Change 1 (December 2015)
Main Riser Attachment .........................................2-22
Ripcord Cable Routing ........................................2-23
RSL Lanyard and Container Mount ....................2-23
Joint Efficiency .....................................................2-24
Chapter Summary ........................................................2-25
Chapter 3
Materials ...............................................................3-1
Introduction ....................................................................3-1
Specifications .................................................................3-2
Fabrics ............................................................................3-2
Webbing and Tapes ........................................................3-3
Webbing Selection .....................................................3-4
Cords, Lines, and Threads ............................................3-8
Hardware ......................................................................3-12
Plastics and Synthetics .................................................3-20
Fasteners ......................................................................3-21
Housings ......................................................................3-22
Ripcords, Cables, and Swages .....................................3-24
Miscellaneous ..............................................................3-26
Chapter Summary ........................................................3-26
Chapter 4
Operations............................................................4-1
Introduction ...................................................................4-1
Sport Parachute Main Packing Techniques ...................4-2
Deployment and Inflation Characteristics ......................4-8
Main Pilot Chute ........................................................4-9
Bridle Length ............................................................4-10
Rubber Bands ...........................................................4-10
Assembly of the Main Canopy To The Harness
and Container ..............................................................4-11
Assembly of Components and Compatibility ..............4-13
Reserve Bag Extraction Force ..................................4-14
TSO Certification and Placard Limitations ..............4-14
Harness Strength.......................................................4-14
Volume .....................................................................4-16
Deployment Type .....................................................4-16
Chapter Summary ........................................................4-17
Chapter 5
Inspection and Packing ......................................5-1
Introduction ....................................................................5-1
Identification ..................................................................5-2
Inspection .......................................................................5-2
Component Compatibility ..........................................5-4
Round Canopies and Pilot Emergency Systems.........5-7
Straightening the Canopy ...........................................5-7
Damage Identification ................................................5-8
Pilot Chute and Bridle ................................................5-8
Reserve Canopy ..........................................................5-9
Suspension Lines and Connector Links ...................5-10
Harness .....................................................................5-11
Container ..................................................................5-12
Ripcord .....................................................................5-12
Airing and Drying ....................................................5-13
Ram-Air Reserves and Sport Piggyback Systems ....5-13
Pilot Chute and Free Bag/Bridle ...........................5-13
Ram-Air Reserve Canopy .....................................5-13
Canopy Assembly and Line Continuity ................5-14
Inspection ..............................................................5-16
Harness .................................................................5-17
Container ...............................................................5-17
Ripcord .................................................................5-18
Rigging and Repairs .....................................................5-19
Packing .........................................................................5-19
Round Canopy into a Pilot Emergency
Parachute System .....................................................5-20
Layout ...................................................................5-20
Pleating the Canopy ..............................................5-21
Fold the Skirt ........................................................5-22
Closing the Diaper and Stowing the Lines ...........5-23
Skirt or Diaper Placement .....................................5-24
Accordion Folding the Canopy .............................5-25
Closing the Container ...........................................5-25
Ripcord Pull Force ...................................................5-27
Sealing the Parachute ...............................................5-27
Ram-Air Reserve into a Sport Piggyback System....5-28
Assembling the Reserve System ...........................5-28
Ram-Air Reserve into a Two-Pin Piggyback ..........5-38
Documentation .............................................................5-39
Chapter Summary ........................................................5-42
Chapter 6
Hand Tools, Sewing Machines, and the
Parachute Loft .....................................................6-1
Introduction ....................................................................6-1
Hand Tools .....................................................................6-2
Hand Tools Description..............................................6-2
Sewing Machines .........................................................6-14
Identification and Nomenclature ..............................6-16
Sewing Theory .............................................................6-18
Needles .....................................................................6-20
Operation ..................................................................6-21
Installing the Needle and Threading the Machine....6-21