Hang Gliding - FAQ - What's needed?
Most pilots can manage to kick the stirrup of a harness out of reach, when they try to get the first foot into the stirrup. This causes anything from low comedy to high tragedy, especially if the pilot forgets to fly the glider while kicking for the stirrup. Trust me, you can fly without a stirrup (you do it every time you land), and you MUST. Comfort is optional.
A Stirrup Step is a loop of rope that hangs down about a foot below the stirrup, as wide as the stirrup. It should be covered with a flexible tubing, to prevent tangling. The tubing should be all in one piece, not in segments that can get tangled around anything.
In normal use, when you try to kick into the stirrup, you might miss the stirrup, but you will almost always catch the Step. Use that foot with the Step to pull the stirrup out straight behind you and hold it there; the other foot will then be able to get the stirrup, every time. You might get the distinct impression you are climbing a rope ladder into the stirrup, and that's about right.
Materials: just as with any Stirrup, white Nylon rope with clear flexible tubing is a class act; old Purlon with garden hose covering says you are poor, but resourceful.
If you don't have one already, for a knee-hanger, proceed as follows:
Run a separate rope through the foot-rest bar. Cover this new rope with a separate length of flexible tubing, long enough to make a U-shaped loop that hangs about the length of one shoe below the foot-rest bar. This flexible tubing should not enter the foot-rest bar, or it may not pivot freely. Knot the two ends of this rope into a loop, with only a bit of slack. Stuff the knot into the foot-rest bar, for neatness. The Stirrup Step should now hang one foot below the foot-rest bar, almost completely covered by the flexible tubing, and swing freely.
If you don't have one already, for a cocoon, proceed as follows:
When you put both feet in the stirrup of a cocoon in the flying position, the Step should start about where each heel hits the stirrup. If there is Nylon strapping reinforcement near there, then that is a good spot to start.
Put a piece of wood inside the harness where you want to make a hole for your Step. Gently, poke a pointy Phillips (#1) screwdriver from outside the harness into the wood. Twist and wiggle the screwdriver against the wood until it penetrates the fabric. You are separating the fibers of the material, not cutting a hole. When the screwdriver goes through, trade the screwdriver for a pencil and continue to enlarge the hole until you can pass a pencil-sized rope through the hole. Use a hot soldering iron or blade to cut and melt the ends of the rope and make them pointy. Make the rope long enough to form a loop that hangs about a foot below the end of the stirrup. Pass one end of the rope through the hole, into the harness. Put a large fender washer on the rope inside the harness and tie a large knot. The fender washer prevents the rope from pulling through the harness. Make sure that the knot will not pull through the hole in the fender washer. The tubing you use will need to be almost as long as the rope. Put the tubing over the rope, outside the harness. Use the screwdriver and pencil to make a hole in the harness on the opposite side of the stirrup, at the other heel location. Pass the other end of the rope into the new harness hole. Take out most of the slack, so that only about an inch or two of rope is not covered by the tubing.<--This is important! On the inside of the harness, put a fender washer on the rope and make a large knot, like you did on the other side of the stirrup. You should end up with a Stirrup Step that hangs about a foot below the end of the stirrup. You can put a fair amount of stress on it, without damage to the stirrup. The flexible tubing keeps the Step from tangling. If you view these pictures, just click the Back button on your browser to return here. Pix:
If you decide to move the Step later for some reason, just remove the rope. Hold the harness material with one hand on each side of the hole. Work the harness material between your hands, and the hole will almost vanish.
If you do not want the Step hanging below your feet while you fly (all that drag!), just bend both knees quickly to put your heels over your butt, then relax into normal flying position. The Step will swing up over your feet, and stay on the backs of your legs.
May you never need your parachute! This next part is disaster preparedness. Unless your approach to problems is (MORE)
