Top gates, Top caps...?????

[guest]

I saw in the recent issue of "Skydiving" an invention that looks effective for reducing center cell stripping. It is the top cap, the top gate, and the canopy gate. I was wondering how the test results are going for these items, and, if well, when can I get them installed on my canopy??? Looks like the top gate or canopy gate would be my choice, but well see about the test results and what the rigger endorses. Top cap looks too much like a deployment bag.

[guest]

read the article again carefully please.

top cap,(canopy condom), = a spandex "sleeve" that rolls down over a portion of the packed canopy prior to placing it in the container.

canopy gate = two pieces of 1" tape sewn to the top of the non load-bearing rib of the center cell, (similar to two long packing tabs). these tapes are brought to the nose of the canopy and rubber banded together, ala the tail gate, prior to placing the canopy in the container.

top gate = ???????

canopy gate = see the BR web page.

to the best of my knowledge little test jumping has been done on either design. i have used the top cap and have seen 1 jump using the canopy gate. both jumps were succesful.

Both designs were developed by Moe Villeto of Tailored For Survival.
Further inquiries should be addressed to him if you'd like accurate info.

kleggo

[guest]

Thanks for the response Kleggo. But, it wasn't what I was looking for. I understand what these two things were and I did reread the article several times. Unless you got a differnt January issue of skydiving then I did,please take a look yourself. The "top gate" IS referred to five times in the article, while the canopy gate is once or twice. Yes I also looked at BR's web page. Tail gate seems great, BUT, it is for controlling the Center C and D LINES and the brake LINES during inflation. The "top gate" and "top cap" is for controlling the high points on the CANOPY during extraction, to prevent center cell stripping which has nothing to do with the brake lines. To me, these are different ideas, correct me again if I am wrong. I was hoping Moe would respond to this, seeing as he is doing the testing. Any other responses would be nice, maybe from BR about the difference of "Tail gate" vs "canopy gate".

[guest]

Merlin,

Canopy gate and top gate are one and the same. There was a typo in the editing process, that's all: Either Mr. Viletto called it both names in his press release or interview (and the editors didn't notice), or the editors themselves interchanged the terms.

That's all.

[guest]

it is extremely unlikely that moe will respond in this forum.
if you'd like to speak with him, you will most likely have to call or visit him.

kleggo

[guest]

Hello Merlin,

Moe Viletto is a gadget guy, I mean if you go camping with him he's got every gimmick and device REI ever invented. What he doesn't have is a computer, or any interest in them. We have talked about setting him up a web site, but Moe would rather spend time his time at the sewing machine. So you probably won't hear from him, via e-mail anyway.

Moe's shop is right next to ours, but he keeps to himself much of the time. I've never seen the devices you mentioned, except like you did, in "Skydiving." (Although, now I know what all that whispering between him and Todd was all about) :-)

As you may know, we control center cell stripping using the Multi, and we are very happy with the way it works. Moe is approaching the same problem from another angle.

I'll also say Moe is one of the most innovative riggers around and anything he comes up with is always worth a second look. From what I understand Moe's Top Gate is similar to our Tail Gate only in the way it works, but they serve two different purposes.


Our Tail Gate is used on the control lines to prevent line-overs. It does so by controlling these lines right up to the point of bottom surface inflation. Also, because the person packing the canopy must physically take the control lines and place them into the Tail Gate, it forces them to use extra care in this area.

And, after the Tail Gate is closed, the lines are in control during the folding and placement of the canopy into the container thus keeping them from shifting around.

When developing the Multi, we looked at other ways of preventing center cell stripping and something like the canopy gate did come into our minds. (It's sort of obvious, the problem is keeping the bundle together until completion of line stretch, so the answer is put something around the bundle to hold it together), Da!

However, there are too many of us Old Timers here (Old Timer = Someone who has lived long enough to escape their own, and everyone else’s ignorance) who were skydiving during the days of the "free pack strap." We got the screaming willies at the idea of actually putting something around the canopy itself so that idea didn't go any further.

However, Moe is also aware of these past problems and may have found a failsafe way around them, or maybe not. In any case my comparing Moe's new gadget to the Free Pack Strap may be a bit unfair, but all I know is what I know. And like I said, we've never seen any of this new stuff.

Shoot me an email and I'll give you Moe's phone number. He has the answers you're looking for.

Nick_BR