mbondvegas 0 #1 February 9, 2007 So, I'm demo'ing a spanking new Pilot. It is, at this moment, laying in my living room floor after having taken the full blunt force of my swearing rage. I currently own a 1998 Triathlon that is made of the old Gelvenor ZP and it packs soooo easily. I just can't understand how the manufacturers have decided to use the standard (sourcoat) ZP over the old SA Gelvenor type ZP. It just doesn't make sense to me. It seems that the market would choose the better product which the SA Gelvenor clearly is. I would easily pay a $ premium if I could buy a new canopy made of the old Gelvenor ZP!!! OK back to the mat with this crispy slippery peice of crap!- - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IanHarrop 42 #2 February 9, 2007 See this thread, one of the posts says that it is no longer available http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2574804#2574804 I too own a Pilot and agree packing it is a challenge "Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildcard451 0 #3 February 9, 2007 Quote So, I'm demo'ing a spanking new Pilot. It is, at this moment, laying in my living room floor after having taken the full blunt force of my swearing rage. I currently own a 1998 Triathlon that is made of the old Gelvenor ZP and it packs soooo easily. I just can't understand how the manufacturers have decided to use the standard (sourcoat) ZP over the old SA Gelvenor type ZP. It just doesn't make sense to me. It seems that the market would choose the better product which the SA Gelvenor clearly is. I would easily pay a $ premium if I could buy a new canopy made of the old Gelvenor ZP!!! OK back to the mat with this crispy slippery peice of crap! Where's my whining for you icon? Oh wait...it doesn't exist. Welcome to a new parachute. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mbondvegas 0 #4 February 9, 2007 Ha! I just needed to vent! It is now in the bag in a mostly organized fashion! - - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mbondvegas 0 #5 February 9, 2007 That is my old post on the subject...forgot that I bitched about the same thing on here the last time. "It's not available" is really not a reason. It seems that is was cheaper and better. I don't get it.- - - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IanHarrop 42 #6 February 9, 2007 Just go jump the damn thing, after 200 jumps it gets better. "Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #7 February 9, 2007 Thanks Mike, for the words of encouragement. I, like you, have a Gelvenor Tri. I'm getting a new one (arrives tomorrow, I hope) and I'm NOT looking forward to packing it. My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 9 #8 February 9, 2007 I was packing tandems for a guy at WFFC when he decided to demo a brand spanking new Tandem canopy - he got 2 different models on hooked one up on each rig. I almost strangled him. =========Shaun ========== Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpdr 0 #9 February 9, 2007 Just got my new Pilot last week and packed it for the first time last Saturday! Couldn't do it the first time - had to get a friend to help. The next two times I folded it up OK but needed an extra pair of hands to wrap the bag round it. The last couple of times I just about managed it on my own. I've not had a really nice opening yet though - they've been soft, but generally off heading and I've been shaken around the sky as the thing inflates aysmmetrically. I even had a line twist as I got thrown 180 degrees on my second opening. I'm hoping as it wears in, they'll get better... Skydiving is more than a sport and more than a job: skydiving is pure passion and desire which will fill a lifetime. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyhpp 0 #10 February 9, 2007 May the force be with you.... Check out the reply below posted a while back following a comment similar to yours Buy the canopy you want. Buy the container you want (perhaps even one that is designed to be a little tight for your first canopy so you can downsize in a year or two)... Then learn how to pack... I had a canopy that was explosive. So much so, I put it in a cardboard box and overnight it "hatched" by pushing off the strapping tape and came out of the box and covered my coffee table. But after a few pack jobs I learned a few techniques. Now I can pack anything and I am not afraid of a brand new canopy... The point... DON'T WORRY... You will be a-ok packing with whatever canopy you choose. And learning on a brand new slippery canopy is perhaps a good thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #11 February 9, 2007 Well, I did it alone : [url "http://spidernest.ath.cx/gallery/packing2006" ]here[url] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,440 #12 February 9, 2007 Mike, You know what? My one year old Pilot 168 HAS to by far be the most difficult canopy I've ever had to stuff in the bag. The first (which was four attempts) time I packed it - I literally kicked it across the hanger after it squirted out of the bag showing it who was boss. It still hasn't learned. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xlh883 0 #13 February 9, 2007 I feel your pain. I have about 30 jumps on my new Pilot 210 and am just getting the hang of packing. David Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #14 February 9, 2007 Welcome to the glorious world of Pilot ownership. Just flat-pack it a few times in a gravel driveway instead of a packing mat. You'll be good to go. (No, I'm not (entirely) serious.) PS - I still love my Pilot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
icevideot 0 #15 February 9, 2007 More pressure is not usually the answer. It shouldn't take long for your technique to catch up with the nice new gear. Enjoy it while it lasts. Of course you can always throw your new one in the washing machine with some Oxy-clean. I wouldn't do it myself but I did know this guy named Sam...."... this ain't a Nerf world." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #16 February 9, 2007 Quote Welcome to the glorious world of Pilot ownership. Just flat-pack it a few times in a gravel driveway instead of a packing mat. You'll be good to go. Wink Almost. Putting a soft carpet under a new(ish) canopy helps on bagging a lot. They can be set from silicone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #17 February 9, 2007 Quote You know what? My one year old Pilot 168 HAS to by far be the most difficult canopy I've ever had to stuff in the bag. The first (which was four attempts) time I packed it - I literally kicked it across the hanger after it squirted out of the bag showing it who was boss. It still hasn't learned. Mine has about 250 jumps on it now, and it is still a bitch to pack. But I love my pilot 168, it is well worth the packing effort. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #18 February 9, 2007 When my brother got his new Pilot, we set up a ring, had a referee and a squad of cheering section complete with pom-poms. The chute won - 2 falls out of 3. My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toolbox 0 #19 February 9, 2007 Sorry dude,but at least it's not airlocked. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZigZagMarquis 9 #20 February 9, 2007 Ha!Ha! * Laughs and Points * Welcome to the world of new ZP. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #21 February 9, 2007 I put 200 jumps on a Spectre (that had 450 jumps on it when I bought it). Very little trouble getting it in the bag with a pro pack. Then I bought my Pilot with about 200 jumps on it. I had a bitch of a time getting it in the bag (granted, it's a tight fit). I started psycho packing and I find it *much* easier to control it and so far I've had good openings. The last time I pro packed the Pilot myself, I gave myself a slammer, likely because I lost control of it while wrestling it into the bag. Someone suggested trying a psycho pack and it's really working well for me. I doubt I'll ever buy a brand-new canopy. I am more than happy to let others break them in for me. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #22 February 9, 2007 Yeah, I'm scared to pack a brand new canopy. Right now, while getting my 600 jump Sabre1-120...into an actual 120 d-bag (and not the 150 d-bag previously) isn't too tough, closing the new container is bitch! Getting a good enough grip on the pull-up cord is tough. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yossarian 0 #23 February 9, 2007 the pilot 188 i use at the mo has about 150 jumps on it and it packs fine, nothing like the f111 student canopies i pack but its still easy enough. ive got a brand spankin new 168 on the way and im not looking forward to packing it, psycho packing seems a good plan though. ive practiced it on the 188 but never actually jumped a psycho pack, something about the name puts me off... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
porpoishead 8 #24 February 9, 2007 QuoteI feel your pain. I have about 30 jumps on my new Pilot 210 and am just getting the hang of packing. David yeah, thats what I thought too, got about 30 on my spectre, then you get one of those no/low humidity days and its back to square one. its gotten me pretty good at packing though, anything with significant jumps on it I can pack in sevaral minutes.if you want a friend feed any animal Perry Farrell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MagicGuy 0 #25 February 9, 2007 LOVE packing my '98 Tri with is the easy-to-pack ZP. Packs up in no time, it's sweet. I've put about 20 jumps on a Sabre2 150 (Belinda you rock) and man it is a bitch to pack. And it's already got 200 jumps on it. It's definitely on the tight side for my container, but man, what a hassle! The first two jumps I did on it I paid a packer (after s-folding on my own, twice each time with no success) just to watch their technique. I've been using a different type of S-Fold (rolling the canopy? I forgot the name of the method) which gets it folded more compactly, making it slightly easier to get into the bag. Gotta love that Gelvenor ZP! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
