tbrown

Last spring I started putting together an order for my custom "dream rig". I'd been jumping a very nice rig for the last seven years and it still has an original 2001 model Cypres. The original owner even had a Cypres fire after a very low pull, so I knew the thing worked. It's still in the old rig and has another year or so to go before retiring.

So for my new rig I could have picked a Cypres 2 or a Vigil 2 - the only two AADs worth considering. I know I could have saved a couple hundred bucks with the Vigil - and avoided the hassle of mandatory services, because the Vigil "doesn't need them", or so they say. Vigil also has a 20 year lifespan, which I really don't have a problem with.

But I work in quality control for a living and I'm leery of a sophisticated life saving product that "doesn't need" regular maintenance. I don't mind having my Cypres 2 tested, the batteries replaced, the software updated, and any necessary repairs identified and taken care of every 4 years. I LIKE that extra layer of attention to detail.

I know AADs aren't perfect. I know the Cypres 2 isn't perfect and that anything can fail. I know an AAD only cuts the closing loop and cannot prevent a simple pilot chute hesitation. But I also know a couple people who've been saved by their AADs and that AADs have indeed changed the game for our sport. Unfortunately I keep hearing one incident report after another about the Vigil, the AAD that "doesn't need" maintenance until something "happens". I'll stick with the Cypres 2. I set it in the morning and then forget it's there. I am responsible for pulling my reserve handle. But as frightening as the idea of a reserve deployment at 750 ft. is, it still beats punching a crater by a mile. So my decision was to spend the extra money on a Cypres 2, and that is the AAD that is placed in my new rig.

Got my new ZPX Pilot (a 188) about a month ago. This is my third Pilot. I should mention that this time around I demo'd a Safire 2 and a Pulse as well before making my choice and decided to stick with the Pilot.

This is a lighter canopy, I can feel the difference holding it when I pack. But contrary to the advertising, the thing is a real bitch to get in the bag, but no worse than any other brand new ZP, so I know that situation is already improving with time & a little patience. Also because it's brand new it traps a lot of air and so far is not packing smaller, but friends who have a couple hundred jumps on their ZPX's assure me it will start to pack dramatically smaller.

I'm happy about the openings, which I think are a little bit quicker, but every bit as soft as the regular ZP version. It's fun to fly and has a great flare with lots of lift. I think once it gets broken in a little bit things are going to be just fine.

I recently bought an all new rig and went for a 176 Optimum as my new reserve. Yesterday at Chicks Rock, I decided to put a demo jump on one to see what kind of a canopy I've got "behind Door # 2". After a few quick formalities, the PD team quickly and cheerfully installed the 176 into my main container and I was off on my next skydive with a double Optimum rig - one way or another, I'd be landing under my current reserve !

The jump was a casual "boogie" 8 Way belly load, so I threw it out at terminal. The opening was quick, really quick, but quite comfortable. Just what I'd want from a reserve in a real emergency. The canopy flies like a snappy 7 cell (possibly because it IS a snappy 7 cell). I checked for a stall point, and found that I could indeed stall it; briefly repacking it, but it re-inflated smoothly when I let the toggles up a few inches. I flew the canopy downwind, towards the landing zone, but encountered too much "boogie traffic", so decided to head back upwind into the wide open spaces of Elsinore. The canopy covered more ground than I'd even expected.

The landing was stupendous ! Now the 176 is the smallest canopy I've jumped (my main is a 188) and the 7 cell glide path is steeper than what I'm used to with a 9 cell, so I found it comparatively "ground hungry". But I was no more than halfway into my flare, in light & variable winds, that I started laughing out loud. Touched down on one foot and walked it out. I've never had such a sweet landing in my life, under ANY canopy !

In summary, I'd like to thank the PD crew at Chicks Rock for their wonderful friendly assistance - and to thank PD for creating a reserve that gives me a tremendous sense of confidence for the next time things go wrong.

I've been jumping with a PD193 (WL 1.25) in my rig for over 3 years and had never seen my canopy outside of a rigger's loft at repack time. Until last summer, when a slammer opening blew my main canopy to pieces. With my 9 cell suddenly reduced to a 7 cell with no steering lines and blue sky visible through several holes and tears, I bid my main farewell and went to my handles. Although I did pull silver, my RSL beat me to the punch. This was a subterminal opening, so no surprise that it was soft. But it was very quick and on heading (thanks also to my rigger).

But only then did I discover what a joy this canopy is to fly, and not just because it was an open reserve that was saving my life. It wasn't sporty or zippy, but it was just the seetest ride. It handled so nicely and responded wonderfully to the toggles. I was able to put down on the the grassy strip at Perris, which is rather small compared to dropzones in the grassier parts of the country. And the landing was a very comfy standup. And I'd even forgotten to make a practice flare on the way down. I love this reserve !

P.S. Some 3 1/2 years later I've now experienced a terminal opening on my PD, after a pilot chute in tow malfunction. The opening couldn't have been better - it was quick, clean, on heading, and surprisingly soft. After all the horror stories I've heard about terminal reserve openings, I thumb my nose and say "Not with a PD !". It's everything a reserve could be - right when you need it the most. Eventually I'll replace it with an Optimum, but for now I'm in no hurry.

My wife and daughters gave me a Pro Dytter for my last birthday. I'd been meaning to get one for a long time, but hadn't got around to it, so they did that for me (especially after having had an unintentional low pull last year).
I'm "old School" and had never used an audible before, but now I'm wondering how I ever got along without one. I stick the thing inside one of the ear pads in my Mindwarp helmet, which has a pocket for audibles. I wear earplugs anyway when I jump and I find that I can hear the beep tones just fine, without being too loud or shrill. Haven't busted my hard deck yet, so I've only heard that alarm on the ground when I want to check the unit. Being able to change the breakoff setting in the plane is really convenient and easy to do. Now I can concentrate on the dive, instead of repeatedly looking at my dial alti (which I still use) near the end of the freefall.