Reserve Smaller Than Main

[MagicGuy 0]

I've been trying to figure out the reason why so many people have reserves that are smaller than their main. The only conclusion I can come to is that they wanted to have a smaller container, or smaller overall rig.

What I don't understand is why you would want to downsize when you are going to Plan B.

Am I missing something?

[Squeak 17]

because it looks cool

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[MagicGuy 0]

So does swooping but you don't see me doing that (yet) either!

[Martini 0]

Because swooping your reserve is cool.

Sometimes you eat the bear..............

[Loonix 0]

Because the cheap rig I found came with a small reserve, and I didn't know any better at the time

[MagicGuy 0]

I must've had too much to drink. I didn't think I posted this in the Bonfire...

[jtval 0]

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What I don't understand is why you would want to downsize when you are going to Plan B.

Am I missing something?

Just because it add more thirll.

I don't recommend using a tiny reserve unless you are experienced with it. And my opinion is all I care about.

My photos

My Videos

[councilman24 37]

When mains and reserves were F-111 type fabric, non zero porosity, the main canopies lost performance in the form of lift and flare. The lifetime of these canopies were 500 to 1000 jumps. Reserves, almost all still made from the same type of fabric, lose performance ( measured by increasing air permiability) just from being packed many times. But still not in the way that a non zp main does. So, a smaller reserve may perform better than a somewhat bigger main.

With ZP mains this doesn't apply, and for the most part jumpers with zp mains have mains the same size or smaller than their reserve. Even lower performance zp mains can be jumped at higher wing loadings and are often the same size or smaller than the reserve. (for instance my Sabre 170 and my 180 square foot reserve, actually close to the same size)

Some history applies also. Over the history of skydiving the reserves were usually lower performance or smaller diameter. 24' round military reserves versus 28' or 35' round mains. 26' lopos versus paracommanders or early ramairs, early ramair reserves versus 200-220 mains. Reserves are obviously ment to be used rarely. For the most part skydivers have assumed that landings would be harder or need a PLF under a reserve. Because it's rarely used and plan B the idea is to save your life, not provide a performance (or maybe even a comfortable) landing. Even a broken leg was perhaps acceptable if it worked.

Now, people want a very small hot rod canopy, and in order to get a container to fit the small main they have to go to a smaller reserve than perhaps prudent.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[rapter 0]

I like it when someone buys a tinny tiny reserve and a cypres and then say they have the cypres in case they get knocked-out and can't deploy a canopy, then I ask how are you, if knocked-out, going to land the tiny reserve? But then I use to jump with a K-20 and no AAD,...........

Only the good die young, so I have found immortality,

[billvon 3,107]

Yep.

My first main was a Pursuit 215. My second reserve was a PD160R. I had to use it once back then; it landed a lot better than the Pursuit, which was a) a CRW canopy and b) very very old.

Then I went to an old PD190 and the PD160R. The reserve still landed better than the PD190. My next canopy was a Triathalon 160, which landed about like the PD160R.

Fast forward about 15 years and nowadays I have a PD126 and a Nitro 108. My next rig will likely have a PD143 and something like a Crossfire 99. Even without the smaller-bulk PD reserves, there are a few manufacturers that make large-reserve small-main combos.

>Now, people want a very small hot rod canopy, and in order to get a
> container to fit the small main they have to go to a smaller reserve than
>perhaps prudent.

Yep. I am hoping the new PD reserves and manufactuers who make large-reserve small-main combos will help with this unfortunate trend.

[dharma1976 0]

I though about that I will wait to see what comes of the first gen of low bulk reserves

then I will upsize

Dave

http://www.skyjunky.com

CSpenceFLY - I can't believe the number of people willing to bet their life on someone else doing the right thing.

[councilman24 37]

Thanks for the confirmation. After all I've never landed a square reserve.
Last reserve landed was about 1985 and a Phantom 24. Last reserve deployed was my 5 cell swift in 1987 but hit the tree before it was flying.

Hmmm, take that back. I landed a 28' Phantom as a main 3 years ago.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[stratostar 5]

Quote

Hmmm, take that back. I landed a 28' Phantom as a main 3 years ago.

Hey that one don't count man, you jumped as a main dude....

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[shermanator 4]

this is probably griping more at those tiny canopies, but i will chime in my reasonings.

1. it is what was suggested.
2. I have a 170 main, and plan to eventually get a 150, but not for a while. getting a 160 reserve allows me to do all this fun changing around and such. I'm not worried about it because it is still moderate wing loading.

CLICK HERE! new blog posted 9/21/08
CSA #720

[champu 1]

If you're comfortable under your main, and your reserve is smaller but within a size of your main (i.e. 170main + 160res or 150main + 143res, etc.) you will probably be just fine. If you're a bit dodgy under your main and your reserve is smaller than your main... well... it sounds like you've got two problems that need fixing.

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I am hoping the new PD reserves and manufacturers who make large-reserve small-main combos will help with this unfortunate trend.

I would also suggest to people buying a new rig that are unsure about reserve sizes that seem to go with the main(s) they want to talk to the manufacturer about it. Most will listen to what you want and make sure you get a rig that can safely hold the canopies you are comfortable jumping.

[phoenixlpr 0]

Do you mean by numbers? Different manufacturers measure canopies different way, so they can be around the same size or way smaller.

[erikph 0]

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there are a few manufacturers that make large-reserve small-main combos.

who are they ?

blue skies,

http://myjumps.blogspot.com/

[phoenixlpr 0]

Sunrise Manufacturing International - Wings Ext for example.

[Remster 30]

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Wings Ext for example

Just to add to this: the EXT has nothing to do with the main/reserve combo. Its simply a longer vervion of the rig for taller people. You can get large res / small main combo rigs from Wing in their standard rig.

Remster

[riggerrob 643]

I would rather be bored under canopy, than bored in a hospital bed.

[riggerrob 643]

To simplify: when Para-Flite introduced the first decent ram-air reserve: 180 square foot, Swift 5-cell, most skydivers used 220 (Pegasus) or 230 (Strato-Cloud) mains.
Also remember that Swifts had the same pack volume as the 26 foot diameter LoPos that were the previous fashion in reserves.

When the acid-mesh disaster hit, most skydivers replaced their 26 LopPos with Raven 181s.

[riggerrob 643]

... my Sabre 170 and my 180 square foot reserve, actually close to the same size ...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

That is because different manufacturers use different measuring methods.

[billvon 3,107]

>who are they ?

Racer and Mirage containers can be ordered that way. I'm looking at a Mirage G4 M1Z - that size will fit a 107 main and a 143 reserve. Hopefully other manufacturers will follow suit. I've heard rumors about Wings but have not seen a sizing chart that shows the small main/large reserve option.

[ryoder 1,590]

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To simplify: when Para-Flite introduced the first decent ram-air reserve: 180 square foot, Swift 5-cell,...

So the Safety-Flyer and the Safety-Star weren't "decent"?

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

[agent_lead 0]

im ny opinion...i want a reserve that can be landed without flaring and be survivable with minimm injuriy..

just in case i get knocked out and the aad fires..

anything too small would be fatal or close to it at that point

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