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I just looked at a new FLIK being packed, I noticed that the brake lines are just looped through the attatchment, and not larks headed, like the other lines.
Im no rigger but I understand that the larks head provides a much stronger attatchment than just looping it. And the control lines do take a strain on opening.
So I was wondering why they do it this way?

Do you mean the attachment to the canopy (i.e. at the line attachment point)? As opposed to the attachment to the toggle? Or the line cascade?

Can you clarify? I'd be curious to hear the reasoning on this, too.

Thanks,

I want to hear anything about the Flik. I heard about the 5th brakeline and it has a better glide than a Fox. Is more glide always better?! I like the idea of a stronger flare, who doesn't. I guess what I want to hear is a comparison. Do the flight and landing characteristics between a Flik and a Fox differ as much as a Stiletto to a Sabre. Or is it more like comparing a Sabre to a Sabre2. I love both my Fox canopies. But as we speak my new Vertex is being build and I don't know which canopy to put in it. How I hate these kind of decisions.

I think that very few people who are not either sponsored or employed by BR have put more than a handful of jumps on the Flik. The canopy is awfully new. You may have to wait a while for a consensus to emerge.

That said, initial reports are good, and the canopy is trickling out to the general public.

The attatchment to the Canopy. Sorry, the attatchment to the toggle doesnt usually use a larkshead, (Just found out that word today).
The Owner of the canopy called the company and they said "dont worry"
I'm sure its not a problem at all, but when I noticed it, a person that works for a canopy manufacturer saw it also and was curious also as why they did that.
Then I talked to someone that tested attatchments, and the result is, "when pull tested the larkshead attatchment holds a lot more force", But Im not a rigger or manufacturer, and I dont know how much force brake lines sustain (If any). Im just wondering why they do it this way.
Just a question, not trying to start anything, Im just wondering, nothing more nothing less.

I'm pretty sure it's quite a lot of force.

I've seen brake lines blow at the brake setting and at the toggle stub (pin) on opening.

I'll definitely ask around and see what I can find out about the line attachments.

Very true that a lark's head is stronger than just looping the line through the attachment and fingertrapping. The lark's head tightens under pressure. "Gripping" the attachment loop, if you will, and spreading the forcees out over more of the line. I'm not sure why the manufacturer chose to attach the line with a loop. The loop would allow the suspension line and attachment point more freedom to move - more of a joint than a connection.

So anyone hear anyhing yet? Im still curious about it.

I just sent an email to BR, referencing this thread and asking them to respond. Hopefully, we'll hear back from them in the next week or so.

If not, I'll try to pin down some other folks who might have an idea why you'd want to do it that way.

Hello Everyone! Thanks to Tom Aiello for bringing this thread to our attention. We normally don't look at Dropzone.com.

The FLiK and the FOX both have the same control line attachments at the tail, except the FOX has four per side and the FLiK has five per side. If you look at any of our parachutes, you will find that the control lines have always been looped onto the attachment points at the tail, which is different than the ABCD line attachments which are larksheaded on. This is also true for the majority of the industry including Precision, PD, etc.

Funny that people would notice this only now...this has been our standard for nearly ten years! Good question, though, and certainly worthy of an answer!

Be safe guys...the carrion man is working overtime.

Peace,
Karen Thomas
BR

Just had a look at my Blackjack and my Stiletto. Both match the BR style (larkshead on non-control lines, loops on control lines).

Thanks Karen!

Weird, I looked at a bunch of stilletto's and Velocity's and they all have larkshead's. Still wondering why this is done though.
After talking with someone that know's a lot about canopies, I was told that with the dacron lines base canopies use it really isnt a problem, but if spectra is used it will actually cut through the tape in time.

Anyone know the reasoning for using a loop instead of a larkshead? We now know that it will work fine, but if the larkshead is stronger why not use it?

Just curious.

How old were they? My Stiletto was manufactured pre-Velocity. I wonder if PD changed their design. My control lines are looped, but the rest of the lines are larksheaded.


Me too. Maybe we ought to start a thread in gear and rigging, and see if someone knows why it's done in general.

I've posted this question to the Gear and Rigging Forum, in this thread.

Doh why didn't I think of that? Thankyou