howardwhite 6 #1 June 18, 2009 This was a new one on me; on a rig I looked over today. Know what it is? HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Erroll 80 #2 June 18, 2009 QuoteThis was a new one on me; on a rig I looked over today. Know what it is? HW I found this : Quote These were worn by pilots along with the parachute harness. These enabled the pilot to lower himself down, in case the parachute became entangled in trees or foliage after bailing out of the aircraft. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SEREJumper 1 #3 June 18, 2009 Howard, It is the called the "PLD" or Personnel Lowering Device. Worn in the USAF on bailout rigs and most ejection seats. 150 ft of flatten 3/4" tubular nylon webbing S-folded and stowed in elastic retainers in the "tray". There is a small friction device the is on one end usually kept in a zippered pocket on the left main lift web. If you are caught in a tree, take out the friction device, on the free end above the friction device is a small snap hook, you route that through both "v's" in your risers, or a large branch. Connect the snap hook to a little metal ring just above the friction device (now creating a secure loop through your risers). Hold vertical tension on the system, release the capwell that is connected to the less secure risor first, switch hands, release the other side and descend to the ground. The last 25 feet changes color so you know when you are about to run out of tape and the end is doubled over a sewn to prevent you from sliding off inadvertently. At the AF survival school, all students use this device twice while suspended 30 feet above the PLF pit. Good times! Don't go to fast cause when that friction device heats up...it will leave a mark on whatever you touch with it We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 6 #4 June 18, 2009 Cool. So, now want to describe these things? HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #5 June 18, 2009 http://cgi.ebay.com/Military-Pilot-Lowering-Device-PCU-10-P-USAF_W0QQitemZ320381425920QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4a98389900&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #6 June 18, 2009 QuoteCool. So, now want to describe these things? HW The green thingie... ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SEREJumper 1 #7 June 19, 2009 The green "apple" as it is called activated the emergency bailout bottle located inside the pack tray. The red "lollypop" is the mechanical AAD much like an FXC. If activated below 14,000ft, it will "fire" usually in 3-5 seconds. If activated above 14,000ft, it will wait until the person gets to 14,000ft prior to activation (+/- 500 ft). It obviously has a manual ripcord. If below 14,000 pull the red apple, jump, and try to beat the timer with the manual ripcord. If above 14,000 pull the red apple, exit in a "tuck" body position/ feet together, arms across chest (remember pilot/aircrew usually don't want to jump and have little experience) and wait until opening shock.We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 6 #8 June 19, 2009 Some more of the insides. Note that lots of stuff was tacked down for storage and/or shipment. HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SEREJumper 1 #9 June 19, 2009 Good old BA-22. The red snap hook/ spring connected to the AAD and as well as the main ripcord (manually if below 14,000) is used in B-52 and trainer aircraft ejection seats so that when the pilot ejects it pulls the AAD arms knob immediately since the pilot will be in an ejection posture.We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ripcord4 0 #10 June 19, 2009 Several different "things" that are tacked down are done so to keep them in place during use...normal packing procedure. It's hard to tell but this appears to be the standard USAF bail-out rig, manually or automatically operated, quarter-bag-deployed 28' C9 canopy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 6 #11 June 19, 2009 I was interested because I'd never seen one before. A local dealer/rigger just got them; I don't know what he's going to do with them. HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #12 June 19, 2009 He's going to put them on ebay and sell them as state of the art pilot rigs.And Howard, something YOU haven't seen before? I don't believe it. Your funin' with us. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 6 #13 June 19, 2009 If it's not sport gear, there's no reason I would have seen it except by odd chance HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #14 June 19, 2009 Depends on yer sport... ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 6 #15 June 19, 2009 Quote Depends on yer sport... Being ejected (at least from a plane) is not one of them. HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krip 2 #16 June 20, 2009 Quote Quote Depends on yer sport... Being ejected (at least from a plane) is not one of them. HW Hi HW FWIW "Back in the day" the rigs were also carried on C-130's for bailout purposes and for the loadmasters to wear during equipment/paratrooper drops. We started sport jumping just in case we fell out of the C-130 during equipment drop wearing one of these rigs. We were wearing that crap as low as 300ft.. If things got bad enough that we fell off ramp I doubt we could find the rip cord which was a POS blast handleOrders are orders, so we folowed SOP's, eventually a directive would come down from HQ to nix the rig and go with a harness and lanyard, which would eventually be changed back to wearing the rigDuring paratrooper ops the loadmasters and the army jumpmasters would wear the same rigs. That SOP never changed by the time I got out in 1970 and I suspect that it's still being done today. On a happy note In the 4 yrs i was in the air force I never heard of anyone accidentally falling out of a Cargo plane during drop opsOne Jump Wonder Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meux 0 #17 June 20, 2009 If you ejected at night and landed in a tree the advice was to wait until daylight before you began your descent, just in case you were in a really tall tree and hit the end of the line before your feet touched the ground. I've got about 2,500 sorties with that stuff. Thankfully never had to use it. (the 25 million dollar skydive) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beerlight 0 #18 June 21, 2009 I own a complete BA-22 rig. I'm retired AF. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 14 #19 June 22, 2009 QuoteGood old BA-22. The red snap hook/ spring connected to the AAD and as well as the main ripcord Called a "Zero-Delay Lanyard". The snap attached to the manual ripcord, as another poster said. This was attached whenever operating below 10K', and essentially tied the ripcord to the AAD arming know, which in turn was attached to the ejection seat. Above 10k', seperating from the seat following ejection would arm the AAD. When operating below 10k', seperating from the seat (lanyard attached) would also pull the ripcord, causing immediate deployment of the parachute. Kevin K. Former Tailgunner B-52 D, F, and G models_____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #20 July 6, 2009 Photo "rig 677" is the spring that retracts the closing loops on a BA-22. It helps the pilot chute spring. Several other rigs (eg. GQ Security 150 glider pilot parachute) had these springs before reliable pilot chute springs were developed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #21 July 6, 2009 Photo "rig 679" is the quarter bag (read short deployment bag) for a BA-22. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #22 July 6, 2009 Photo"rig 681" is the ripcord pins on a BA-22. They are located next to the sine of the jumper, similar to ripcord pins on Strong Para-Cushion PEPs, Racers and other Pop-Top skydiving containers (Chaser, Reflex, Teardrop). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 14 #23 July 9, 2009 I have a couple of PLDs in good condition. Does anyone think there is a market for them ? Kevin K._____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
goldwing 0 #24 July 10, 2009 Very unlikely as the Air Force had them installed on all BA-18m, 22 chutes. The supply system had them by the ton.You haven't lived until you've almost died" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #25 July 10, 2009 See my post above. Ebay listing probably gone but always on there.I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites