Pro Rating Practice

[John4455 0]

I took yesterday off work, went to the dz with my startrac 2 to practice my accuracy. My goal is to be pro-rated. Even hooked up the flag that I bought to try it out for the first time. Yep, I said the F word. The first part of the day was great. 4-5 mile/hour wind. Hit the target on the first two jumps. It seemed fairly easy. By the time I was repacked and ready for jump 3, the winds had totally died. It was hot, humid, no definite wind line. Missed, not by much but I missed and didn't stand the landing up. Probably because I was concentrating on the target too much, and stayed in the brakes too close to the ground. Jump 4, same situation. On jump 5 I changed rigs and jumped my triathlon and hit the target. Zero P works better on these kind of days. Any pro guys out there have any thoughts or suggestions on handling these kind of problems. Preferably people that are familiar with the big f111 canopies.
I did learn that when it is hot and humid with no wind you have to let it fly, but that makes it harder for me to hit the target.
A great day, much better than working.
Blue Stuff

How do ya like it Johnny?

[Ron 10]

On high wind days set up steep...And you can use a lot of brakes since you have airflow over the wing from the wind.

On low wind days set up lean. You have to let the canopy fly to get the same amount of wind to get the same amount of lift. I use no more than 1/4 brakes on no wind days, and a lean approach

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[Hooknswoop 19]

Quote

you can use a lot of brakes since you have airflow over the wing from the wind.

There is the same amount of airflow over the canopy on a deep brake approach on a windy day as there is on a no wind day.

Use the same 1/2 brake approach every time, the only thing that changes is the angle of the approach, the more wind, the steeper the angle.

Derek

[PhillyKev 0]

Quote

On high wind days set up steep...And you can use a lot of brakes since you have airflow over the wing from the wind.

Ummm...doesn't the airspeed of the parachute remain constant regardless of how fast the wind is blowing? Why would that make a difference?

[Ron 10]

Quote

Ummm...doesn't the airspeed of the parachute remain constant regardless of how fast the wind is blowing?
Why would that make a difference?

Lets say the canopy needs 15 MPH to fly.
On a no wind day thats 15 MPH across the ground.
On a 10 MPH day its only 5 MPH across the ground.

When you go into brakes you are increasing the bow in the top skin of the canopy....This increases the lift of the canopy.

With a higher windspeed, you can slow the canopy across the ground a great deal more.

In a 15 MPH wind I can bring my Stiletto straight down...I could never do that in a zero wind day.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[PhillyKev 0]

I understand that...but not this...

Quote

And you can use a lot of brakes since you have airflow over the wing from the wind

You always have airflow over the wing equal to your forward airspeed. The speed of the wind across the ground has nothing to do with how much air flows over the wing.

[mjosparky 4]

John,
I jump a Sharpchuter, similar to your canopy. What I do is aim to land short about 25/30 ft. no matter what the winds are doing. I fly in deep brakes. At about 50/60 ft. let the brakes up and let the canopy fly, then go into a normal flare. This will carry you the 25/30 you aimed short and give you a good landing. One problem you may have, its been my experience that the Startrac does not perform as well as the Sharpchuter.
Good luck. Michael

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[kallen 0]

John,
Just my .02 but I found it easier to practice with and ultimately do the required pre-declared jumps with the canopy I was most familiar with. For me it was my 170 Zero P that I have 600+ jumps on. I have a Fury in the closet if I ever have a tight landing demo but I put the 170 in a stadium demo twice in July this year. Of course we had excellent crowd control and the entire field to ourselves.

If you can consistently stick the Triathlon in the peas then I would stay focused on obtaining the rating on it. Then stay current on the Startrac and jump it when the demo conditions require it.

[propacker 0]

interesting placement for your flag. How did you hook it on. Hopefully you didn't pack it that way!

[mjosparky 4]

Quote

interesting placement for your flag. How did you hook it on. Hopefully you didn't pack it that way!

It looks like it was packed in a tail pocket.
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[John4455 0]

There is a pouch made into the canopy between the c and d line attachment points at the center cell. Inside the pouch at the c line attachment point there is a ring. The flag line runs from the top grommet of the flag up into the pouch through the ring, back down to a ring on the riser, back up to the bottom grommet on the flag. The flag is stowed in the pouch, which is held closed with velcro, and actually packed up with the canopy. When the parachute opens, you just pull it out, adjust it to where you want it and tie the extra slack on the riser.
Sounds like a cutaway just waiting to happen, but it works really well.

How do ya like it Johnny?

[John4455 0]

I have a sharpchuter also. The startrac is more or less the same canopy just bigger. My sharpchuter is for sale by the way.

How do ya like it Johnny?

[mjosparky 4]

Quote

I have a sharpchuter also. The startrac is more or less the same canopy just bigger. My sharpchuter is for sale by the way.

John,
The startrac comes in 3 sizes, 245, 265 and 290. The 245 is the same size as a sharpchuter but the aspect ratio is less, less span more cord. Does not flare as well. The tail pocket has been around for about 20 years that I know of.
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[skycop 0]

You may also want to "ride the wire". At about 600-800 ft go to about half brakes into the wind facing the target. Imagine a wire leading up from the target at a 45degree angle to you. Using just your toggles adjust to stay on the "wire". If you're a little high more brakes, a little low more forward flight. Once you get the hang of it it's pretty cool. If you're on the wire at half brakes keep it there and flare out with the rest of your brakes, effectively "shutting down" the canopy a few feet above the ground.
BE CAREFUL, this takes alot practice, and on no wind days it's better to let the canopy fly for a better flare. That's the way i fly my StartracII.

"Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

[mjosparky 4]

Quote

You may also want to "ride the wire". At about 600-800 ft go to about half brakes into the wind facing the target. Imagine a wire leading up from the target at a 45degree angle to you. Using just your toggles adjust to stay on the "wire". If you're a little high more brakes, a little low more forward flight. Once you get the hang of it it's pretty cool. If you're on the wire at half brakes keep it there and flare out with the rest of your brakes, effectively "shutting down" the canopy a few feet above the ground.
BE CAREFUL, this takes alot practice, and on no wind days it's better to let the canopy fly for a better flare. That's the way i fly my StartracII.

Was this for my benefit, or for John4455?
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[skycop 0]

Hmmm.........i don't know. I guess both!Blue skies!

"Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

[airtwardo 7]

And don't forget "S" turns!!!

If your going to be a little long, S the extra out...

Remember! They love the stand up landings!
Sometimes A little tough to do when you've used up all your flare sinking it in.

Check out this PIC...
Me on the smoke, at Oshkosh AirVenture Airshow.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[John4455 0]

Cool picture. I'd like to know more about the smoke and the rigging of the smoke. Where do you buy the smoke canisters? I'll need to do a smoke jump eventually. First I need to work on dialing in my accuracy.
Thanks Jim

How do ya like it Johnny?