Why does this happen?

[HardCorr 0]

Ladies and gents,

I have now hit double digits in my tandem jumps. ughhhhhh!!! Finally there will be some instructors available this weekend and I'll be able to get my aff stuff done!

My last jump on Saturday was pretty uneventfull. I was working on basic maneuvers while the tandem master went into a neutral body position allowing me to take over the dive. Did a few turns, PPTs, COAs, etc... Waved off at 6k and pulled at 5500. Proceeded with my count and at five I noticed we had gotten closed end cells and a stuck slider. We fixed the problems, had an turbulence filled flight, and a pretty uneventfull landing.

I just wanted to try to find out what exactly causes closed end cells, stuck sliders? It was interesting to see the slider stuck in the up position when there was really nothing holding it up there... I think the closed end cells were a result of the slider staying up but then again, I'm not sure. Just wondering if there's something about packing that'll cause this or if it just happens?

-Ryan-

Live free, fly fast, have fun.

The key to being a good teacher, is to be a good listener...

[ChrisL 2]

Why did you have to make 10 tandem jumps?

__

My mighty steed

[HardCorr 0]

I didn't start my training until jump 5. From there on, I had to do one tandem with my new dropzone. The other ones I did because the winds sucked when I was there so I did a tandem. Anyway I can get in the air, I'll do it! I'll finally get my student jumps done this weekend though!!!

The key to being a good teacher, is to be a good listener...

[riggerrob 643]

I just wanted to try to find out what exactly causes closed end cells, stuck sliders? It was interesting to see the slider stuck in the up position when there was really nothing holding it up there... I think the closed end cells were a result of the slider staying up ...

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Your canopy is just hesitating during its normal opening sequence. End cells are always the last to inflate. Closed end cells used to be the norm until cross-ports were introduced circa 1980. Now most modern canopies have cross-ports (holes in the ribs) to improve end cell pressurization.
I only know of one modern canopy that does not have cross-ports: SET 400 tandem and they do that deliberately to slow openings. Yes, SET 400 openings take slightly longer than I would like, but they are a huge improvement on Strong's old F-111 tandem canopies.

[HardCorr 0]

How about the slider being stuck? Is it something that people do during packing?

The key to being a good teacher, is to be a good listener...

[JohnMitchell 16]

Any Unit jumper from the 70's or 80's will tell you that the slider never came down or the end cells ever opened normally. I'm not sure what all the factors are, but I doubt if packing is more important than design and materials used(e.g. higher friction lines) With that said, I never chopped a Unit in about 1400 jumps on them.

[Orange1 0]

Would closed end cells make it more likely that the slider gets stuck because there isn't as much pressure from the canopy pushing it down?

Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun.

[JohnMitchell 16]

Sounds likely, I think you're on to something. Any canopy desighners want to chime in?

[plowdirt 0]

I remember those hikups, Till I started to over look the endcells. they eventually inflate, and deflate depending on the winds.

The halfway slider, well I never had the slider stuck for long, but I will tugg the risers, push pull yank toggles till it comes down.

a few derogatory words and some altitude awarness is a big pluss.

TALK TO YOUR RIGGER, COACH, ETC.

OH it happens because your canopy likes the oh shit look on your face. Enjoy the ride, your in for somemore fun.

[Rhonda66 0]

A rigger should probably answer this, but it always seemed to happen to me only when I was making jumps under large student F-111 canopies - perhaps it has something to do with a low wing loading. I haven't had it happen at all since jumping a zero-p Sabre.

Rhonda
PP ASEL