Vector 3 Reserve Pin

[bmoore21184 0]

For you riggers and Vector 3 owners out there:

I pulled the reserve on my Vector 3 the other day because it was due for a re-pack. This was the first time it had needed a re-pack since i got it. It has an RSL but not a skyhook. I noticed when i got the rig how the reserve pin was reversed from other RSL rigs i have seen. Instead of the reserve handle/cable having the pin on the end of it, it was connected to the RSL cable right above the pin. Hope that makes sense.

When I pulled the reserve the pin prevented the reserve handle/cable from coming all the way out. This caught me by surprise, but looking at the design it made sense that it did what it did. Is this RSL/pin design simply meant to keep you from loosing your reserve handle? Or is there more to it than that?

I hope i explained that well enough, kinda hard to put it into words. Thanks.

B Moore

'Turbulence is a bitch'

[ChrisL 2]

I'm curious as to why you chose to get a regular RSL as opposed to the skyhook
on your brand new Vector 3. The skyhook is one of the best features of the V3

__

My mighty steed

[bmoore21184 0]

I got it second hand, the guy i bought it from gave it a fresh repack before he gave it to me. If i had bought a new one, I would gotten the skyhook for sure . Getting this one modified for a skyhook is pretty pricey from what i have seen.

B Moore

'Turbulence is a bitch'

[councilman24 37]

The velcro patch above the pin on the RSL is supposed to "turn" the pin so the cable loop slips off the pin and the ripcord comes all the way out. It is not MEANT to keep the ripcord from being pulled all the way out .... But as you have found the pin can act as a ripcord stop. Ripcord stops are something used 20+ years ago on mains. They would allow the pin to be pulled but keep the ripcord from coming all the way out. This ment you could pull your main and let go of the ripcord without losing it. They fell out off favor after some people went in ( at least I think some went in) after pulling on their main ripcord and thinking they had pulled the pin let go, when in fact they hadn't pulled the pin(s). They were a bad idea.

This is one reason I've never been a fan of the Vector RSL. One other minor consequence is it requires the larger ripcord housing to pass the loop in the end of the cable.

So, no it isn't supposed to keep the ripcord in. It's supposed to come all the way out, but sometimes doesn't. As part of your pin chech you should check that the velcro patch that is supposed to turn the pin is seated.

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

[jumper03 0]

Quote

I'm curious as to why you chose to get a regular RSL as opposed to the skyhook
on your brand new Vector 3. The skyhook is one of the best features of the V3

not if you want to do CReW.


With the RSL you always have the option of unhooking it if you are into the occasional CReW jump.

Scars remind us that the past is real

[AggieDave 6]

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not if you want to do CReW.


With the RSL you always have the option of unhooking it if you are into the occasional CReW jump.

You do realize that if you disconnect the shackle on the Skyhook as you would with a RSL, that the Skyhook is not non-functional and your reserve will deploy normally?

So if you do occasional CReW (as a lot of people like to do) you can simply unhook the shackle as you would a normal RSL rig and then you'll have full control over when you pull your reserve after cutting away.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[jumper03 0]

Which shackle you talking about? I need to go look at a rig...

Scars remind us that the past is real

[Hooknswoop 19]

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Which shackle you talking about? I need to go look at a rig...

The RSL shackle. Disconnecting the Skyhook RSL is the same as disconnecting the RSL on any other rig. If you want to do CReW with a Skyhook-equipped Vector III/Micron and don't want the RSL/Skyhook to work, simply disconnect the RSL shackles as you would on any other rig. The reserve will work as any other rig would with a disconnected RSL, as if it wasn't there.

Derek

[justinb138 0]

Quote

For you riggers and Vector 3 owners out there:

I pulled the reserve on my Vector 3 the other day because it was due for a re-pack. This was the first time it had needed a re-pack since i got it. It has an RSL but not a skyhook. I noticed when i got the rig how the reserve pin was reversed from other RSL rigs i have seen. Instead of the reserve handle/cable having the pin on the end of it, it was connected to the RSL cable right above the pin. Hope that makes sense.

When I pulled the reserve the pin prevented the reserve handle/cable from coming all the way out. This caught me by surprise, but looking at the design it made sense that it did what it did. Is this RSL/pin design simply meant to keep you from loosing your reserve handle? Or is there more to it than that?

I hope i explained that well enough, kinda hard to put it into words. Thanks.

I don't know why it's like that, but I can tell you that pulling the handle in freefall, and it not coming out all the way is just about the worst feeling. Kinda freaked me out a little bit. On the up side, I didn't have to worry about dropping the handle...

[bmoore21184 0]

Yea it scared the hell out of me on the ground too. Until i heard and felt the pilot chute launch. Glad I had that happen on the ground instead of in the sky Now i know to expect it if it happens again.

B Moore

'Turbulence is a bitch'

[diablopilot 2]

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The reserve will work as any other rig would with a disconnected RSL, as if it wasn't there.

True, but it does leave an added snag point on the reserve bridle. In a CRW entanglement/wrap, that could spell life or death.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[AggieDave 6]

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True, but it does leave an added snag point on the reserve bridle. In a CRW entanglement/wrap, that could spell life or death.

It does have that piece of lexan (or whatever clear plastic it is) over it, right?

I don't see how that would be worst then something like the old catapult system on a reflex (if you're actually doing crew with one of those).

It seems to me that if you were in a situation in which the covered piece on the bridle spells death on a cutaway, then there were much more serious problems happening and that its truely the least of your concerns.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Hooknswoop 19]

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True, but it does leave an added snag point on the reserve bridle. In a CRW entanglement/wrap, that could spell life or death.

1) The way the hook part of the Skyhook is positioned, it shouldn't snag

2) If the reserve bridle is through another jumper's lines, etc, then the reserve PC will probably snag anyway, regardless if there is a Skyhook on the bridle or not.

3) If the CReW jumper fires their reserve into someone else's canopy, then they missed the point of disconnecting the RSL for CReW in the first place.

Derek

[billbooth 10]

I designed this RSL 25 years ago in response to problems associated with the conventional ripcord-cable-through-ring method. It is still the only RSL system that does not damage the reserve ripcord cable each time it is used. However, it was not an attempt to build in a "ripcord stop". The Velcro joint on the reserve top flap and static line lanyard, should allow the static line pin to rotate, and the reserve ripcord eye to slip off, before the pin is anywhere near the housing. I never patented this improved RSL, and have always wondered why more people haven't "borrowed" it. As it turned out, this design, along with the Collins' lanyard, was absolutely necessary for the Skyhook system to become operational.

[The111 1]

I could be wrong, but I seem to remember that before I removed the RSL from my V3, I noticed the same thing. I also seem to remember that it looked like, if you were to actually cut away from a real mal, and the RSL (vs the reserve ripcord) pulled the pin, this ripcord stop would not happen. The pin would get out of the metal loop entirely, and you could pull the reserve ripcord as far as you wanted (which wouldn't make a difference since the pin had already left the closing loop from the RSL's pull).

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[justinb138 0]

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However, it was not an attempt to build in a "ripcord stop". The Velcro joint on the reserve top flap and static line lanyard, should allow the static line pin to rotate, and the reserve ripcord eye to slip off, before the pin is anywhere near the housing.

In my experience a little over a week ago, it pulled the pin right up to the housing. (No cutaway, just reserve pull). I remember doing my gear check before the jump and wondering why that little piece of velco was there. Other than scaring the hell out of me for about 1/2 second , it didn't seem to cause any problems.