Shortening steering lines

[ncfitzge 0]

Do many people shorten their steering lines? Most of the mains I have jumped so far, you have to flare past your crotch. But I did jump one that the flare was at your stomach and also more responsive to turning. I am going to purchase a Pilot and was wondering if it was a common practice to shorten the lines to get this effect.

Thanks for the help.

#148 Sonic Scrat
"Have you ever kissed a rabbit between the eyes?" Woodpecker pulling out his pants pockets to the waitress

[dbattman 0]

Personal preference. I prefer the stall point to be full extension plus a shoulder roll forward. Others are toggle jockeys and have them so short they stall it out on landing if they're not careful. Shortening the lines will give you that quick response turning, but the question is SHOULD you have them that short right now?

Talk to some good canopy pilots/coaches and instructors on where you should set your steering lines. Personally I would err on the side of safety right now- there will be plenty of time to femur later on.

[masterrig 1]

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Do many people shorten their steering lines? Most of the mains I have jumped so far, you have to flare past your crotch. But I did jump one that the flare was at your stomach and also more responsive to turning. I am going to purchase a Pilot and was wondering if it was a common practice to shorten the lines to get this effect.

Thanks for the help.

_________________________________________

Depending on the line type. Spectra line, due to shrinkage, I set to the marks and tell the owner of the parachute that they will shrink, within a few jumps. Most student parachutes that I've seen have Dacron lines that 'stretch' a bit. Also, most student parachutes are 'de-tuned' and you have to flare to your crotch. In General, manufacturers, mark their steering lines where they 'recommend' they be set. I have one customer who bought a new Stiletto with Spectra lines. He wanted me to shorten the steering lines because, as he said it; "I don't want to have to flare past my chest!" I did and about every 10 - 15 jumps, I'd have to let them out "About an inch!" It wasn't long and the last time I let them out... was at the original marks. To sum it up, I set brake lines to the manufacturer's marks.


Chuck

[ncfitzge 0]

Thats what I was thinking too. Depending on where the stall point is on this canopy, cause I have noticed it is different even on the same type of canopy, I will have them shorten the stall point to my belly.

Anyone know of a good novice canopy course / coach in SC?

#148 Sonic Scrat
"Have you ever kissed a rabbit between the eyes?" Woodpecker pulling out his pants pockets to the waitress

[skytash 0]

I asked my rigger to do a full inspection of my main on the last re-pack, having put around 200 jumps on it. He called me to tell me that the steering lines were 8 inches too short! None of the other lines were out of trim, they'd been set that way by the previous owner (I bought it with 20 jumps on it).

He asked whether he should lengthen them to their standard setting. I'd enjoyed nice high steering and a short flare and wasn't too sure about it. The first couple of jumps I found a little awkward as the canopy didn't feel as responsive and I was flaring too short, however quickly got used to it. The new setting has actually really improved my flight and landing as the canopy is actually flying at full drive now! I can get back from further spots and have longer surfs.

His guidance was that the steering lines should still be able to bow in flight when you are reaching for your front risers (not something I do too often btw) so that the canopy is still in full drive when you are using the fronts.

Just something to think about!

tash

Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

[jakee 1,594]

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I will have them shorten the stall point to my belly.

Bear in mind that if you shorten the brake lines too much you will be flying with constant input on the canopy so you won't get full glide and as a result the flare will become less effective etc. You may also find that the canopy starts bucking when you use the front risers.

Long story short - shorter brake lines not neccesarily better.

Was the canopy that felt 'snappier' to you made by a different manufacturer? Different makes of canopy respond differently to different amounts of toggle. Eg a safire 2 I jumped (same size as my sabre) needed much deeper input to get the same reaction, but when I used the full toggle stroke the flare was immense and the turns fast.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[ncfitzge 0]

The best one I tried so far was Spectre, besides that I was jumping old Sabre 1 and Falcons and a couple other student. I just ordered a new Pilot and she is going to put them at the stock places. I will try that and see how it goes....

#148 Sonic Scrat
"Have you ever kissed a rabbit between the eyes?" Woodpecker pulling out his pants pockets to the waitress

[tso-d_chris 0]

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Do many people shorten their steering lines? Most of the mains I have jumped so far, you have to flare past your crotch. But I did jump one that the flare was at your stomach and also more responsive to turning. I am going to purchase a Pilot and was wondering if it was a common practice to shorten the lines to get this effect.

Thanks for the help.

If you are flying at full flight, and the tail of the canopy is deflected, your steering lines are too short. The downside to this is that the canopy cannot produce lift as efficiently as it can with proper length steering lines.

A more common modification is to lengthen steering lines so that the tail is not deflected when the front risers are pulled with toggles in hand.

