Downsizing, sort of?

[peregrinerose 0]

I currently jump a Sabre 170. I started jumping it at a 1:1 and was very happy with it. In the last 8 months, have put nearly 80 jumps on it. However, I've since dropped quite a bit of weight and now have absolutely no penetration at all if there's even a light breeze, which sucks if I don't end up almost directly over the DZ when open, not a snowball's chance of making it back, even hanging on rear risers. My current wing loading is about .9:1

In addition, my husband's canopy is absolutely beat. He's on a Falcon 175, so my Sabre 170 would be perfect for him. We've discussed me updating and let him have my Sabre.

So, a 150 would put me at a hair under a 1.1 wing loading. I'm current, land where I want to and stand up all my landings. Since I pack at the DZ, I'm there every weekend and get at least a couple of jumps in.

I've talked with one person at the DZ who encouraged a Sabre2 150 for me, but this person also encouraged me to get a 150 straight off of student status and weighing 20+ lbs more than I do now, which I obviously didn't do. (He is an instructor and familiar with my jumping/landing)

I talked to another instructor who jumps a 150 Sabre 2 (she has never jumped with me or seen me land), and felt that it was too aggressive a canopy for a newer jumper, even maintaining the same wing loading as I started with on the Sabre due to the different design.

So, my question is, how much different in handling is a Sabre compared to Sabre 2? I'm perfectly happy with my Sabre and have no problem staying with it, just going with a more appropriate wing loading for my weight. My goal is to stay as safe as possible, so if there is a difference between the two, I'd prefer to err on the conservative side.

I do not take DZ.com word as gospel, just looking for some information from a lot more people than are on my DZ, the more I know, the safer a decision I can make.
Jen

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[AggieDave 6]

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So, my question is, how much different in handling is a Sabre compared to Sabre 2?

Significant. They're very similar in a couple of ways though. They're 9-cells, both are called Sabres and they're made by PD. That's about it though.

I'd highly highly recommend you getting a Sabre2 170 demo from PD and trying it out before just getting a Sabre2 150.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[peregrinerose 0]

There's an instructor at our DZ with a Sabre2 170 who would probably let me demo his, I'll ask him next week. No one that I know of jumps a Sabre1 150, but was entertaining the idea of trying both.

If handling is that much different, would getting a Sabre1 150 which would be the handling that I'm used to and the same wing loading that I started with on a 170 would make more sense?

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[AggieDave 6]

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would getting a Sabre1 150 which would be the handling that I'm used to and the same wing loading that I started with on a 170 would make more sense?

Possibly, but I don't think for most people its going to be that big of a deal, as long as they take the proper steps. Hence getting a Sabre2 of the same size you're jumping now and learning the differences on that before downsizing.

Even though you'll be at the same (previous) wingloading, the canopy is higher performance then a 170 (even if it was just a Sabre1), this is due to a few factors such as line length and such.

So you'll have to decide what you want to do, jump that Sabre2 170 and see if you like it (you might find you LOVE a Sabre2) then if you like that possibly move on to a demo Sabre2 150. Like I said, this is up to you and those around you that you trust for opinions.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[kelpdiver 2]

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Significant. They're very similar in a couple of ways though. They're 9-cells, both are called Sabres and they're made by PD. That's about it though.

But if she's really getting no wind penetration with a Sabre 170, it's not really going to change with a Sabre2 170, is it?

[AggieDave 6]

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But if she's really getting no wind penetration with a Sabre 170, it's not really going to change with a Sabre2 170, is it?

You've missed the point. The point is to demo a canopy of the same size when changing plane forms before demoing something of a smaller size. Not to say she should simply buy a 170 but put a few jumps on it before trying smaller.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[peregrinerose 0]

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You've missed the point. The point is to demo a canopy of the same size when changing plane forms before demoing something of a smaller size. Not to say she should simply buy a 170 but put a few jumps on it before trying smaller.

This does make sense, and was sort of what I had in mind to do anyway. Hopefully the instructor at the DZ will be willing to trade rigs for a few jumps to let me try his, if not, I'll just get a demo from PD for a couple weekends.

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda