masterrigger1 2 #1 July 9, 2007 We are currently putting the finishing touches on a syllabus for advanced rigger training. The course so far will include: *Line Making Techniques *Proper Line Installation *Major Canopy Repair (This Includes Cell and Rib Replacement and working with Sewing Machines w/pullers) *Basic Sewing Machine Repair and Troubleshooting *Proper Bartacking Techniques The thought process is that the indidual have the ability to build a 3 cell canopy at the end of the 4 day course. Any thoughts and comments about the syllabus are welcome. This includes the manufacturers. Especially if the manufacturer wants to add something to the course. Cheers, MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #2 July 9, 2007 Is this to line up with the "master" ticket, or just for anyone who is interested at any skill set??? I see your syllabus is 100% canopy at this point. What about the container/harness and risers? If you brainstorm some of the challenges in that system, I am sure your syllabus could be more complete. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #3 July 9, 2007 Travis, We are thinking modules or something to that effect. H/C repair is one module that I omitted in the listing. Thanks for pointing that out. We also will teach anyone the skill sets.It would be up to the individual to work within their certificate limitations out in the field. We can also offer a Master rigger Practical if the candidate meets the requirements. Cheers, MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #4 July 9, 2007 It would take more than four days to learn harness and container repairs. I like masterrigger1's idea of breaking it down into a series of short courses. The best way to learn advanced parachute repairs is a lecture, followed by supervised sewing, followed by a bunch of practice, then a second lecture, etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aironscott 3 #5 July 10, 2007 Mel- I love the idea of the course, especially with the goal of constructing a small parachute by the end of it. Are you going to do this at your loft? Could a person choose which modules to attend? Or would they be too interrelated to miss parts. Vacation time is very valuable. However, if you can book DeWolf I'd go the whole time for sure. Aaron“God Damn Mountain Dew MotherFuckers!” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #6 July 10, 2007 Aaron, So far it's Dewolf, Rags, Joe Bennett, and myself. Yes, it will be at my shop. I am going to set up additional machines other than my production machines. You know what would happen to those don't you...BS, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spizzzarko 0 #7 July 10, 2007 I know this may be a little off subject but I would really like to see some explanation as to why one manufacturer does things one way and another does it differently. I really do like your course ideas! Grant Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #8 July 10, 2007 Quote I know this may be a little off subject but I would really like to see some explanation as to why one manufacturer does things one way and another does it differently. I really do like your course ideas! i.e....... MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeffrey 1 #9 July 10, 2007 Quote So far it's Dewolf, Rags, Joe Bennett, and myself. You certainly couldn’t have chosen a better group to help with a class for advanced rigging. Jeff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #10 July 10, 2007 You are invited to help out also. Mike G. and I where just discussing who, what, and when for each module. we both aggreed to ask you up here. H/C stuff with Jeff......make it happen.... People out there, taunt Jeff and make him do it!!! Cheers, MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aironscott 3 #11 July 11, 2007 Mel- You can most likely count me in. When you get dates nailed down let me know and I'll secure some time off of the real job. One of you have to administer my pratical for a seat rating though. Any chance I get to sponge some info off that cadre I'd be crazy not to take it. Do you know Wierd Wayne Snyder well enough to bring him on board? He'd be an asset for sure. Aaron“God Damn Mountain Dew MotherFuckers!” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #12 July 11, 2007 Quote Do you know Wierd Wayne Snyder well enough to bring him on board? He'd be an asset for sure You bet he would! We are trying to get as many top notch people in here as possible. The list is growing! BS, MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fcajump 164 #13 July 11, 2007 If you'll take Sr. Riggers, count me in... Sounds like a great class. Jim Wine Sr. Rigger (back/seat/chest)Always remember that some clouds are harder than others... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #14 July 11, 2007 Quote I know this may be a little off subject but I would really like to see some explanation as to why one manufacturer does things one way and another does it differently. Grant >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hee! Hee! Skydiving is one of the few sports/industries that is still dominated by first-generation plank-holders. Pioneers like Hank Ascuito (sp?), Bill Booth, Manley Butler, Mike Furry, Dan Poynter, John Sherman, Ted Strong, etc. are still alive and well and accessible at PIA Symposiums. Other pioneers - like Domina Jalbert, Troy Loney, Steve Snider, etc. survived until recently. It depends upon which designer you ask. Some designers (i.e. John Sherman - of Racer fame) are quite open and out spoken, while others (i.e. Sandy Reid of Talon fame) are close-lipped. Despite working for Sandy for three years, I only heard the vaguest of explanations for most of his design decisions. learning from Sandy is more like "stealing from the master" ... an obscure oriental tradition. John Sherman is much easier to read and he is far more open about his opinions. Sometimes John is too loud in expressing his opinions, but John is never short of entertaining. Some of John's decisions are blatantly obvious, if you understand the historical context ... IOW WHEN he made a decision. For example, when John sewed his first Super Swooper Tandem (SST, predecessor to the Racer) the Pop-Top was the only "modern" reserve container available. All the other sport reserves were just brightly-colored versions of decades-old military patterns. Dan Poynter assigned his Pop-Top patent to Strong Enterprises. The most revolutionary feature of the Pop-Top reserve container was its through loops, which halved the thickness of the reserve container, vastly reducing the chances of snagging your reserve container on the small (oval) door of the Beech 18s that were flown at "big DZs" during the 1970s. The thinner reserves container of early SSTs allowed ten-man speed star teams to shave several seconds off their time. Soon other reserve manufacturers (Hank Ascuito sp?, Bill Bookman sp?, Jim Handbury, Troy Loney, etc.) adopted through loops, but found ways to make them easier to pack. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #15 July 11, 2007 Quote I know this may be a little off subject but I would really like to see some explanation as to why one manufacturer does things one way and another does it differently. Grant >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> To understand why different manufacturers do things different ways, it is important to understand the historical context. Every generation of skydiving competitors contributes some new safety feature to parachute design. For example, when discussing container design, remember that pioneer skydivers (1950s and 1960s) merely modified military-surplus chest, back and seat containers. The first sport modification involved adding sleeves to reduce opening shock. Since all that extra cotton increased pack volume, military-surplus riggers started extending side flaps to make them easier to pack. Next, hardcore style competitors started cutting down four-pin, military-surplus back-type containers to three pins. Then they experimented with a variety of main ripcord handle locations, gradually eliminating problems with broken altimeters, jammed pins, etc. When skydiving competitors started doing hundreds of jumps on military-surplus containers - that were originally designed for only one jump, they started encountering new wear problems. For example, grooves in brass cones lead to their abandonment in favor of closing loops made from suspension line. Speed Star competitors demanded thinner containers, to reduce the length of the line-up in small-door Beech 18s, ergo, skydiving manufacturers introduced through loops. Then balloon-suit fliers demanded mains that would deploy consistently while belly-to-earth, which drove development of hand-deploy pilot chutes. As new skydiving canopies (i.e. Para-Commanders) got fast enough to spin during malfunctions., skydivers demanded easier ways to cutaway. Intially this led to refinements to military-surplus canopy releases (i.e. R3s, Tapewells, Luke Wells, etc.), then a variety of sport cutaway systems (YES, Eagle Wrap, etc.) which eventually led to the current 3-Ring standard. Canopy formation skydivers demanded tuck-in reserve pin covers to reduce the risk of accidental reserve deployments during rotations. Free-style competitors demanded better bridle covers. Birdmen demanded dynamic corners to reduce the incident of line twists. And the list of improvements goes on .... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #16 August 10, 2007 We finally have some confirmed dates for the course. The course starts on Moday November 5 and goes though Friday November 9, 2007 Course outline: Monday - Sewing Machine Repair and Maintenance Tuesday - 1/2 Class Line Making Techniques - 1/2 Class Major Canopy Repair Wednesday - Reversal of Tuesday's Schedule Thursday - 8-12 Proper Line Installation Techniques 12-6:00 Harness Container Repairs Friday - 8-12 Harness Container Repairs (Cont'd) 12-6 Misc. Manufacturing and Repairs (P/C's, Risers, etc....) If interested, email, phone, or PM me. Cheers, MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aironscott 3 #17 August 10, 2007 Mel- I'm in. Aaron“God Damn Mountain Dew MotherFuckers!” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #18 August 10, 2007 Aaron, Perfect! Also, for the people wanting to play, we will have the planes running in the afternoon after class. BS, MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #19 August 10, 2007 Quote Aaron, Perfect! Also, for the people wanting to play, we will have the planes running in the afternoon after class. BS, MEL oh if Aaron is going, you can count me out...Seriously though, I would love to come but I doubt I can cancel classes for rigging training. Scars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aironscott 3 #20 August 10, 2007 I'm guessing that the best place to fly in will be Charlotte? Maybe get a few people together and rent a car there? Steve - you can make it. From what I hear most of your students don't show up to class anyway. Too bad if you can't - you'll be missing out. Aaron“God Damn Mountain Dew MotherFuckers!” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #21 August 10, 2007 Quote I'm guessing that the best place to fly in will be Charlotte? Maybe get a few people together and rent a car there? GSP (Greenvile-Spartanburg is the closest), but Charlotte is about 30 minutes further away. MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #22 August 20, 2007 We have made a couple of changes to the Schedule. Monday - 11/05/2007 Line Making Techniques Will cover all the different manufacturer's and their style of line making. This will be 1/2 half of the class Instructor:Dave Dewolf, Joe Bennett, and Myself Major Canopy Repairs with Rags from PD for the remaining half of Class. This will cover al aspects of canopy building also. You will build a three cell canopy as a final project. Tuesday - Reversal of Monday's schedule with the same instructors. Wednesday - Line installation Techniques Dewolf, Rags, Bennett, Red Payne(FCI), and myself Thursday- Sewing machine Repair 1.It will involve major repairs and relacement of hooks, needle bars, and etc.... 2. Troubleshooting tips. 3. Intro to electronic bartack machines. Instructors:Dewolf, Rags, Bennett, Myself Friday - Harness Container Repairs Will cover most repairs and adjustments usually done at the factory.... Instructors; Jeff Johnston (Mirage), Mike Gruwell, Myself Also, Misc stuff (Tips and tricks)will be covered late afternoon. Dewolf, Rags, Gruwell, Bennett, Johnston, and myself It is looking like a nice course!! Cheers, MEL PS - If you have PM'd/emailed me about a slot here, please confirm it by contacting me again.Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #23 August 22, 2007 I am getting a lot of questions regarding whom is allowed to attend to the course. Anyone may attend that has registered. There will be skydiving ongoing all week for everyone else, BS, MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hajnalka 0 #24 August 22, 2007 MEL - Sounds like a no-miss opportunity, so either Lyman or I (but hopefully both) will be there. I'll call you next week. Best, Dawn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #25 August 22, 2007 Will do! It will be fun! I personally am looking forward to Jeff's presentation. There will be a lot of learning/teaching from everyone. Cheers, MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
