Pele2048 0 #1 November 30, 2009 From the ground or in the air, can you tell if someone has deployed their reserve rather than their main canopy? Is there a visual difference? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #2 November 30, 2009 Their aspect ratio is often smaller, so they look a little more square than rectangular They don's have a PC trailing behind it (tho some CReW canopies have retractable PC's and some swooping canopies have detachable PC's) They are often all white (or less frequently now all baby blue)Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #3 November 30, 2009 Those are 7 cell canopies and most of them are white or they have some other solid color. Although there are other 7 cell canopies and there are non-white reserves too. Other hint could be the lack of trailing PC. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hellis 0 #4 November 30, 2009 a freebag floating down. a brown spot on the jumpsuit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #5 November 30, 2009 Salvation ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #6 November 30, 2009 Like others have said, usually a solid high-visibilty color. No pilot chute trailing behind "Squarer" due to aspect ratio (although I jump a 7-cell as a main, so it is the same as my reserve). Usually my biggest clue is the cutaway main and the reserve pilot chute/freebag fluttering down near the open canopy. Either that or watching the entire malfunction-to-cutaway sequence as it happens. At that point several people usually spread out as far as they can to get bearings on the loose gear to make finding it as easy as possible. On the ground it's real easy. Empty 3-rings, open reserve container and extended reserve risers. Oh yeah, and the hole in the slider."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy0689 0 #7 November 30, 2009 Quote On the ground it's real easy. Empty 3-rings, open reserve container and extended reserve risers. Oh yeah, and the hole in the slider. Plus the stunned look on the jumper's face. I've only seen two of those faces. One was on a guy's face who cutaway on his first jump of a weekend-long boogie. He was done since he didn't have a back up rig and he freebag was lost.Andy I'll believe it when I see it on YouTube! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #8 November 30, 2009 Yep, here are some pics I've shot of reserve rides... they are usually pretty obvious, if you're looking. First ones are from yesterday... http://www.skydivingstills.com/keyword/reserve Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #9 December 1, 2009 Quote Salvation Yeah! My old powder blue Swift is the most beautiful canopy I've ever seen! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pele2048 0 #10 December 1, 2009 When on a reserve ride, if the main has not been deployed, do you still need to cut the main away? Those things are expensive and I'd hate to lose it somewhere. Maybe I'll just build a little GPS transmitter or something to attach to it... When I do get my own gear. (Licensed Amateur/HAM radio operator. Also a Radio Telecomm technician for a day job... I have experience tracking radio signals and building small scale GPS tracking gear.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #11 December 1, 2009 That's a big "It depends". The Skydiver's Information Manual has the recommended procedures in the "emergencies" section (the link). Your instructors will go over it with you in the first jump course. THE VALUE OF THE GEAR SHOULD NEVER FACTOR INTO YOUR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES!!! Unless you think your life is only worth a couple thousand bucks. If you could come up with a small, not terribly expensive locator beacon for cutaway gear then you won't have to worry much about paying for jumps. There have been a few out there, but nothing that's really taken off, usually due to the cost (usually the cost of the ground locator part of the gear)."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #12 December 1, 2009 QuoteWhen on a reserve ride, if the main has not been deployed, do you still need to cut the main away? Those things are expensive and I'd hate to lose it somewhere. Maybe I'll just build a little GPS transmitter or something to attach to it... When I do get my own gear. (Licensed Amateur/HAM radio operator. Also a Radio Telecomm technician for a day job... I have experience tracking radio signals and building small scale GPS tracking gear.) Never let the cost of gear get in the way of saving your live. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #13 December 1, 2009 Quote Never let the cost of gear get in the way of saving your live. Sparky Yeah, but how about the inconvenience of getting a repack on the weekend?To all the novices . . . just kidding. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kawisixer01 0 #14 December 1, 2009 Red toggle handles. At least I haven't ever seen them on anything but a reserve. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zymurdoo 0 #15 December 1, 2009 Nice set. Thanks for posting. I hope you don't mind me using some of these for teaching aids.Blue Skies, Soft Docks and Happy Landings! CWR #23 (It's called CRW, add an e if you like, but I ain't calling it CFS. FU FAI!) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #16 December 1, 2009 QuoteRed toggle handles. At least I haven't ever seen them on anything but a reserve. I have one pair on one of my main. I got a pair of blue handle too.... There were grey handles on that reserve I have used for the first time.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #17 December 1, 2009 Quote Quote Never let the cost of gear get in the way of saving your live. Sparky Quote Yeah, but how about the inconvenience of getting a repack on the weekend? No problem used browed gear.Sparky To all the novices . . . just kidding. My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nutz 0 #18 December 1, 2009 Quote Red toggle handles. At least I haven't ever seen them on anything but a reserve. I know a guy with red toggles. I was told that he had them because they were free. "Don't! Get! Eliminated!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #19 December 1, 2009 QuoteYeah, but how about the inconvenience of getting a repack on the weekend? Only takes a week or so to get a piece of paper that means you will never be in that situation. As long as you remember to bring your tools to the boogie, that is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #20 December 1, 2009 Quote Quote Never let the cost of gear get in the way of saving your live. Sparky Yeah, but how about the inconvenience of getting a repack on the weekend?....................................................................................... Versus the inconvenience of spending the weekend in hospital? The point we are trying to make is: if there is any doubt that you will not walk away from landing a (marginally controllable) main, cutaway and follow through with your reserve ripcord. The cost of a reserve repack is insignificant compared with the cost of injury. To all the novices . . . just kidding. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #21 December 1, 2009 Quote Quote Quote Never let the cost of gear get in the way of saving your live. Sparky Yeah, but how about the inconvenience of getting a repack on the weekend?....................................................................................... Versus the inconvenience of spending the weekend in hospital? The point we are trying to make is: if there is any doubt that you will not walk away from landing a (marginally controllable) main, cutaway and follow through with your reserve ripcord. The cost of a reserve repack is insignificant compared with the cost of injury. To all the novices . . . just kidding. Hey Rob, did you read my last line?I'm serious when I said "To all the novices . . . just kidding." I totally agree with you. I spent 6 weeks on crutches when I misjudged the sink rate on a Cirrus Cloud with a broken A-B line. I don't land broken lines, or anything else that looks bad, any more. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #22 December 1, 2009 QuoteWhen on a reserve ride, if the main has not been deployed, do you still need to cut the main away? The short answer is "usually no"; but this will be covered by your instructor in your first jump course. A student should not try to learn the elementary basics of skydiving from strangers over the internet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dorbie 0 #23 December 2, 2009 Quote a freebag floating down. a brown spot on the jumpsuit The chopped main canopy is usually there and easier to spot. And there will be no pilot chute killed or otherwise trailing behind the canopy. Reserves are also usually a single color, white or bright. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #24 December 2, 2009 "... I totally agree with you. I spent 6 weeks on crutches when I misjudged the sink rate on a Cirrus Cloud with a broken A-B line. ..." .................................................................................................. Agreed! I once landed a Strong 425 tandem main - with a broken A line. It flared like a bag-lock! Fortunately, we found the only soft piece of desert surrounding California City. The same landing would have broken bones on desert hard pan! I limped away from that landing, but vowed to never again try landing with a broken A line! I was young and wiry and handsome back then. Now I am old and grumpy and have two herniated discs in my spine. Wonder how that happened??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #25 December 2, 2009 I got quite a lot of flack for not landing my fusion 120 with 2 broken A lines earlier this year... This from 4 different all very experienced jumpers, who all had landed broken lines before, but on older-style canopies (ie, big squares), just one line each and I think crappy landing each... But then I remembered once seeing Kees Tops (CRW world record holder and one of if not our topmost rigger) land a Lightning 143 (or 160 maybe) with one broken A-line, ' cause he didn't feel like packing his reserve, but afterward he was like ' ouch, don't do what I just did!' ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
