GravityGirl 0 #26 March 29, 2006 >>GG, are you going to be offering demos at WFFC this year? << I think the manufacturers will be handling demos just fine. I'll likely have some used gear for sale. I'll also bring a couple of my demo rigs in case there is a need. See you there? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #27 March 29, 2006 Quote Something else mitigates it a little though, as I've just realised: the bigger you are, the more performance you'll get from a downsize: 'x' square feet down for someone weighing 150 pounds is a 33% bigger increase in wingloading for someone who weighs 200 pounds. So, in theory, even though we have to buy a new container to start, we should expect to downsize less frequently. Nope because stock canopy sizes take this into account. The size relationships between 230 vs 260, 150 vs 170, and 107 vs 120 square feet vary by less than 1%. Since canopy responsiveness acomes from both wing loading and absolute size (lines and chord are shorter), with a larger wing you'll be likely to become disatisfied sooner than some one under a smaller wing at the same loading that has more inherent performance from its size. This has a lot to do with why small people are happy under 135 square foot parachutes, even with a wing loading of less than 1.0 pounds/square foot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #28 March 29, 2006 Quote If you're really big or really small, you may have to look long & hard to find a rig that fits. I know of one little lady whose small used rig still had loose leg straps and she finally ordered a custom rig that fits her small body so she doesn't have to worry about falling through the harness anymore. Your favorite master rigger can shorten leg straps. For more severe mismatches the container maker can resize or replace the harness for a _LOT_ less than a new rig. I've heard $400 for a new harness mated to an old container; YMMV. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #29 March 29, 2006 QuoteDo you think it would be wiser to buy lower end but NEW Dolphin or Wings or etc., etc. than to rent from the DZ? My local DZ's charge $20 for rental. I know I will make at least 50 jumps this spring and that equals $1,000. I have two other brothers that are my size that are currently non jumpers so I could keep the rig in the family! Rigs and mains depreciate at about $1/jump each. A CYPRES looses about $10/month in value. At 20 jumps a month you're looking at a cost to you of $50 owning your own gear versus $400 renting from the DZ. It's a no-brainer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #30 March 29, 2006 For further reading, PD have produced Wing Loading and Its Effects. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattyblast 0 #31 April 10, 2006 QuoteBuying a brand new main for your first canopy is a waste of money that could be spent on jumps or tunnel time. I'm wondering if the Sabre2, especially in the 190-210 size range, is an exception to this general rule. That's the canopy I will be looking at getting once I'm licensed, but I'm sure many folks have noticed that used Sabre2 190s & 210s sell like wildfire. On most given days, the "wanted" ads for such canopies outnumber the very few such canopies that are for sale. And the ones that are out there are part of a whole rig which the seller is unwilling to part out. They're in high demand, hence a relatively high resale value, or so I've observed. The gear-rental $$$ saved on just one month's worth of jumps could more than compensate for the (smaller) hit taken when selling it. Thoughts?"DOOR!!!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
