The rig consists of 4 parts:
- Harness and container system
- Main canopy (parachute)
- Reserve canopy
- AAD.
Description
Harness
A set of very strong webbing that secures the container (housing the canopies) to the jumper, like a backpack. The harness has 3 core straps aached (2 leg straps and a chest strap), and features the 3-ring release system, RSL (optional), cut-away and reserve handles.
Container
The main and reserve canopies are kept in 2 separate compartments of the container on the back. Also inside the container is your Automac Acvaon Device (AAD), typically CYPRES (brand) or Vigil (brand). The main canopy, when packed, is located under the main flap and retained with the closing loop and pin. The reserve parachute is similarly arranged. At the boom of the container your pilot chute is stored and packed, which when thrown into the airflow during deployment extracts the pin from the closing loop then extracts the main parachute.
Main Canopy
The main canopy is stowed in the lower part of the container, and its risers are attached by a 3-ring release system to the harness at the shoulders. All student canopies have 9 cells, which inflate once the canopy is extracted on deployment and exposed to the airflow.
Reserve Canopy
The reserve canopy is stowed in the upper part of the container and is permanently attached to the harness.
AAD (Automatic activation device)
An AAD initiates the reserve deployment sequence at a pre-set altitude (also sometimes used on the main parachute system).