Spectre?

[popsjumper 2]

for NewGuy.


For everybody:
I got a couple of really nice PMs from people concerned that I had a bad experience with PD.

Just to clarify...I have no negative feelings at all towards PD...just that one Bozo. PD is more or less driving the market these past few years and you gotta respect that. They build some quality stuff.

If I gave the impression that I am snobby about any one canopy or manufacturer, please know that I am not like that. I merely mentioned my Triathlon because that was what got the Bozo started on his rampage.
For those who assumed otherwise....

Having said that, I gotta speak up for my sweetheart. She has protected me for a long, long time. I would marry her if she could sign the pre-nup.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[fcajump 164]

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Jumped a Spectre for the first time today; I'd been told that it has tremendous openings, always on heading, etc. and is a great "general" purpose canopy that can seriously fly if pushed.

My opinion (after only two jumps) is that while it is indeed wonderful at opening, on heading both jumps, even though I packed it differently for each jump....it's a sluggish canopy that doesn't offer much in the way of response to hard turn input (both harness and toggle), and doesn't flare as nicely as I'd been told.

Coupla caveats; It's a demo, so it's spankin' new and maybe isn't trimmed out like it might be were it a purchased canopy.

Also, winds were very high today, so both jumps were within 15-20 mph winds.

The penetration of the 170 Spectre was slightly less than my Silhouette.

Am I expecting too much, or is the Spectre really just an "all around/general purpose canopy" that might be great for accuracy, but not much performance for anything else?

I've only a few jumps on my Sp-230 (~500), but my opinion is that the openings are great and performance is very flexible. Would buy a new one if I had the cash. However the conditions I jump in are: minor back problems, many show jumps in all weather conditions (variable winds to ~20knots), in hot humid and dry cold. I need to look (and be) safe for the audience.

If I was doing serious (classic) accuracy, swooping or CReW, no... in all cases there are better canopies for the specific use.

However, I am looking to get it retrimmed (relined?). The opennings are getting longer and longer and in ~1 in 4 openings the canopy osolates fore/back until I get on the front risers. I know it is a developing trim issue and am waiting for the end of the show season.

JW

Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

[Kolla 0]

Hey Douglas!

Sounds like we might share an experience on that one. I never got along with the Spectre that well - I don't hate it, but never fell in love with it. I guess I'm just a "9-cell" kind of person
Choosing a canopy ultimately boils down to personal preferences, just like when picking a car or clothes or even choosing the foods you eat.

What feels responsive to you, may be sluggish to others - the different canopies definitely have different personalities and it's all about finding the characteristics that appeal to you.
So demo away - trying the canopies in my opinion is the far best way to find out if the 2 of you have compatible personalities :)


Have fun exploring!
kolla

Blue Skies Magazine

[Butters 0]

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I've only a few jumps on my Sp-230 (~500), but my opinion is that the openings are great and performance is very flexible.

Do you do anything special when packing? I am consistently on-heading but vary between "slow and soft" and "fast and hard". (I want a "medium, soft, on-heading"). Thanks.

"That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch

[fcajump 164]

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I've only a few jumps on my Sp-230 (~500), but my opinion is that the openings are great and performance is very flexible.

Do you do anything special when packing? I am consistently on-heading but vary between "slow and soft" and "fast and hard". (I want a "medium, soft, on-heading"). Thanks.

Propack, nose: no roll, just pushed into center. Make sure the slider is fully set.

WITH the current (out of) trim... I get either slow/soft or slow..snivel...surge (light)...

My biggest concern is that I am so used to the snivel that I will get complacent and wait on it too long.

JW

Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

[cloudseeker2001 0]

I have 20 jumps on new Spetre 210.......does not turn as fast as my 9 cell 240, but opens so slow, at times I wonder if it will ever open! The flare is a little late too, but thats not bad.....I think it a very safe canopy.

"Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance,
others mean and rueful of the western dream"

[Elisha 1]

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I do not recomend Saber 2's for camera jumpers. Their openings suck, comparatively.

