Packing ‘essential last chances’ one parachute at a time

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Frank Casciotta
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  While working at base supply more than 30 years ago, Ruby Riemann learned of a job opening in Fabrications and saw the chance to pursue her lifelong hobby of sewing as a career.

"I saw that posting and thought that's exactly what I want to do," said Riemann, now the lead maintainer at the Survival Equipment shop operated by CSC Applied Technologies on base.

She landed the job in Fabrications where she worked for a year mending flight suites, sewing on patches and making fabric repairs.

"Sewing is something I've enjoyed for a long time," said Riemann in her sweet, smooth, grandmotherly voice. "When I was a little girl my mother taught me to sew and we made our own clothes. Now I just make quilts."

While she had a passion for sewing, Riemann always thought the people who packed the parachutes for pilots had a fascinating job.

Eventually, she had the opportunity to join their ranks, and has spent the last 30 years ensuring pilots who have to eject from their aircraft make it safely back to earth.

"There is nothing more satisfying than having my hands on a piece of equipment that is used to save someone's life," said Riemann, a native of Enid, Okla.

Four of the 12 pilots that have ejected from Vance aircraft over the years used a parachute packed by Riemann since she's been a rigger here.

"The best part of my job is seeing those guys walk through the door to thank you after their parachute went off safely," said Riemann. "It is the best feeling you can ever have.

"One time the pilot brought me flowers and a nice bottle of wine, which I shared with the office," she said.

Riemann will spend about four hours packing and testing one of the $4,000 parachutes pilots use in the T-6A Texan II and the T-38 Talon, the aircraft used to train student pilots at Vance.

Each parachute-pack comes with an emergency locator, an automatic pyrotechnic opening device, an oxygen bottle, a signal light and signal mirror, said Riemann.

"We are the essential 'last chance,'" said Riemann. "The pilots depend on that parachute to bring them safely back to earth."

Working at Vance is literally a family affair for Riemann.

Her husband, Dennis Riemann is the T-6 maintenance manager and has worked at Vance for the past 46 years.

Her son Patrick Riemann, an aircraft mechanic, has been at Vance for four years.

When she retires from packing parachutes for the instructors and students at Vance, Riemann plans to devote her time to three important projects -- "grandmothering, gardening and sewing," she said.