riggermick

Can you get your head all the way back? (and not interfere with your reserve) Mick.

Yes it's possible and no you won't reduce the strength of the original T8 riser, as to the mechanics of how the "tripples" will operate, well that's up to the specfics of how the "tripple" is set up. Consult your local rigger on that point. If it's "thin" risers you want then just buy a set of tripple T17 risers,it's a much safer screwing around with somthing that's set up for what you are currently using. Just my $.02 cents. Mick.

I prefer to cut my own sets mainly because it's cheaper. I was fortunate enough to be shown (some years ago now) the system that Bill Gargano came up with for doing multiple lines of varying lengths. It's extremely accurate and easy to replicate using very rudimentary items. All one needs is an accurate line group measurement. I came up with a great little formula/ work sheet that's worked well, although ellipticals are a challenge (it's much easier to get the factory spec sheet for them). Mick.

I think the first piece of equipment I purchased was an altimeter, it was 25 years ago. But I do remember my first rig, it was a Guardian Hawk Wedge II, Pioneer 23' Tri Con and a slider modified strato star (it used to be a ropes and rings canopy).Ahhh fun, fun. Mick.

Keep in mind both rigs, the TSF and the Javelin, were both designed by the same guy That explains why I've never seen Mike Fury and Chris Thomas at a party together...............They're the same guy!!!! You gotta admit it's a great trick being on both sides of the Atlantic at the same time. Mick.

I thought the definition of a total is where nothing comes out, ie - a hard pull, or arguably container lock. In my mind, once something comes out it can't be a total, even if it comes out and separates. Semantic arguments are.... semantic. If you hit the ground @ 120 mph trailing a pilotchute or a floating ripcord, then by definition it's a total. A partial by definition, occurs when the canopy (the key word here canopy)is only partialy deployed. _Am

Most riggers are like auto mechanics, they are well qualified and trained to troubleshoot and repair a great number of issues, but most don't have the skill, training and most importantly of all, the intuitive concept visualization found in all true designers. If they did possess this vision, we would see a lot more new and improved cars, rigs, can openers, coffee cups etc than we currently do (I'm talking a tens of thousands fold increase over current numbers). I hold a degree in electronics (that I haven't used in some years now) and while I was a pretty good technician I was a long, long way from being a designer of electronic circuitry. Many riggers decide at some point in their careers that they want to build a rig or a canopy and many do. Some learn under established manufacturers, some (most) learn by un-picking things already built and "reverse engineering " them (a great learning experience by the way) and one day acquire the experience and confidence to actually build and test something that they made (usually a copy of an existing design). This serves to make them excellent technicians with a more thorough understanding of their field than their contemporaries and usually results in them being exceptional craftsmen. But to design something from the ground up using nothing more than a conceptual idea in ones head takes a relatively rare individual indeed. If one were to take a look at all of the great designers through time one would find a common thread that binds all of them. An almost unusual desire to understand how everything around them works, not just what an item does or even how it functions, but exactly why it works and how everything within and related to the item got to the point that it is today. This happens at an almost unconscious level every day to designers in every field from rigging to writers of great fiction (i.e.: Tom Clancy, Michael Chriton, JK Rowling etc) to furniture designers to rocket scientists. If one has a really burning desire to create something new or significantly different from what's out there and the fortitude to carry out that idea, then they will have achieved true designer status. I believe this can happen to many individuals at any point in their lives when they come to the realization that they have always had the curiosity to go beyond what's already out there. As far as the legal aspects of building a rig and using it, that will depend on several factors. Is the rig a "repair or rebuild " of an existing product or a new design? Is the person "repairing" the rig qualified to do so? And how much of a stickler to the exact letter of the law is the FAA MIDO representative? Anyway that's just my $.02 worth. Mick Cottle.

I was out at Perris yesterday and bumped in to Ray Farrel who is doing the 125 way sequential dives there. He showed me the latest version of the new viper H/C system (based on my old Reflex patterns/ design). It is just about ready for production and looks very nice. Ryan Gifford and company have done an outstanding job in re engineering and tayloring the product to meet a variety of skydiving needs. I think that it is going to give the competition a run for their money. If I can sell all of the Reflexes stashed in my closet I will get one when they are released. I think the skydiving public will be very receptive to this new concept rig. BTW, I don't work for Ray or Ryan and am not recieving compensation of any kind for any comments that I make, in fact they don't even know I'm writing this post. I'm just glad all the hard work, long hours and extensive R/D that I did is being carried on in a new form. I wish them success and prosperity with this endevour. Well done guys!!!!!!!!!1 Mick (former rig dude etc, blah blah blah.......you know the rest).

I'm glad I was able to help. Mick.

