tonybrogdon 0 #1 August 2, 2008 How many remember this rig or ever owned one? In 1977 I bought one from the former head of the Godlen Knights, Charlie Brown back in Richmond Virginia. It had a Navy Conial reserve and a PC main packed in a bag. Charlie came by my office and showed me how to pack it in my hallway. The PC was designed for a sleeve not a bag and the bag it used was not designed for the rig. Over twenty years later I looked up Charlie when one of the nationals were being held at Perris and gave the only picture I had of me wearing the rig taken at West Point DZ in Virginia. He remembered me and selling me the rig. I reminded him that shortly after buying the rig from him the USPA grounded the rig. It seems that it had a major design flaw. When going for the reserve the stiching would come loose at the risers and streamer the reserve. He told me that he had sent it in prior to selling it to me to the Mfgr and they had corrected the flaw. Not knowing this previously, I had always wondered what would have happened if I had to cut away on that rig.Tony Brogdon D-12855 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickDG 23 #2 August 3, 2008 While none happened there I remember they were counting off GSE fatalities on the wall of a hangar in Lake Elsinore. It's hard to imagine now but it was a lot harder to make sure everyone got the word in those days . . . NickD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,090 #3 August 3, 2008 My memory was that there were two parts to that story -- someone also had to have picked off the ugly and decorative-looking stitching on the mudflap, that happened to also hold on the reserve risers. Is that accurate? I don't remember any of those rigs showing up at Spaceland. But reserve risers that are just stitched in still don't seem like a great idea, even if you don't pick off the stitching. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #4 August 3, 2008 Yes that is true, I know a guy who has one and it has been jumped in the last couple years. Also know a few guys who own and jump the orginal greene stars.you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybill 18 #5 August 3, 2008 Hi Tony, BSBD.."and"..."GREEN STAR RIGS!!!!" the call to arms at Otay after that Navy dude went in with the "modified" rig!! Don't recall what exactly the mod was but between the "Design" and the "riging work" it didn't "work!!" Reminds me of some of the "Scary Stories" from the bad old daze of dudes "sewing D-rings to the 'outside' of the main lift webb on B-4 rigs" and when they pulled their reserve on a total or other high speed mal, the reserve ""RIPPED"""away at the stitiching!! Usually a couple of turns of 5-cord!! "Slaved" on reserve risers are generally not a good idea. Note how most rigs today have the reserve risers webbing continue to become the harness!!SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WGore 0 #6 August 3, 2008 I don't remember the exact circumstances anymore but it was common to install the high reserve d-rings for conventional reserves above the capewells. Of course the d-ring was still behind the main lift web. When they went to piggybacks they installed the reserve riser the same way. The stiching was a standard double W stitch above the capewell and then they also attached the comfort pad to the reser and capewell turnback with a box stitch that helped reinforce the whole thing. The fix was to put a confluence wrap around the whole thing directly behind the capewell. If there was more than 1 fatality I never heard of it. This is probably hard to visualize without seeing one or knowing the construction of the era.GUNFIRE, The sound of Freedom! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonybrogdon 0 #7 August 3, 2008 Hi Bill I remember my first jump on my GSE. It was in Dublin, Va. after exiting at 7500 feet, I remember saying to myself, " This has got to the dumist thing I have ever done," jumping the PC to see if it would open using a bag verses a sleeve, not even knowing at the time of the problem with the reserve risers. When I saw the notice about the rig being grounded, I immediately bought one of the original Vectors with a 5 cell Strata Star main where after several ground pounding landings I bought my first 7 cell a 220 Comet.Tony Brogdon D-12855 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,362 #8 August 4, 2008 QuoteI reminded him that shortly after buying the rig from him the USPA grounded the rig. It seems that it had a major design flaw. When going for the reserve the stiching would come loose at the risers and streamer the reserve. He told me that he had sent it in prior to selling it to me to the Mfgr and they had corrected the flaw. Not knowing this previously, I had always wondered what would have happened if I had to cut away on that rig. From the Poynter Manual: QuoteOn July 24, 1978, the USPA issued an urgent warning on the GS Express. The shoulder pad stitching passes through the reserve risers. Some owners have removed the stitching in order to move the pad. Unless the stitching is replaced, the harness can fail when the reserve is deployed."There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimjumper 25 #9 August 21, 2008 I got a decent reserve because they were grounded. I was jumping a 24' T-10 as a reserve and at 235 pounds thought it wasn't a good idea. A guy sent his Green Star from Florida to New Jersey trying to sell it and I made an offer on the 26" Strong Lopo that was in it 2 weeks before I had my first cutaway. I put 3 jumps on that reserve and then loaned the rig to a novice who deployed it unstable and it lineovered. She landed a little hard but nothing too serious. The reserve had line burns all over the apex area and couldn't be repaired Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pms07 3 #10 August 23, 2008 Anyway, I bought a new GS Express in early 1976. Nice rig...other than that reserve riser deal. I always understood that removing the stiching of the shoulder padding was what caused the problem...but meanwhile I had a rig that couldn't be jumped or sold. As I recall, we burned the rig in the Great Falls SPC (Montana) fire pit one evening...after I had already replaced it with a new Wonderhog... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonybrogdon 0 #11 August 23, 2008 I replaced mine with a Handbury rig and later also got a Comet 228. Great rig, Great parachute, finally.Tony Brogdon D-12855 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keithbar 1 #12 August 26, 2008 I have only had 2 reserve rides. they were about 3 or 4 months apart back in the 80's the 1st on a 26 ft. navy conical. that was a whomp into the earth. but I stood up the 26 ft. strong lopo with ease. of course that was a few pounds ago. but even back then i was like 225. and young and strong. made of steel and bullet proof all that shit.i have on occasion been accused of pulling low . My response. Naw I wasn't low I'm just such a big guy I look closer than I really am . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites