skybytch 273 #1 December 8, 2003 After almost 14 years in the sport and almost 1000 jumps, today I discovered just how little I knew about flying a parachute. Today I took Scott Miller's canopy control course. I thought I was doing pretty good with my landings this year. Most of them have been standups; I haven't not landed on my feet for the past 20 jumps or so. Going into the course I knew I'd learn and do flat turns and a lot about how and why canopies fly. I didn't expect to learn how something as simple as a flight plan - something I had never done for a skydive - could keep me out of bad situations - and improve my accuracy too. All the jumps were from 5k. For the first jump he had us do our "normal" pattern, approach and landing. Mine wasn't bad... until the end when I went into "it's windy, get the canopy down" mode before my feet touched the ground. I reached with my right foot. No big deal, I still stood it up - and we only noticed it on slo-mo. Stood up the second one too - but again I reached with my right foot in anticipation of pivoting and getting the canopy down. Third jump focused on flat turns. We did turns from half brakes by bringing one toggle up, then did some by pushing one toggle down, then did some by moving both toggles. Then we tried turns from 3/4 brakes. We did flight plans for this one - I'll be doing one for every skydive I make in the future. It makes the canopy flight so much more enjoyable to not have to figure out when/where to be/turn during the flight, but to already have a plan and just fly it. I reached on that one too. Fourth jump's objective was to stall the canopy using rear risers and using toggles. Got mine to stall on rear risers but at full arm extension I couldn't get it to stall with toggles. I learned that I don't like stalls. My landing on that one was damn near perfect. Flared a bit too high but I didn't reach... and - gasp! - I looked good on video By this point every muscle in my arms was yelling at me - flying in brakes jump after jump takes strength! So I didn't go on the fifth jump, which focused on getting back from a long/bad spot. I'll be practicing that one on my next skydive for sure - and probably on any skydive when I can fly in one direction for awhile. I was a proponent of post-A license canopy control training for novice skydivers before today. After today I think every skydiver should take a course like Scott's Essential Skills course. What I learned today could save my life someday. Thanks Scott. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Jimbo 0 #2 December 8, 2003 You planning on doing it again? Maybe the advanced course next time? - Jim"Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites rmsmith 1 #3 December 8, 2003 QuoteBy this point every muscle in my arms was yelling at me - flying in brakes jump after jump takes strength! Hey, it's that Spectre; pretty soon you'll be ready for a Sabre2 canopy! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skybytch 273 #4 December 8, 2003 QuoteMaybe the advanced course next time? Not for awhile... I can easily spend the next 100 jumps working on what I learned today. Maybe once I have these skills transferred into muscle memory I'll think about the advanced course. I will be scheduling more Essential Skills course weekends at the dz in the future. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites VectorBoy 0 #5 December 8, 2003 Flight plans are good. Like say you land out ....say Cuba for example. Did he cover navigation? Teasing over, glad you had fun. PS: Butt landings are very hard on almost new white GTI's. Again glad its gettin better. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Dagny 0 #6 December 8, 2003 I'd like to add my thoughts about the canopy control course with Scott Miller. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure about spending the money on it. I was interested, but money is tight and I remained undecided until I found myself packing my car and driving to Sebastian again. I don't know why I was ever uncertain about it, it was absolutely, without a doubt, very well spent money! I only did four out of the five jumps in the course, because a gear check on five minute call revealed some wear on one of the risers at the three rings. Got that replaced, but missed out on a jump. However, still practiced all the skills on the remaining jumps. Practiced flaring at altitude, flat turns (which I have been doing for a while now, thanks to a post by billvon...even think the flat turn has kept me from hurting my worthless self a few times, too), discussed flight plans in depth, stalled the canopy on rear risers and toggles, and came back from a long spot using 3/4 brakes. I just have to say that this class was incredible! Scott answered all the questions I had and even discussed the possibility of downsizing again with me. I have decided not to downsize and just to stay on the 190 for a while. I could easily move to a 170, but I'm beginning to feel very confident on the 190 and think it would be a good canopy to learn to swoop on. Scott showed me video of him in Deland swooping a Nav 220...if he can work that canopy like that, I'm sure a sabre2 190 would be more than willing to play along with me, too. I really enjoyed stalling out the canopy....so much in fact, that I took wraps on the toggles and stalled it three times while holding it as long as my arms would allow. It was quite an experience, I don't really know how to describe it. But, I know that my canopy wants to fly....it wants air, it wants to do what it's supposed to do...and it will. Also, I know I can pull the toggles to my full extension without causing a stall when I'm landing. Also, what a great experience riding the canopy back to the dz from a long spot. I jumped out over the river which was so strange to see. Flew back in deep brakes using grips on my harness to keep my arms from fatiguing. Flew alongside another skydiver taking the class while we chatted a bit. That was so awesome! It was the sunset load....beautiful view...and I made it back to the DZ! From the fear of hanging over trees and water to the comfort of being in my holding area at 2k and able to play on the front risers before landing. Nice. Scott also took video of everyone's landings. If I didn't have a copy of the video he took, I wouldn't believe that I actually landed so well. I mean, here's me...who jumped a NAV 280 because I was biffing in every landing, who didn't stand a landing until jump 18 and then not again, who struggled to land without ever finishing the flare, who just knew I was going to embarass myself during this course. And I stood every landing...not only stood them, but made it look easy! I flared a few feet too high on the first landing, but stood it without a problem. Every other landing was just ideal....really soft, tip-toe kind of landings. I don't know if it's me, experience, or this sabre2, but I'm beginning to feel really good about myself. And I wanted to cry just a few weeks ago because of my landing problems. The best landing was the last of the day....sunset, the winds had dropped. My approach put me near the peas....the lack of winds made the canopy feel faster which was fun, I flared at the right time just to skim the surface of the grass for a little while before stepping onto the ground. It was incredible! I realized that I like fast....I also like when the canopy planes out over the ground and I'm cruising just above it. I see swooping in my future, I really do. All in all, the course was a huge benefit to me as a newer skydiver, newer canopy pilot. I strongly recommend it! The effect it has had on both my confidence and actual canopy skills has been profound. I will be looking to Scott for advanced courses as I continue jumping. Thanks to Scott for a great course and thanks to Lisa for arranging the course in Sebastian!Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ZoneRat 0 #7 December 9, 2003 I've taken both Scott Miller's and Rob Laidlaws canopy ctl classes. I found them both rock solid and absolutely worth the money. Even if you stood up every landing last season, you'll learn some useful things in those classes. ...but I'm beginning to feel really good about myself. And I wanted to cry just a few weeks ago because of my landing problems. btw Dagney, that's a pretty cool victory right there!“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophies.” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites shunkka 0 #8 December 9, 2003 Q: what canopy do u fly at this control course? it`s ur usual canopy or somthing else special for this course ------------------------- "jump, have fun, pull" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Remster 30 #9 December 9, 2003 It should be your regular canopy.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
Jimbo 0 #2 December 8, 2003 You planning on doing it again? Maybe the advanced course next time? - Jim"Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmsmith 1 #3 December 8, 2003 QuoteBy this point every muscle in my arms was yelling at me - flying in brakes jump after jump takes strength! Hey, it's that Spectre; pretty soon you'll be ready for a Sabre2 canopy! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #4 December 8, 2003 QuoteMaybe the advanced course next time? Not for awhile... I can easily spend the next 100 jumps working on what I learned today. Maybe once I have these skills transferred into muscle memory I'll think about the advanced course. I will be scheduling more Essential Skills course weekends at the dz in the future. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #5 December 8, 2003 Flight plans are good. Like say you land out ....say Cuba for example. Did he cover navigation? Teasing over, glad you had fun. PS: Butt landings are very hard on almost new white GTI's. Again glad its gettin better. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dagny 0 #6 December 8, 2003 I'd like to add my thoughts about the canopy control course with Scott Miller. