been in the "business" I can tell you that canopies are less expensive to produce on a stitch per dollar basis. Canopies have around 15-20 different materials involved in thier construction a harness/ container has around 80-100 different materials/ set pieces (different size hardware etc)involved in it's construction. When it comes to the quantity of actual parts of either the same material or different material the harness/ container has about a tenfold increase over the canopy. Additionally many more different types of machines and equipment is required to produce a harness/ container than a canopy. Believe me I'm not trying to belittle the amount of work that goes into canopy construction, it is a huge undertaking (I've done it) but I can tell you from personal experience that H/C construction is more complex and time consuming. Mick.

Bad idea to relocate the cutter to any area other than the pack tray, as it will place it further from the pin. This would defeat the purpose of any SB that is trying to get the cutter as close to the R/C pin as possible. The location was chosen for this reason along with a few others. Mick.

Refresh my memory, is the MR-109-M TSO'd under C or D? From memeroy I don't believe C requires peak force data displayed whereas D does require it (I don't have alot of dealings with 23 C). Mick.

As soon as possible obtain a job at a manufacturer's facility. You will learn more in a month than you will in ten years the traditional way. But, and I stress "but" still keep up "general rigging" on the side, that's how you will learn the bulk of the crap that we (experienced riggers) know and apply every day. Congrats, well done grass hopper. Mick.

Congratulations! Thats awesome. Words of wisdom: Try and reduce the size of your tool kit. (Less is better) Never stop learning. (more is better) Always remember what it is you are doing. Sparky Toooooo true! Mick.

Send him the PM,s I sent you, maybe that will clarify it for him. it is after all public domain. Mick.

Unless THAT rigger feels it is safe for use. It's a judgement call and the local DPRE should be brought in to council and if necessary re-train the rigger. If the problem does not go away them the DPRE will petition the FAA to pull the riggers ticket. As for the business practice it's unconcionable. Mick.

No, a circle. Refer to my crude bitmap! Pull one end of the line into itself with the fid, to leave a circle with a 'tail'. Then, by threading the fid in a short distance away, emerging as near the tail as possible, pull the remaining tail in, in the opposite direction. Bingo, a circle. Dude, I hope you don't leave that gaping "loop o death" not secured by sewing it together up to about 1/2" from its turnback swinging around in your pack tray during deployment. A closing loop with a large "eye" (a couple of inches or more) has proven fatal/near fatal on several occasions. It acts as a very effecient line/ connector link snare. Tell me I'm not seeing this, please. Mick.

And what would I ask for, in what kind of hobby shop, to get the wire you mentioned? Thanks, -Jeffrey Go to a welders supply shop and ask for stainless steel TIG welding wire, it's very strong, smooth and stiff enough to make a very nice fid. Mick.

I think what Mick was getting at is wait until you have a little more time in the sport and acquire a little more knowledge before you decide what is “crap” and what is not. Sparky My point exactly. Riggers, like every other skydiver are not immune to mob mentality and will ( and frequently do) make broad generalizations regarding equipment. Mick.

Do you know this, or is it what someone told you? Sparky Look at his experience level, he's just parroting what he heard some other self opinionated individual pontificating on. Over time he will come to understand that there is a lot of nonsensical negativity out there on just about every skydiving subject there is, especially equipment. It's all part of maturing. Mick.

Nick, not to stray, but did you get the PM I sent you over DZ.com mail? It hasn't always worked well for me. Cheers. Mick.

How about you...how did you do in the parachuting business; did you make any money? Don't even get me started down THAT road!!!!!!!! All things being equal, I learned a whole lot more than I bargined for. Overall it was a rewarding experience albeit not monetarily. Do it again? Sure why not, I discovered so much about my abilities and resourcesfullness (real word?). Mick.

Agreed that the profit on a one off RSL is well under $10 when all is said and done, but the shackle is worth quite a bit more than $3.00 it's self. Don't forget that whole pesky TSO process for the RSL (and its assoiated harness/ container) cost. Usually around $100,00.00 or so. I'm just sayin! Btw me and and B are jumping again this summer, rigs packed and everthing! Hell yeah. Mick.

But the truth would be so awfull.......Wouldn't the lies and stories be better? That's what I want when it's my time. Just kidding Nick. I never really knew Guss but i've met him on ocaision and he was a true pioneer in his feild and a great jumper, it's a tragic loss. My deepest symphathys to all involved, this kind of thing shoudn't happen but unfortunatly it does. Rest in peace BROTHER. Mick.

As for the cutting fluid I cant say, as I don't deal with them any more. As for the problem extending to other mfg's housings, absolutly. That is why they all have critical item traceability built in to their TSO processes, just in case there is a systemic problem. It has happened in the past with other components/ raw materials, BUT I'M NOT repeat NOTSAYING THERE IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM HERE. It could just an isolated incident they do happen, even in small clusters. I would call the mfg and ask them if they think this is becoming a trend. It's good to stay informed. Mick.

The primary supplier in the US is Metal Flex Hosing Inc located in Philladelphia PA. Most if not all manufacurers use them as they supply a variety of diameters and will cut to length complete with the brass ferriles (sp) attached. The cutting fluid that is left on the inside, will for a time attract a lot of dirt. As it gradually dissapates the dirt becomes much less, but it's still there. The technical spec for cut away housings from the mfg is : TCA S/S .172 relaxed, then the length you specifiy (TCA if you didn't already know stands for Telephone Cable Armor) S/S = stainless steel, .172 = the inside diameter of the housing and relaxed describes the housing at rest (under no strain). Remember the housings are compression type housings not expansion ones, Expansion type housings would allow the cable to be pulled through the loop if the housing became snagged on somthing, not good. So now you know! You'll never loook at a public phone the same way again. Mick. Ps: Most mfg's use TCA S/S .260 relaxed for their ripcord housings.

Exactly! It will change every day that you do or do not use it. Follow the MFG's recomendations on maintainence, it's crucial to the the systems operating integrety. Mick.

I've got a Phantom diaper modified KXX you can do a jump or two on. It was one of my reserves in the 80's and also served as a "tersh" during the Reflex drop tests. works like a champ! Used for real in 84 and is in pristine condition. Mick.