Psycho Bridle extension

[Chemical 0]

I have started to psycho pack my Safire 139 and it works real nice but it would be easier (and probably less damaging to the canopy) with a short bridle extension. I have read the previous threads on bridle extensions. My problem is that I have approached a few different riggers about this and they have said that they have "never heard of such a thing" and asked me to describe in technical terms what was needed. Not being real technical I said I presumed it was a piece of standard bridle line with a bridle ring at one end, a small loop of bridle material at the other (big enough to loop the ring and bridle back through after passing through the original bridle ring) and about 6" bridle in between. I would have thought this was pretty self-evident - but maybe I am wrong.
Could some kind rigger type humanoid describe (in rigger language) what is required so I can pass this on for translation?
Cheers
The Chemical E654
Canberra Australia
"He's a laughing, giggling whirlybird,
He's got to be obscene to be obheard"

[Kirils 1]

You got it right. I bet RiggerRob could give you the construction details & specs. I bought my first 2 extensions from Paragear for 6 bucks each. The owner and rigger at our DZ made another for me, it took 5 minutes. I think you might want to look for another rigger...
Skydiving is not a static excercise with discrete predictability...

[TEB6363 0]

Your rigger should be able to make the extension out of tubular nylon or type 17 webbing (bridle material). You do not need a ring on one end, just a loop and you put a larks head knot at one end.
I just went to the local climbing shop and got a "Super Sling" which the climbers also call a dog bone. It is a 10-inch tubular nylon loop that is 3/4-inch wide and secured with 5 bar tacks. With the larks head knot it ends up being about 6.5 inches long and puts the french link to my kill-line pilot chute in the center of the bag. I also put a soft bumper over the french link (just like some people do on their risers) to keep canopy material out from between the link and the extension.
I know this is not the "riggers" description you were asking about, but it works great. There are two or three at the DZ that use these "super slings."
:::OK, Canopy is Open, No Traffic Around, .. Why are these "Extra" Lines Draping Down??, Damn!

[Spy38W 0]

Quote

I bought my first 2 extensions from Paragear for 6 bucks each.

Where at? I tried searching the website and print catalog, couldn't find them.
--
~Captain Cutaway
I can disassemble a rig in less than 5 seconds...

[Lindsey 0]

I asked Sunshine Factory to send me one with one of my orders a year or so ago.....they couldn't figure out what it was, either. I just decided to go on about my business without one.....
Peace~
Lscribblescribble
Eve was framed!
http://home.earthlink.net/~linzwalley

[alan 1]

Quote

Your rigger should be able to make the extension out of tubular nylon or type 17 webbing (bridle material). You do not need a ring on one end, just a loop and you put a larks head knot at one end.

No need to go as heavy as Ty-17 webbing. Most bridles/extensions I have seen are manufactured from 1" square weave type IV support tape. Various combinations of 1" nylon binding tape, type IV support tape, and Kevlar tape are often used for the bridle on kill-line pcs. I've seen the tubular webbing used for bridles on round canopies. Contact Precision Aerodynamics if you want the specs for the bridle extension they recommend.
alan

[Kirils 1]

ParaGear has staff riggers. I called them and they put me in contact with their rigger.
Skydiving is not a static excercise with discrete predictability...

[Chemical 0]

Thanks to all who responded to my question.
I now definitely have enough information to sort this out.
I think I will try TEB6363's "Super Sling" approach as I have climbing shops nearby but Para Gear is a long way from Down Under :-))
Blue ones
The Chemical
"I'm a reasonable man - get off my case"

[MrHixxx 0]

A master rigger made one for me out of the same tape that pull-up cords are made of. It started to tear-out on one loop, so my replacement was made of type 17. 12" long, 2" loops on each end bar-tacked; simple, hardy-construction.
-Hixxx
"Sous ma tub, Dr. Suess ma tub"

[fergie 0]

Well, I used a friend who works in hospitals making artificial limbs and stuff. He made me a 6" extension, loop both ends, bartacked, out of a three quarter inch webbing that they use for whatever purposes (anyone with an artificial limb may be able to enlighten us).
Anyhow, that was 5 or 6 years ago. The extension certainly makes psycho packs easier (and 10 seconds faster).
I'm sure you could just finger trap some 550 with a loop either end - it'll work as well ....
fergs

[indyz 1]

Quote

Your rigger should be able to make the extension out of tubular nylon or type 17 webbing (bridle material). You do not need a ring on one end, just a loop and you put a larks head knot at one end.