Flaring a canopy is not the best time to rely on muscle memory or arm position. It is more important that you be able to see your descent arrested as you look towards the horizon, as well as feel the proper pressure pushing up against your legs from the harness. Similar canopies can have your arms in significantly different positions at the same point in your landing.

For Great Deals on Gear

[mjosparky 4]

With your level of experience and currency it is probably better to set them at the manufactures suggested length. It is real easy to get behind the power curve if you change the control line setup. Spend some time learning about the canopy and make any decision to shorten on what you have learned and know, not what you heard someone else say. jmo

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[ncfitzge 0]

Yep, GravityGirl helped me out a lot. Talked me out of a few things I was going to do. She Rocks!

#148 Sonic Scrat
"Have you ever kissed a rabbit between the eyes?" Woodpecker pulling out his pants pockets to the waitress

[mjosparky 4]

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Yep, GravityGirl helped me out a lot. Talked me out of a few things I was going to do. She Rocks!

From what I have heard and know from her posts here she is one that will keep you safe if you listen.
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[woodpecker 0]

JESUS CHRIST FITZ! Havent even gotten the damn thing yet and already trying to change it. I have an idea....lets get it next month, you and I go jump and then you can start wondering where to spend money you dont have yet.....

1.5 weeks till I get there and its on. Talk soon brotha!

Congrats again on your SECOND rig. Maybe this one will fit and you wont have to sell it.

SONIC WOODY #146

There is a fine line between cockiness and confidence -- which side of the line are you on?

[billvon 3,111]

>I am going to purchase a Pilot and was wondering if it was a
>common practice to shorten the lines to get this effect.

Pilots usually come with pretty long lines. If you are ever going to try front riser approaches, I recommend the lines be set long enough to grab your front risers and pull them down _without_ deflecting the tail. If not, they can be a bit shorter.

Generally you won't know what your line trim is like until your first jump. Too long is better than too short, which is why many canopies (like the Pilot) come with longish settings. Also, brake lines shrink, so if you go 2" longer than you think you need, you will have some leeway as they shrink.

[ncfitzge 0]

GravityGirl was saying I should be able to pull them down 6 inches before it starts to move the canopy. So thats what I was going to plan on for the first little while.

Also, I want to learn how to do front riser approaches, but I do good enough crashes without them right now. I'm going to do some basic canopy courses first.

#148 Sonic Scrat
"Have you ever kissed a rabbit between the eyes?" Woodpecker pulling out his pants pockets to the waitress

[billvon 3,111]

>GravityGirl was saying I should be able to pull them down 6
>inches before it starts to move the canopy.

That's a good rule of thumb. I wouldn't go any less than 2 inches of slack. 6 inches will give you lots of margin for line shrinkage - as long as you can flare deep enough, that is. With most canopy/harnes/riser combinations it's not a problem.

[ncfitzge 0]

Doing an Icon with standard risers...

I have heard good and bad about the front riser pressure of the Pilots. Is it harder to pull the the orginal Sabre 1s?

#148 Sonic Scrat
"Have you ever kissed a rabbit between the eyes?" Woodpecker pulling out his pants pockets to the waitress

[billvon 3,111]

>Is it harder to pull the the orginal Sabre 1s?

I find them a bit easier, at least when comparing my Pilot 150 to my old Sabre 1 150 (now blown up.)

[ncfitzge 0]

Sweet, If it is easier than a Sabre I should be fine. Just need to buy extra knee pads heheh. Heard Pilots are a lot faster.

#148 Sonic Scrat
"Have you ever kissed a rabbit between the eyes?" Woodpecker pulling out his pants pockets to the waitress

[bob.dino 1]

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Heard Pilots are a lot faster.

If they're the same size, nope. Read II A here.

Of course, once you start to play with control inputs, all that changes.

[ncfitzge 0]

Cool Thanks. But it is true that the Pilot has more glide and faster turns correct?

#148 Sonic Scrat
"Have you ever kissed a rabbit between the eyes?" Woodpecker pulling out his pants pockets to the waitress

[bob.dino 1]

I assume that by "more glide" you mean a flatter glide angle?

Either way, I've never jumped one, so anything I tell you about how they fly is just parroting someone else here...

[sirenoremac 0]

A Pilot is noticably faster in the turns than an original Sabre. As for the glide, I would say they are pretty similar, although I haven't jumped a Sabre in a while, so it's a little hard to compare. Front riser pressure is a little lighter on a Pilot as well.

[dragon2 2]

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Cool Thanks. But it is true that the Pilot has more glide and faster turns correct?

A Sabre in full flight is trimmed way steeper than a Pilot, so in full flight a same-size Pilot will get you much further.

Haven't got enough jumps on either to say if with brakes or rearrisers the Pilot will get you further as well but my guess would be yes.

ciel bleu,
Saskia