Mayday Rescue Parachute

One Day, Maybe, Mayday…

The Time-Proven Rescue System (since 1984)

Never fly without one!

Info

Saved Pilots

The Mayday is available in four sizes, all available with a short or long bridle, for paragliding or hang gliding. Apco also manufactures a wide range of accessories for the Mayday range. This includes front and side mounted external containers for paragliding as well as external containers for hang gliding, split bridles, long bridle extensions, UV-sleeves and much more.

Dependable
Fast Opening
Low Sink Rate
High Strength

Mayday	MD SQ	MD 16	MD 18	MD 20	MD Bi
Type	Square Parachute	PDA - (Pulled Down Apex / Inverted Apex Round Parachute
Area [m2]	25	23	30.4	37	48
Gores	N/A	16	18	20	18
Weight [kg]**	1,010	1.890	2.220	2.690	3.250
Packed Volume [cc]	3000	4000	4950	5400	6100
Packed Size [cm] Length x Width x Height	20.0 x 19.0 x 8.0	28.5x23.0x14.0	32.0x22.5x15.0	32.0x23.0x13.0	33.5x27.0x13.5
Max Load[kg]	120	106	120	160	200
Sink Rate m/sec*	5.4	6.3	5.4	5.4	5.4
Stability (1 - 5)	5	5	5	5	5
Gr. per kg. load	9.16	17.83	18.5	16.85	16.25
Canopy Material	PN9	PN4	PN4	PN4	PN4
Lines	Dyneema	Nylon 180kg	Nylon 180kg	Nylon 180kg	Nylon 180kg
Bridle Type	Short Dyneema	Short Dyneema	Short Dyneema	Short Dyneema	Long Double Bridle to connect to Spreaders
Compatible with Light Hang Glider Reserve Bridle (43006)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No (Instead order 43002L)
Certification	EN	DHV	SHV	AFNOR/CEN	AFNOR
* As measured by Air Turquoise test laboratory Stability rating by Air Turquoise (1 bad - 5 excellent)
** Excludes weight of long bridle on Hang-glider version. Add 550gr for bridle
Packed Size vs. Volume: The volume is measured by water displacement, and represents the smallest recommended packed volume, or the volume of the smallest recommended container to be used for the reserve. The specified volume is therefore far lower than the calculated volume that would be derived from the specified measurements. The Packed Size measurement represents the measurements of the factory packed, but not compressed reserve, ie. the max dimension for each axis, and in its specified deployment bag, as shipped from apco.

Over the years the basic design and construction techniques have remained the same – there is not much to improve on a winning design and best seller as Mayday, even though it is continuously perfected and polished, insuring that it is updated on even the smallest details. All four of the of Mayday parachutes are “Flat Circular Pulled Down Apex” in design. In 1998 the Mayday Bi was released in a Pulled down Apex version, and soon after the Mayday 20 hit the market.

The Mayday boasts superior construction and materials. The canopy cloth is F111 “zero porosity” ripstop nylon. The skirt and apex skirt is reinforced with 1’mil spec nylon tape, neatly wrapped and stiched with a precision four-needle machine. The line attachments have V-Tab reinforcements, sewn in place with a computerized machine, ensuring consistantly high quality and strength.

The bridle is made from 1700kg Dyneema. The attachment loop is covered with a Teflon sheath, to protect it from dangerous friction which may occur during deployment. Finally the bridle has a line sheath attached, to protect the lines where they link to it.

MSM – stands for Military Spec Monkey and confirms that our reserves are made from fabrics, designed and manufactured in accordance to the strictest Military Specifications. This adds another level of quality assurance.

The Mayday has been compared for a long time with some other rescue systems, but according to the findings of the Italian Free Flight Federation (FIVL), it still comes out on top. A series of tests, made from a fixed balloon in November 1997, attended amoungst others by Swiss Federation expert Alain Zoller. Over 20 modern reserve systems were tested.

Many vital properties of an emergency parachute were assessed, such as opening speed at high and low velocity, sink rate and stability during descent. The Mayday 16 was the second smallest parachute on test and yet it consistently performed at the top even in sink rate and stability. The only systems with a better sink rate were; 31.7m2, 34.1m2 and 43.4m2, all at least 10m2 larger than the Mayday’s 22.1m2 and in the case of the Trekking F22 at 43.3m2 nearly twice as big. The Mayday is a pulled down apex reserve parachute, which possesses the one thing that wasn’t tested – reliability. But over the years the reliability of the system has been well proven. Anatoly Cohn recalls that the system has saved hundreds of pilots around the world. At a time when trends and gimmicks regularly come and go the Mayday has been saving pilots since 1984. What other system can boast a fact like that?

