Sneakerz 0 #1 February 16, 2008 I am sure this question has been asked a few times and maybe I am just being lazy and not wanting to do a search to find an answer, but has anyone heard anything about the progress of bigger optimum reserves?? Thanks Yall--------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
P-dro 0 #2 February 16, 2008 I asked PD 3 weeks ago the answer was "work in progress, no date of release not even a timeframe..." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tetra316 0 #3 February 17, 2008 You're kidding!? I thought this had been released months ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cloudi 0 #4 February 17, 2008 They wish it were that easy, where did you get that idea? Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
P-dro 0 #5 February 17, 2008 QuoteYou're kidding!? I thought this had been released months ago. The biggest Optimum released is a 143. A lot of people (including me) would be thrilled to have a 160 or 176 available... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lucky123 0 #6 February 17, 2008 I'd love to have a Optimum 160! I'm patiently waiting with my fingers crossed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JustChuteMeNow 0 #7 February 17, 2008 QuoteI'd love to have a Optimum 160 Why do you want an Optimum? I noticed in your profile that you are flying a smart reserve and I have friends that have landed them quite well. I'm not questioning your choice. I am just curious over the reason. I have jumped the PD reserve as well as the optimum and I would comfortably fly either one. I have also jumped the stellar reserve and that flies really well. Personally I have never jumped a smart reserve and so I don't have a frame of reference for that canopy.Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lucky123 0 #8 February 18, 2008 I meant to say 176 - just for larger reserve closer to the size of my main in my M4. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tetra316 0 #9 February 18, 2008 Oh, didn't know they were delaying the release in the larger sizes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny1488 1 #10 February 28, 2008 But you can get an optimum 99!!! Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
philip133 0 #11 February 28, 2008 Since quite a few in here want a bigger reserve but a small pack volume I might suggest you to have a look at the Speed2000 reserve from Paratec (German prduct). The Speed2000 is a very reliable canopy that packs pretty small... Just to give you an idea: My Speed2000 135sqf (246 cu.in.) packs about like the normal PD 106R (253 cu.in.) and my Speed2000 150sqf (266 cu.in.) is somewhat between the PD 106R & the PD 113R (288 cu.in.) In other words: The Speed packs about 2 sizes smaller than the "normal" PD reserve - and so does the new Optima (that is limited to 143sqf as of today)... hope this helps?! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #12 February 28, 2008 Quote But you can get an optimum 99!!! Now I'm wondering what that packs like.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Waldschrat 0 #13 February 29, 2008 What exactly is the technical problem for PD to build sizes over 143 sqft? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #14 February 29, 2008 Quote Quote But you can get an optimum 99!!! Now I'm wondering what that packs like. Larger.I dug and dug thinking there was a post that reprinted tests done for a Skydiving Magazine Article. The pack volume for the smallest optimum was the same or larger than a PDR of the same size. I think it might have to do with the quantity of reinforcement being increased... Now, once you got to the 143, it was much smaller. So, for the small ones - buy them because you like the flight performance. For the bigger ones, save some volume... Now without the data, I have no proof... Anyone keep back issues of Skydiving Magazine???? Issue 315, October 2007 - per the skydiving magazine website. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkwing 5 #15 February 29, 2008 QuoteWhat exactly is the technical problem for PD to build sizes over 143 sqft? Canopies don't scale well. You can't just take a canopy, double every measurement, and expect it to fly the same. The bigger change you make in its size, the more you have to tweak the design. At some point it is pretty much a different canopy. Lots of subtleties here. -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #16 February 29, 2008 QuoteCanopies don't scale well. You can't just take a canopy, double every measurement, and expect it to fly the same. PD even has the same software that companies like Icarus have to scale a canopy. However, they still test the scaled canopies and find that they don't open the same, fly the same, etc. So they spend time jumping and tweaking. That's a reason why PD doesn't offer a "choose any size you want" program like Icarus. They (PD) doesn't want you to be a test jumper with a final product. Now couple this with a program that requires TSO testing and you get a program that is not only expensive to the company, but it takes an incredible amount of time. I'm excited for the bigger sizes and understand why it takes so long, but its like I'm sitting on my hands just wanting the large sizes to be released.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mark 107 #17 February 29, 2008 Quote Quote Quote But you can get an optimum 99!!! Now I'm wondering what that packs like. Larger.I dug and dug thinking there was a post that reprinted tests done for a Skydiving Magazine Article. The pack volume for the smallest optimum was the same or larger than a PDR of the same size. I think it might have to do with the quantity of reinforcement being increased... Now, once you got to the 143, it was much smaller. So, for the small ones - buy them because you like the flight performance. For the bigger ones, save some volume... Now without the data, I have no proof... Anyone keep back issues of Skydiving Magazine???? There were two articles in October 2007 Skydiving, one by Sandy Reid, one by me. The table in Sandy's article does not have a volume comparison for Optimum-99 and PDR-99, possibly because he has not done a volume measurement for the PDR-99. Optimum-106: 258 cu in PDR-106: 253 cu in Optimum-113: 263 cu in PDR-113: 286 cu in Optimum-126: 286 cu in PDR-126: 296 cu in Optimum-143: 327 cu in PDR-143: 356 cu in Remember these are numbers from individual canopies, and there is some variation even within canopies that are intended to be identical. My experience has been that the Optimum reserves pack about 1 size smaller, including the smaller Optimums, so my experience doesn't match Sandy's measurements. I think the larger pack volume Sandy found with the Optimum-113 is more measurement error than anything else. The amount of reinforcing tape in both models is about the same; line volume, slider grommets, etc. would be nearly the same for both models, so difference in pack volume should show up most for canopies with more fabric. Mark Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyv 0 #18 February 29, 2008 Quote Quote But you can get an optimum 99!!! Now I'm wondering what that packs like. It packs up reasonably small -Tony (253) 445-8790 Velocity Sports Equipment Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
philip133 0 #19 March 1, 2008 But who would wanna jump it as a reserve??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyv 0 #20 March 1, 2008 Not me! The jumper is tiny and jumps around a 68 sq ft main. -Tony (253) 445-8790 Velocity Sports Equipment Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
