Spectre

[adventurechick 0]

I am going to Demo a Spectre this weekend, and if I like it I am most likely going to be buying my first rig very soon with a spectre! So a few questions...

How will the flare on the spectre differ from the flare on my navigator? Will I have a shorter final approach? Is there anything I should be concerned about a spectre?

Likes/Dislikes?

PMS #449 TPM #80 Muff Brother #3860
SCR #14705 Dirty Sanchez #233

[GravityGirl 0]

What size Navigator?

What size Spectre?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[adventurechick 0]

I'm jumping a 200 sq. foot navigator... I'm going to demo a 210 spectre... then downsize to a 190, then to a 170 spectre.

PMS #449 TPM #80 Muff Brother #3860
SCR #14705 Dirty Sanchez #233

[GravityGirl 0]

Honestly, with those sizes and your exit weight, you may not notice a difference at all.

Just fly like you know how.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[matt1215 0]

What about PD-230 vs Spectre-210?

[GravityGirl 0]

The PD230 is an F111 canopy.
The Navigator is a Hybrid of F111 and ZP.
The Spectre is fully ZP.

Going from the PD to the Spectre, you will notice a much stronger flare. Do some practice flares up high and take time to feel how much lift you are getting.

What is your wing loading on the PD 230?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[matt1215 0]

Quote

What is your wing loading on the PD 230?

WL=0.85:1 under the 230 (I'm about 170).

[georgerussia 0]

Quote

How will the flare on the spectre differ from the flare on my navigator?

Just switched from Nav 220 to Spectre 210 two weeks before. Spectre seems to have higher forward and descend speed comparing to Navigator. The same flare speed at the same altitude as with Navigator led to nice PLF landing (but it was fine then). Basically for me I needed to start flaring higher, and you should flare slower than with Navigator.

Also I would suggest you wear knee pads at least on first jump with new canopy.

* Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

[azureriders 0]

I went from a navigator 240 to a spectre 230. I didn't notice a lot of difference in timing but the spectre had a lot more flare power. For me this meant two things during my transition, if I over done my first stage I would find my self going back up, but I also had a lot of extra flare left at the end of the second stage where I really needed it.

It didn't take long at all to get used to the spectre and I have had my best landings on it.

[GravityGirl 0]

Just switched from Nav 220 to Spectre 210 two weeks before. Spectre seems to have higher forward and descend speed comparing to Navigator. The same flare speed at the same altitude as with Navigator led to nice PLF landing (but it was fine then). Basically for me I needed to start flaring higher, and you should flare slower than with Navigator.

Also I would suggest you wear knee pads at least on first jump with new canopy.

[kelpdiver 2]

Bonnie - he wrote that he would flare slower *than* with the Navigator. IE, the opposite.

[GravityGirl 0]

Okay. I still wouldn't use the term slower.

If by slower, you mean a two stage flare then there are a couple of things to consider.

The original poster has a very light wing loading. A smooth even flare should do her well.

As for the two stage flare, you should perform it at the same speed, but there is a hesitation point.

Open up with an extra 1,000 to play. Do some practice flares. Find the point that you start to get lift. Note where your hands are. Chest level?

Assuming you have a least a 1:1 loading, when you come in for landing, hesitate at that point for half a beat. When you feel the canopy begin to sink and you feel you have to put your feet down, go ahead and finish the full flare.

IMHO, it's best to sort out your flare altitude before you put yourself on a wing loading/canopy that requires a two stage flare. My reasoning is this. When you flare too high on a lightly loaded, you hold your flare and put your feet and knees together. You come straight down. With a more loaded canopy, you'll still have forward speed in the same scenario, and the landing will be less comfortable.

So take a few jumps on a light load to sort out flare altitude.

Oh. And sorry for the jab about the knee pads. I was being a smarty pants.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!