Each MayDay reserve parachute is supplied in a kitbag. Which is a useful to keep other equipment in once your mayday is installed in your harness.

Options & Accessories

42025: Light Universal Bridle
49.60$

Light Universal Bridle :: Code 42025 :: Set of 2

Length: 1320mm (end to end)

Strength: < 1,700 [DaN]

Add to basket

80015: Front Container and connection bridle

Can be fitted to any certified harness on the market today.

Details

80054 – EP Front container – Bottom Part
52.80$ – 102.40$

The bottom part EP compartment is designed as a separate unit to be zipped onto the flight deck. It made from stretchable Neoprene fabric and can hold any size Emergency Parachute.

Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

81155: External Container for Mayday 16/18 – Flat Packed (container only)

Read more

Mayday	Area [m2]	Gores	Weight* [kg]	Volume [cc]	Packed Size [cm] Length x Width x Height	Sink Rate [m/s] (@ max Load)	Max Load [kg]	gr / kg (Load)***	Certification
Mayday Square	25	16	1.010	3000	20.0x19.0x7.0	5.4 @100 Kg 5.72 @120 Kg	120	9.16	EN/LTF Certification - 100kg EN Load/Drop test - 120 kg
MD 16 SLT Super Light Round	23	16	1.220	3100	24.5x18.5x11.5	6.15	100	12.20	EN Load/Drop Test by Air Turquoise
MD 16 LT Light Round	23	16	1.490	3550	27.0x21.0x10.0	6.15	100	14.90	EN Load/Drop Test by Air Turquoise
MD 16 Regular Round	23	16	1.890	4000	28.5x23.0x14.0	6.3	106	17.83	DHV GS-02-0004-88
MD 18 SLT Super Light Round	30.4	18	1.597	3950	28.5x22.5x12.0	5.1**	115	13.89	EN Certification EP021.2009
MD 18 LT Light Round	30.4	18	1.922	4800	31.0x22.5x13.0	5.1	120	15.6	LTF RG 061.2012
MD 18 Regular Round	30.4	18	2.220	4950	32.0x22.5x15.0	5.4	120	18.50	SHV PS0992.003
MD 20 SLT Super Light Round	37.5	20	2.083	4750	31.0x22.0x12.5	4.48**	130	14.80	EN Certification E.P022.2009
MD 20 LT Light Round	37.5	20	2.300	5000	32.0x23.0x12.5	4.48**	140	16.43	EN Certification EP056.2012
MD 20 Regular Round	37.5	20	2.690	5400	32.0x23.0x13	5.4	160	16.85	AFNOR/CEN 200143AP
GMD SLT Superlight Rogallo	36	16	1.950	5000	30.5x22.0x13.5	4 m/s@(90kg) 4.9m/s@(130Kg)	60-130	15.00	EN Certification EP057.2012
GMD Steerable Rogallo	39	16	2.900	5950	33.0x24.0x15.5	2.8 m/s@(90kg) 3.2m/s@(130Kg)	60-130	22.31	EN Certification EP009.2007
MD Bi Round Tandem Reserve	47	18	3.250	6100	33.5x27.0x13.5	5.4	200	16.25	AFNOR PS98228AP
MD 28UL High Capacity Round Reserve for Trikes	64	28	4.000	12600	37.0x23.0x20.0	6.3	340	11.76	EN Load test 12491:2001
Packed Size vs. Volume:
		The volume is measured by water displacement, and represents the smallest recommended packed volume, or the volume of the smallest recommended container to be used for the reserve. The specified volume is therefore far lower than the calculated volume that would be derived from the specified measurements. The Packed Size measurement represents the measurements of the factory packed, but not compressed reserve, ie. the max dimension for each axis, and in its specified deployment bag, as shipped from apco.
* Weight Excludes weight of optional long bridle for Hang-glider version: Add 190gr for Hanggliding (HG) Extension Bridle (Code: 43006), or Add 550gr for MD Bi HG Bridle (Code: 43002L)
** Sink Rate as measured by Air Turquoise test laboratory Stability rating by Air Turquoise (1 bad - 5 excellent)
*** Gram per [Kg] Load This is a unit that makes it easy to compare Reserves. The unit is calculated by dividing the weight of the reserve, by its max load rating. The lower the number, the lighter the reserve is for its carrying capacity.

Mayday Rescue Parachute

Info

Saved Pilots

Options & Accessories

42025: Light Universal Bridle

80015: Front Container and connection bridle

80054 – EP Front container – Bottom Part

81155: External Container for Mayday 16/18 – Flat Packed (container only)

Repack

Product Codes

42485: MayDay Presentation Bag