CYPRES 2 FAQ





When was CYPRES 2 first available?
the first CYPRES 2 Expert units left Airtec in Germany May 13, 2003

Will the smaller size of the display and unit of the CYPRES 2 fit well into the container or will there be a smaller pouch in all containers in the next months?
- the display and cutter(s) are the same size - the processing unit is smaller and it fits into the spandex pocket easier - the pocket will remain the same, as that allows you to put CYPRES 1 or CYPRES 2 into the rig, whichever you have

Will the CYPRES 2 battery (4-year life) be available for CYPRES 1?
- no - the CYPRES 2 and power supply system involves numerous advances in technology - it is much more than just a "new battery"

What portions of CYPRES 2 are field serviceable?
- the cutter (replaced if activated) and the filter (replaced after water landing) are the only field serviceable parts - there is nothing else to do beyond the 4 and 8 year maintenance (except switch it on and Skydive!)

What is wrong with the old CYPRES?
- nothing! - since the original introduction of CYPRES over 12 years ago, Airtec has been continuing research, improving CYPRES, and working on a subsequent model - there have been numerous next-generation models designed and tested, but they were not released as there were not enough advantages over the existing CYPRES - now it makes sense

Can the original CYPRES cutters be used on CYPRES 2?
- yes it will function properly, however this combination is not water resistant

Can CYPRES 2 cutters be used on CYPRES 1?
- yes it will function properly, however this combination is not water resistant

The case on my CYPRES broke last year and had to be repaired at SSK, does CYPRES 2 have a better case? is it metal?
- the CYPRES 2 case will not break, it has smooth rounded edges, and is non-metallic (which is preferred for water-resistant purposes)

Is it difficult to replace the CYPRES 2 filter after a water landing? Does it make a difference if it is fresh or salt water? How much time does it take?
- it is easy to do - every CYPRES 2 comes with the "Filter Changer" tool and a spare filter, please keep these and the CYPRES 2 User Guide in your gear bag - fresh or salt water makes no difference - the first time (because of reading the instructions) it will take a few minutes, the next time less than a minute!

Once my rig is wet, can I continue to jump?
- after water contact, CYPRES 2 should be switched off, the filter must be removed and discarded, and a new filter must be installed - this is easily performed when the reserve container and canopy is opened and air dried

How soon after the reserve has been soaked should CYPRES 2 be removed from the wet environment? How soon should the filter be replaced? Does it make a difference if it is a water landing, swoop landing, or from a wet basement while stored in a house?
- it makes no difference how the rig got wet - from a rigging point of view, there is no hurry to remove CYPRES 2 from the rig or to change the filter, just don't let it go for days!

If no replacement filter is available, can the rig be jumped?
- the rig and CYPRES 2 can be jumped with no filter on it, it will work properly (as always, make sure the rig and canopy have been dried out!), but there is no protection from water - each CYPRES 2 comes with a replacement filter and the "Filter Changer" tool along with spare loop, disc, pullup, all in the "Owner bag" which can be stored in the processing unit pouch in the rig or in the skydivers gear bag - additional spare filters are available from your dealer

How can you be so sure that the CYPRES 2 battery will last 4 years? What is so different that allowed you to get rid of the 2-year battery change requirement? I don't see how this could be from more efficient electronics alone. Is the battery a new technology type? If not, why no 2 year limit?
- one of the many items in the list of requirements for CYPRES 2 was "no battery hassle at all for the owner", it took a long time and a lot of effort to find the solution - you are correct in thinking that it is not only the electronics - without being rude, we have to say that the information is proprietary, and that we just can not explain all technical details about CYPRES, as there are those out there that have an interest that is more than just to satisfy their curiosity, sorry
- for that matter who said that CYPRES 2 even used a battery and that it only lasted 4 years? :-)

What are the dimensions of the CYPRES 2 processing unit?
- approximately 85 x 43 x 32 mm

Is the altitude reference offset capability the same as CYPRES 1?
- yes, identical! (+/- 1500 ft. or +/- 500 meters)

Seriously, why is the CYPRES 2 battery good for 4 years?
- for the user, the power supply of CYPRES 2 is actually "good" for the 12 year lifetime of the unit (as long as the 4 and 8 year maintenance are performed) - as far as the technical particulars, again, sorry as this is proprietary

I have a Expert CYPRES 2, can I use it in my new Tandem rig and just do +1150 ft. altitude adjustment?
- sorry, no, this is not safe for a number of reasons - however, you can send us your CYPRES 2 (any model) and we will change it to any other model (including the new colored button and thorough checkout) for no charge!

OK, that's great, but why can't I just choose "Expert, Student, or Tandem" mode from the display?
- with CYPRES 2 we are sticking with principles and philosophies, including "Safety First", that have been proven by our 14-year experience with skydivers around the world. Thus, the model is not able to be switched in the field for technical and safety reasons. There will continue to be no risk of accidently setting the unit in an inappropriate mode, which could result in a too high or too low activation.

Why are some of the "major teams" and "big names" turning away from CYPRES?
- because Airtec does not pay people cash money to use their product.

Why doesn't CYPRES always seem to activate in time after a cutaway?
- Expert CYPRES is intended and designed to activate when a jumper is unable to deploy a canopy or looses track of time during freefall. Because of its' 35 meters/sec. (78 mph) vertical speed activation criteria, there can be a significant delay after a cutaway until the required speed is met, depending on initial canopy descent rate, etc. Student CYPRES, with its' lower activation velocity (13 meters/sec / 29mph) reacts much faster in this situation. CYPRES should never be relied upon to activate the reserve after cutting away the main.

Are there any differences in the way that CYPRES 2 will react in any given situation as compared to the original CYPRES?
- even though CYPRES 2 uses some different hardware components, the core decision-making algorithms are identical.

Do you have a public statement regarding high performance canopies, aggressive canopy piloting, and CYPRES?
- the 2004 statement from Airtec, along with the latest update can be found at: CYPRES and small highly loaded canopies
downloadable PDF version

I want to get my Expert CYPRES 2 updated to the Speed version - how much is the cost and how long does it take?
- CYPRES 2 model conversion is done at no-charge, and takes about 2 weeks.

What happened with the CYPRES units in the Jet at Rantoul this year (2006)?
- Nothing! After the ground-overpressurization situation occured, all CYPRES and CYPRES-2 users had to do was to switch their units off and back on prior to reboarding the aircraft. We were able to loan CYPRES units to the owners of other AADs and keep them in the air.


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