katzurki 0 #1 September 17, 2005 So there I was, a container hot off Jump Shack, a canopy I had purchased before I even passed AFF 1, a Cypres expiring early in 2006, no reserve, and an itching desire to jump. The only reserve I could find to borrow (thanks, helxen(Red, of Flight Concepts, said he thought it wouldn't tear if deployed at terminal.) Every weekend I went to the DZ with the full knowledge that today is the cutaway day, and today I would find myself under that small, old reserve. The finesse of PLF technique I learned! The time I spent looking for the lushiest, softest grass in case I'd have to make a landing decision! The meticulous way I packed my main! So just how wise was it? Probably none too much, but we'll never know that in hindsight. The Firelite allowed me to jump and I didn't have to use it. And now, lo and behold, a PDr 176 has arrived in the mail! Yellow, new, huge, strong, confidence-inspiring... Since Murphy and I are somewhat close friends, I am not even going jumping this weekend, because I'd have to make the last few jumps with the Firelite (rigger only does repacks during weekdays), and I know with utmost certainty that I've eluded the guaranteed cutaway. Woohoo! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflynick 0 #2 September 17, 2005 QuoteFirelite 175 QuotePDr 176 Yeah - that extra one square foot of reserve would make me feel a whole lot safer too..... Now get out there with the Firelite and tempt fate a few more times! Nothing quite like a game of "Ding Dong Dash" with Death to make a jump that bit more exciting!! Cheers! Hobbes: "How come we play 'War' and not 'Peace'?" Calvin: "Too few role models." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gravitysucks 0 #3 September 17, 2005 QuoteQuoteFirelite 175 QuotePDr 176 Yeah - that extra one square foot of reserve would make me feel a whole lot safer too..... Now get out there with the Firelite and tempt fate a few more times! Nothing quite like a game of "Ding Dong Dash" with Death to make a jump that bit more exciting!! Cheers! Firelite Reserve = 174 ftsq. PD176R = 189 ftsq. Reference the Canopy Comparison Chart pg. 256 of Para-Gear. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #4 September 17, 2005 Depends on what the main is... Its all in the measuremnet of the canopy. With a Hornet main its measured the same way as the reserve. Until all manufactors use the same measurement techniques for their canopies you will have this issue. Either the PD is measured small, or the Firelite was really like a 148 in PD's measurements.... Pick your poision.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #5 September 17, 2005 once you have the PDr inside, mount the Firelite as a main just to see scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #6 September 17, 2005 Oh please............that's nothing. My FIRST rig (In 2001) came with a 1986 SWIFT 5 CELL reserve. Most riggers said that was a GREAT reserve. Very solid construction but it would fly a lot differen't than my square PD main. "Flare HIGH!" they would say. Anyway...........second jump with it I had one my closest calls EVER to that date or SINCE. Threw out at 3K and had the "Ball of shit" malfunction. Reached down for the handles.......put my hand right on the cut away pillow but it took what seemed like an eternity to get my fingers UNDER it so I could get a good grip. Did that and was going to look down ONE LAST time to make SURE I had to cut away. BTW........this was my second jump after a 6 month lay off. Jump number 50 IIRC. When i looked down.....I saw that I had the handles and I was going to look up one last time to make SURE I had to do this. When I went to look back up the canopy SNAPPED open and it spun me around like a top. When I stopped I had 2 line twists still that I kicked out of easily. I kept that reserve for the one repack cycle and then bought the PD-176R I still have in my rig to this day. I think I would MUCH rather jump that than that Swift. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hooknswoop 19 #7 September 17, 2005 QuoteYeah - that extra one square foot of reserve would make me feel a whole lot safer too.....Crazy It isn't just one square foot, as someone already mentioned, those 2 reserves are night and day apart for performance and weight carring ablility. Derek Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katzurki 0 #8 September 18, 2005 Quote Depends on what the main is... Its all in the measuremnet of the canopy. With a Hornet main its measured the same way as the reserve. Are you saying that in relation to Hornet, the PDR is 6 ft larger, whereas the Firelite is ~20 ft smaller? PDR seems to be quite a bit bigger bundle of fabric than the Hornet. I am rather hoping it's really ~190 in relation to the Hornet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
