Doc.-No.: 01/EHTD400
Equipment Handbook
Date: 01.03.2003
TD400
Revision:
Rev. date:
Page: 10 of 40
FIREBIRD, Am Tower 16, 54634 Bitburg
9. Assembly Instructions
Your new FIREBIRD reserve canopy must be assembled and packed into your parachute
system by an qualified person (FAA rigger). Before you begin, be sure the risers, tog-
gles, free bag, pilot chute, harness, container and other items are compatible with your
FIREBIRD reserve canopy.
10. Attaching to Risers
When assembling the canopy onto risers with reserve
links, it is important that the following directions be fol-
lowed precisely
.
The connector links supplied by FIREBIRD for use with
their reserve canopies are of the highest quality and care-
fully inspected and tested. It is important that no substitute
links be used. Other links may look similar, or even identi-
cal, to those supplied by FIREBIRD, but any substitute
could be considerably weaker than the original. (Original
MS 22002-2 tensile strenght: 3000 lbs)
If these directions are followed correctly, and only parts
supplied by FIREBIRD are used, these links will provide
excellent service.
1)
Remove all grease and dirt from links, using a solvent that will leave no residue. Tri-
chloreothlane or any electrical contact cleaner is recommended.
2)
Inspect the link carefully. Check for nicks, burrs or any sign of bending or stress.
3)
Safe the screws, don’t drop them. Slide one half of the L- link onto riser.
4)
Than slide on the secound half of the riser don’t rotate them! Check for linetwist!
4)
Perform a thorough line check at this point, making absolutely sure that the canopy is
straight. After the links are tightened with locking compound (LOCtite, Permanex or True-
lock), it will be very difficult to correct any errors.
5)
When you are sure the canopy is straight, unscrew the screws and put one drop of
locking compound on the threads. Immediately tighten them gently tight. Clean off any
excess thread lock with a clean, dry rag. Do not use water or solvents.
6)
Make a small match mark along the screw and the link. This mark will serve as an
easy method to check for tightness. If the match mark remains intact, then the screw is
still in place. If the upper and lower parts of the mark become mis-aligned, then the
screw has shifted. Should this happen, the link must be immediately disassembled,
cleaned and inspected. If no damage has occurred, the riser/link/line assembly may be
reattached according to steps 1 through 5.
