Hi folks,
I purchased a Strong seat-pack parachute--originally for flight testing but am now getting more seriously into aerobatics. It is a relatively narrow design marketed specifically for RV 4's and 8's. To be perfectly honest, I would probably wear the thing all the time except that it is not very comfortable.
There are a couple of issues: first, the shoulder straps kind of interfere with my seat shoulder straps. I can work around that but when you are inverted, really tight shoulder straps are a must. I can never decide if I should strap over parachute straps, inside them or outside them. Anyone got a good answer for this?
More importantly, the seat is pretty hard. Okay for a 40 minute aerobatic hop but I think it would be agonizing over a longer flight. Since my last re-pack, it is a little more lumpy yet. I was thinking about some sort of pad over it. Is that kosher? It already boosts me a little higher than the regular cushion so I would not want a lot of lift.
Are there seat pack parachutes that are a little more narrow or softer in design? Better ways to pad them? I have read posts where people talk about sheepskin liners, etc. So what is the answer, how do I make this more comfortable?
I purchased a Strong seat-pack parachute--originally for flight testing but am now getting more seriously into aerobatics. It is a relatively narrow design marketed specifically for RV 4's and 8's. To be perfectly honest, I would probably wear the thing all the time except that it is not very comfortable.
There are a couple of issues: first, the shoulder straps kind of interfere with my seat shoulder straps. I can work around that but when you are inverted, really tight shoulder straps are a must. I can never decide if I should strap over parachute straps, inside them or outside them. Anyone got a good answer for this?
More importantly, the seat is pretty hard. Okay for a 40 minute aerobatic hop but I think it would be agonizing over a longer flight. Since my last re-pack, it is a little more lumpy yet. I was thinking about some sort of pad over it. Is that kosher? It already boosts me a little higher than the regular cushion so I would not want a lot of lift.
Are there seat pack parachutes that are a little more narrow or softer in design? Better ways to pad them? I have read posts where people talk about sheepskin liners, etc. So what is the answer, how do I make this more comfortable?