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> Skydiving Gear and Equipment: Altimeters, Audibles and AADS: Advanced Aerospace Design: Vigil

Vigil Average Rating

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Vigil

Item: Vigil 
Manufacturer: Advanced Aerospace Design   (2409 Hits)
   

Description:
The VIGIL® is the new maintenance-free multi-mode activation device that outperforms old-style AAD’s.
The VIGIL® comes

- At a very attractive price: 899 € Excl.VAT and shipping (approx.989$)

- In an attractive and useful carrying case

- With a free Cutter replacement after life saving!

The VIGIL® gives you High-reliability in an Ultra-compact Unit.

Added: 2003-07-05 | Item ID: 424


User Reviews:

Average Rating: Average Rating
Total Reviews: 6

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3 Recent Reviews:


22 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

Vigil Fire
Rated by: maggott (more about me) on 2007-07-24 02:24:38 (user reviews) Review ID:1843

Pros: Records Speed/Time
Cons: Misfires/ poor customer support

Recently on a camera load my vigil fired. Although I Pulled at 2000' my spectre snivelled...Right after opening I felt my reserve go... so I chopped a good main. With 2 out, I would have landed in the trees. I was in the saddle of my reserve above 1,400ft. I sent it in to find out what was wrong with the Vigil to make it fire so high. The company has stood by their machine that is advertises to fire at 850'. They claim some nonsense about 1100' for "transition" from belly to earth. They should not advertise 850' if the unit fires higher. They have been extremely difficult to work with and they pig-headedly claim that the device was functioning fine. I have never been so disappointed in a piece of gear, or lack of customer service as I am in Vigil. I will not put it back in my rig. It cannot be trusted. And the company is happy to take your money, but they don't care about your safety.

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50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

The Vigil AAD is a good choice for me
Rated by: michaelted57 (more about me) on 2005-11-01 00:00:00 (user reviews) Review ID:1417

Pros: no regular service required, 4 year battery, 20 year life expectancy, less expencive to own than a cypres, better progra
Cons: Not water-proof

While I certainly agree with Airtec that an AAD should be 100% reliable, I would remind readers that the Cypres went through some problems in it's earlier stages. Some have faulted the Vigil for the problem they had with static electricity causing a premature activation on the ground (while the reserve was being packed on nylon carpet in cold, dry conditons), it should be noted that the Cypres also had some accidental activations due to radio interference. The Vigils that were affected by this problem were fixed by the factory, and subsequent versions have had no problems to date. I personally like all the things I listed in the "Pros" section at the beginning of this review, but my favorite feature of the vigil is the way it determines if it should activate or not. Unlike the Cypres Expert, which decides at 1000ft to activate at 750ft if the parameters have been met (a person who deploys at a low altitude and snivels through 1000 ft at a speed greater than 78 mph will get a reserve opening at 750ft even if their main canopy is fully deployed at 900ft), the Vigil measures the speed of descent and calculates the estimated time to activation altitude every 8th of a second. The result (as I understand it) is that the situation that would result if a two-canopy-out situation in the example with the Cypres above, would not have the same potentially desaterous consequences with a Vigil. This wold have eliminated at least three two-canopy-out situations that I have witnessed over the years. This feature alone makes the Vigil a better choice in my opinion.

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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

I love my Vigil!
Rated by: svst (more about me) on 2005-08-02 00:00:00 (user reviews) Review ID:1342

Pros: no expensive 4 yr checks! lasts more than 12 years!
Cons: computer interface way to expensive

This is the best investment you can make for your gear! Unlike the other aad's on the market, this one wont cost you more cash, except when you need batteries! 20 year life span on cutter rather then throwing unit away after 12 years. Plus I can lend my gear out to students to try out with confidence by putting it in student mode, how cool is that! I love my VIGIL!

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