Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-C-5040
A. 400 lb; B. 550 lb
Sheath and core construction
Ty-2 used on T-10 canopies; Ty-3
used on 24" and 28" canopies
A. Ty-2; B. Ty-3
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-C-5040
225 lb
Braided line
Used for the locking loop on risers
and main closing loops
Generally white with a dashed
green tracer thread, but can be
other colors
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-C-7515
400 lb
Braided line
Several sport round reserves
N/A
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-C-5040
1,100 lb with core and 500 lbs
without core
Braided line
Used for main closing loops with
core removed
White, plain
Figure 3-33. Cord, nylon, Type-2 and Ty-3.
Figure 3-35. Cord, nylon, Type-2a.
Figure 3-34. Cord, nylon, Type-1a.
Figure 3-36. Cord, Nylon, Type-5.
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial
A. 400 lb; B. 500 lb; C. 600 lb;
D. 900 lb
Braided hollow line
Ram-air canopies
N/A
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial
300 lb
Braided, untreated
CYPRES® closing loops
N/A
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-C-87129
700 lb
Braided, untreated
Early ram-air canopies
N/A
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial
A. 725 lb; B. 940 lb; C. 1,800 lb
Braided line
Modern ram-air canopies
N/A
Figure 3-37. Cord, Dacron.
Figure 3-39. Cord, Spectra®.
Figure 3-38. Cord, Kevlar®. Figure 3-40. Cord, Spectra®.
Hardware
Hardware, as defined in the context of parachutes, is “all
metal parts associated with parachutes, their systems, and
their suspended loads.” Most riggers identify hardware as
the snaps, adapters, rings, links, and releases commonly
used on harnesses. In addition to these components, other
hardware includes items such as lightweight links and snaps,
ripcords and handles, stiffeners, grommets, springs, and snap
fasteners. [Figures 3-44 through 3-79]
Most load bearing hardware consists of drop-forged alloy
steel, sheet alloy steel, or forged aluminum alloy. Lightweight
hardware may be stamped from the sheet alloy steel, or in rare
instances, cast. Ripcord pins are cold forged. The majority of
the load bearing hardware is forged carbon steel with either
cadmium or zinc plating.
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial
A. 1,000 lb; B. 1,600 lb
Braided
Strong tandem main canopies
N/A
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MIL-C-5650
N/A
1/8" diameter
Safety stows on free bag systems
Commonly known as “shockcord.”
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial
A.500 lb; B. 700 lb; C. 1,000 lb
Braided
Modern ram-air canopies
Low bulk, dimensionally stable but
wears more rapidly than Spectra
or Dacron lines
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
V-T-295
40 lb
As marked
5 cord for general harness
construction
Comes waxed for hand tacking
Figure 3-41. Cord, Vectran® LCP. Figure 3-43. Cord, elastic.
Figure 3-42. Cord, HMA.
Figure 3-44. Cord, nylon, 5 cord Belbob.
In recent years, there has been a movement to produce newer
design hardware of stainless steel. This removes the problem
of plating and the environmental problems associated with
it. However, stainless is harder on the forging dies and the
finishing processes take longer. Consequently, stainless
hardware is generally more expensive than carbon steel.
All specification hardware has the appropriate number
stamped or marked on it. The MS prefix is on those with the
MIL-SPEC certification. All with the newer PIA certification
have the mark with the PS (Parachute Standards) prefix.
[Figure 3-64] Most of the current hardware has the mark
with the MS prefix. As current stocks deplete, the mark on
new production is with the PS prefix.
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
V-T-295
A. E/8.5 lb; B. FF/16 lb;
C. 3 cord/24 lb; D. 5 cord/40 lb
As marked
E thread for canopy and general
sewing FF for container reinforcing
3 cord for light harness
construction; 5 cord for general
harness construction
These are the most common
threads used.
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MIL-T-43435
80-90 lb
Black or white colors
Hand tacking
N/A
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
V-T-276
A. 4.5 lb; B. 16 lb
N/A
24/4 sealing reserves, 3-cord-hand
tacking, break tackings
N/A
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MS22044
2500 lb
As marked
Leg snaps on sport harnesses,
USAF B-12 assembly
Used with small frame adjustable
“V” ring.
Figure 3-45. Thread, nylon.
Figure 3-47. Thread, nylon, flat braided (supertack).
Figure 3-46. A. Thread, cotton, 24/4; B. Thread, cotton, 3-cord.
Figure 3-48. Snap, B-12.
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MS22017
2,500 lb
As marked
Military harnesses
Use with large frame “V” rings.
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MS22018
2,500 lb
As marked
Navy NB-6 and NB-8 assemblies
Do not use with shallow frame “V”
ring.
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MS22043
2,500 lb
As marked
Aviator emergency parachute
system
Snap portion is the same as the
B-12 snap
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MS70121
5,000 lb
As marked
Army troop reserves
Must be mated with the larger “D”
rings for both compatibility and
strength.
Figure 3-49. Ejector snap, non-adjustable.
Figure 3-51. Snap, quick fit ejector.
Figure 3-50. Snap, quick fit.
Figure 3-52. Snap, parachute chest-type pack.
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MS22042
5,000 lb
As marked
Navy chest assemblies, strong
tandem passenger harness
N/A
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
5,000 lb
As marked
Adjustable main lift web pulley for
force reduction
N/A
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MS22046-1
5,000 lb
As marked
Army T-10 harness
N/A
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
11-1-485
5,000 lb
As marked
MC1-1B assemblies
Replaces old style D-ring
MS22046-1.
Figure 3-53. Snap, quick connector, parachute harness. Figure 3-55. Adjuster, oval ring.
Figure 3-54. “D” ring harness, old style. Figure 3-56. “D” ring harness, new style.
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MS70113
2,500 lb
As marked
B4 harnesses
Do not use with quick ejector
snaps
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MS70114
2,500 lb
As marked
Military harnesses, sport
harnesses
N/A
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MS27765
2,500 lb
As marked
Used with ejector snaps
N/A
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MS22040
2,500 lb
As marked
Military harnesses, sport harness
thread-thru leg strap configuration
N/A
Figure 3-57. “V” ring, quick fit, shallow frame. Figure 3-59. Adapter, quick fit, small frame.
Figure 3-58. “V” ring, quick fit, large frame.
Figure 3-60. Adapter, quick fit, large frame.
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MS22019
2,500 lb
As marked
Navy harnesses
Does not grip as well as MS70114
and MS22040
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial
2,500 lb
DJ-SSA, stainless steel
Harness and leg strap adapters
A smaller version of the MS70114
adapter
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial
2,500 lb, stainless steel
SP-888
Sport harness leg strap adapters
Manufactured by Wichard in France
Specification:
Proof Load:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MS70101
500 lb
As marked
Sport harness chest straps
Very common; many uses
Figure 3-61. Adapter, quick fit, reversible. Figure 3-63. Adapter, quick fit.
Figure 3-62. Adapter, 2 piece. Figure 3-64. Adapter, quick fit, lightweight.