APCO Aviation HIKE, Manual, Page: 9 / 13

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12 Accessories
We recommend that you always fly with the following accessories in or on your harness:
•
Reserve parachute
•
Hook knife
•
Helmet
•
Radio
•
Flight Instrument & Live Tracker
•
First aid kit, torch & and self rescue equipment
13 Fitting & Adjusting your Hike
This is best done by hanging the harness in a simulator or in a similar safe manor.
The Hike Harness does not have buckles on the leg straps, and must be warn like putting
on pants. It is also possible to put it on without opening the chest strap, which is especially
convenient if you have a reserve mounted on the chest strap. This adds safety to the
harness, in that it is impossible to forget to close your leg straps before take-off.
Putting on the Harness
Hold the harness by the shoulder straps and step over/into the harness, one leg at a time,
taking care to put each leg correctly into each leg loop. Next raise the shoulder straps onto
your shoulders and pass your arms out to the sides elbows first. If the chest strap buckle
is open, close it now. Do a check to ensure it is on correctly.
Shoulder Strap Adjusters
These ensure that the harness is suspended at a comfortable height on the ground and
during take-off. Put the harness on and tighten the straps to raise the harness so that the
leg straps are close to your crotch. One should be able to stand up straight comfortably
once adjusted, without feeling discomfort on the shoulder or leg straps.
Lumbar Adjustment
The Hike harness has two settings for back angle. One slightly more reclined that the
upright setting. This adjustment can only be done on the ground prior to flight, and is best
done in a simulator. There are two loops on each lateral strap, and the adjustment is made
by changing the loops used on the flight maillons.
All Hike Harnesses shipped after October 2018 have a webbing retaining loop for the
lateral hook-in loops. This retainer loop simply holds the karabiner or maillon in position so
that it does not rotate. This is not a safety concern, but helps to keep things tidy. For
harnesses shipped before October 2018, we recommend using a rubber O-Ring on the
maillon or karabiner to hold the lateral loops in place (see image in assembly section on
Page 5).
Chest Strap
If open, close the chest strap buckle immediately after putting the harness on. Note that it
is possible to put the harness on with this buckle closed (recommended), reducing the risk
of accidentally taking off with it open. The chest strap buckle is closed by passing the male
side through the female side, and adjusted narrower by pulling the black tab on the free
end of the chest trap to the right, and released (wider), by pulling the coloured tab
attached to the male side of the buckle to the left. It is recommended to fly with the chest
strap adjusted to the width that your wing manufacturer recommends (usually 42cm