Assembling & Packing the Classic

Lay your Classic on a clean surface with the leading edge , (nose) facing the floor, and the trailing edge (tail) on the top. Locate the rear connector links. Fasten these to the rear risers. The outside line (goes to wingtip) should be on the outboard side of the link, and the center cell line should be on the inboard side of the link. No lines should cross each other.

The slider should already be on the lines, properly oriented. If you are not sure of this, have a rigger check it out. With the slider on correctly, thread the steering line through the slider D-ring (or grommet), then thread it through the steering ring on the rear riser, and tie off your toggloes securely on the lowest mark on the lower steering line.

Turn the parachute over so the leading edge (nose) is face up, and the front risers are facing up, with no twists in the rear lines. Locate the front connector links and fasten them to the front risers. The outside lines (go to the wingtips) must go to the outboard side of the link, and the center cell lines must go to the inboard side of the link. No lines should cross over any others.

Read the harness/container manufacturer's instructions and make sure you have complied with any unique requirements. We recommend you take your Classic outside in a breeze and inflate it at this point. Make sure you have "continuity": the lines are straight, with no twists or crossing of any kind. If in doubt, check with your rigger. When you are certain your canopy is mated to the harness correctly, use a wrench and carefully tighten the connector links. The barrel should thread snugly against the barrel stop, then tighten one quarter turn more DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN! Over tightening the connector links can strip the threads or crack the barrel. Inspect each link carefully for signs of damage which could reduce structural integrity.

Install your bag, bridle, and pilot chute, using the bridle attachment ring on the top of the center cell. Attach the risers to the harness/container in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Pull the slider down by the connector links. Using the packing tabs, flake the canopy and lay it on the left side. Be sure all the lines are taut. Fold the nose back on top of the canopy approximately 10 inches as shown. You can vary the amount of fold to tailor your openings. More than two folds may cause excessively long (sniveling) openings.

Grab the "B" line group at the top of the canopy and place it on top of the "A" line group. Be sure to keep tension on the line groups while packing to keep the lines straight.

Fold the "C" line group on top of the A & B groups. Keep tension on all lines.

Fold "D" line group on top of A/B/C groups, being sure to keep lines taut.

Split the tail of the canopy in the center as shown, so the right and left steering lines are on either side. Clear the wingtips on both sides. Leave them out for normal openings; fold them for slower openings on high speed jumps.

Set the deployment brake lines according to the manufacturer's instructions. (See figure 7 on page 23.) If you are jumping a canopy with deployment brake lanyards, bring them down through the slider D ring and then through the steering ring on your riser. Be sure this line does not wrap around any other line. Insert the toggle through the lanyard loop and stow the toggle on the riser. Stow excess steering line in a rubber band on the connector link.

Flakes the tail on either side so the center cell remains in the middle. Be sure to keep all steering lines taut. Pull the slider up to the skirt of the canopy until it rests against the stops.

Bring the center of the tail down so it is even with the bottom of the canopy. Cocoon the tail to bag width.

Grab the lines near the slider and make one stack as shown above, keeping the D rings and slider in the same relative position. The fold should be about 2/3rds of the length (mouth to grommet) of the bag.

Grab the top portion of the canopy and fold it over on top of the previous stack.

Insert the stacked canopy into the bag. Be sure the bridle is pulled snugly so that the ring on top of the canopy can be seen against the grommet at the top of the bag, and the area is free of any fabric.

Proceed packing according to the container manufacturer's instructions.

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