Canopy Sizes

[ASullivan 0]

I am just getting into the sport and i wanted to know how canopy sizing works? I am 6'4 and 190 lbs. What size canopy would i be looking for?

[Fast 0]

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I am just getting into the sport and i wanted to know how canopy sizing works? I am 6'4 and 190 lbs. What size canopy would i be looking for?

This is a question you should be asking your instructor at your DZ. They will teach you about this, wingloading, and the things that change with different canopy sizes and shapes.

If you want more reading try searching for "wingloading" and/or "first rig". There is also a good article in the safety section of this site.



Beyond that canopy sizing is based on square footage. There is some descrepencies between the numbers at times due to different ways of measuring but for the most part they are similar or close.

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[SkydiveMO 0]

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=45
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=545

And this is just a couple links here at dropzone.com Look around there is a wealth of information on this topic already out there. Use this info to beter inform yourself then discuss your options with your instructors and riggers.

[Samurai136 0]

A 190- 210 sq ft canopy.

Ken

"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian
Ken

[PhreeZone 20]

See.. I would be thinking a 210-230 would be better if he was 190 with out gear.

Talk to your instructors. They know you better then we do here.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[ASullivan 0]

I have been looking up different canopys on different websites and i have noticed that they recomend different sizes for different skill levels. I am assuming that the better you get the smaller the canopy that you need. Am i right or wrong about this?

[vdschoor 0]

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I have been looking up different canopys on different websites and i have noticed that they recomend different sizes for different skill levels. I am assuming that the better you get the smaller the canopy that you need. Am i right or wrong about this?

It's not the better you get the smaller the canopy that you need.
It's more like the better you get the smaller the canopy that you might want.

There are people that are extremely good, and still fly bigger canopies.. it all depends what you are after.

Iwan

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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I have been looking up different canopys on different websites and i have noticed that they recomend different sizes for different skill levels. I am assuming that the better you get the smaller the canopy that you need. Am i right or wrong about this?

A smaller parachute is faster and increases the severity/fatality rate of landing errors.

More experience makes jumping one less dangerous but does not eliminate the risk.

How bad of an idea this is depends on the specific jump, dropzone elevation, the individual's past experience, training, how recently they've jumped, etc.

Many people with at least a thousand jumps jump a larger parachute than the accepted standards allow for.