What type of parachute does your jump-pilot wear?

[riggerrob 643]

What type of Pilot Emergency Parachute does your jump-pilot wear?

[piisfish 140]

You should have allowed for multiple choice. I voted Aviator.

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[skydiverek 63]

'None' option is missing... Quite a frequent one.

[3331 137]

Other: You asked to specify.

e-Racer from http://www.plabsinc.com/1.html

See attachment.

I Jumped with the guys who invented Skydiving.

[jumpsalot-2 3]

Why is static line on the list ?

Life is short ... jump often.

[riggerrob 643]

Static-line is listed because: Butler, Softie and Spekon offer S/L as an option on their PEPs

[jumpsalot-2 3]

Do they attach to a suitable attachment point on every flight, or wait until they have an issue ? What if they forget during an emergency ?

Life is short ... jump often.

[riggerrob 643]

Pilots are briefed to attach their static-line every time they sit in the cockpit ..... at the same time they fasten seat-belts.
Static-lines usually clip (carabiner or Maillon Rapide) to a seat-belt fitting.
If they have an emergency, they will be way too busy trying to control the airplane, pushing open the door, releasing seat-belts, etc. to remember to connect a S/L late in the process.

[riggerrob 643]

You caught me!
I forgot to mention E-Racer.
There are several European-made PEPs that resemble E-Racers from a distance.l, with exposed Pop-Top pilot-chutes, etc, but I could not remember their names. CIMSA in Spain?

[Deyan 36]

Hi Rob,
To my knowledge CIMSA doesn't have anything that's pop top. Paratec on the other hand does have a PEP that's pop top. And I believe Thomas Sports have one as well.
Cheers

"My belief is that once the doctor whacks you on the butt, all guarantees are off" Jerry Baumchen

[gb1 3]

How about a home made cowboy rig, for when parachute is not required, that fits the pilot and airplane much better? A long time ago, that is what our 182 pilot used.

[riggerrob 643]

Please explain a "cowboy rig."

[gb1 3]

A cowboy rig is a Parachute rig or part of (harness, container, canopy, pop etc) that someone who knows how to sew and has enough smarts to see what will work. Without any legal approval, has built to try out a new idea, where in this case, no parachute was required at all possibly. That is how much of the transition designs were developed in the early 70's that may still be in use today. To follow the TSO requirements for testing and approval, it is a long, expensive and discouraging road. Too bad there is not an experimental category or a field approval that can be applied to parachutes, like with aircraft, for developing new stuff. This should lite up those who are satisfied with what we have as being as far as we can go with equipment. Let's hear of new developments to take our gear to the next level. Didn't want this reply to get to this point. Just my opinion.

[JerryBaumchen 1,364]

Hi gb1,

Quote

Too bad there is not an experimental category or a field approval that can be applied to parachutes

Back in the late 70's - early 80's, a jumper/engineer with Boeing, built a home-made rig. He got a field approval for it. He was not allowed to make them for sale; his use only.

I do not remember his name but he jumped at Issaquah.

Jerry Baumchen

[gb1 3]

Thank's for the reply. Lurking at the DZ's, I have heard some wonderful suggestions recently from not only experienced jumpers, but from some low time jumpers. Everything from where the rig bites them to the recent toggle fire issues with the undersize metric grommets catching on 1" "soft" toggles. If there was a suggestion box on Gear and Rigging, I bet there would be some pretty good stuff on there for the knowledgeable minds on this site. I have learned much from you all. It takes someone who is not just a pack and maintainer, but a problem solver with the capabilities of an inventor. I am still learning. Thank's