It looks like someone made a lot of effort to create a Paracommander like parachute from a regular C-9 canopy. Was this done on an individual bases back then of was it a factory modification?
Mar 17, 2012, 4:00 PM
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Re: [pchapman] Home made Paracommander?
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Even has a pulled down apex. I've never seen a C9 cut up like that. Hard to believe the 80-120 cfm fabric will give anything near good performance. Anyone here ever jumped (or stayed on the ground and watched) one of these things?
It looks like someone made a lot of effort to create a Paracommander like parachute from a regular C-9 canopy. Was this done on an individual bases back then of was it a factory modification?
cheers Uwe
Hi j4, "Got Photos????" Back when, Ben Seal, Jr. at Hammond, La., Southland Skydivers, had a C-9 that he modified into a Paracommander complete with crown lines, pulled down vent and stabs. He took Leon Riche's P/C and copied the mods although he should have made the turn slots a hair bit bigger as the C-9 was 28' and the P/C 24'. Ben called it the "Sky Hook!!" I wrote about it elsewhere here on H & T. I put a bunch of jumps on it in the fall of '66 before I went into the Navy and Mike Marcon took it over after that till it got "retired." It flew like a slow PC, turns were acceptable , it had a better glide than a C-9 and definitely a softer landing!! Always stood it up with no trouble. Stan Spooner from the era had one he made also, saw him jump it at the old Cotton Belt Council meets. They're out there.
Mar 18, 2012, 1:31 PM
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Re: [skybill] Home made Paracommander?
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I made a bunch of jumps on the "Sky Hook." It was also sprayed with silicone and emitted a little cloud of white silicone dust/smoke when it opened. It was slow and big but I had a lot of fun jumping it. Back then, I would jump anything that was packed and ready. That included T-10's, C-9's and anything I thought would open and wouldn't kill me. Wasn't particular until I got my first PC.
Mar 19, 2012, 5:39 AM
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Re: [anj4de] Home made Paracommander?
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Back in the 70's in my loft we had a pattern to make a c-9 into a parasail. The D-rings on this pretty much make it look like that is what this one is. Still, it is probably jumpable as a main. If you put steering lines on it.
Mar 23, 2012, 6:04 PM
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Re: [councilman24] Home made Paracommander?
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A couple other Navy PR's and I tried modified this canopy at NAS Kingsville, TX in 1969. Rate of descent tolerable, it sufficed until a real PC was purchased.
Apr 10, 2012, 5:45 PM
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Re: [anj4de] Home made Paracommander?
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I put a hundred jumps on a cheap-o PC in Germany and Casa Grande. I ended up giving it away.
It had sloppy openings, but never malfunctioned. Its landing rate was a little better than a typical 28 ft. Actually, the drawndown apex expanded the chute's grab.
It sure had a lot of people shaking their heads. Lots of work for very little gain.
) one of these things? 
GF DK Cheapo PC.JPG
