Jeffrey

Do other/most manufacturers use this material for the small ring? No. Jeff

I remember them well. The harder you tracked when pulling, the softer the openings. And a very common procedure before packing was to rip-stop tape all the burn holes. Jeff

MIL-T-5038, 1" Type III, Binding tape, 525 lbs. Jeff

Not so much a mark ON the body as IN...upper right leg and lower hip internal ouchie...left riser was the one broke. It wasn't my rig but one I was jumping on a demo, my understanding is that the gear is about 9 years old and has less than 500 jumps. Thanks airtwardo, I haven’t ever had a riser fail, but the hardest opening I’ve ever had was on a demo rig with a GQ Unit packed by only God knows who back in the very early 80’s. Apart from seeing stars, the only thing I remember was my Alt II centered on the chest strap and all the blood running on and off it. I was young and could take a punch in the face by an Alt II back then but never centered it on my chest strap again. That was in Z-Hills (next to the golf cores days). Sorry to get off topic there and to bad I have plans for my next poll already. Hard openings could be good one, I’m just note sure how I could make it educational. Jeff

Airtwardo, I’m sure it left a mark and probably would have been worse on the body if they were reinforced. You don’t have to say, but who made those riser? Please tell me they weren’t manufactured by a company producing TSO’ed equipment in the last 7 years. I see fare to many things wrong with them. Jeff

CReWLL , Have you ever seen or heard off a 1” type 17 riser, manufactured by companies producing TSO’ed equipment, in the last 7 years breaking??? If so, do you remember where it broke??? Jeff

Hi Rob, Yes I think it would make a big difference by bonding the loosely woven T-17 webbing together and make it stronger, we would have no problem sewing it. But is this what we really want? I have spent many years observing T-17 risers that have been subjected to undesirably high loads and the stronger you make them in one spot; they will always break in another. Not knowing where they may break next makes me very uncomfortable. What else makes me uncomfortable is if I make them stronger in that spot, now the jumper and canopy will be getting that extra hammering in these rare occurrences. I could expand much more on this portion alone but will leave it here for now. Thanks for your thoughts. Jeff

I must be the exception. I have a great working relationship with my PI and ACO. You should see the only just discovered hi resolution photos of the attack on Pearl Harbor he sent me. Jeff

A friend of mine from the FAA sends me these often. What a piece of art work, incredible detail in places you wouldn’t expect, so look close. I don’t recall ever seeing them posted, so enjoy. Jeff

Cya, Kevin sent me that pic just after it was taken and instantly became the wall paper on my wide screen desk top. You should see the video he made me from that winter. What an incredible place to play. It was taken just after the 2007 PIA symposium in Reno. In my experience, working with Kevin has always been very productive and memorable. I only wish I could also spend some that type of quality time on that hill. With that said, I have no doubt he will be helping make many memorable moments. Am I preaching to the choir? If only I was born 20 years later, Dam. Jeff

Lee, Wow, I haven’t seen or heard of them breaking there since the 90’s and that was because they were made of ¾” type 3 binding tape. Most companies including us use 5/8” type 4 square weave (very tuff stuff), some company’s use 1” type 3 binding tape to hold the top RW4 ring. I can see where the type 3 tape could be a weaker link in the chain depending on how it is sewn at the center bow tie section. Do you have or can you get any photos? The only way I can see where one with the type 4 could brake is if it had been previously damaged or is way out of spec. I can easily see where the front riser could be the one to go as well. Most of the risers I have seen that’s been subjected to heavy loading first show signs of fatigue at the grommet. Floormunky, Please do, post photos of them if you have them. I see that stuff all the time but it would be good to share with this thread. Glad to hear he’s going to be ok. When risers are subjected to loading that high, you know the body is getting hammered. The riser in photos 821 and 822, the jumpers ended up with leg and chest bruising. One got black eyes on top of that. Both still was able to cutaway and get a reserve. The jumper in photo 825 was a very big boy and weathered the loads better. Thanks for the replies guys. Jeff

