CONTAINER—An assembly that encloses
and protects the canopy, suspension lines, and
risers until the parachute is opened. Sometimes
called the pack assembly.
CONTAINER, HARDSHELL—A container
that has a rigid plastic or fiber body with cloth
end and side flaps, designed to withstand high
wind-blast conditions; for example, the NES-8B
parachute container and certain MBEU parachute
containers.
CONTRASTING COLOR—A color that
stands out from its background.
CONTROLLER DROGUE—A small para-
chute that is used to extract the stabilizer drogue
parachute.
CONVOLUTION—Used in this manual as
the protruding side or portion of a diaphragm.
CORE OVERLAP—During suspension line
manufacture, the insertion of an incoming core
yarn that runs parallel to a running out yarn,
which results in two core yarn ends protruding
through the casing a distance of about 2 to 6
inches. These ends are normally cut off during
final phase of parachute suspension line
manufacture.
CORDS, CLOSING—Made of type I nylon
cord approximately 18 inches in length. They are
used as an aid in the closing of the parachute
container.
CROSS BOX—A sewing pattern.
CROWN—A cloth panel used to cover the
peak of a vane-type pilot parachute. Also, the
portion of the main canopy surface near the peak.
CUSHION, SEAT—A square, cloth-covered
pad designed to provide comfort and equipped
with a slot to provide passage for the harness leg
straps.
CUTTER, PYROTECHNIC—A device that
is operated by an explosive charge and is used to
cut line or webbing, etc.; for example, a static line
cutter.
D-RING—A metal fitting shaped in the form
of the letter D; for example, a D-ring on a harness
connects to a chest-type parachute assembly by
means of snap fittings. Also, a slang term for the
ripcord handle.
DART—A short, tapered seam.
DELAYED RELEASE JUMP—A parachute
jump in which the wearer purposely does not open
the parachute immediately upon safely clearing
the aircraft.
DIAMETER—The greatest straight distance
across a circle. Specifically, the greatest distance
across a flat canopy, from skirt to skirt, measured
when the canopy is lying flat. Used to designate
the size of a flat canopy.
DIAMETER, NOMINAL—The diameter of
a circle that has the same surface area as a given
parachute canopy. This measurement is used to
allow comparison of all shapes (conical, spherical,
etc.) of parachute canopies.
DIAMETER, PROJECTED—The greatest
distance between opposite points on the skirt hem
when the canopy is inflated. The projected
diameter is approximately two-thirds the diameter
of a flat canopy.
DIP—A line or group of lines passing through
a group of lines. Also, a group of suspension lines
not in proper continuity. See also TWIST.
DISPOSITION—Instructions on what is to be
done with or to an item.
DOUBLE-W—A sewing pattern.
DROP TEST—The release of a parachute
assembly with a dummy load from an airplane,
tower, or ejection seat for testing purposes.
DRY LOCKER—A tower or compartment of
suitable height that will satisfactorily air fully
suspended parachutes.
EJECTION SEAT—An emergency escape
seat for propelling an occupant out and away
from the aircraft by means of an explosive charge
or rocket motor.
EJECTOR BOARD—A small, rectangular
board with rounded edges and a grommet in one
end used on MBEU parachutes. It serves as a firm
place for the pilot parachute to spring from during
opening.
AI-4
