Cypres questions....from a newbie

[TKATC 0]

I am looking into making educated decisions about the equipment I am soon to purchase. I have been thinking about the pros and cons of the Cypres. (Subtract the cost factor, if I feel it MIGHT save me then I don't care about the cost)

Here are my thoughts....I like the fact that the Cypres may open my reserve should I lose alt awareness for some reason or other, I do not want to die for being stupid.
However, I am concerned with a misfire. (Where can one find stats on misfires? Does it happen often?) Also, I feel if I am too dumb to pull my reserve on my own then I must be unconscious. If I am unconscious, chances are I won't wake up until I am on the ground. That means I won't be flying my reserve....I feel I will be SERIOUSLY injured if I don't actively fly the thing. Do I even want to live with 2 broken legs and a broken back?
How many times has a diver gone unconscious in freefall?
I am just not sure the cypres will be all that useful although I would prefer to take all necessary precautions.

[PhreeZone 20]

The very vast majority of Cypres fires are not caused by being knocked out, its caused by losing altitude awareness and getting to under 1000 feet with out a canopy out.

Misfires happen, but they are extremely rare. Only a few rumored and even fewer documented premature Cypres fires in the 14 years since it was designed. You are far more likely to have a premature deployment then a cypres misfire.

Is it better to be alive and possibly hurt (you could land in field and have no injuries or you could fly into a building - is unknown) or be dead? Thats a question you need to answer for yourself.

Lets not turn this into a AAD/No AAD thread, there are probally 50 of those already.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[divnswoop 0]

I have seen 2 people "land" their reserves unconscious after a cypres fire. One had a sprained ankle from the landing, the other had no injuries due to landing the reserve without a flare. Personally, I would much rather come down under a reserve in half brakes than nothing at all.

[kimgriffin 0]

In my opinion, the benefit of having an AAD when you really need one greatly outweighs any possible risk.

Countless people have been saved by an AAD, not many have been hurt by them.

[tso-d_chris 0]

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feel I will be SERIOUSLY injured if I don't actively fly the thing.

When you choose your reserve, it is a good idea to choose a canopy large enough to land you without major injury with the brakes stowed.

It is very likely that the gear recommended by your instructor(s) will be sized properly for you.

For Great Deals on Gear

[TKATC 0]

Thanks Kim...and the others who are responding. I guess what I am looking for is first hand accounts of how the AAD has helped people. You say many people have been saved by their AAD...is there any list or database one can go to and read about such incidents?

[kelpdiver 2]

if you go to the Cypres web pages you'll find a save list. Or search the forums for cypres save.

Don't know if Vigil (Kim) has something like that yet. There have been at least one or two saves reported in the forums here.

[HydroGuy 0]

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I do not want to die for being stupid.

Do I even want to live with 2 broken legs and a broken back?

I've broken a lot of shit and I'm sure glad I'm alive

Get in - Get off - Get away....repeat as neccessary

[freeflygirlz 0]

If you care about missfires you might be pulling too low. Although Cypres is working very exact it migth fire 100 feet higher than supposed. If you are still in freefall or just in opening sequence you are definitely pulling far too low.
There have not been any reported cases where a correctly used Cypres has failed to open the reserve. There are quite a few cases where the Cypres was not used as told in the manual (for example read the incidence report in the July edition of The Parachutist) but it's up to YOU to use your AAD correctly.
About your concern landing on the reserve unconscious: It's up to you to choose a decent reserve canopy. The larger the canopy the higher your chance of not being injured. Avoid getting unconscious by jumping with skydivers who might be a risk in freefall. Do not jump with bigger formations as long as yours skills are good enough. Do only skydive when you feel healthy and fit for it (no medicamentation, no alkohol, no drugs, no hang over....)
I have a Cypres and I am very happy with it! Please make sure you have the very best equipment and training you can get!
blue skies

[SCR10480 0]

"feel I will be SERIOUSLY injured if I don't actively fly the thing"

__________________________________________________

Still, it's a better idea than landing your jumpsuit.

[skydiverton 0]

Some 15 years ago. The only AAD was the FXC. This AAD is somewhate susceptible for misfires. If you have a rather modern gear your rig is not FXC compatible any more.

The modern style AAD's (Cypres1+2 and Vigil) are electronic controlled AAD's These AAD's have very, very little misfires and from those very few misfires the majority is directely related to low opening of the main (technical not a misfire)
The risk of having a premature main opening due to bad maintenance of the loop or pocket is way higher

The answer which one is better Cypres or Vigil. Well everyone has his preferences. Both AAD's have some features I like and some I do not like (Yes Kim I changed my opinion a little because the Vigil gains more field-experience).
It's about the same question as: which car is better a Mercedes or a BMW (Due to my small payroll I do not have the problem to choose beween these cars, my next one will be a VW).

I know 3 people who have been saved by their Cypress (Including tandemsaves). I do not know a single person who has had a high altitude opening with their cypres

When you are unconsious your body is very relaxed, absorbing the landing more easy. (Your reserve flies in braked configuration)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Using your droque to gain stability is a bad habit,
Especially when you are jumping a sport rig

[Travman 6]

What do they teach in PLF? Basically you relax and don't try to resist the momentum, then you roll - changing the direction and transfering the energy. If you have ever seen PK (urban gymnastics) you will understand what I mean.

Often people are hurt in impacts (generally, not just skydiving) because they "resisted" the force - all the energy goes into the muscles trying to resist the trauma and they get injured. If you are unconscious under canopy when you hit the ground your muscles will be relaxed, its no PLF, but under a reserve you should come off better than no pull.

Some of the replies from the more experience who have seen people come in unconscious do show that it is better than no canopy.

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

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In my opinion, the benefit of having an AAD when you really need one greatly outweighs any possible risk.

Countless people have been saved by an AAD, not many have been hurt by them.

... what she said.

[darrenspooner 0]

One thing worth doing is to fly your reserve. Not in unsafe conditions, but if you can get a chance to demo a reserve like yours you'll learn a lot. I flew mine recently. Its smaller than my main but is smooth, slow, rock solid and feels extermely safe and docile. I'd rather be hangin unconscious under that than no canopy. Unless something was in the way I would have been fine.