Buying a reserve parachute — the guide
Round, square or steerable — the Mayday range with the numbers from APCO's comparison table, plus the repack duties from the manual.
The reserve is the last resort when the main wing is no longer flyable. The choice comes down to maximum load, sink rate, weight and packing volume — all numbers APCO documents per variant in the Mayday comparison table. On maintenance: APCO’s manual strongly recommends a repack every six months; in Germany a repack is mandated at least annually.
The three constructions of the Mayday range
- PP (classic round) — the proven round canopy in 16/18/20 gores, as Regular, Light and Superlight.
- Square — the 16-gore square canopy with, per the comparison table, a lower sink rate at comparable maximum load and a smaller packing volume.
- G-MD (steerable) — the steerable variant; after opening, the descent direction can be steered (datasheet: 4.9 m/s, steered 4.0).
The direct comparison with all numbers: Mayday Square vs PP.
The numbers from APCO’s comparison table
Weight without container, sink rate at maximum load:
| Model | Area | Weight | Packing volume | Sink rate | Max load | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square 100 | 25 m² | 1.320 kg | 3,000 cm³ | 5.1 m/s | 100 kg | EN tests |
| Square 140 | 33 m² | 1.680 kg | 4,800 cm³ | 5.1 m/s | 140 kg | EN tests |
| Square 160 | 38 m² | 2.140 kg | 5,320 cm³ | 4.9 m/s | 160 kg | EN tests |
| PP 16 (Regular) | 23 m² | 1.890 kg | 4,000 cm³ | 6.3 m/s | 106 kg | DHV |
| PP 18 (Regular) | 30.4 m² | 2.220 kg | 4,950 cm³ | 5.4 m/s | 120 kg | SHV |
| PP 20 (Regular) | 37.5 m² | 2.690 kg | 5,400 cm³ | 5.4 m/s | 160 kg | AFNOR/CEN |
| PP 18 Superlight | 30.4 m² | 1.597 kg | 3,950 cm³ | 5.1 m/s | 115 kg | EN EP021.2009 |
| PP 18 Light | 30.4 m² | 1.922 kg | 4,800 cm³ | 5.1 m/s | 120 kg | LTF |
How to choose
- Maximum load first: hold your take-off weight (pilot + complete equipment + motor if applicable) against the max-load column — the table’s sink rate applies at maximum load.
- Construction: lowest sink rate and smallest volume → Square; the classic round canopy in three weight classes → PP Regular/Light/Superlight; steerable → G-MD.
- Container compatibility: does the variant fit your harness? On the ChairBag V the container is integrated under the seat, on the Hike it is external — we check the combination before delivery.
- Tandem: the range carries the PP Tandem for that — solo variants are not designed for two-seater loads.
The care duties from the manual
APCO prescribes for the Mayday range:
- a repack every six months by a qualified person
- an annual airworthiness inspection
- after every deployment: repack before further use
- after ten deployments: inspection by the manufacturer
- after ten years at the latest: retire the reserve
These intervals apply regardless of whether the reserve was flown. What happens during a repack is in the glossary.
Repacks via Flyapco
We coordinate the Mayday repack via the workshop in Taufkirchen near Munich — enquiries by mail. On a new purchase we clarify container compatibility and the first service date right away.