FUNCTION
PREPARATION FOR USE
It is impossible for an aircrewman to select the
altitude at which an emergency may occur. By
using the automatic ripcord release, you can bring
the aircrewman down to a safe altitude before the
parachute opens.
When an aircrewman makes an emergency
ejection at an altitude above that for which the
ripcord release is set to open the parachute, the
following functions take place:
1. The arming pin is pulled. This pin locks the
ripcord release firing mechanism while installed.
When the arming pin is withdrawn, the assembly
fires at or below the preset altitude of the ripcord
release.
2. The sear and the aneroid mechanism lock
the ripcord release.
3. As the aircrewman free-falls, increasing air
pressure causes the aneroid to contract.
4. As the operating altitude is reached, the
aneroid contracts enough to remove the sear from
the firing hammer lock.
5. The hammer’s firing pin strikes the car-
tridge.
6. The time-delay cartridge fires (time de-
pending on the type of cartridge used) after the
hammer strikes.
7. The piston is forced forward in the barrel,
pulling the power cable, which is attached to the
parachute locking pins. (The power cable travels
3.75 inches.)
8. The locking pins are pulled, and the normal
parachute opening sequence begins.
When an aircrewman bails out below the
operating altitude of the automatic parachute
ripcord release, the hammer releases as soon as
the arming pin is pulled, and the following
functions take place:
1. The hammer’s firing pin strikes the car-
tridge.
2. The time-delay cartridge fires (time de-
pending on the type of cartridge used) after the
hammer strikes.
3. The piston is forced forward in the barrel,
pulling the power cable, which is attached to the
parachute locking pins.
4. The locking pins are pulled, and the normal
parachute opening sequence begins.
When you receive an automatic parachute
ripcord release from supply, there are some
preparations for you to make before placing it
into service. Upon removal of the ripcord release
from the shipping carton, the exterior parts of the
unit must be inspected for damage during shipping
and storage. An inspection should be made for
corrosion, dirt, dents, and cracks. If any damage
or discrepancy is found, a quality deficiency
report must be submitted, and a tag must be
affixed to the ripcord release stating that it is not
to be used. Remove this tag only after correction
has been made. Fired ripcord release assemblies
must not be reused.
All Model 7000 automatic parachute ripcord
release assemblies that fail any inspection points
must have a tag affixed stating the nature of the
defects.
NOTE: Refer to NAVAIR 11-100-1.1 for
the cartridge service life/total life. The
cartridge service life must not expire prior
to the next scheduled repack of the
parachute assembly.
WARNING
YOU SHOULD EXERCISE EXTREME
CAUTION WHEN HANDLING AUTO-
MATIC RIPCORD RELEASE AS-
SEMBLIES AFTER THE CARTRIDGE
HAS BEEN INSERTED IN THE BAR-
REL. DO NOT ALLOW EITHER END
OF THE COVER ASSEMBLY TO BE
POINTED TOWARD YOUR FACE
AS HIGH VELOCITY FLAME AND
SMOKE MAY BE PRODUCED IF THE
CARTRIDGE GOES OFF. ANOTHER
REASON FOR EXTREME CAUTION IS
THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE PIS-
TON OF THE RIPCORD RELEASE
MAY BECOME A PROJECTILE IF
THE CARTRIDGE ACCIDENTALLY
FIRES.
An automatic ripcord release in service must
be inspected each time its parachute assembly is
repacked. You must pay particular attention to
detail when working on a automatic ripcord
release. The importance of careful work must be
impressed upon personnel actually performing the
work, as well as those assigned to collateral duty
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