Strong Enterprises 311 Wedge, Owner'S Manual

Page 1: ...shion www strongparachutes com Owner s Manual For packing and maintenance of Para Cushion Model 311 Wedge Part number 124180 with Diaper equipped 26ft Mid Lite Canopy Part number 420550 Revision E March 2021 Manual P N 510059 US Patent 3 908 937 ...

Page 2: ...ur parachutes you are assuming a considerable risk of personal injury or death If you are not willing to assume that risk please return the parachute to the dealer where it was purchased for a full refund DISCLAIMER There are NO WARRANTIES which extend beyond the description of the parachutes in this manual and neither the seller nor any agent of the seller has made any affirmation of fact or prom...

Page 3: ...te 7 1 14 How to Steer 8 1 15 Landing and Recovery 8 1 16 Reporting of Equipment Improvement Recommendations 8 2 304 Model Description 9 2 1 Parts List 10 3 Required Packing Tools 11 4 Prepare Parachute for Packing 12 5 Pre Packing Inspection 12 6 Packing the 311 Emergency Parachute System 13 6 1 Pleat and Long Fold 13 6 2 Securing the Diaper 15 6 3 Risers Placement and First Line Stows 17 6 4 Exc...

Page 4: ...erson clothes and equipment including parachute at up to 150 knots IAS 1 4 Parachute Repack Interval Your Para Cushion 311 Wedge is is designed for a 365 day repack cycle Your countries laws may dictate a stricter schedule check your local regulations The Para Cushion 311 Wedge must be packed by an FAA certificated parachute rigger or foreign equivalent with an appropriate rating or returned to St...

Page 5: ... to the manufacturer for airing drying inspection and repack FAA FAR 65 129 requires that no parachute be packed maintained or altered in any manner that deviates from procedures approved by the manufacturer The parachute should be left unopened inside its protective container until ready for use When you take your Para Cushion to your rigger for servicing they will be glad to allow you to pull th...

Page 6: ...arms through the main lift web the vertical straps in front much like putting on a jacket Next reach between your legs pick up each leg strap untwist them if necessary and snap them in place on each side of the lower portion of the main lift webs Lean forward pull the leg straps below your hips and tighten them snugly yet comfortably around your thighs Finally snap and adjust the chest strap Fold ...

Page 7: ...y inflate it dragging you out or into the tail Also it may entangle with the aircraft There are no other rules the aircraft may be tumbling spinning or inverted Simply get yourself out any way you can Clear the aircraft and pull your ripcord immediately There is enough oxygen to breath and you ll be descending into denser air 1 13 How to Open Your Parachute The ripcord handle is located near the c...

Page 8: ...he ground to spill some air and then run around the canopy to collapse it In most cases you can maneuver the canopy as necessary to avoid as many obstacles as possible In the event of a tree or power line landing keep your feet together so you don t straddle a limb or wire Be prepared to slide through and hit the ground afterwards You should be able to avoid power lines but if not throw away the r...

Page 9: ...cifically for aircrafts where the head room is at minimum and the back rest is at straight upright angle with the seat bottom such as Pitts SI Pitts Model 12 Christen Eagle RV 4 RV 6 Harmon Rocket FI Rocket and many others The harness is fully adjustable in the main lift webs vertical straps as well as in the pilot s lumbar area to ensure proper fit and support The back cushion utilizes Confor Foa...

Page 10: ...ongparachutes com Harness and Container Assembly 124180 2 1 Parts List 26 foot Mid Lite 420550 Ripcord Assembly 611366 Pilot Chute Lil Grabber 790120 Locking Loop 861043 white with Mid Lite Carrying Bag 816006 Owner s Manual 510079 Cap for Pilot Chute 799030 ...

Page 11: ...ongparachutes com 3 Required Packing Tools A Shot Bags at least 4 B Line Separator 1 ea C Pilot Chute Locking Rod 1 ea D Pilot Chute Locking Strap 1 ea E T handles 3 ea F Pull Up Cords 3 ea G Tension Plate 1 ea H Tension Hook 1 ea I Fid 1 ea A B C D E F G H I ...

Page 12: ... prior to packing Inspect the entire assembly for any damage Inspect pilot chute and bridle Check that the Larks head knot on the pilot chute is secure Inspect Apex area Check over entire canopy for damage Inspect lines for damage Check line sequence and control lines Perform a complete suspension line continuity check Check the barrels on 6 rapide link for cracks Check that links are tight Inspec...

Page 13: ... 1 1 Lay the harness container and canopy down on the table with the wearer facing down Inspect entire assembly for completeness and any damage Check line sequence and 4 line release system Flake canopy and pleat in the normal manner with an equal number of gores to each side 6 1 2 Fold the skirt up 90º on each side parallel to the radial seams ...

Page 14: ...trongparachutes com 6 1 3 Fold the canopy into thirds by bringing the sides up to the middle First right side and then left 6 1 4 Long fold the canopy into fifths long and tight bringing the right side just past center then folding the left side over center ...

Page 15: ...arachutes com 6 2 Securing the Diaper 6 2 1 Spread diaper out flat Bring lines on the LEFT HAND GROUP ONLY loosely up over skirt WARNING DO NOT tuck the lines inside the folded canopy Tucking the lines in the canopy can cause serious burns to the canopy and lines ...