Background to this Poll: Over the past 10 years I have had a total of 3 broken T-17 risers reported and returned to me. Every one of them was the right rear section only, ripped cleanly through the confluences wrap from the grommet up. I personally think this was a very good thing and in every case, the riser broke for a very good reason. For example; 330 + out the door is a little much to ask of T-17 risers. There are also other reasons they broke where they did. The only rule of this poll is that it applies only to risers manufactured by companies producing TSO’ed equipment manufactured in the last 7 years. As a reminder to the 2 participants that voted in my last poll, that would NOT like to see more. We all appreciate you not participating again and thank you for it. Once again thank you for your honest participation. Edited to add: I just noticed a typo, the very last line in the poll should have read, “The riser I have seen that broke was the left one below the grommet.” Sorry Jeff

Matt, I just checked our database for you and we have built a total of 15 Mirages specifically for Pilot 188’s. All but one has been M5’s and I’m not aware of any complaints with the combination. I did find one comment from our follow-ups that the fit was snug but ok. A comment we hear often with all new gear. So to put one into an M4, the results may be a bit of a brick and require much more time and care when packing. I to would love to hear other comments on the topic. Jeff

Tiffany, You may not like it now, but I suggest you keep it for a while. It truly does suit you. Jeff

You need to get your facts straight. Advanced Aerospace Designs (makers of Vigil) had a double booth at the 2007 PIA Symposium. Two adjacent booths numbers 131 and 230. This one.

All I’m asking is are we talking Nylon MDS in T6, or T6/6, gray or clear, .020”, .040”, .062”, or ballistic cloth, Polycarbonate, or Polyurethane? I really haven’t the time to write all the many ways they can all be used for top flaps, riser covers, tuck tabs, etc. I am more than happy to provide more accurate help if I had more info. All of these materials have specific qualities and is why we use so many different types. There really isn’t just that one type of stiffener material. I don’t guess and say here’s some stiffener material. And if this is going into TSOed equipment, I suggest you know exactly what you’re using. It’s kind of like someone requesting a source for that webbing we use on harnesses. Ok would that be T7, T8, T12, T13, T17 or T4-3” and would that be condition U or R? There was a very good suggestion made on the PIA Riggers Forum for Greg. And guess what, I am a manufacturer that is offering to help, just as I have been doing for over the past 30 years. Jeff

How much is quite a bit? 5 yards or 500 feet. Jeff

For me it would be completely circumstantial and boil down to what environmental punishment my gear had been subjected to. From any combination of the following: long term humidity, to a light drenching in water once or occasionally, or the occasional long term heavy heat or extreme cold or possibly the occasional long term heavy compression, and or was my rig affected by a new or old PSB or passably one that should have been, but never was publishes because everyone knew about it at the time? ONLY YOU KNOW WHER YOUR GEAR HAS BEEN? If subjected to none of the above, like in a perfect world or close to it, then some will work for over a lifetime, some will not. All of the factors I’ve mentioned above are mostly the responsibility of you and no mater what your re-pack cycle is, it’s your life to live any way you wish. Be smart and enjoy it. Just don’t blame anyone but yourself if you ignore any of the fore mentioned and get hurt. What are you comfortable with? Jeff

Riggergreg, Not all stiffener material is the same. I’m just guessing but, I think your requesting a source for Nylon MDS. If so what type and thickness? T6, T6/6, gray, clear, .020”, .040”, .062”? Or perhaps you’re thinking of the many types of ballistic cloth? Or maybe a Polycarbonate? We have and do used them all. I suggest you slow down a bit and learn a little more before you (buy quite a bit for a project I'm getting ready to start). Jeff

I apologize for its size; I didn’t want to brake up its content for a 4th poll. Also, I should have mentioned this before for anyone that’s not sure, multiple selections per section are ok. You can make more than one pick per section if it applies to you. Once again, many thanks for your honest participation and positive PM’s… Jeff

This is part 2 of my poll. I really appreciate your honest participation. Thank you. Jeff

reply]Not really itching to build something - I did consider it would be cool to build a smaller scale model of a complete 9 cell chute but that would consume time I don't have. Michael, If you’re ever in Deland, stop in and see me. I will take to into the shop and show you how you can do that yourself. Jeff

Hi Jeff, I'd like to build a Mirage

Jeffrey- (Only If I can make it back in time from S.C. after my presentation at the master riggers advanced education seminar) What a great drop zone. Jeff

You sound like your really itching to build something. what is it? Jeff