Vented canopies with ZP topskins, whole or partial

[kleggo 145]

I"m curious to see how many of us are jumping vented canopies with ZP top skins and under what conditions are we using them.

please respond if you have personal experience with jumping this configuration.

i am particularly interested in seeing if anyone is jumping this configuration at 7+ second delays and if you are, why do you choose to do so.

my only prior expereince with a zp topskin canopy resulted in unacceptably hard openings, ( my personal perspective ), for no-slider jumps.
It had ~ 125 jumps on it and had been in the water twice. The bottom skin was just a tad too porous, leading to rock-your-world openings.

thanks for your input.

be safe

kleggo

[TomAiello 26]

Terminal jumps on:

Blackjack (CR pac valves), ZP foreskin, large hole mesh slider: ~80 jumps.

I found this actually opened nicely--probably softer than my FOX 265 Vtec (no zp) with a large hole mesh slider. It was the original line configuration, and there were reports of slow subterminal slider up openings with it, so maybe that plays into it. I did have a couple slammers when flying wingsuits like this, but I think that has more to do with the forward speed of the suit than the canopy.


Blackjack (CR pac valves), ZP foreskin, small hole mesh slider: ~20 jumps.

I thought this opened super soft. If I was trying to soften the openings, I can't imagine needing to go further than this (small mesh slider).



Blackjack (CR pac valves), ZP foreskin, F-111 slider: 1 BASE jump, ~ 30 skydives.

Honestly, when I switched to the F-111 slider on a BASE jump, it scared the crap out of me. I thought it was opening way too slow for a BASE jump. The skydives I did on this slider (freepacked into a big accuracy rig and mostly dumping in the 4-5 second range), I found the openings to be totally acceptable.



My experience has been that adjusting the slider material can totally tame hard terminal openings. I think if you're having trouble with the openings, progressing your slider down from large mesh to small mesh, then to F-111 with some holes, then to solid F-111, then (if that's still too hard) to ZP, ought to find a good point of comfort. I really can't imagine anyone jumping a ZP slider and thinking the openings were too hard.

Note that for all of the above jumps, I had approximately 6 inches of titanium in my spine (i.e. I have a really bad back).


I've also put more than 200 slider down jumps on this kind of setup. I didn't have any complaints there, but I like quick slider down openings (because I'm almost always scared). I'll not worry too much about those, since it sounds like you're mostly thinking about slider up stuff.

Bottom line for me was that changing the slider was the ticket.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[FrogNog 1]

Quote

Blackjack (CR pac valves), ZP foreskin, large hole mesh slider: ~80 jumps.

Which part of the canopy is the foreskin? Perhaps I'm unsure because I'm a gentile.

-=-=-=-=-
Pull.

[TomAiello 26]

I believe it's the front 1/3rd (i.e. from the B lines forward), but that's really a question for the manufacturer.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[peterk 0]

There are easy ways to slow your openings if they are too hard slider up. Slider material choice, packing/nose rolling techniques, etc... Every time I am terminal within a few seconds of impact, it can't open up fast enough for me...

I have a ZeroP composite Ace, and a ZeroP composite Blackjack. Without rambling on and on about how they are the best canopies ever, just add ZeroP and it awe inspiring. The range of flight is incredible- it allows you to sink in ways that you wouldn't be able to with all F111, and glides like a parachute should. Flare power is increased, and it sounds much cooler when it opens than all F111. That alone should sell you. I think other than the $250 for my Hanwags, it was the best $200 I spent in BASE, without a doubt.

Best canopies ever... EVER

---------------
Peter
BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

[gweeks 1]

According to the CR website it's the front 30% of the upper surface.

You can also see where the zp ends and the f111 starts on this page:

http://www.crmojo.com/pressrelease_601.htm

[vandev 0]

ok ..that sells me....but what about opening 180....is then speed a issue?? What would be the ultimate canopy for being able to stall cleanly...to be able to back off a wall with rear riser input and front... be able to sink in..or at least acceptable...

I know ...its a wish list but as new to base i would first be looking to fill the experiance bucket to match the luck bucket and then push my skills as they mature. Maybe vents arent good for a beginner...but stuck against a object....i would vouch for more time to work out problems that i am not yet experianced enough to handel yet as auto as i should. "not everyone is able to do continues jumps off a legal and safe span" so i would assume the majority are forced to pick it up a bit...hence the "luck bucket" will dictate. I am just looking for something that at opening is not ....hunting and is ...a bit forgiving... and let me fill my skill bucket before i need to use my luck bucket.. anyone care to offer?

In the end...the universe has a way of working itself out.... "Harold and Kumar go to White Castle"

[TomAiello 26]

Quote

ok ..that sells me....but what about opening 180....is then speed a issue??

No.

Opening speed is controlled by properly finding your customized deep brake settings. It is relatively unrelated to maximum available speed in full flight.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[lifewithoutanet 0]

Quote

i am particularly interested in seeing if anyone is jumping this configuration at 7+ second delays and if you are, why do you choose to do so.

I just recently picked up a vented, full ZP topskin canopy, but I've yet to jump it on account of timing of the delivery, good judgement and reconstructive knee surgery. Needless to say, it's to be a sub-terminal canopy.

Otherwise, thirty-two jumps on an unvented Fox 245 with full ZP topskin. The longest delays I've taken were 5-6, slider up, and the openings were fine. A handful have been .5 to 1 and the majority have been in the 2-3 range, slider down. Only one opening has ever spanked me. That was slider down and was a result of body position.

-C.