captain1976 0 #1 August 13, 2009 I have this in my pilot rig and its never been jumped. It seems such a waste as I'm thinking about putting it into a sport container and using it as a backup rig, but I never heard of it, I just pack it when due. I would like to know its size and flying characteristics if anyone can help. I presently jump a Spectre & a Silhouette, both 230's.You live more in the few minutes of skydiving than many people live in their lifetime Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #2 August 13, 2009 Seven cell F111, 254-ish square feet. Best results when loaded at 1.0 or less. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
voilsb 1 #3 August 13, 2009 I had the opportunity to jump my Raven II G a couple weeks ago. It's a 218, so it's slightly smaller than yours. I was surprised at how much glide it had (0-3mph surface wind). Real soft landing. I didn't try to stand it up, but I easily could have. Mine was loaded at somewhere between 0.98 and 1.03. No stall issues or anything. Barely lost any altitude at all in turns.Brian Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #4 August 13, 2009 With your time in the sport and D license I'm surprised you never jumped one. If you jumped 7 cell F-111 canopies in the 80's and 90's your good to go. Less than 1.0. But it will be very different from your current canopies. If you skipped that generation of skydiving and went from rounds to ZP I'd leave it in the pilot rig. Good place for it. Besides, you'd have to get a different canopy for the pilot rig. A new round will be more than the Raven is worth.I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #5 August 13, 2009 Echoing what councilman said ... Ravens are well-respected, 1980s-vintage square reserves. Ravens fly the same as early 1908s standard mains: Cruislite, Fury, Pegasus, etc. Ravens fly great as long as you load them less than one pound per square foot, that means hanging less than 230 pounds of human under your Raven III. If you want to learn how a Raven turns and flares, put a few jumps on a Triathlon 230, because Triathlons are the nearest modern (still in production) equivalent. If you pilot airplanes - on a regular basis - you are best off leaving the Raven in your pilot emergency parachute. A new round canopy will cost way more than a decent used Raven. You do not want to waste time on old (more than 20 years ago) round reserve canopies for your PEP, because of the risk of acid mesh. Transferring your Raven to a skydiving rig may be a hassle because of pack volume. It will fit great in a student sized rig, but is probably too bulky for a "fashionable rig." IOW your Raven III will only pack gracefully into a container sized to fit a main in the 230 to 280 square foot range. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
captain1976 0 #6 August 13, 2009 Everyone, Thanks everyone who responded for the info. I'm taking the latest advise and putting it back into the pilot rig, but I'm going to make a couple of jumps on it first this weekend, that's if it will fit in my container, which it just might since I have the Silhouette & Spectre and both are 230's. I have a couple of 26 lopo's laying around that would fit the pilot rig, but after some thought I figure if I gotta get out of the airplane there is no reason I should bust myself up on landing with such a small canopy.You live more in the few minutes of skydiving than many people live in their lifetime Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScottyE 0 #7 August 13, 2009 Got a Super Raven 3 249 reserve in my Racer SST I'm about 249 pounds geared up so it should flare good Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rushmc 23 #8 August 16, 2009 QuoteI had the opportunity to jump my Raven II G a couple weeks ago. It's a 218, so it's slightly smaller than yours. I was surprised at how much glide it had (0-3mph surface wind). Real soft landing. I didn't try to stand it up, but I easily could have. Mine was loaded at somewhere between 0.98 and 1.03. No stall issues or anything. Barely lost any altitude at all in turns. I had a terminal deployment on a III. I too notice how flat the glide was. Mine was loaded a little over 1 to 1 but I had a nice easy stand up landing"America will never be destroyed from the outside, if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites