Whats the difference between packing a military reserve and a sport reserve?
Q. I m a military rigger with an FAA certificate with plenty of experience packing military ram-air mains and reserves, but with little experience with civilian rigs. Is the reserve on civilian rigs packed the same way as a main? If not, what s the difference, and how can I learn to pack them? A. Matt LaChance, a rigger and regular contributor to this magazine, sums it up nicely: Follow the canopy manufacturer s instructions for flaking and folding the canopy. Then follow the rig manufacturer s instructions for placing the canopy in the deployment bag and completing the pack job. Faithfully following the manuals will enable you to pack a sport reserve legally and safely. But it takes most riggers considerable practice to develop the skills needed to make the finished job look good. (Your skill as a rigger will be judged mostly by the final appearance of your work. This is true for many technicians.) For that reason, it makes sense to work with an experienced sport rigger who can show y
