Viking 0 #1 March 17, 2002 I was just wondering which rig has the best/safest reserve deployment. I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #2 March 17, 2002 Beyond marketing claims... I think every rig on the market offers safe reserve deployment. By "safe" I mean it is going to operate like you want it to when you want it to assuming that it was packed, maintained and operated according to the manufacturer's instructions. Of course that statement does not include situations caused by operator error...pull and flare,lisa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #3 March 17, 2002 Exactly what I was going to say...I believe ALOT has to do with how your rigger packs it....and the engineering on the rest is just secondary...marcBSBD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #4 March 17, 2002 It seems to me that reserve total malfunctions are a thing of the past. You pull the handle, the reserve will come out of the container.What happens after the reserve comes out of the container is entirely dependent upon the appropriateness of you pulling the handle.I think it's fair to say that the single biggest cause of bad reserve canopies is the failure or inability of the skydiver to use the cuttaway handle first.I think the second biggest cause of reserve issues is the failure or inability of the skydiver to be in a stable belly to earth position while pulling their handle.Despite these two issues, it is frequently better to deploy your reserve into a main that you can't cuttaway (like Missy Nelson did) then landing under a spinning elipticle, or deploy in an unstable body position and risk a horseshoe. Pulling unstable is better then not pulling.I disagree with Marc. I don't think the issue is the rig, I don't even think it's how the rig is packed. The single biggest issue is how the skydiver uses it._AmICQ: 5578907MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,110 #5 March 17, 2002 All work pretty well. External-PC designs like the Racer/Reflex seem to have a slightly faster reserve deployment time, but nothing you're going to notice cutting away even at 1000 feet. External-PC designs also have _very_ good reserve pin protection. Internal-PC designs are slightly less likely to snag lines. Some, like the Javelin, are a compromise.I would say that packing technique, maintenance, and rig care all have a lot more to do with successful reserve deployment than which rig you pick - unless you buy something ancient like a Swift (lousy reserve PC, heavy flaps etc.)-bill von Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirils 1 #6 March 18, 2002 What about things like spring tension, straight v/s tapered springs and maintaining a true launch trajectory? Has the comparative efficacy between manufactures been shown. Is it singnificant?Skydiving is not a static excercise with discrete predictability... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 0 #7 March 18, 2002 thats what i ment to ask. I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
polarbear 1 #8 March 18, 2002 In my rigging experience, I haven't come across any one single rig which is clearly better than the others in terms of reserve deployment. I would agree that this mostly has to do with the packing of the rigger (which should be good) and the *correct* use of the system by the wearer. As far as the different pilot chutes go, there doesn't seem to be one method that is obviously better. The external PCs have less flaps to push aside and clear during launch, but the springs used in these systems are not as stiff as those used in internal PC system. The extra stiffness of the internal springs helps puch through the extra flaps.I actually think that the most important thing for a good pilot chute lauch (aside from proper body position) is the packing. The reserve closing loop really needs to be the correct length. The correct length is a loop which keep sthe pilot chute spring completely compressed. A loop this tight makes it harder to pack, but if the pilot chute is not fully compressed, it can lose a significant amount of its' launch capability. Loops can stretch with time, so its something to watch for. Ever seen someone with a pop top that is "elevated" above the reserve container, meaning the pilot chute isn't compressed all the way down? Its a good bet that chute won't get the best launch it can.Truthfully, though, all of the rigs out there seem to be pretty close. Lets face it, if one rig was really better (or worse) than the rest, by now it would be obvious. Every rigger has rigs which they consider easier to pack...why not ask your rigger, and go with what he/she suggests. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #9 March 18, 2002 To reiterate everyone else's posts.Reserve containers are extremely reliable these days.As long as you pull the silver handle at a reasonable altitude, you will soon have an inflated reserve overhead.Internal pilotchute versus exposed pilotchute makes miniscule differences in launch time.One flap, versus two flaps, versus four flaps over the pilotchute also make miniscule differences.One question I am wondering about is how many grommets the loop has to slide through. 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, or 12? And do we count Cypres cutters as grommets?Counting grommets makes for a marvelous theoretical debate, though I have seen no difference in deploying reserves on the ground. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
