pack volume: smart v/s cricket

[woodpecker 0]

150 of both...which one will pack smaller?

SONIC WOODY #146

There is a fine line between cockiness and confidence -- which side of the line are you on?

[phoenixlpr 0]

They look about the same.

I have a Crikett (147, 1991) in my VectorII 1-2.

There is 350 cci for Crikett in the Vector's manual.

Pack valume of a Smart150 is 346cci -ARD website.

[skybytch 273]

Note that the manufacturer's max suspended weight for the Cricket is 160 lbs. AFAIK it's an older design (ie non-reinforced); loading it over the max suspended weight isn't a real good idea.

[riggerrob 643]

If it is an older Cricket - with Dacron lines - it will definitely pack larger than a Smart.

I am not sure if Flight Concepts offers their reserves with - less bulky - Spectra lines.
For example, a rig arrived in my loft with a Dacron-lines (Flight Concepts) Firelite 220 reserve that was s truggle to repack.
After a year of struggling to close that reserve, the owner traded for a Spectra-lined (PISA) Tempo 250 reserve, which was easier to close. The Tempo makes for a tight container, but it is "doable".
Now he is waiting for a Spectra-lined (Aerodyne) Smart 190 which matches the container manufacturer's recommended volume.

Comparing volume numbers form two different lists is worse than a waste of time. It is like comparing apples and oranges.

Finally, only trust volume numbers published by container manufacturers.

[phoenixlpr 0]

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If it is an older Cricket - with Dacron lines - it will definitely pack larger than a Smart.

True, -87 Crickets were about 385 cci.

I think those are not airworthy anymore.

[mjosparky 4]

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I think those are not airworthy anymore.

Why?

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[phoenixlpr 0]

20 years? That older batch of Cricket was produced until 1987.

[masterrigger1 2]

Lisa,
Actually the Cricket is probably as strong as the PD.
It is an older design but solid and opens faster than the PD.
It has been is service for a long time and I have never heard of one problem with it, i.e.damage.

In fact, back around 1993, we were drop testing the Racer tandem at the same time that Flight Concepts was drop testing the Mini-Cricket.
After the Mini-Cricket passed it's drop tests, for giggles,we dropped it using the same load and speed that we were using for the tandem.

It stayed together!

The Flight Concepts' reserves do not land as well as the PDR, but I would rate them as a close second or third in the reserve department.

As far as the reinforcement statement, it does not have spanwise tape. It does have reinforcement in other areas that other manufacturers do not use.

In the almost twenty years of production and use, I have never heard of any catastrophic damage during a reserve deployment.

BS,
MEL

Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC
www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

[masterrigger1 2]

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I am not sure if Flight Concepts offers their reserves with - less bulky - Spectra lines.

Rob,
They do install Spectra on them.
I have a J3K that I put a Firelite (176 sq.ft.)into. It was pretty tight with the Dacron and they switched it out for me at a reasonable cost.
It fits perfectly now.
It is an option when ordering a new canopy.

Also the Fury is the 220 sq. ft. model of the reserves.

Cheers,
MEL

Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC
www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com