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SKYDIVE

PD RESERVES

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standards are usually set as the minimum acceptable "whatever" for a product. the question posed at the start of this thread was whether or not brand A was better than brands B, C, and D.

all automobiles meet standards which have been set forth by "whoever." does this mean the only difference among cars is marketing and taste? i think not, but that's just my humble opinion. :)

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Analagies suck, lets stick to reserves.

Would you rather have:

Reserve A - Opens fine, somes times flies with a built in turn, has no reenforcment to help hold it together in a high speed opening and stalls at mid chest level
Reserve B - Opens fine, stalls at mid chest abruptly, has questionable line attachments, has minimal reenforcement
Reserve C - Opens fine, no reports of built in turns, strong powerful full stroke flare. Sets you down softly, lots of reenforcement, requires manditory factory inspection every so many jumps/packs, 6 slider stops on the stabilizer.
Reserve D- Brand new design. opens fin, flares great, only has 4 slider stops on the stabilizers though,

Thats the majority of the market as of today. What one do you want and do you really think they are all the same?
Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

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I understand, correct me if I'm wrong, it (a reserve) only has to pass the drop test once within the specs to pass. Doesnt matter if it failed 30 times before that. Is that correct?



No that is not correct, not even close. It must pass as many as 70 some odd drop and live tests.

TSO is not just about testing. It is about quality control during manufacturing, certification of materials used in manufacturing and materials traceability. There is more involved in being issued a TSO than most skydivers bother or even care to find out about.

Sparky
My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

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I think any TSOd reserve would do. The rest is taste and marketing.



It is a good thing that what you think does not have a bearing on how reserve canopies are made.

It would be to your benefit and safety to learn more about your equipment before coming to such bold conclusions.

Sparky
My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

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I understand, correct me if I'm wrong, it (a reserve) only has to pass the drop test once within the specs to pass. Doesnt matter if it failed 30 times before that. Is that correct?

No that is not correct, not even close. It must pass as many as 70 some odd drop and live tests.



I think he is asking if it fails, can the manufacturer just try again with the same reserve? Kinda like getting your PRO rating, nothing says you can't just try again to get 10 in a row. Ihaven't read anything that says you can't try again with the same design if it fails a drop test. I didn't check all of the, but TSO C23D requires the same reserve/harness, whatever be used for all the drop tests.

Derek

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Picking a reserve can be by several factors: reputation, price, pack volume/size....




Lets not forget the intended WL. Some reserves have a listed max WL that is lower than some jumpers exit weight.

I would think this would be a huge factor in choosing a reserve.

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The debate about reserves is as old as jumping. Here's what I wrote in another forum about the same debate.

As far as tempo's and PD's go, like I said earlier, I have landed both and I like the PD's better. Look at this thread even... Look how many people are talking about tempo's stalling, having a built in turn, and what not. You really don't hear about to many PD Reservse blowing up like Ravens do. You don't hear about to many PD-R's stalling on landing. You don't hear about to many PD-R's requiring a grip of toggle input to just fly straight. All of these traits are UN-ACCEPTABLE! A reserve should fly straight, and not stall above your shoulders. If you had a main that stalled with your toggle inputs above your shoulders, would you land it? If you had a main that had a built in turn that required more than 50% toggle input to keep it flying straight, would you land it? I wouldn't land either of those, so, is it to much to ask of canopy manufactures to build a product that fly's correctly? The people out there that continue to purchase these inferrior products are condoning this practice of manufactures making & selling shitty products, just to make a buck. All in all it's your life, and what you wear on your back is your choice, and I really don't care if you live or die, but I have made the choice to jump with quality products. In this sport you get what you pay for, so if you'r looking to save a few buck's then your going to pay for it elsewhere.



Remember, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!

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I understand, correct me if I'm wrong, it (a reserve) only has to pass the drop test once within the specs to pass. Doesnt matter if it failed 30 times before that. Is that correct?

No that is not correct, not even close. It must pass as many as 70 some odd drop and live tests.



I think he is asking if it fails, can the manufacturer just try again with the same reserve? Kinda like getting your PRO rating, nothing says you can't just try again to get 10 in a row. Ihaven't read anything that says you can't try again with the same design if it fails a drop test. I didn't check all of the, but TSO C23D requires the same reserve/harness, whatever be used for all the drop tests.

Derek



During the strength tests, AS8015B 4.3.4, three tests will be made at not less then 264 pounds and not less then 180 KEAS.

“There shall be no evidence of material, stitch, or functional failure that will affect airworthiness. The same canopy, harness, component, and/or riser(s) shall be used for all 4.3.4 test.” (quote from AS8015B)

Sparky
My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

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I have 7 rides on Tempos, two different canopies. Both flew straight, landed very well, and had a had a stall point that was over 3/4 of full arm extension. Both were also loaded within manufacturers specs. There is nothing wrong with a Tempo, loaded within placarded weight limitations.

However, if I were to buy a new reserve today, it would be a PD. I like the idea of spanwise reinforcement. PD has earned a reputation for very good quality control. I have seen their production facilities, and the lengths they go to to produce a consistently excellent product is incredible.

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I think he is asking if it fails, can the manufacturer just try again with the same reserve? Kinda like getting your PRO rating, nothing says you can't just try again to get 10 in a row. Ihaven't read anything that says you can't try again with the same design if it fails a drop test. I didn't check all of the, but TSO C23D requires the same reserve/harness, whatever be used for all the drop tests.



Yep that was it Derrick. Thanks for the info everyone.

Blues,
Ian
Performance Designs Factory Team

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I don't know. (But I'm also in South Africa.;))

After 18 cutaways though, I now have 2 PD 126R's in my rigs.

I'm tired of Tempo's with built in turns, and riggers in other parts of the work pointing out things they've never seen before when packing a Predator.

I thought long and hard about this last year, and when I was at Square One, I paid several hundred more dollars than I would have paid for a Smart. Maybe it's marketing, but I figure that few hundred dollars, spread over the next decade and maybe 3000 or 4000 more skydives... how much more is it really costing you? And after 20 years skydiving, if I'm a victim of marketing - there must be a reason for that.

I've had one reserve malfunction. Do you really want the cheapest reserve money can buy?

I don't.

t
It's the year of the Pig.

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