Parachute service, FAA rigger training, and sales.
Full-service parachute loft alongside Skydive Orange in Central Virginia.

Full-service parachute loft alongside Skydive Orange in Central Virginia.
All the latest equipment and techniques to teach you real-world parachute packing and rigging from newbie packer to master rigger. Our on-site FAA Designated Parachute Rigger Examiner means you can graduate with your rating in hand. And you join the Rahlmo's Rigging support network once you've completed your instruction.
We have decades of experience and remain continuously in touch with industry associations, parachute manufacturers and other schools across the country. We're the place where other riggers come with questions. Rahlmo's Rigging raises the standard for equipment and rigging instruction in the region, the nation, and the world.
From the Parachute Industry Association: Inspecting your Main Canopy, used for the Rahlmo's Rigging (pdf)
DownloadRahlmo's Rigging provides Skydive Orange with a full-service rigging loft and skydiving pro shop. We're the regional training and FAA testing center for parachute riggers.
We've expanded the school to a dedicated building across the runway from Skydive Orange! The address is 19103 Constitution Highway (parking entrance from Rt. 20) with our sign out front. Or pilots arriving by air can taxi right up to the door!
AND IN OTHER NEWS:
We knew this was coming: Cypres now costs $100 more in the USA as of May.
Active duty U.S. Army, Air Force, and National Guard members can apply for tuition to take the complete FAA Senior Rigger Certification through Rahlmo's Rigging. See the US Army IgnitED and USAF COOL program website for details.
Save $5 on your reserve repack! If you pull your emergency handles when you present your rig in the loft for repack, we'll knock $5 off your bill. We're committed to your safety!
Help yourself to snacks and drinks just outside the loft! For all our skydiving friends and guests. (Donations welcome but not necessary.)
May I take the FAA rigger test if I have not taken the Rahlmo's Rigging training course?
Absolutely! We recommend a practice test at our facility. But if you feel ready, go for it! We also do pre-test "tune-up" courses tailored to your needs.
Do you offer discounts on new equipment?
Sure do! Talk to us directly for discounts on Vectors, staff discounts, military discounts, and special packages that include assembly. No matter what you pay or WHERE YOU BUY YOUR GEAR, we offer full support!
Can I get my gear packed quicker if I pay a "rush" charge?
No way! We don't charge "rush" (OK--except within two days of Skydive Orange's Big-O Boogie). We'll bend over backwards to get you back in the air when you need to be, no extra charge. But our normal turnaround is already between any two weekends.
Can I get personalized packing instruction and support?
Just about any time! Either one-on-one for an hourly rate or take our fun six-hour comprehensive Advanced Equipment-B Course, focusing on YOUR rig. (See the Course Schedule for dates.)
Do I have to take a full two-three weeks off work for your FAA senior rigger course?
You can go straight through if you like, sure. But we also schedule according to YOUR need and YOUR goals. Figure an average of 19 working days, including the exams. After the initial two consecutive days for the Advanced Equipment/Pre-Rigger Course, we'll work with your schedule, three weeks, three months or even more.
What if I already have my own rigging tools?
Bring 'em! We provide all tools for training and testing, and a complete rigger kit comes with the Senior Rigger, Back Rating course. But if you already have tools, we give you credit for what you don't need from us. We sell lots of unique ones.
What rigs do you use for the packing portion of the FAA rigger exam?
We have a wide variety of training and testing gear that includes most MARD systems, plus the most popular pilot emergency seat and back rigs.
What's the difference between the Advanced-B Equipment Course and the Pre-Rigger Course?
The two courses have a similar (but not exact) 2-3 hour opening but diverge after that. The six-hour Advanced-B course is for USPA A-license holders with their own gear and basic packing skills. It focuses on main parachutes, specifics of your rig, some packing coaching and tips, and a demonstration of how a reserve deploys.
The 12- hour (two-day) Pre-Rigger course focuses on those interested in becoming an FAA rigger. It includes the first official logged reserve pack job, introductory sewing, and other loft processes. Pre-Rigger is actually the first two days of the full FAA Senior Rigger Certification Course and required before enrollment in our full course.
Where does the name "Rahlmo" come from?
It's an abbreviation for "Rigging and Higher Level Maintenance Operations."
What's Up with These Rubber Bands?
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How Much Line to Leave Unstowed
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Follow Through: Pull Your Reserve After EVERY Cutaway
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How NOT to Pack Your Main Parachute
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When to Change Your Connector Links
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What Makes Your Rig Freefly Friendly
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All About Your Automatic Activation Device
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Equipment Maintenance by the Owner
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A Look Back: History of Equipment
(Parachutist 75th Anniversary Issue,
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A 2020 Reminiscence of a 1986 Skydive
(Parachutist, September, 2020)
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Difficulties with a Freefly Main Handle
(Parachutist, September, 2020)
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