_Am

I know a camera flier who jumps Sabre1's....with the regular factory un-modified slider...and they are 150+ in size. To each their own...

[Couloirman 0]

I love my new spectre 170. Doesnt always open on heading(I still suck at packing), usually opens pretty soft, relatively fast toggle turns(to me) and relatively light front riser pressure(to me). I think the factory steering lines may be a tad long for people with short arms, but at full extension I can get a perfect flare, and no matter how long I hold it at full brakes up high can not reach the stall point(but can easily reach it with rear risers). Overall a great canopy, I cant wait to put ~200 jumps on it and downsize to something a little more responsive though. Really, really easy canopy to fly well.

[d123 4]

Spectre guys:
How is spectre opening on a hop&pop? Hop&pot out of a C206 with airspeed around 50mph~90km/h (not full speed). My spectre usually takes 800-1000 feet to open from terminal.
I'm trying to squeeze few last jumps before winter and it's a cloudy this weekend, go figure. I might be looking into doing 3500 hop&pops but if it takes 1000+ feet to open I'll pass. I'm hopping that it'll take less altitude from a hop&pop.

DSE: did you bought the spectre?

Lock, Dock and Two Smoking Barrelrolls!

[hookitt 1]

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Spectre guys:
How is spectre opening on a hop&pop? Hop&pot out of a C206 with airspeed around 50mph~90km/h (not full speed). My spectre usually takes 800-1000 feet to open from terminal.
I'm trying to squeeze few last jumps before winter and it's a cloudy this weekend, go figure. I might be looking into doing 3500 hop&pops but if it takes 1000+ feet to open I'll pass. I'm hopping that it'll take less altitude from a hop&pop.

Very few canopies actually take 1000 feet from pilot chute release to open canopy. It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibilities but quite often it’s not so.
A hop-n-pop generally yields an opening that takes a similar amount of time, however much less vertical distance to open. 3500, go for it… chances are you’re open not much lower if any below 3000. Remember, it takes around 11 seconds to fall the first 1000 feet so you have a lot more time.

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[Anvilbrother 0]

I had almost 100 jumps on my Spectre 230 loaded at 1.2ish. It opened ok, but would rarely fly directly into the wind it would steer to one side. I never fooled with it enough to find out if it was harness input, leg straps, trim, brake adjustment ect. I just held a rear riser down 1 /2inch or so on final and then let up to flare. It was a really slow turn so more of a nusance than anything. I had a toggle come loose in a new wings rig on a jump so I dumped high to fix. It opened into a spin with the brake line all tangled up beyond repair. I was in a downplane spiral at about 3500ish at this point. I cut away spinning and had a good reserve after that. I might try a triathalon or pilot this go around once I decide on what brand rig to get.

Postes r made from an iPad or iPhone. Spelling and gramhair mistakes guaranteed move along,

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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I had almost 100 jumps on my Spectre 230 loaded at 1.2ish. It opened ok, but would rarely fly directly into the wind it would steer to one side. I never fooled with it enough to find out if it was harness input, leg straps, trim, brake adjustment ect. I just held a rear riser down 1 /2inch or so on final and then let up to flare. It was a really slow turn so more of a nusance than anything. I had a toggle come loose in a new wings rig on a jump so I dumped high to fix. It opened into a spin with the brake line all tangled up beyond repair. I was in a downplane spiral at about 3500ish at this point. I cut away spinning and had a good reserve after that. I might try a triathalon or pilot this go around once I decide on what brand rig to get.

There's probably something wrong with your Spectre. The lines may be out of trim or PD may have built the turn in.

Either way, shipping it b back to them will produce a diagnosis. They also have a history of making things right when its their construction error.

Get a demo sent out of something you'd like to try while it's in for repair.

[pre7117 0]

I have about 100 hop n'pops on my Spectre 210 1.1 out of a c182. Dump out the door at 3500 and I would be in the saddle about 2800. I like to get off the hill first but same either way. You have the forward speed to help if you dont want to get of the hill.

HELLFISH 429
POPS 11113