Spare Parts

[IMALSUTIGERFAN 0]

I just bought my first rig, what spare parts should I keep in my bag?

[airtwardo 7]

How big is your bag?


Rubber-bands & closing loops are good, x-tra handles, reserve free-bag and pilot-chute are handy if traveling...Business card of a bail-bondsman is a must!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[Chubba 0]

I have rubber bands, pull up cords and replacement closing loops in my "extras" section.

[thedude325 0]

condoms

[eightate8at8 0]

Beer.

[IMALSUTIGERFAN 0]

It is huge, I stole one of my sons catcher gear bags. So I have plenty of room.

[davelepka 4]

Great, skydiving has led you to steal from children.

OK, really you just need rubber bands, a couple of closing loops, and a few pull up cords.

The other spares that were mentioned were in case you have a cutaway. If you're at a boogie, or on vacation and have a cutaway, you'll want your rig repacked right away so you can keep jumping and not ruin your vacation.

Of course you know that you could drop your handles if you have a cutaway, so having a replacement cutaway handle and reserve handle would be a start. Figure $100 for a cutaway and a bit more for a reserve handle.

The other thing is the freebag. In case you didn't know, the reserve pilot chute and deployment bag are NOT connected to your reserve. When you dump your reserve, they seperate completely and fly away to land in a tree or swamp. You'll need one on hand to get your rig put back together. Figure between $150 and $200 for one of those.

Now that's about $400 in parts you may or may not need. If you have a cutaway and need any of those parts, they can always be ordered and in your riggers hands within a few days if you don't want to pre-purchase them. If you're on vacation, that few days might be the rest of the trip, so some guys buy the stuff and have it on hand.

The other side of the story is that you might not drop your handles, and find your freebag after a cutaway, and not need any parts.

My impression is that the majority of jumpers do not pre-purchase these parts, and deal with the problem if and when it occurs.

[councilman24 37]

Quote

Of course you know that you could should drop your handles if you have a cutaway, so having a replacement cutaway handle and reserve handle would be a start. Figure $100 for a cutaway and a bit more for a reserve handle.

Fixed it for you. Most of us old farts were taught to throw away the handles. One, so they didn't entangle, two so you knew you'd pulled them, three so you could use both hands on both handles.

Still my preferred procedure but half to admit I have held on to some.

Of couse they were cheaper back during the disco era.

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

[eightate8at8 0]

Why are handles so expensive? A metal D I can understand being a little more than a fabric handle, but $100+!? It can't possibly cost that much to produce?

[phoenixlpr 0]

Quote

Why are handles so expensive? A metal D I can understand being a little more than a fabric handle, but $100+!? It can't possibly cost that much to produce?

You can not get your gear together without it, so you would pay almost anything for that.

[councilman24 37]

Actually, if you look at Sunpath's and UPT's price list their fabric reserve ripcord handles cost more than their metal ones. And all are under $100.

Why do they charge so much? Because they can.
Actually not too outrageous considering the work involved and the cost of components.

In 1988 a long bearded gear manufacturer said he wished he could charge for a H/C what other companies charged for a canopy. He got his wish.

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

[councilman24 37]

If you have a cypres II you should have the filter and filter changing tool that came with the Cypres. Also the spare loop but that's not as critical. A lot of riggers may have a filter and tool, some may not.

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