icarus tandem canopies question

[NVizABull 0]

ok, so they won't allow anyone other than specific riggers have the specs on the lines...this is a bunch of crap to start with...PD not only gives you the specs but allows you to access them online.

so the dz has 3 icarus tandem canopies. i've been keeping an eye on each of them and advised the dzo that the linesets need to be replaced, at the very least over the winter...this was probably a month ago. so lately, there are two of the three that are winding up almost every time and the other day there was discussion of a potential cutaway. my response to him was that they really do need to be replaced and i'm not going to argue with him that they don't because 1) he's the dzo; 2) he's one of the ti's and 3) you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink, just drown him.

i've seen tension knots that i really don't understand how the slider made it past, the lines are in poor condition. i've always recommended to my customers that have more than 500 jumps on a lineset to keep an eye on the situation constantly, if they are going to refuse to replace them upon immediate recommendation. i've got a dzo that's telling me that the linesets should get at least 1000 jumps, however, he's not a rigger. i'm really ready to throw my arms up in the air and give up with this guy.

for those of you that are ti's and riggers, i would appreciate you responses and if you are NOT a rigger or a ti, leave this thread alone, i'm really not interested in a 50 jump wonder's take on this.

[koppel 4]

What size canopies do have there?

I like my canopy...


...it lets me down.

[bigway 4]

Simple.... Write to NZAerosports and ask them.
They also make Icarus Tandems and may not have the same rule or whatever.

I am not a Rigger or a TI, but I do sell Tandem mains and thought you might like another approach to your thread. Sorry.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
.

[masterrigger1 2]

Quote

ok, so they won't allow anyone other than specific riggers have the specs on the lines...this is a bunch of crap to start with...PD not only gives you the specs but allows you to access them online.

If the canopies are lined with 1050 lb Vectran, there is no need for specs. The line are not going to change in length that much.

The real concern is how much wear the lines have.

Jump numbers should be around 500-600 before replacement, but depends on the enviroment that they are being jumped and packed in.

When vectran breaks down due to wear, the fibers will roll up in little ball-like lumps.

If the "lumps start interlocking with one another from line to line (like causing line twist) then the need to replace them is straight forward.

Those lines WILL NOT see 1000 jumps with out issues along the way. Again about 600 jumps should be the most you would ever what to get out of them.

Feel free to contact me if you need further assistance.


Cheers,
MEL

Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC
www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

[riggerrob 643]

Not sure which type of lines you have on those Icarus canopies.
Dacron only lasts about 300 jumps before the fuzziness starts making tension knots.
Spectra only lasts 300 to 400 jumps before shrinkage "weirds out" openings and makes them flare like bag-locks.
Vectran might last 600 jumps before lines start breaking.
HMA?

[riggerpaul 1]

Quote

Not sure which type of lines you have on those Icarus canopies.
Dacron only lasts about 300 jumps before the fuzziness starts making tension knots.
Spectra only lasts 300 to 400 jumps before shrinkage "weirds out" openings and makes them flare like bag-locks.
Vectran might last 600 jumps before lines start breaking.
HMA?

I know of a bunch of A2 canopies that have been lined in HMA.

The first HMA line sets have hit about 600 jumps and are they are being replaced because they look pretty worn, and I believe the openings have started to degrade. (I am not a TI, and I don't jump them myself. This info is second hand). They have not broken any of the lines yet, so we don't really know how long they could really last. Even though the lines have noticeable wear in some important areas, they are still quite difficult to cut through even in the wear areas, so we don't really know what it would take to jump them to destruction.

Overall, we're quite pleased with the HMA lines and will keep using them.