Beatnik 2 #1 June 30, 2008 A couple of months ago, I got my hands on a PZ-81 parawing and lets say that it is one of the best parawings that I have jumped. It is a really rock solid parawing, well that is compared to the other parawings in the collection. It has several differences that are unique to itself. All the lines are connected to two risers, a single one on each side. Inflation is controlled (or supposed to be controlled) with a spider slider with pilot chute controlled reefing. Which works about as well as all other parachutes with this type of reefing. Mike Swain gave me one of his SportsCams to use on these jumps and it was great. I would have never noticed some of the things the parachute did without it. It was also captured the opening shots posted before. Enjoy the pictures! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #3 June 30, 2008 Nice. I got 3 jumps on those as a reserve. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
377 22 #4 June 30, 2008 Beautiful shots Beatnik! Were these really approved as reserves???2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #5 June 30, 2008 Quote Were these really approved as reserves??? http://www.ivparachute.com/view_product.aspx?prodid=16"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #6 June 30, 2008 Quote Quote Were these really approved as reserves??? http://www.ivparachute.com/view_product.aspx?prodid=16 ~Service life: 12years. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #7 July 1, 2008 Is the Parawing a 2 or 4 riser canopy? Is that a sort of "spider slider" reefing system?---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beatnik 2 #8 July 1, 2008 It is a 2 riser setup. All the lines are connected to a strange set of d-rings. One side of them is reverse thread. The setup was great since I got to make use of a set of risers that other wise would have been garbage because of damage on the fronts. Spider slider reefing. Works great as long as you don't expect it to slow down the opening. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,468 #9 July 1, 2008 Hi JP, If you are going to be on the BOD then you gotta pay attention. Quote All the lines are connected to two risers, a single one on each side. JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #10 July 1, 2008 Quote Spider slider reefing. Works great as long as you don't expect it to slow down the opening. Best description of a spider slider ever.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #11 July 1, 2008 Quote Hi JP, If you are going to be on the BOD then you gotta pay attention. Quote All the lines are connected to two risers, a single one on each side. JerryBaumchen DOH!!That's what I get for rushing to look at the pretty, shiny pictures before reading the text.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #12 July 2, 2008 That's really a beautiful canopy - love the colors especially. So who makes, or made this canopy & when ? I've never heard of it before. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 6 #13 July 2, 2008 It's from a Russian company, Polyot. They are members of PIA and have exhibited at PIA symposiums. They have a fairly complete current line of sport gear. HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #14 July 2, 2008 Quote Quote Spider slider reefing. Works great as long as you don't expect it to slow down the opening. Best description of a spider slider ever. Wrong. The opening shock is entirely dependent on the size of the pilot chute, and sizing is critical. I had a Parafoil that initially slammed the hell out of me until I complained to the mfgr, who then told the the size pc i needed, (why didn't they bother to include that in the instructions?). IIRC, a 200' Parafoil needed a 40" pc. Once the correct size pc was installed, it gave me the most buttery smooth openings of any canopy I ever jumped. Unfortunately, the bridle still caused friction burns to everything within 2 feet of the bridle grommets."There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #15 July 2, 2008 Quote Quote Quote Spider slider reefing. Works great as long as you don't expect it to slow down the opening. Best description of a spider slider ever. Wrong. The opening shock is entirely dependent on the size of the pilot chute, and sizing is critical. I had a Parafoil that initially slammed the hell out of me until I complained to the mfgr, who then told the the size pc i needed, (why didn't they bother to include that in the instructions?). IIRC, a 200' Parafoil needed a 40" pc. Once the correct size pc was installed, it gave me the most buttery smooth openings of any canopy I ever jumped. Unfortunately, the bridle still caused friction burns to everything within 2 feet of the bridle grommets. Soft, consistent openings with no damage....here's how I did it~Sew a ring onto the center of the spider slider, attach a longer bridle to the bottom skin of the canopy near the grommet, run the bridle down and through the ring on the slider, then back up through the center-cell grommets and attach the pilot chute...you now have a pulley type mechanical advantage and don't need a huge pilot-chute. Toss the deployment bag...Put a raper on the nose to keep the suspension lines straight and stowed...and add a small flap in the pack-tray to both stow the bridle and stage the extraction until the bridle is at full extension. No burn holes, fast and easy to pack, smaller and lighter with no bag...openings comparable to rings & ropes. Your milage won't vary. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beatnik 2 #16 July 2, 2008 QuoteWrong. The opening shock is entirely dependent on the size of the pilot chute, and sizing is critical. I had a Parafoil that initially slammed the hell out of me until I complained to the mfgr, who then told the the size pc i needed, (why didn't they bother to include that in the instructions?). IIRC, a 200' Parafoil needed a 40" pc. Once the correct size pc was installed, it gave me the most buttery smooth openings of any canopy I ever jumped. Unfortunately, the bridle still caused friction burns to everything within 2 feet of the bridle grommets. The pilot chute that is now attached to the canopy is actually larger than the one that it came with. It has been my experience with these parawings that they tend to open harder than most canopies. If you look at the parachute itself it has a low profile and holds a relatively low volume of air, it inflates pretty quick. This parachute opens particularly fast regardless of which pilotchute combination I have used with it. I have a 282 foil with spider slider reefing and it doesn't even come close to comparing, even on a bad day to this parachute. