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councilman24 37
There is Black finished metal hardware available and he may have seen this.
An example is H315BK at http://www.paragear.com/templates/parachutes.asp?group=34&level=1
But load bearing plastic hardware as part of the harness? Nope.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE
I got a chest mount reserve container with a plastic handle... does that count?
DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890
I'm an asshole, and I approve this message
bofh 0
Quoteand id be scared absoulty shitless to jump something with plastic
So you consider nylon to be what?

QuoteQuoteand id be scared absoulty shitless to jump something with plastic
So you consider nylon to be what?![]()
A good bargaining tool for the services of the ladies during WWII?
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239
QuoteQuoteQuoteand id be scared absoulty shitless to jump something with plastic
So you consider nylon to be what?![]()
A good bargaining tool for the services of the ladies during WWII?
~one .45 caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days concentrated emergency raisons; one drug issue containing: antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair a nylon stockings.
Shoot, a fellah could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff
~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~
JerryBaumchen 1,426
Hi ski,
QuoteI got a chest mount reserve container with a plastic handle... does that count?
Some handles were made of plastic and some were made of nylon. There is a difference.
I seem to remember that the plastic ones were recalled; they were/are white in color.
It had to do with brittleness at low temps.

JerryBaumchen
councilman24 37
There were a variety of 'plastic' handles made from plastic, nylon, lexan and fiberglass.
The white, thermoplastic ones were the really, really bad ones once. I have direct knowledge (saw it when it landed) of one breaking when used and the jumper having to pull the reminants out of the elastic pocket to pull his reserve.
Some were recalled, some weren't, all were abandoned by the mid 80's.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE
QuoteIt only counts if your silly enough to jump it. Or you find a rigger that will pack it.
There were a variety of 'plastic' handles made from plastic, nylon, lexan and fiberglass.
The white, thermoplastic ones were the really, really bad ones once. I have direct knowledge (saw it when it landed) of one breaking when used and the jumper having to pull the reminants out of the elastic pocket to pull his reserve.
Some were recalled, some weren't, all were abandoned by the mid 80's.
Its on an strong chest mount... Hey, gotta get those repacks somehow

DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890
I'm an asshole, and I approve this message
councilman24 37
See this FAA AD.
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/0/AE2D789F0EC884CA86256A390068A4EA?OpenDocument
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE
dragon2 2
QuoteHi ski,
QuoteI got a chest mount reserve container with a plastic handle... does that count?
Some handles were made of plastic and some were made of nylon. There is a difference.
I seem to remember that the plastic ones were recalled; they were/are white in color.
It had to do with brittleness at low temps.
JerryBaumchen
Not totally abandoned: we use a buch of those in our training belts for FJ student groups

ciel bleu,
Saskia
councilman24 37
So they are "pulling white" instead of "silver"?
BTW I hate the phrase "pull silver"! Sure sign of a newbie.
Pull your damn ripcord!
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE
fcajump 164
Quote
I'll have to go back and check mine... One of my Strong Star Makers has a metal handle, but the other is white plastic... The metal one is bent, but I don't remember the plastic one being bent...
JW
JerryBaumchen 1,426
QuoteI don't remember the plastic one being bent...
I'm going from memory here ( so give me a break ) but I seem to recall that the early PopTop's had a plastic ( white ) handle with a severe bend; they were not actually bent, they were cast in that configuration. The 'bend' was almost 90 degrees IIRC.
The 'bend' was what is shown in the OpenDocument that you cite.
JerryBaumchen
councilman24 37
Strong Pop Top's had some very severe angle plastic handles for awhile. They later changed.
White plastic 'crappy' handles were also used flat. I think the one that broke was on a very early Norther Lite, one with original round three ring harness rings.
As shown in Poynter's and in the AD some were okay but we pretty much took them all out of service just cause. I'm pretty sure I've got a 'good' non-metal handle around here somewhere. One of the oval cross section.
I just realized I had a 'good' Strong bent 'plastic' ripcord. I had Jerry make me a good metal one to replace it.
Attached is a photo. Note the oval bar and the ripcord going all the way through. Also the bend isn't as extreme as I remember the bad ones.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE
erdnarob 1
That kind of material is very expensive and so far I have the impression that it is not used for hardware.
The metal offers abrasion resistance and strength.
Note: when a parachute opens, forces are as high as 3-4 G and done every jump. I don't see a plastic hardware made from ABS or else used on a parachute equipment at places bearing the opening forces. Slinks are used on parachute but they are made with several hundred of tiny braided fibers which is quite different.
Nobody would trust it, of course, as you can see in this thread. ;)
Plus, if you already have a supply of metal hardware (so no tooling or engineering costs) it would be a little pointless. There just isn't much reason to migrate to plastic, especially given the stigma it has.
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