SAFA Skysailor Magazine

SKY SAILOR 25 March | April 2020 Types of reserves Most manufacturers these days offer reserves and ongoing maintenance/repack services. Before you choose which reserve to buy, do some research on the net to determine its suitability for you (don’t just take whatever your instructor sells). Ensure you buy a reserve which has been tested to your weight range. Small lightweight reserves open very quickly, but can have a high sink rate; large reserves have a lower descent rate, but can have a delayed opening and can be unstable/oscillate during the descent (check what the weight was during certification). There are four types of reserves currently used which include the Round reserve, the Square, the Hybrid and the steerable Rogallos (not including the base canopy used in specially adapted acro harnesses). Round reserve canopies (Apex Pull Down) The most common type of reserve. Fast opening, reliable, easy to maintain and pack. Pros: Very easy to pack, light weight, fast and reliable openings. Cons: Cannot be steered, higher sink rate when compared to other reserve types. Rogallo reserves The steerable reserve. Low descent rate (average 3.2m/s), steerable with forward speed (average forward speed 6.5m/s). The Rogallo cannot be steered until the main is either cut away or has been pulled in/de-powered, or there is a high risk of down-planing. Rogallos can deploy and inflate with a strong turning movement, resulting in riser twists after opening which can prevent steering altogether. Due to low stability and inner pressure, if after opening the rogallo is hit by your paraglider (main not under control/de-powered) it can easily deflate and get caught up in your paraglider lines. Pros: Steerable with lowest descent rate of all reserve types. Cons: Low stability and inner pressure, harder to pack, best used with quick outs and quirky speed bar release, enabling you to fly the Rogallo unhindered by the lines and material of your collapsed paraglider. Square reserves This style of parachute uses a square design with corner vents, resulting in a similar descent rate to a round canopy, but in a much smaller and compact package. It achieves this, and increases pendular stability by a sideways ‘tracking’ motion, which the pilot has no control of. Depending on the deployment situation, this could be a positive or negative aspect of the canopy. Pros: More stable descentwith less oscillations, small volume, fast opening, light, simple to pack. Cons: No steering, planned deployments need larger safe area due to tracking sideways motion of the descent (applicable when doing SIV over lake or acro over land in the ‘training box’. Hybrid square/round reserves This style of reserve combines the best features of the round and the square designs, resulting in a fast opening reserve, which has a good descent rate and is very stable. There is some sideways tracking, but marginal compared to a square design. Pros: Stable descent with less oscillations, fast opening, little tracking sideways, small volume, light, simplest to pack. Cons: Not steerable, some sideways tracking during descent. Parachute maintenance No matter what type of reserve parachute you choose, they must be maintained and well packed for them to work properly. Most manufacturers recommend a repack every four to six months to guarantee a fast deployment and longevity of parachute material. When repacking, the reserve should be hung and aired for two to three days prior to repacking. During this time, you can inspect the lines and parachute material (including attachment points) for any damage or degradation and compare the overall condition of the reserve from the last time you repacked it. Repacking a parachute is very easy, and I believe all pilots should know how to do it, as well as how it packs into the harness and attaches to the harness/ carabiner attachment points. The more you know about your rescue system, the safer and more knowledgeable you will be when using it. Rogallo reserve  Square reserve Hybrid square/round reserve This pilot was forced to throw his second reserve after the first did not open. The reserve was packed too tightly, with the D-bag unable to release the reserve. This was in a controlled environment above water, but would have been life threatening had the pilot been over ground and with only one reserve!