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #17 July 3, 2008 Quote Quote Wrong. The opening shock is entirely dependent on the size of the pilot chute, and sizing is critical. I had a Parafoil that initially slammed the hell out of me until I complained to the mfgr, who then told the the size pc i needed, (why didn't they bother to include that in the instructions?). IIRC, a 200' Parafoil needed a 40" pc. Once the correct size pc was installed, it gave me the most buttery smooth openings of any canopy I ever jumped. Unfortunately, the bridle still caused friction burns to everything within 2 feet of the bridle grommets. The pilot chute that is now attached to the canopy is actually larger than the one that it came with. It has been my experience with these parawings that they tend to open harder than most canopies. If you look at the parachute itself it has a low profile and holds a relatively low volume of air, it inflates pretty quick. This parachute opens particularly fast regardless of which pilotchute combination I have used with it. I have a 282 foil with spider slider reefing and it doesn't even come close to comparing, even on a bad day to this parachute. Yup...I have a T-Bow that I took to terminal once..........................O N C E ! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monkycndo 0 #18 July 3, 2008 Quote Yup...I have a T-Bow that I took to terminal once..........................O N C E ! Were you ever hung on a coat hook?50 donations so far. Give it a try. You know you want to spank it Jump an Infinity Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #19 July 3, 2008 Quote Quote Yup...I have a T-Bow that I took to terminal once..........................O N C E ! Were you ever hung on a coat hook? What hurt the most was my goggles snappin' back in place! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucky508 0 #20 July 3, 2008 Quote What hurt the most was my goggles snappin' back in place! Oh $hit! LAMO!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beatnik 2 #21 July 3, 2008 QuoteYup...I have a T-Bow that I took to terminal once..........................O N C E ! Been there, done that. Once is enough for me also. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fergs 0 #22 July 4, 2008 Yup...I have a T-Bow that I took to terminal once.......................... Were you ever hung on a coat hook? What hurt the most was my goggles snappin' back in place! ------------------------------------------------------ I never had a problem with my T-bow. In fact not sure if I ever didn't take it to terminal. Always sweet soft openings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krip 2 #23 July 4, 2008 Quote Quote Yup...I have a T-Bow that I took to terminal once..........................O N C E ! Been there, done that. Once is enough for me also. Hi Beatnik Might want to check the packing instructions or talk to some of the old farts who jumped them about your hard openings. We had 3-4 guys at our DZ in Ks jumping T-bows back in the day and don't remember hearing any complaints about uncomfortable openings. R.I.P. Of course "back in the day" men were men Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ripcord4 0 #24 July 4, 2008 Of course "back in the day" men were men. And sheep were afraid! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beatnik 2 #25 July 4, 2008 QuoteHi Beatnik Might want to check the packing instructions or talk to some of the old farts who jumped them about your hard openings. We had 3-4 guys at our DZ in Ks jumping T-bows back in the day and don't remember hearing any complaints about uncomfortable openings. R.I.P. Of course "back in the day" men were men I use the Thunderbow manual when packing the chute. I have too many parachutes that I jump at this point to just go off of mental checklists. It is too easy to forget something on a particular parachute. Even though it is a main, being a rigger, I think it would be bad practice in this case where the parachute is a little more unique not to have a manual beside me. Most of the jumpers from back in the day that I have talked have confirmed the same thing I experienced. However, it could be something physically wrong. For instance, if the PDA lines are out of trim, it could seriously affect the opening of the parachute. Luckily, I have access to a friends that I can compare it with. Memories fade and aren't always the most reliable source of information. I have been directed down the wrong path more than once because of that. One problem, without going into a psychology lecture, is people's views are relative to what they were jumping and are subject to their particular stats under that parachute. One person jumping one parachute is not exactly the same as another person jumping it. In addition, each parachute has its own opening characteristics but loading does come into play with the opening forces. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to talk to too many jumpers from back in the day that were in the 250 lbs range jumping these parachutes. I have been knocked out several times now under parachute and for a while, I was comparing openings to that. If I wasn't knocked out, it fell into the soft category. But that isn't exactly a fair comparison because it is not in the norm. Comparing it to another canopy isn't the best way of doing it at all. There are too many variables that can affect the opening of a parachute. That is why I am working on getting some hardware so I can actually get some real data and analyze the openings of these parachutes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