I just went to the local climbing shop and got a "Super Sling" which the climbers also call a dog bone. It is a 10-inch tubular nylon loop that is 3/4-inch wide and secured with 5 bar tacks. With the larks head knot it ends up being about 6.5 inches long and puts the french link to my kill-line pilot chute in the center of the bag. I also put a soft bumper over the french link (just like some people do on their risers) to keep canopy material out from between the link and the extension.

Alright, lemme see if I understand this correctly:
My bridle is connected to the bridle attachment point on my main with a french link. I disconnect the link, attach a 10 inch sling/dogbone to the bridle attachment point with a larks head knot (which, if I remember my Boy Scout training, is just a pass-thru, like putting a rubber band on a deployment bag), then attach the bridle to the other end of the sling with the french link. Throw a slider bumper on there to keep everything neat (is this necessary?). Psycho pack. Jump.

Am I right? I'm having a hard time fitting my Spectre into the dbag on my rig with a standard propack. It works, but it's sloppy and frustrating. I did a test psycho pack the other day and it works really well, but I definately needed a bridle extension.

[ernokaikkonen 0]

>Alright, lemme see if I understand this correctly:(...)
>I disconnect the link, attach a 10 inch sling/dogbone to the
>bridle attachment point with a larks head knot(...), then attach
> the bridle to the other end of the (...)
> Throw a slider bumper on there to keep everything neat (is this necessary?).

Um. No.
Step 1: You go to your local rigger and tell him/her what you want done.
Step 2: Your rigger does it for you.

There have been enough fatalities because of "Just a small modification" or "What could go wrong?" or "Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

We have riggers for a reason...

Erno

[indyz 1]

Quote

Um. No.
Step 1: You go to your local rigger and tell him/her what you want done.
Step 2: Your rigger does it for you.

There have been enough fatalities because of "Just a small modification" or "What could go wrong?" or "Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

I really just wanted to know if I had the concept right. If I hooked up a bridle extension to practice psycho packing, I definately wouldn't jump it until a rigger had inspected it for me.

[steve1 5]

I made my own extension. I got some light weight nylon strapping, folded it over so there was a loop on both ends, and then sewed the crap out of it with my wife's sewing machine. It's about eight inches long and works great. It probably is a good idea to have a rigger check this out. There's a lot of folks out there who have never seen a psycho pack including many riggers. It's too bad it doesn't have another name such as the "safety pack" or "works every time" pack. I think the name psycho scares off a lot of people. It works great in my opinion. Steve1

[ernokaikkonen 0]

> I definately wouldn't jump it until a rigger had inspected it for me.

Ok, just trying to be a "home-rigging nazi" here...

Erno

[steve1 5]

Ernokaikkonen,
You do have a good point. I remember reading an incident report about a guy who did some minor sewing on the outside of his container and somehow caught his bag with some of the stitches so it wouldn't deploy, and he went in. So it is probably a good idea to have a rigger check it out. Sometimes though I wonder if we put too much trust in someone just because they have the title "rigger". I mean there is a big difference in riggers. Some have a much greater knowledge base. Technically I am a rigger. I mean I used to have a chest rating 30 years ago. I worked under an old Smoke-jumper Master rigger and learned enough to barely pass all the tests and earn the title. According to the FAA I am still considered a rigger. Today I can barely run a sewing machine and admittedly don't know squat about much of anything. So be careful out there. Don't take your gear to be checked out by just any old rigger. He may know less than me! Steve 1

[ernokaikkonen 0]

> I remember reading an incident report about a guy who did
>some minor sewing on the outside of his container and somehow
> caught his bag with some of the stitches so it wouldn't deploy,
> and he went in.

I guess you're talking about Patrick deGayardon. More info here.

>Sometimes though I wonder if we put too much trust in someone just
>because they have the title "rigger". I mean there is a big difference in
>riggers. Some have a much greater knowledge base.

True. However, any rigger actively working at some dropzone is probably a safe bet.

Erno

[steve1 5]

Erno,
You have a good point that any active rigger should be able to inspect your gear. But I sometimes wonder about some riggers. I know when I first got my seal I quickly came to the realization that there was a whole lot I didn't know about the world of rigging. Sure I could do a good job of packing reserves for my friends, but it was also easy to get in over your head in terms of repair or even inspecting various systems. I remember thinking, "do I really want this job!" If there was something I wasn't sure of I would refer it to another rigger. In our area there was a master rigger just down the street so we were lucky. But I wonder how many riggers tie into something they shouldn't. In rigger school I learned the basics and was far from an expert. I just think that it is important to choose your rigger with care. I would feel more comfortable with a rigger who has been at it a while, and knowing that they are an honest person (with a lot of common sense). But then again it is often hard to just find a rigger and you may have to go with who you can find. I would also like to add that I have the highest reguard for riggers. They have more responsibility than most people want to bare. Steve1