QuoteIn looking at the photo... I would be safe to say that this was made that way with something in the mold....... It should not cause you a problem unless it starts to crack..... and i can not see that happening figuring that this link is rated at xx amount of pounds..... and its not on the ends of the link.... thank you, Just to clarify, hardware isn't molded it's forged (a very different process from molding). Looking at the picture it's a Forgecraft MS 220401-1 (-1 = cadmimum plating) manufactured in August of 2001. As others have pointed out, the plating is covering the "pitt" indicating that the drop hammer may have had some imperfection on it as it struck the piece or the steel may have had an air pocket close to the surface. The forging process literally hammers out air bubbles and inperfections in the surface of the steel. As far as being a safety hazzard it just is'nt. The weakest part of the hardware is the sliding bar, it's only rated at 1000 lbs @ 90 deg to the load direction. The hardware is rated @ 2500 lbs for nomal installation. During normal deployment the hardware only recieves 50% of the load path during opening shock. It is far less than the rated load. Harnesses are traditionaly overbuilt to withstand many punishing scenarios they can be subject to. I hope this makes you feel more confident in you equipment. Mick.

Oh, how true !!!!!!!!!!!!! Mick.

Hang on to the ripcord, DON'T hang on to the throwout. That is the easiest way to tell the difference. A ripcord can be fitted to just about any main container including a Javilin with a few modifications. Mick.

As a follow on to this check the spring for rough spots or burrs. Also look for discoloration on the metal it could be a sign of acid/ corrosion contamination. And lastly check the swedges for the same. Mick.

Shhhhhhhhhhhh the INS might be listening in. No reciprocal agreements w/ other governments. You need to take the written exam a demonstrate to a DPRE you are the real deal.

Well, I tried to incorporate all the good bits, I think I succeeded. The Viper is a great concept, I worked on the early prototype as I was setting up the Trident shop for Ryan and Ray. BTW the original name for the Reflex back in 1995........... the Viper, ironic huh?. Bill, did you get the private message I sent you on this e mail system? Mick.

. For example if I remeber correctly Mick designed the Reflex with a ringed harness only, and then had to re-submit TSO paperwork to build non ringed Reflexs. This allows the FAA to CYA. Actually, when we TSO'd the Reflex we dropped two versions, one with rings and one without rings. Additionally we dropped one with the Catapult and one without it, a total of about 100 drops in all. That's twice the usual amount. We then undertook additional testing of the Catapult not required under TSO conditions. Mick.

As bad as it looks it appears that the core strands are still intact. Judging by the remaining intact stitch count there is about 140 lbs before failure (8 lbs x aprox 18 stitches = 144) so it's unlikely it would fail during deployment. That being said it's still not right to install it into a reserve in that condition. Hot searing the ends and back tacking the stitch pattern would prevent this from happening. Mick.

Um....... a clarification here. This is in regards to rec.skydiving not this forum. Mick.

Anyone out there know the trick to successfully setting up news group filters? I have followed the dialog boxes and created the file "mailfilt.log" but the senders on the block list still seem to be getting through. All I want to do is cut out all the extraneous un-skydiving related crap. Any help would be appreciated thanks. Mick.

I think think the hardware has some if not all complicity in this case. A bad batch of MS-22040's with sharp edges (due to not being tumbled long enough) is all it would take over a period of time. The hardware adjustment point is wrapped with a fabric/ velcro cover to protect and secure the junction, so if it were left on certain size setting for a long period with multple jumps on it it would go unnoticed. Why anyone didn't check the adjustor during the normal course of a gear student inspection prior to each jump is a mystery. Mick.

Reflex(s) of course. Mick.

It,s bullet proof, I own 3 (all 134's). We used it on the drop tests for the Reflex. The canopy survived the over speed/ over weight tests extremly well. Nice ride if you have to use it. Mick.

The hand deploy and pull out pilot chutes were developed to over come the increasing number of pilot chute hesitations due to the ever increasing size of the jumpsuits being used in the 70's. I used to jump a silly suit and then a Dar vader (you know, the ones with the plastic reinforcing ribs in the legs. When I got my first hand deploy rig (a Wonder hog fl 2 with a belly band)it took care of the hesitation problem I was experiencing with my old Guardian Hawk wedge container. Ah yes, I can still remember the plastic ripcord, the ol shot and a halfs, the 23' tri con that barley fit in to the reserve container and of course the old faithfull Strato Star. Total weight about 40 lbs. Oh, I had a jesus cord also. Mick.

pc: the reserve pilot chute fabric was rolled up tight, preventing the PC from launching It looked like it launched or did you pull it out? If it didn't launch was it a total? Looking at the photo it would still inflate if it got into the air stream. Mick.

Do you mean to say that 'pin against the back' style rigs such as the racer and reflex are at a disadvantage in this respect, and the same for rigs that position the Cypres cutter under the freebag instead of on top? On the Reflex the reserve pin and the CYPRES cutter ane only 1/4" apart so it's a moot point. Because the reserve pilot chute is externaly mounted it has no flaps to push past. It works well. I've never seen or heard of a total, or even a hesitation on a Reflex reserve pilot chute and I've seen one or two of those rigs. Mick.