FIRST RIG ADVICE - Wings with a 145 Safire

[lintern 1]

I am in the process of purchasing my first rig and would like some advice.

The container is a Wings and is practically new - its only done around 10 to 20 jumps.

The main is an Icarus Safire 2 size 145 and is practically new with around 30 jumps.

The reserve is a Techno 155, 2 years old I think? I don’t think its been used?

The cypress is 10 years old so only has 2 years left on it.

I am a small/medium build at 5 foot 6 inches. I weigh 10 stone (65kg, 140 pounds).

I have been jumping for 2 years now.

For the first 18 months I did 68 RAPS jumps but struggled to get past 3 second delays (very long story!).

This year I changed to AFF which I successfully passed so I now have my A licence.

To date I have done 106 jumps being made up of:

- 68 RAPS jumps (10 of those were 3 second delays)
- 9 AFF jumps (1 extra refresher level)
- 10 consolidation jumps
- 19 solo freefall jumps

The student rigs on both RAPS and AFF were mainly a Skymaster or Manta 280.

Since gaining my A licence I have downsized to a 235, a 210, a 190 and just lately jumped a 150 Merit and the 145 Safire.

Having spent so long on RAPS I have been doing very good stand up landings for some time now and lately I have also been getting more and more accurate, even on the 190, 210 and 235 canopy's.

With an estimated 20 pounds added to my body weight to get my exit weight, my wing loading works out at 1.1 (160 pounds / 145 square foot).

My questions are:

1) Will I be OK on this size of canopy?
I fell over with quite a hard, fast landing on the 145 Safire and also turned slightly right when flaring.

I jumped a friends 150 Merit and also had a hard, fast landing and fell over.


2) When I jumped my friends Merit 150 I had really bad twists and I almost came close to chopping it - luckily I managed to stop the twists going too far up towards the canopy.

The person who had packed it is highly experienced and people suggested that I may have turned slightly on the pull causing the bag to twist - but I thought I stayed on heading when I pulled?

I have NEVER had twists on freefall before, only occasionally on RAPS.

But now I’m worried that if it was me that caused the twists I may have got away with it on the bigger canopy’s but not this smaller 150 canopy.

I didn’t get twists on the 145 Safire when I test jumped it, nor on any other of the canopy’s I downsized to.

Could it have been me or the packing? Its not likely to happen on this rig I am buying will it?


3) Would it be possible to put a 170 main in the Wings container? Even though it currently has a 145 Safire ZP canopy in it? Is there a way I can find out if a 170 will fit in the container? Or is it just the case of trying a 170 to see if it fits?

[Zoter 0]

Definately an 'Ask your instructor' one....they will know you best and will know whats best for you.
I think alot more goes into canopy selection than size and wingloading.
Judging by the in depth info you have provided, they will surely be able to steer you right......theres plenty of Staff at Langar and Hinton too who will give you quality, valid advice....if you ask them

You should also consider that you MAY have to wear weight on some RW jumps (depending on who you are jumping with, but us low timers cant always be too choosy now can we ?)....to stay with the crowd.....and this will 'load' whatever canopy you have just a bit more...

[piisfish 140]

the rig and canopy should be fine, but do you have the level to fly them ?? Not only in good conditions ??

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[Chrisky 2]

Don't wanna be rude, but half a page down is the same thread by the same author minus the question whether a 170 will fit in the container...

To answer the question: Wings are very comfortable and they have excellent customer service. If you look at the rigs type and serial number, they will be able to tell you which main canopy sizes it was designed for. You should be able to find that info in a small pocket on the back of the mudflap on the right MLW. You might also find the Reserve Data card there, from which you might see whether the reserve was always packed for a scheduled repack or also inbetween (due to cutaway or anything). Probably not if the Reserve is older than the Container. Ask the owner if he still has the other Reserve Data card if you really want to know if there's a jump on it or not.

HTH

The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open.
From the edge you just see more.
... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

[DJL 235]

Quote

1) Will I be OK on this size of canopy?
I fell over with quite a hard, fast landing on the 145 Safire and also turned slightly right when flaring.

I jumped a friends 150 Merit and also had a hard, fast landing and fell over.


2) When I jumped my friends Merit 150 I had really bad twists and I almost came close to chopping it - luckily I managed to stop the twists going too far up towards the canopy.

So you're saying you had a few rough landings in ideal conditions? What if after those line twists you realize that you're not going to make it back to the DZ and all of a sudden you're faced with putting it into a tight spot, crosswind or downwind, with obstacles like tree trunks or telephone pole and wires to weave through (resulting in more speed)?

Also, no canopy turns on it's own during a flare. You're flying it...you were steering slightly to the right during your flare. Keep flying your canopy until it's packed for the next jump.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher