I know I have posted a few lately but . . .

[sdgregory 0]

Here's another q.

I am trying to figure out whether I should by a used reserve PD-160 listed in the classifieds.

I just bought a Pilot 210 and I am getting ready to order my Mirage G3. I am looking at either M5 or M6.

It looks like the M5 will fit the Pilot 210 but I guess the Pilot is so new that they have not placed it on their list.

If I go with an M6 - can I safely place a PD 160 in it? It says it fits a 193. Or should I go with th M5 which seems to be a tight fit based on other 210's?

Thanks folks for being patient with me and my series of Questions. This is my first custom setup and I want to be safe while getting what I want.

[skybytch 273]

If you're jumping a 210 main, why do you want a 160 reserve?

[sdgregory 0]

Thanks for pointing out something I should have thought about already.

Would a 193 be okay? Or should I go with something 200 ish?

Also, what other reserves would you recommend?

[PhreeZone 20]

A PD160R will not fit in an M6. Even a 176R will be really loose and probally not recommended. Mirage tends to be pretty good about canopy sizing on their website.

And I'll second the question from Lisa, why a 160R? I'm estimating thats abouta 1.4 loading for you. Big jump to have to go from the Pilot to the reserve at about 1000 feet when you are out and never flewn something that small before. I've seen 2 people get hurt with that same thinking.


Other reserves to look at are the PD193R, The RavenMAX and the Smart. All are in 190-210 sized.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[sdgregory 0]

Yeah look up. I honestly cannot even explain my thought process there to myself. I think I was looking at largest available used PD R and not thinking about canopy size difference. You guys responded so fast, no point in changing original post. I'll just take the verbal lumps for being stupid as they come.

Feeling kinda stupid right now.

[riddler 0]

Quote

Would a 193 be okay? Or should I go with something 200 ish?

My opinion is the closer you get the two sizes, the better, but some people believe in having slightly larger reserves in case you have to land injured or unconscious. The advantage of having two canopies the same size is that they will fly at closer to the same speed if you have two canopies out.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[sdgregory 0]

Yeah, I just had a long conversation on the phone with someone who made a valid point that I never thought of.

What if I am unconscious? You know, smack head that even with bonehead I go nighty night and then the Cypress fires and my reserve puts me wherever God decides. Do I really want a canopy smaller that the one I am landing consious?

My response to Jim was, "Um . . . er . . . uh . . . no?"

"very good," he says.

So I says, "Damn I thought I was smart but now I know I should think again."

And he says, "Stupid Noob."

Actually, he had much more tact than that and I really am not sure how I missed this thought process. Chalk it to inexperience and glad I made the mistake in thought and not in the action.

[cousindave 0]

I would strongly recommend buying a reserve close to the size of your main. If you are ever unlucky enough to have 2 out it is much safer to have 2 canopies with similar line lengths. also if you are used to flying a 210 you don't want to have to fly a 160 in less than optimal conditions.

David Ames
Used Gear Specialists
http://www.cousindave.com

[andybr6 0]

I am not a rigger/instructer so i cant offer any advice regarding size of main vs size of reserve. However as far as sizing is concerned i have a Mirage M5 with a Spectre 210 and a PD193 reserve. It was put togather as a demo rig at the PD factory in 1998 and both canopies fit fine.
Hope this was useful

Andy

------------------------------------------------

"All men can fly, but sadly, only in one direction"

[Zeemax 0]

Quote

What if I am unconscious? You know, smack head that even with bonehead I go nighty night

Boneheads aren't that strong, no skydiving helmet really is. You best bet is a pro tec.

Phoenix Fly - High performance wingsuits for skydiving and BASE
Performance Designs - Simply brilliant canopies

[sabr190 0]

<< You best bet is a pro tec.>>

Please justify this statement, injection molded plastic vs carbon fiber composite? Not picking on ya, just wondering, since I own three different models of Bonehead helmets

[riddler 0]

Quote

much safer to have 2 canopies with similar line lengths.

I'm not sure that will make much a difference since I think reserve risers are typically shorter than main risers. Can someone clarify? Will a main and a reserve of the same square footage fly at the same height above the jumper? In other words is the length of the riser + the lines the same for the two? Will a smaller reserve fly "below" the larger main?

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[ryoder 1,590]

Quote

Quote

much safer to have 2 canopies with similar line lengths.

I'm not sure that will make much a difference since I think reserve risers are typically shorter than main risers. Can someone clarify? Will a main and a reserve of the same square footage fly at the same height above the jumper? In other words is the length of the riser + the lines the same for the two? Will a smaller reserve fly "below" the larger main?

There are even more variables than that:

1) Not all mfgrs use the same formula to calculate area.

2) Just because two canopies have the same SIZE, doesn't
mean they have the same ASPECT RATIO. If two canopies
are that same size, but have different aspect ratios, the one
with the larger aspect ratio, will have longer lines, ASSUMING
they were designed with the SAME line-length formula.

3) Even if two canopies are of the same size and the same
aspect ratio, they can use a different formula to determine
the ratio of line-length to span.

So unless you actually MEASURE the length of a particular main's
lines, and a particular reserves's line length, INSTALLED ON
RISERS, you just don't know how they will compare.

I will stick to choosing my reserve based on my body weight and
the TSO ratings of the reserve, not on the compatibility for doing
personal CReW.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[sundevil777 102]

Quote

Please justify this statement, injection molded plastic vs carbon fiber composite? Not picking on ya, just wondering, since I own three different models of Bonehead helmets

It is the padding that will crush and absorb the energy and spread out the load that matters. Many fancy, expensive skydiving helmets have very little padding.

There have been a few ski helmet threads. These helmets actually have a few different test standards to allow the consumer to gauge their value with regards to safety.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[sabr190 0]

Gotcha

Kinda figured it was going to come down to the ergonomics of the padding
You know what they say "it's about how you look going to the plane"