Who invented packing tabs?

[gowlerk 2,246]

Who was that man? (or woman) I'd like to shake his hand. And what was the first production canopy to include them. Someone here knows. I'll bet several people get credited!

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[JerryBaumchen 1,426]

Hi Ken,

Quote

And what was the first production canopy to include them.

I cannot say factually. However, I think that they were on the first canopies out of ParaFlite. For many years, you could not get a square canopy unless it was made by ParaFlite.

accumack you out there?

Jerry Baumchen

[billbooth 10]

They were part of the "Rings and Ropes" reefing system on early ParaFlite canopies. When the slider came in, the rings and ropes went away, but the "tabs" they were attached to stuck around.

[accumack 14]

Actually Para Flite was one of the last to offer packing tabs. But when people converted the top ropes and rings on Para Planes to a slider they just cut the rings off and left the tabs on top. Thus packing tabs were born.

[councilman24 37]

My cirrus cloud didn't have tabs. The remenants from the rings may have been used as tabs but seems like everything else had tabs first.

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

[JerryBaumchen 1,426]

Hi accumack,

Quote

Actually Para Flite was one of the last to offer packing tabs.

Thanks. Now, who did offer them first?

I did not own a square until 1978 ( StratoFlyer ) & it had them.

Jerry Baumchen

[accumack 14]

Para Flite didn't put packing tabs on until I think the Cruislite was the first. Some dealers installed them on all canopies they sold. I think the Pioneer Osprey/Merlin may have been the first I saw them on but I'm not sure.

[jimjumper 25]

I had a heavyweight cloud that I purchased from Max Meinsopust. It didn't have packing tabs and when I asked I was told that Elek Puskas was of the opinion that they affected the performance of the airfoil. Anyway a local rigger sewed some on. It could just be urban legend but who knows?

[accumack 14]

It was more of a matter it was faster to flake than to find the tabs. Never was anything about disturbing the airfoil as we used to put yarn on the canopy to watch the airflow in different modes of flight.

[gb1 3]

We received the first red and white strato starts for our team. Cant remember if the packing tabs came from Para Flite. However, they were on within a month, made of 3/4 binding tape. That had to be 1974 or 1975. D-3411

[mjosparky 4]

councilman24

My cirrus cloud didn't have tabs. The remenants from the rings may have been used as tabs but seems like everything else had tabs first.

Terry, the Cirrus was span constructed 5 cell. That may have had something to do with no taps.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[mjosparky 4]

accumack

Para Flite didn't put packing tabs on until I think the Cruislite was the first. Some dealers installed them on all canopies they sold. I think the Pioneer Osprey/Merlin may have been the first I saw them on but I'm not sure.

I had a Crusair and it came with them.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[councilman24 37]

mjosparky

***My cirrus cloud didn't have tabs. The remenants from the rings may have been used as tabs but seems like everything else had tabs first.

Terry, the Cirrus was span constructed 5 cell. That may have had something to do with no taps.

Still had chordwise xell seams. They could of.

Hmmmm, Just walked by it laying on the floor last night. I have so much STUFF laying around. (see old gear thread)

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