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I don't have much experience with rounds. I have packed a few as paraglider reserves and belly reserves and jumped with one on my belly, but never had a ride on one. I was planning to ride one for an intentional cutaway, but never got around to it. All that to say, I don't have much ROUND experience jump-wise.

My questions are as follows, and I'm hoping some people with experiences like Rick Harrison's can chime in here that have some experience with these types of issues:

1. How low (minimum) can one typically free fall (not pca, static line, direct bag, unpacked, or pull-off) a free-packed round canopy (for example the 19' H20 over water)?
**I realize this varies based on canopy size, canopy material integrity, PDA, and several other factors. Assume that the PC is a 52" pitched upward optimally as Dwain Weston often used from 150 or so feet on squares. I am considering the 19' water round made by a major manufacturer, but I'm open to other options. Also, what are people's thoughts on a larger skydiving reserve-style round, like a 24' phantom?**


2. Does anyone know where to get my hands on a 16'-20' PDA round like those used in some certain train jumps?
I have come to understand that PDA rounds open much faster. This may be an option I'd consider for a specific jump I'm thinking about.

3. Are paragliding reserves a suitable option for PDA rounds? And are there any precautions one might think to take when using one? I don't necessarily think they're designed to accept the dynamic stress of a jump, but if it's a super-low go and throw...

4. Anyone willing to help design an 18' PDA ZP round for cost and come play mad scientist? I think it'd be nice for someone to design a ZP BASE-specific round for super-low water jumps. Maybe I'm onto something here...

5. Ideas, suggestions, personal stories/experiences, anything else I should be considering?

Thanks,
Baron

The common wisdom seems to that rounds generally open slower than squares. My limited experience with a Tektite and Phantom 24' seem to back that up. I only put four jumps on the Phantom and it opened with line twists every time. It could have just been the specific canopy and not an issue with the model in general.

I've been considering building a 16'-18' PDA tricon, but my design knowledge is limited to the Knacke paper and a small reserve like a K-XX would do just fine for the jumps I want to do.

Well... that's another question. Can anyone get their hands on a K-20 or K-22... etc. Smallest round reserve that I could buy? It's something else I'd consider. Good shape, but doesn't have to be in perfect shape.

In regards to opening speed, yes that's clearly the case. Not only do they open slower, but only begin to slow you down at the end of the opening sequence. A snivel of sorts happens for a while, then *pop*.

I am just trying to find/make/invent something round that can take the lower 175'-250' range over water. I'm still a fan of a ZP PDA 18' round with short lines. It'd be wobbly, but over water opening so low, it wouldn't matter nearly as much.

Another good question, can standard rounds be modded fairly easily to make PDA's out of them? Seems like that shouldn't take too much rigging... as in I could possibly convert a 19' h2o round into a 19' PDA? That might shorten up the opening speed.

I have a K-22. I know a guy who is selling another one that I haven't decided if I'm going to buy or not.