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure about spending the money on it. I was interested, but money is tight and I remained undecided until I found myself packing my car and driving to Sebastian again. I don't know why I was ever uncertain about it, it was absolutely, without a doubt, very well spent money! I only did four out of the five jumps in the course, because a gear check on five minute call revealed some wear on one of the risers at the three rings. Got that replaced, but missed out on a jump. However, still practiced all the skills on the remaining jumps. Practiced flaring at altitude, flat turns (which I have been doing for a while now, thanks to a post by billvon...even think the flat turn has kept me from hurting my worthless self a few times, too), discussed flight plans in depth, stalled the canopy on rear risers and toggles, and came back from a long spot using 3/4 brakes. I just have to say that this class was incredible! Scott answered all the questions I had and even discussed the possibility of downsizing again with me. I have decided not to downsize and just to stay on the 190 for a while. I could easily move to a 170, but I'm beginning to feel very confident on the 190 and think it would be a good canopy to learn to swoop on. Scott showed me video of him in Deland swooping a Nav 220...if he can work that canopy like that, I'm sure a sabre2 190 would be more than willing to play along with me, too. I really enjoyed stalling out the canopy....so much in fact, that I took wraps on the toggles and stalled it three times while holding it as long as my arms would allow. It was quite an experience, I don't really know how to describe it. But, I know that my canopy wants to fly....it wants air, it wants to do what it's supposed to do...and it will. Also, I know I can pull the toggles to my full extension without causing a stall when I'm landing. Also, what a great experience riding the canopy back to the dz from a long spot. I jumped out over the river which was so strange to see. Flew back in deep brakes using grips on my harness to keep my arms from fatiguing. Flew alongside another skydiver taking the class while we chatted a bit. That was so awesome! It was the sunset load....beautiful view...and I made it back to the DZ! From the fear of hanging over trees and water to the comfort of being in my holding area at 2k and able to play on the front risers before landing. Nice. Scott also took video of everyone's landings. If I didn't have a copy of the video he took, I wouldn't believe that I actually landed so well. I mean, here's me...who jumped a NAV 280 because I was biffing in every landing, who didn't stand a landing until jump 18 and then not again, who struggled to land without ever finishing the flare, who just knew I was going to embarass myself during this course. And I stood every landing...not only stood them, but made it look easy! I flared a few feet too high on the first landing, but stood it without a problem. Every other landing was just ideal....really soft, tip-toe kind of landings. I don't know if it's me, experience, or this sabre2, but I'm beginning to feel really good about myself. And I wanted to cry just a few weeks ago because of my landing problems. The best landing was the last of the day....sunset, the winds had dropped. My approach put me near the peas....the lack of winds made the canopy feel faster which was fun, I flared at the right time just to skim the surface of the grass for a little while before stepping onto the ground. It was incredible! I realized that I like fast....I also like when the canopy planes out over the ground and I'm cruising just above it. I see swooping in my future, I really do. All in all, the course was a huge benefit to me as a newer skydiver, newer canopy pilot. I strongly recommend it! The effect it has had on both my confidence and actual canopy skills has been profound. I will be looking to Scott for advanced courses as I continue jumping. Thanks to Scott for a great course and thanks to Lisa for arranging the course in Sebastian!Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZoneRat 0 #7 December 9, 2003 I've taken both Scott Miller's and Rob Laidlaws canopy ctl classes. I found them both rock solid and absolutely worth the money. Even if you stood up every landing last season, you'll learn some useful things in those classes. ...but I'm beginning to feel really good about myself. And I wanted to cry just a few weeks ago because of my landing problems. btw Dagney, that's a pretty cool victory right there!“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophies.” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shunkka 0 #8 December 9, 2003 Q: what canopy do u fly at this control course? it`s ur usual canopy or somthing else special for this course ------------------------- "jump, have fun, pull" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #9 December 9, 2003 It should be your regular canopy.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