Page 16: ...nly the left line group of lines inside the diaper Otherwise the purpose of the diaper will be defeated allowing it to release before all lines are unstowed 6 2 3 Continue to secure the diaper by bringing remaining rubber bands through their respective grommets and locking in place with 1 1 2 inch bights of line from left line group Note If using shorter 1 1 4 inch rubber bands a single wrap is su...

Page 17: ...ner angling them slightly towards the center The first stow on both sides should be made using the rubber bands just above the links Use a 1 1 2 inch bight of line for these first stows 6 3 2 There will be approximately 16 inches of excess line from the right line group due to the diaper stows Bring this excess into the container so that the lines from the canopy to the container are even 6 3 Rise...

Page 18: ...the first stow 6 4 2 Stow the excess line from the right line group on the right side of the container in the inner most rubber band closest to the top of the container Make sure to route the lines from the left to the right of the container under any flaps Do not route the lines over the flaps Note When the 3 stow diaper is used this bight may be doubled back on itself before being placed in the ...

Page 19: ...t stow will be in the outer most left side rubber band closest to the top of the container All line stows should be made using 1 1 2 inch bights of suspension line 6 5 2 Continue stowing lines working from the outside to the inside of the container until a total of five stows are on the left side of the container ...

Page 20: ...should be the second rubber band on the right side closest to the top of the container Make sure that the lines run under the protection flaps and none are routed over the flaps 6 5 4 Stow lines on the rights side of the container in the same manner as the left working from the inside to the outside of the container The last stow should be in the lower right corner of the pack about 8 16 from the ...

Page 21: ...e canopy across the bottom of the container from right to left 6 7 Packing the Canopy 6 7 1 The canopy is stowed on edge and not flat Bring the canopy up the left side until even with the top of the protector flap The canopy is then routed back to the skirt and across the bottom of the container from left to right This fold is between the skirt and the bottom most grommet Even with Protector Flap ...

Page 22: ...e to the skirt and back up the right side of the container Each fold should be to the inside of previous fold 6 7 3 Make a short 90 fold to outer edge of the right side of container This will help to smooth out the end of previous fold Then bring the canopy across the container from right to left and back Make sure this fold is completely in between the top and middle grommets Even with Protector ...

Page 23: ... protector flaps up so that they are between the grommets and any canopy fabric This keeps the canopy away from the closing loops and helps keep the canopy in place while closing 6 8 1 Stand the pilot chute upright on the locking rod While compressing pilot chute neatly and symmetrically tuck the pilot chute s cloth and mesh in between the coils of the spring Continue until the pilot chute is full...

Page 24: ...ts on the left side flap 6 9 2 Pass a pull up cord through the closing loop attached to the top flap and then pass the ends of the pull up cord through the T handle Next pass a pull up cord through each of the closing loops in pilot chute cap and center the pilot chute between the two lower grommets Pass the ends of pull up cords through slots in T handles Make short S folds with the pilot chute b...

Page 25: ...s manual Para Cushion www strongparachutes com 6 9 3 Holding pilot chute in position with one hand and with the other hand under pack turn the pack over 6 9 4 Draw pull up cords through grommets by removing T handles from the pack ...

Page 26: ...atly and seal the bottom pin Complete the data card and your rigger s logbook Close the back pad by mating the Velcro Turn rig over and remove pilot chute locking rod and strap Use a fid to tuck the excess pilot chute fabric under the rim of the cap The pilot chute should be centered on the back and sunk down below the sides of the pack Be sure the ripcord handle is secure in its pocket WARNING Co...

Page 27: ...nything more replace PILOT CHUTE CAP Replace when Spandura fabric becomes worn LOCKING Replace one time per year Length for Para Cushion Model 311 Wedge locking loop is 10 inches tolerance 0 1 4 inch Replace if out of tolerance or worn BRIDLE Damaged bridles should be replaced CONTAINER Standard military single side patches or replacement of the damaged area is authorized HARNESS Any portion of th...

Page 28: ...g Install a new locking loop by hand tacking the Type 4 tape to the pilot chute top do not hand tack the canopy of the pilot chute followed by a good surgeon s knot Position new loop so that the Type 4 is between loop and pilot chute Note Pilot chute loop must be placed as close to dead center as possible Being off even a couple of degrees may cause the pilot chute to sit improperly on the packed ...

Page 29: ...and where your other hole should go 8 4 Once the holes are cut install the new cap over the loop by aligning the loop ends with the holes in the Spandura cap and pulling the loop through the holes with your hand tack needle Hand tack the new cap in place at 90º angle to the loop Note Be careful not to catch the pilot chute canopy cloth below the stitch line at the top of the pilot chute Doing so m...

Page 30: ...ine through the grommet and secure with an overhand knot If the steering line is thin as in the Mid Lite or Lite a second figure 8 may be necessary to fill up the grommet hole 9 3 Mate the Velcro to secure the toggle to the riser 9 4 For original Para Cushions old style that utilize a metal ring instead of cloth toggles route the steering lines through the guide ring on each riser Zig zag stitch a...

Page 31: ...31 Strong Enterprises owner s manual Para Cushion www strongparachutes com ...

Page 32: ... of high winds water or tree landing Quick Ejector Snaps PN 099113 3 each or PN 099112 2 each Military Style hardware replaces B 12 snaps Allows you to lift the gate and eject the hardware instead of reaching under and lifting Custom Monogram PN 099105 We can monogram your name N number Company Name Nose Art or anything you can imagine Space provided 6 X 2 5 Lumbar Support Pad PN 812135 A rounded ...