darius1891 0 #1 November 8, 2005 I'm new in this sport only 30 jumps, i weigh 152lb, looking for a rig, and wandering if 126sq ft reserve is an OK size to get. My canopy control skills aren't bad for a beginer and most rigs that i'm interested in have ~120 sq ft reserve canopies in them. The main i'm gonna be flying is P D 150. I would appreciate anyones opinion. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dharma1976 0 #2 November 8, 2005 I would say not a good idea talk to you local experienced canopy pilots who know you and know your abilities and listen and dont just listen to what you want to hear, doing that will get you hurt, jsut ask me. personally not talking about your size choices but theory, I would go for similar sized main and reserve, because what happens if you have two out and one is much smaller than the other, it can be baaaaaad. Cheers Davehttp://www.skyjunky.com CSpenceFLY - I can't believe the number of people willing to bet their life on someone else doing the right thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #3 November 8, 2005 My thinking is that it's significantly too small. Weighing 152lb means you'll load your reserve at just under 1.4 (152 + 22 / 126 = 1.38). If you're low, possibly injured, and likely off-DZ, do you really want to be loading an unfamiliar canopy at 1.4 as you try and put it down in someone's backyard? You won't impress the cute chick by the pool if you femur in under your reserve 'coz it's loaded too highly . For what it's worth, my advice would be to look at a reserve around the 170 size for maximum titanium avoidance potential Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites brits17 0 #4 November 8, 2005 Negative. As previously stated, a 126 is too small. Go for a PD160 reserve please. A reserve ride is stressful enough, especially for a beginner. You don't want to be worried about landing a significantly higher wingloading than your main canopy... or worse, you're unconcious and have no control over your landing circumstances. _______________________ aerialkinetics.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Kris 0 #5 November 8, 2005 A wise person once said something to the effect of, "Do you really want to try landing the smallest canopy you have when everything else has gone wrong?" People don't usually say, "Gee, I wish my reserve was a lot smaller!" when faced with a tight landing area. A Something in the 160-170 sq ft range would be much better for you. You need to get interested in more rigs. Small isn't a status symbol when it comes to your last chance.Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites headoverheels 333 #6 November 8, 2005 Check out PD's recommendations: http://www.performancedesigns.com/reserve.asp Find your exit weight (including clothes, gear, RW weights if you are likely to use them) and skill level on the chart. It's pretty obvious that the 126 is a bad idea. If the PD-150 you are talking about is an F-111 9-cell, I really wouldn't be wanting to load it that heavily. Just no fun at all. Even if 152 pounds includes your gear, you are beyond the maximum load that PD recommends: http://www.performancedesigns.com/ninecell.asp Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites GravityGirl 0 #7 November 8, 2005 May I ask what lead you to the point where you are considering a 126 reserve? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites darius1891 0 #8 November 8, 2005 It's not that i want a 126 reserve, i really don't know what i want, but thanks to you guys now i know what i don't want Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites lauras 0 #9 November 8, 2005 There's always more time to buy more gear, that is, if you make wise decisions based on good advice and knowledge. All manufacturers will recommend that you get similarly sized mains & reserves. Do your homework and find out why. I personally believe that there shouldn't be more than one or two size difference between the two. Don't wait to be spoon-fed (occasionally dodgy) knowledge on the forums. Seek it out from reliable sources, like the manufacturers, your instructors and specialized schools. Have fun & jump jump jump! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DrewEckhardt 0 #10 November 8, 2005 QuoteIi weigh 152lb, looking for a rig, and wandering if 126sq ft reserve is an OK size to get. NO. 170 square foot main and (especially) reserve canopies would be appropriate. 100 jumps before you switch to a 150 main would be a good idea. When things go bad they do so quickly. You're picking the parachute for what happens when people guess wrong about the wings aloft and you have to land cross-wind in a concrete parking lot. A wingloading over 1.0 is never appropriate for F111 mains like the PD150 since they get porous with a few hundred jumps and don't provide a strong flare. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Brains 2 #11 November 8, 2005 Hey Darius, Lots of others have already told you not to get the 120 ish sized reserve. I agree with them and i will give you another example. I have a few more jumps than you. Like you, my canopy skills are pretty good so far. My canopies are much smaller than what you are talking about but the principle is the same. I bought a rig to fit a main, with little concern of reserve sizing. I had a mal, chopped it, and flew that reserve for the first time. It flew fine and i landed safely in the peas. I was so concerned with the "what if's" with a reserve that small that i sold the rig and got one with a larger reserve. Remember that a reserve is your last chance. I know i could land that reserve safely if and when everything else was ok. What if i was unconscious, arm broken/dislocated, etc. In that instance, i didn't feel that I could land that reserve under abnormal circumstances. Selecting gear can be a trying time, listen to your instructors and choose wisely. There is always other gear available. Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites yardhippie 0 #12 November 8, 2005 I hate to chime in on this, but heres my circumstances: Ive had a PD143 since I bought my gear at jump number 25 or so. I had my first mal this summer, at around 550( in 4 years) jumps. I fly a well loaded tapered canopy as a main. After my chop I had time to do a practice flare, and fly my reserve just a bit. I had a large field to land in, and stood it up no problem. BUT, if i was in tight quarters (yards, buldings, etc) I could be in trouble, as I had a good bit (50-60) feet of ground coverage from the 10' to ground vertical height. I dont plan on down sizing my reserve at all, If it can be helped. Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. 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brits17 0 #4 November 8, 2005 Negative. As previously stated, a 126 is too small. Go for a PD160 reserve please. A reserve ride is stressful enough, especially for a beginner. You don't want to be worried about landing a significantly higher wingloading than your main canopy... or worse, you're unconcious and have no control over your landing circumstances. _______________________ aerialkinetics.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kris 0 #5 November 8, 2005 A wise person once said something to the effect of, "Do you really want to try landing the smallest canopy you have when everything else has gone wrong?" People don't usually say, "Gee, I wish my reserve was a lot smaller!" when faced with a tight landing area. A Something in the 160-170 sq ft range would be much better for you. You need to get interested in more rigs. Small isn't a status symbol when it comes to your last chance.Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
headoverheels 333 #6 November 8, 2005 Check out PD's recommendations: http://www.performancedesigns.com/reserve.asp Find your exit weight (including clothes, gear, RW weights if you are likely to use them) and skill level on the chart. It's pretty obvious that the 126 is a bad idea. If the PD-150 you are talking about is an F-111 9-cell, I really wouldn't be wanting to load it that heavily. Just no fun at all. Even if 152 pounds includes your gear, you are beyond the maximum load that PD recommends: http://www.performancedesigns.com/ninecell.asp Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #7 November 8, 2005 May I ask what lead you to the point where you are considering a 126 reserve? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darius1891 0 #8 November 8, 2005 It's not that i want a 126 reserve, i really don't know what i want, but thanks to you guys now i know what i don't want Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lauras 0 #9 November 8, 2005 There's always more time to buy more gear, that is, if you make wise decisions based on good advice and knowledge. All manufacturers will recommend that you get similarly sized mains & reserves. Do your homework and find out why. I personally believe that there shouldn't be more than one or two size difference between the two. Don't wait to be spoon-fed (occasionally dodgy) knowledge on the forums. Seek it out from reliable sources, like the manufacturers, your instructors and specialized schools. Have fun & jump jump jump! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #10 November 8, 2005 QuoteIi weigh 152lb, looking for a rig, and wandering if 126sq ft reserve is an OK size to get. NO. 170 square foot main and (especially) reserve canopies would be appropriate. 100 jumps before you switch to a 150 main would be a good idea. When things go bad they do so quickly. You're picking the parachute for what happens when people guess wrong about the wings aloft and you have to land cross-wind in a concrete parking lot. A wingloading over 1.0 is never appropriate for F111 mains like the PD150 since they get porous with a few hundred jumps and don't provide a strong flare. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #11 November 8, 2005 Hey Darius, Lots of others have already told you not to get the 120 ish sized reserve. I agree with them and i will give you another example. I have a few more jumps than you. Like you, my canopy skills are pretty good so far. My canopies are much smaller than what you are talking about but the principle is the same. I bought a rig to fit a main, with little concern of reserve sizing. I had a mal, chopped it, and flew that reserve for the first time. It flew fine and i landed safely in the peas. I was so concerned with the "what if's" with a reserve that small that i sold the rig and got one with a larger reserve. Remember that a reserve is your last chance. I know i could land that reserve safely if and when everything else was ok. What if i was unconscious, arm broken/dislocated, etc. In that instance, i didn't feel that I could land that reserve under abnormal circumstances. Selecting gear can be a trying time, listen to your instructors and choose wisely. There is always other gear available. Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yardhippie 0 #12 November 8, 2005 I hate to chime in on this, but heres my circumstances: Ive had a PD143 since I bought my gear at jump number 25 or so. I had my first mal this summer, at around 550( in 4 years) jumps. I fly a well loaded tapered canopy as a main. After my chop I had time to do a practice flare, and fly my reserve just a bit. I had a large field to land in, and stood it up no problem. BUT, if i was in tight quarters (yards, buldings, etc) I could be in trouble, as I had a good bit (50-60) feet of ground coverage from the 10' to ground vertical height. I dont plan on down sizing my reserve at all, If it can be helped. Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
