🪂 How to choose the right reserve parachute?

Choosing a reserve parachute is an essential step for any pilot. The choice of model depends on your practice, your harness, your priorities (weight, stability, sink rate), and your budget. This guide will help you make your choice.

What type of parachute should I choose?

We distinguish 3 main types of reserve parachutes:

🪂 Classic parachutes: These are the simplest. They can be of various shapes (round, square, triangular, etc.) and weights. All they require is to open when needed. Weight: between 1 and 2 kg, depending on the size.

• ✅ Simplicity, reliability, reduced cost
• 🔸 Ideal for recreational or beginner pilots
• 📦 Compact and compatible with most harnesses

🪂 Lightweight or ultralight parachutes: Their main characteristic is their low weight. They are also less bulky than conventional parachutes. Weight: 750 to 1100g depending on the size.

• ✅ Weight and size
• 🔴 Price (20 to 30% more than a classic model)
  
• 🔸 Ideal for beginners or experienced pilots looking to equip themselves lightly.

🪂 Rogallo Parachute (blimp): They allow you to steer once the reserve parachute is open, which is not the case with conventional parachutes.

• ✅ Possibility of piloting, very good stability, very low sink rate
• 🔴 Weight and size, price, and the need to take care of it after opening.
  
• 🔸 Ideal for acrobats and aerialists.

What size should I choose?

Choosing the right size for a reserve parachute is essential to ensure a good sink rate when used. Objective: a sink rate ≤ 5.5 m/s according to the EN 12491 standard. This choice depends mainly on your PTV (Total Flying Weight). Here is our guide to correctly sizing your reserve.

⚖️ Calculation of the PTV (Total Flywheel Weight):

The PTV corresponds to your full flight weight:

• Weight of the pilot in clothes + shoes
• Harness + reserve + sail + instruments + bag
• Possible accessories (water bag, helmet, etc.)

💡 we generally add between 10 and 15 kg to the pilot's bare weight to estimate the PTV.

📐 Choose a size adapted to your PTV

It is important to choose a parachute that is appropriate for your weight. Parachute manufacturers offer sizes adapted to different weight limits.

• If you are too light → slower opening, more drift
• If you are too heavy → sink rate too high

✅ Ideally, choose a parachute whose maximum PTV is slightly higher than your current PTV (approximately 0 to 20 kg)

Example:

• Driver: 75 kg
• Complete equipment: ~12 kg
• PTV ≈ 87 kg

➡️ In this case, the pilot must choose a reserve designed to accept a PTV of at least 90kg and if possible no greater than 110kg

What about used parachutes?

It is possible to buy a used parachute, this is a way to get a better price. We sell used parachutes , which belong to the equipment of our Air Sports Chamonix paragliding school. We store them in optimal conditions and they are folded every year, in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations. They are generally very recent (less than 6 months old), and their price varies between €500 and €700.

Still unsure? Contact our team, or come see us in Chamonix, we're available 7 days a week to advise you!