The more things change, the more they stay the same

[faulknerwn 38]

A jumper bought out some old Parachutists today. Was reading them while watching the winds blow.. Check out the 2 sections below - both from Parachutists printed in 1992..

[Heatmiser 0]

.09 wing loading, huh?

What you say is reflective of your knowledge...HOW ya say it is reflective of your experience. Airtwardo

Someone's going to be spanked! Hopefully, it will be me. Skymama

[Beachbum 0]

I like the section from the Sabre owner's manual ... "If the wing loading is greater than 1.0 lbs./sq.ft. you are exposing yourself to a dangerous situation" ... and then goes on to say that PD doesn't recommend anyone jump a canopy exceeding a 1.0 loading! That would eliminate what ... 70% or more of their market these days??

As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

[jimmytavino 16]

not necessarily...
all it means is that people would tend to buy Bigger parachutes

as long as a manufacturer builds a quality product... they WILL have customers..


todays issues seem to be Based on,,
"i want to go FASTER>>"( as if terminal velocity freefall isn't fast enough )

and... " i want my rig to look smaller"...
which is all well and good..... but CAN lead some, down a potentially injurious route...

and a DZ where the Local EXPERTS and or DZOs' are heavily downsizing and flying bigtime wingloadings yet NOT encouraging the newbies to "think hard about following that lead"... can become troublesome...for those with only lightly developed experience levels...


jmy

the older i get the more careful i get....

[DocPop 1]

Quote

I like the section from the Sabre owner's manual ... "If the wing loading is greater than 1.0 lbs./sq.ft. you are exposing yourself to a dangerous situation" ... and then goes on to say that PD doesn't recommend anyone jump a canopy exceeding a 1.0 loading! That would eliminate what ... 70% or more of their market these days??

I thought that too.

In 15 years time students will be limited to not exceeding a WL of 2 and nobody will be allowed a cross-braced canopy until they have their A license!

"The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls."

~ CanuckInUSA

[Frankyspanky 0]

Quote

In 15 years time students will be limited to not exceeding a WL of 2 and nobody will be allowed a cross-braced canopy until they have their A license

The wingloading point is relevant, but the crossbracing not so much.

The only reason all canopies are not cross braced is cost and bulk.

If those were not a factor, then student canopies would benifit from cross bracing as they produce a more rigid and efficient airfoil.

Just because your canopy has cross braces in it, does not mean you have to dive the thing toward the ground...Lol

The first cross braces were 170sq/ft.

Back a hundred years ago, especially around Woodrow Wilson, what happened in this country is we took freedom and we chopped it into pieces.
Ron Paul

[peek 21]

Another example we have beaten to death...
From the 70's I think. I forgot to note the issue.

[jimmytavino 16]

Interesting article....thanks.
i also got a kick out of the advertisement for what we used to call,,
"The Gunby Book"...
and NO everyone,,, i did not mean to write GUMBY....( that's a whole different guy,, Dammit!!!"

the Gunby Book, of which i currently have TWO copies sitting on my bookshelf, was a witty, effective and authoritative handbook which did a great job of explaining everything from gearing up to spotting, to freefall positions, to PLFs....basically everything needed to help guide novice AND experienced jumper alike... in just about every phase of the sport.... "The sport of the Space age". hahahaha. thanks Gary...
it may be archaic Now , but it was my BIBLE when i started in this adventure....
jmy
A 3914
D 12122
nscr1817