scotmill 0 #1 June 20, 2005 Wanting to get active in the sport again after a few year layoff. It was time a few years ago to make the transition to a smaller quicker parachute. I've got 900 jumps with most of them being on an accuracy canopy of one kind or another. I don't live near a major center abundant with free demo rigs but have nevertheless narrowed my choice to either a Sabre2-150 or a Pilot 150. I weigh 165 pounds. Without having a lot of experience on this type of canopy, are there any recommendations out there for a safe approach. I'm wanting to buy brand new gear, and don't want to have to upgrade again in another year after I've made a slower transition. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #2 June 20, 2005 QuoteWithout having a lot of experience on this type of canopy, are there any recommendations out there for a safe approach. Borrow or buy something that you'll load around 1.0 (in your case, around a 190). Put your first 20-50 jumps back on that - you'll be surprised how much performance you can get out of a zp main at that wingloading (far more than you are used to). ZP canopies fly and flare quite a bit differently than the big accuracy canopies you used to jump. You've got some muscle memory in your flare and old habits in landing and approach to break, better to break them under a larger, slower canopy than to break yourself because of those old habits under a smaller one. Doing a basic canopy control course shortly after you get back in the air is a very good idea. Even better to do the course and then do a bunch of hop and pops working on what you've learned. QuoteI'm wanting to buy brand new gear, and don't want to have to upgrade again in another year after I've made a slower transition. Your choice. Perhaps you'll be the one that shit doesn't happen to and be just fine under a 1.2+ wingloading right away. But perhaps not. imho the "hassles" of downsizing are far less than the "hassles" of dealing with an injury... When are you getting back in the air? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #3 June 20, 2005 Quote I don't live near a major center abundant with free demo rigs You can contact the manufactures and ask them to send you a demo. QuoteI'm wanting to buy brand new gear, and don't want to have to upgrade again in another year after I've made a slower transition. You can always buy a good used canopy and then buy new after you have done that slow transitiion. Why hurry and get new? Get back in the air and get a fell for it before spending all the money on new.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scotmill 0 #4 June 22, 2005 Thanks for the thoughts on downsizing. I'm thinking it might be prudent to get something not quite so small. My resistance to getting a 190 first, for twenty or thirty jumps, purchased or borrowed, is that I'd need a container sized to fit as well. But that may not be such a bad thing after all if I decide to stay with a 190 for a couple of years. I'm wanting to get back in the air just as soon as I get new gear. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fab 0 #5 June 22, 2005 I would suggest...go to a DZ and rent a rig the first couple of jumps... _______________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
