JerryBaumchen

Hi sparky, That excerpt is from NAS 804 / TSO C23b. That req'ment went away with TSO C23c. JerryBaumchen

Hi dorbie, Pete Swan is at Lodi. Do a SEARCH on here for PeteS & you should be able to send him a PM. JerryBaumchen PS) Pete, we can skip the Finder's Fee this time only.

Hi chrsi, PM sent, JerryBaumchen

Hi lodestar, That would make you the one & only one that I have EVER heard of doing it. JerryBaumchen

Hi Nova, Once again: Henderson Sewing Machine 1-800-824-5113 JerryBaumchen

Hi Unstable, What is interesting is that the 'WEIGHT' is not filled. That is an FAA-req'ment on a TSO C23b component. JerryBaumchen PS) Wendy, good eye, that does look like a f'glass handle.

Hi there, Is this a U of Texas Longhorn? It might not be boobies; but who's complaining? JerryBaumchen

Hi sparky, When Security introduced their CrossBow system in early '64 it had snaps to hold the exposed risers in place. The snaps were on the reserve container & a piece of 1" tape/webbing that went around the riser(s). Terry Urban: Can you put a photo up of your X-BO rig showing this setup? JerryBaumchen

Hi bofh, Those look a lot like the PdeF toggles; see photo. JerryBaumchen PS) I would recommend anyone going to a pin for their toggle to use the Toggle Pin by Square1, 2 ½” (63 mm) long Toggle Pin – available from Square1 as their Part Number 4131240. It is longer than the Pull-Out Pin for greater reliability & security ( IMO ).

Hi ryoder, A cat named Lucky, JerryBaumchen

Hi Jim, A question for you: You've had enough cutaways to know; do you think that you would/could actually get your fingers into that finger pocket. Just asking . . . JerryBaumchen

Hi nukt, Try this site: http://www.parapublishing.com/sites/para/ ETA: This is even easier to look at: http://www.parapublishing.com/sites/parachute/information/ratings.cfm Good luck, JerryBaumchen

Hi Ron, About 20 yrs ago it actually did happen to an instuctor at the Sheridan, OR dz. Somehow ( ) during the jump, the reserve handle rotated ( and that portion of the MLW also rotated ) under the MLW. He missed it on his first attempt, after a cutaway w/o RSL, but stayed cool-headed and got it on the 2nd attempt. JerryBaumchen

Hi ski, Re: Kenmore 1430 Have no idea of what it is. I would be interested in who defined it as 'supposed to be semi-heavy duty,' though. The best ( IMO ) household type machines are the Singer 401A ( which I once had ) or the Singer 500A ( which I now have ), as they meet my definition of a 'heavy-duty' household machine. I use the 500A for light-weight work such as a fair amount of the sewing on main & reserve pilot chutes, doing canopy patches ( have not done one in years ), and similar type of work. I use a 'jeans' needle with 'E' thread and she works just fine. Back when I owned the 401A, I short-lined a lot of ParaCommanders with it. JerryBaumchen

Hi Nic, As I have mentioned before on this site, the federal government is sovereign. IMO that means that any FAA employee, should he/she choose, can administer the test & do the necessary paperwork to have the rating awarded. That FAA employee is not req'd to have the rating. That same FAA employee can waive anything that they want to waive, should they be inclined to do so. Sometimes getting an FAA employee to do 'things' is not so easy. JerryBaumchen

Hi ski, Did I or did I not say something about 'Only 8 more machines to go.' JerryBaumchen

Hi Jim, Over the years I have given 'the talk' to numerous groups of pilots; it is always entertaining to get the questions they ask. I have to hold back the laughs because I know they do not know. Here is what I put in my PEP manuals and I do know that it could include even more information: Parachute System Operation There are no absolute rules (nor can there be any) for jumping clear of a disabled aircraft. The one known rule is: BE COMPLETELY CLEAR OF THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO PULLING THE RIPCORD Practice climbing out of your aircraft with your parachute on and while the aircraft is on the ground. Find the obstacles, obstructions and other items that may hinder or snag you or your parachute. Remember: Avoid them when an actual bailout emergency occurs. A normal exit sequence will be something like this: Release your safety belt and shoulder harness. Disconnect or remove and discard any headsets, microphones, oxygen masks, etc. Look to your left body panel and locate your parachute ripcord. You should have become familiar with its location during your Pre-Flight Inspection. Jump clear of the aircraft. Pull the ripcord. Having cleared the aircraft, immediately grasp the ripcord handle with your right hand and left thumb. Use a hard, quick pull clearing the ripcord from its stowage pocket and continue pulling to full arm extension. If parachute activation does not occur on the first effort, back it up and hit it again. The pilot chute will be launched which will deploy the canopy. About 1 1/2 seconds after pilot chute launch, the canopy will be fully inflated. You are now descending under your parachute. NOTE It is strongly recommended that you throw the ripcord away after you have pulled it. You must remember that you are taking a life-saving action and the ripcord could possibly cause a problem during the descent phase. It is of a minimal cost to replace. Steering the canopy (If your system has a steerable canopy) It is recommended that you steer the canopy by pulling down on the rear risers only. While your canopy may have steering handles installed, their use is usually too much for the inexperienced user to consider at the time of an emergency jump from an aircraft. Pulling down on the right rear riser will cause the canopy to turn to the right. And pulling down on the left rear riser will cause the canopy to turn to the left. Holding a riser down will result in your turning in circles. You should steer the canopy into the direction that you want to go. Landing your parachute In preparation for landing, just like landing an aircraft you should face into the wind if possible. This will reduce any forward airspeed that your canopy may have. Put your feet together and slightly flex your knees; do not have your legs locked straight. Land on the balls of both feet, relax and let the parachute pull you to the ground. Try to roll with the landing to dissipate the landing force. As soon as possible, remove your parachute harness. High Wind Landing It is even more critical that you land facing into the wind to reduce any ground speed. Continue with the landing sequence as described above. After landing, if you are able to stand up, run around the downwind side of the canopy, this will deflate it. If you are unable to stand and are being dragged by the parachute, you should first roll over onto your back so that the container will act as a protection for your body. After rolling over, reach up and grab ONE and only one suspension line and pull it towards you until you have deflated the canopy. Do not let go of the canopy until you have removed the harness and can no longer be dragged by the parachute. Water Landing Since it is not possible in an emergency jump to pre-determine your landing area, it is always possible that you could land in a body of water. After landing, disconnect the chest strap and both leg straps and slip out and away from the entire parachute system. Swim away from the parachute system. It is not recommended that of you make any attempt to save the parachute system at this time. Your primary concern should and must be to save your life only. If the situation warrants, the parachute system can be salvaged at a later time. If you ever get the chance to listen to Allen Silver's briefing for pilots, go to it; he does a very good job of trying to inform them. JerryBaumchen

Hi steve, I got my Senior Rigger ticket in early '65 & repacks were $2.50 each. And a lift to 3,500 was also $2.50. JerryBaumchen

Hi Wendy, And you would be correct. The two surplus military pilot chutes that were available were the A-3 ( which had a spring with a large top coil & large ParaPak top ) and the MA-1 ( which had a similar spring but with a smaller top coil & a smaller ParaPak top ). Well, there were a few others but these two were what 'everybody' used. The CrossBow main pilot chute came with a very long spring but it had a problem of the spring actually folding over during launch. The ParaCommander main pilot chute came with Lo-Po material in the canopy of the pilot chute and used an A-3 spring; or so we thought back then. Just to keep the trivia straight . . . JerryBaumchen

Hi drew, Unless UPT has changed something since I last looked, this is just wrong information. If you make an emergency bail-out & go straight to your reserve, if you have a total & go straight to your reserve, and/or if you are doing a canopy transfer & just pulling the reserve ripcord; then the SkyHook has to break the red riggers tack thread that holds the SkyHook lanyard ( the red Type 2A loop ) to the 'hook.' These three scenarios do not require the red Type 2A line to break. I would suggest that you get a set of the packing instructions for the SkyHook & study them. Or get a copy & have a competent rigger explain the system to you. This is not to bash you; this is, hopefully, to educate you. JerryBaumchen

Hi Wendy, I voted for the first option. But a question: When you say 'man/kids' just what do you mean? I was a single parent of two teenagers; is that what your 'man/kids' is referring to? JerryBaumchen

Hi Nova, I don't think that is anything 'pro vs cons' as I just like things very neat & orderly. By having a pocket on the bridle ( see the attached photo ), it just keeps things in place until they are needed for useage. JerryBaumchen

Hi Jim, It also looks like you got a R/W/B ParaCommander pilot chute with that rig. My first rig, bought in early '64: Double L, B-4 harness/container, home-built ( by a local master rigger ) reserve container w/24 ft Twill canopy for the outrageous price of $125. WHAT A DEAL!!!!!! I jumped it on my 3rd jump, 1st DRCP. JerryBaumchen

Hi ski, OK, take this with a grain of salt. Put a large screwdriver into the slot on the end & hold the wheel and see if that is a screw that will come out. Keep us posted, JerryBaumchen PS) Where's Mark Lancaster when you need him?

Hi ski, I just sent you a PM. Memory came back ( I think ); there should be a screw down in the middle of the hand-wheel holding it onto the shaft, I 'think.' If this is it, let us know; I haven't owned a 31-15 in a number of years. JerryBaumchen