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I learned accuracy and got my pro rating on an RW Challenger. I always pro packed it and never had any issues.

Here is a list I received from the FAA about 5 years ago: Rigger Seals on Google Docs. I edited it down to just symbols and names. Even 5 years ago it was somewhat incomplete. If you want to get a newer copy, you can try contacting the FAA Airmen Certification Branch, AFS-760.

I'm 6' tall with an average torso length. I jump a V308 and wish I had gotten a V320. The bottom of my container sits pretty high. It's not difficult to reach my PC, but I would have preferred it a little lower.

If the rough edges of the cutter hang up on the loop, it could prevent the pilot chute from launching.

This is what the hardware looks like. The shadow is hiding the gate.

Wow, this thread keeps coming back year after year. Aerodyne will happily make you a hybrid or full dacron lineset. You really want full dacron for CRW, unless you think you are good enough to only wrap people with the center lines. That said, modifying the canopy to have a retractable bridle isn't as simple as sewing rings to the topskin. The hybrid Tri also has diagonal reinforcement tapes on the ribs and spanwise reinforcing tapes on the topskin. Without the reinforcing you will eventually damage the canopy. Doing the conversion right isn't a particularly challenging project for a qualified rigger, but it is time consuming. Between the lineset, parts, and labor you will probably be halfway to the cost of a new canopy.

Lightnings are available in "demo trim", which lands quite a bit better than the usual bigway trim.

Rockywoods sells all of that by the yard or the roll.

The cast MDS is probably too thick for what you want. I've used the "Self-Lubricating MDS-Filled Nylon" for projects, including container repairs. 1/16" is a popular size for flaps with grommets. MDS is tough to sew through, so I use 1/16" HPDE in places where need to sew through the stiffener and also don't need as much strength or durability as MDS. As far as foam from Foam Factory, I bought this stuff. The 1/8" is good for things like container linings, and 1/4" works for leg pads. If I was copying newer "deluxe" leg pads, I would probably go with 3/8" or 1/2".

I've gotten foam from http://www.thefoamfactory.com/ McMaster-Carr has small quantities of MDS.

I'm not a fan of using pull-up cords for cross connectors. They might work ok to get you through the day, but they aren't a good permanent solution. I have personally seen cross connectors break that were made out of Type III tape (ribbon type pull-up cords), and have seen knots come untied. I have no idea what material the new kind of pull-up cords are made out of, but I wouldn't count on it being any stronger. 1" Type IV square weave is more than twice as strong as binding tape, it handles wear better, and when the formation gets heavy it is more comfortable for the personal holding the grip.

I meant foreign TSOs like ETSO or JTSO, not an FAA TSO issued to a foreign manufacturer.

It doesn't look like it. Their website only says it was tested to TSO-C23d standards and they link to a Serbian type certificate. The FAA TSO database doesn't list anything. The FAA doesn't recognize foreign TSOs on parachutes, so their Serbian certification wouldn't count for anything in the US.

Works fine. I don't use the 308 a lot, but it's really handy when it comes up.

Pre- or post-stretch?

I generally don't choose to have my email client show images, so I'm probably counted as a non-reader even though I read all of them. Also, GMail automatically files the email in the "Promotions" folder, which I bet a lot of people don't check very often.

Most of the servos on the market come out of the same factory in China and are sold to dozens of distributors who put their own labels on them. Your servo motor and the Consew you used are probably identical.

UPT sells complete engineering drawings / instructions for $10.

Probably sequential RW. The current records are a 5-point 106-way and a 2-point 117-way. A 3-point 108-way would be a new 3-point world record, leaving the 117-way holding the 2-point record and the 106-way holding the 4- and 5-point records.

I've used dikes and can usually get a serviceable cut with them, but in my experience purpose-built cable cutters with triangular or curved blades are consistently better. Our dropzone has a bench-mounted cutter that is awesome, but also expensive and non-portable. I've gotten a couple recommendations via PM that I'm going to follow up on, including this one. Para Gear also has a cutter for $65.

Can anybody recommend a good, affordable, set of cable cutters? All of the stuff at my local hardware stores says "not for steel".

Yes it did. It had an extra foot pedal installed & that is what would throw it into reverse. He never had to lift the presser foot or take his hands off of the webbing. I'll have to practice that. I've got a 7-33 with reverse (it would have been a steal even if it hadn't been converted), but I only use forwards.

It'll set a couple of grommets, but the stainless will damage the die very quickly. I ruined mine in less than a half dozen grommets.

Yes. You will only pay for the 8 year maintenance and the Cypres will be good to go.

Lew Sanborn is A-1 and D-1. I don't have a date, but I believe it would have been the mid to late 50s.