RADIAL SEAM
A seam joining
two gores which extends in a
radial direction from the vent to the
skirt hem.
RAM-AIR PARACHUTE
Generally, a rectangular, double surface
canopy with airfoil shaped ribs
inflated by the air flowing into the
front openings to produce an airfoil
shape.
RATE OF DESCENT
The
vertical velocity, in feet per second,
of a fully-opened parachute.
RATING
A statement that, as a
part of a certificate, sets forth special
conditions, privileges, or limitations.
RAVEL (UNRAVEL)
To separate,
untwist, or unwind, leaving a
frayed or ragged edge. “Unravel” is
often used with the same meaning,
although grammatically incorrect.
RAW EDGE
The unfinished
edge of the material; liable to raveling.
REEFING
A temporary restriction
of the skirt of a parachute to a
diameter less than the fully inflated
diameter. Reefing is used to decrease
drag area, and/or to obtain stability.
REINFORCEMENTS
Commonly strong tape or webbing
used to strengthen parts of the
canopy, container, or harness.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY
Ratio of the amount of water vapor
present in the air to that which the air
would hold at saturation at the same
temperature.
RELEASE, BAROMETRIC
PRESSURE
A device of the
automatic opening of a free-fall parachute
operating on the differences of
barometric pressure.
RELEASE, RISER
A canopy
release.
REPACK CYCLE
The time
that a certificated parachute is considered
to be airworthy before being
inspected and repacked. The current
U.S. repack cycle is 120 days.
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RESERVE PARACHUTE
The second or “auxiliary” parachute worn by a person making a premeditated jump.
RESERVE STATIC LINE
(RSL)
A backup device for activating
the reserve after a cutaway.
Usually a line, webbing or cable,
which connects the main risers with
the ripcord handle, housing, or cable.
RESTITCHING
The process
of sewing directly over base or broken
stitching.
RETAINER BAND
A rubber
band used to hold folded suspension
lines or static lines to the parachute
pack.
RIGGER ROLL
To prepare
an unpacked parachute for storage by
rolling the canopy into a ball with the
suspension lines around i
RIGGING, PARACHUTE
The process of inspecting, repairing,
and replacing minor parts of a parachute
assembly, and of repacking the parachute so that it is ready for immediate
use. Parachute rigging also
includes fitting and adjusting the harness.
RIG
To pack. A set of sport parachute
equipment. To assemble a parachute.
RING, V
Used in conjunction
with snaps to fasten the harness
around the wearer. Larger than the
newer triangle ring.
RIPCORD CABLE
A flexible
metal cable 3/32" diameter made of
49 strands of stainless steel wire. The
cable runs from the ripcord grip to the
locking pins. It is housed in a flexible,
protective tube.
RIPCORD HOUSING
CLAMP
A metal clamp located
on the outside of the end flap of back
and seat-type parachutes. The clamp
secures the ripcord cable and power
cable of the actuator. |
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RIPCORD HOUSING
A
flexible tubing in which the ripcord is
installed for protection and to provide
a free path for the ripcord.
RIPCORD PIN,
LOCKING
A small metal
prong, slightly smaller in diameter
than the ripcord cable and fastened to
it by means of a swage fitting or serving
and solder. One pin is attached to
the end of the cable and the others
(when two or more are used) are set at
intervals on the cable. The spacing of
the pins is dependant on the distance
between the cones on the container
flap. The locking pins pass through
the locking cones of the flaps and thus
serve to lock the container until such
time as the pins are withdrawn.
RIPCORD
A locking device
which secures the pack in a closed
condition and by which the release of
the parachute is effected. It may consist
of a handle, cable, locking pins
and a cable swage. RIPSTOP NYLON
Nylon
fabric woven in intermittent box form
with additional closely-picked yarns.
RIPSTOP TAPE
Ripstop
nylon fabric with a pressure sensitive
adhesive. Used to repair small tears in
canopies.
RISER
That portion of the suspension
system between the lower
end of a group of suspension lines
and the point of attachment to the
load.
ROLL PACKING
A method
of packing a ram-air parachute
whereby the nose and the tail are
rolled towards the center of the
canopy.
ROUTINE INSPECTION
A
visual inspection of all parts of a
packed parachute which may be
checked without opening the parachute. |
