Student Canopies

[Andy_Copland 0]

Saw a thread about a ZP Manta and thought id ask the question.

What canopy would you put a student on?

I've flown an old F1-11 Manta and at the time had nothing to compare it to so didnt think too much about it. Anyway i hit another DZ for some fun and tried what they have their students on, it was a Navigator. I was really impressed, suddenly i realised what a flare was.

What would you like to see students on?

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[BIGUN 1,483]

There was a point of transition in the late 90's where we had a fleet of student mains that were Manta ZP's, Falcons and Raider 220's. Then I went to work at another DZ that only used Navigators and I think they are great.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[voodew1 0]

we use Sabres, Safires, Spectres and Triathlons --- from 250 down to 190
it would be nice if we had a 290

The pimp hand is powdered up ... say something stupid

[BIGUN 1,483]

I agree that Sabres and Safires are good to learn on also. If they're going to be learning how to fly a canopy; why not learn on something that will probably be one of their first genre of canopy.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[DougH 270]

Along the same school of thought I learned on a hornet, at a modest wingloading. It was the perfect starting point for when I transitioned to smaller pilots.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[riggerrob 643]

My students have learned under two different generations of square canopies.
The first generation were rectangular and made of F-111 fabric: Manta, Orian, Lazer, etc.
In the late 1990s, we bought a few ZP Manta and they were so good that we kept a couple - for big students - when we bought a stack of Solos.

Currently we drop most of our first-jump students with Solo 270 canopies. Later on, they transition to Skymaster 230 and Hornet 190s.
Current generation student canopies (Icarus, Navigator, Solo, etc.)are slightly tapered and incorporate a combination of ZP fabric (top skin) and F-111 (ribs and bottom skin), so that they fly like ZP, but are easier to pack.

[MagicGuy 0]

I did all of my training jumps on Navigators ranging from 260s to 200s and LOVED them. Very forgiving and nice flare power. I later jumped a PD 190 and HATED it. But that's just me.

[Yossarian 0]

i dont think ive ever hated a canopy but i definately preferred the navigator to the manta, but then the nav was much newer and slightly smaller (265-ish compared to manta 288), but then having the low experience of a student i dont think i was in such a position as to compare. all i know is when i pack student kit i prefer it to be small, f111 and old :-P

[Andy_Copland 0]

Quote

Skymaster 230

Argh my most hated canopy...

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[riggerrob 643]

Odd!
You are the first person that I heard complain about a Skymaster 230???

[Andy_Copland 0]

It looked cool with its fancy graphics But i hated the thing. I dont know if the one i was on was out of trim or what not but i couldnt fly it aggressivly to the right, would collapse.

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[peek 21]

Quote

Odd! You are the first person that I heard complain about a Skymaster 230???

The ones the local DZ have fly and land just fine, but I have seen some open so fast that I have felt sorry for the students jumping them. Kind of inconsistant in this respect too. And this was when they were new _and_ once they had a lot of jumps on them. Same with all types of pack jobs. Same with the 290 size too.