having a problem

[popeyefireman 0]

I just got all my own gear and am having a problem. I was on F-111 canopys when I was a student, a skymaster to be exact. Now I am on a ZP Triathlon and am having problems with the two stage flare. When I was on the SM it was easy, you put it down as far as you sould and you could get a good landing. I have about 12 jumps on my new stuff and slam in about 3 outa 5 times. My PLF is coming along greatly, but I don't think that is where the work needs to be done. Can anyone help?

"I Yam what I Yam"

I am not afriad to die, only to die without living.

[Push 0]

This is almost exactly what my thread is about. While billvon's response is the standard response given to me by my instructors and coaches, it would be nice to hear the collective dz.com wisdom chime in on this important topic.

Speculating, a ZP canopy would probably bounce back up if you slam on the breaks like with the student F-111s, resulting in a "slam dunk" landing.

-- Toggle Whippin' Yahoo
Skydiving is easy. All you have to do is relax while plummetting at 120 mph from 10,000' with nothing but some nylon and webbing to save you.

[billvon 3,085]

"Two stage flare" is something of a misnomer. You don't just pull to position A then pull to position B. The two stages refer to the two different objectives during the flare:

Stage 1 - stop your downward motion with your toggles; time it so that happens at 6 inches above the ground,

Stage 2 - keep your canopy there with the toggles until your forward speed is almost gone.

The biggest problem I see with newer jumpers on smaller canopies is not flying the canopy through stage 2. They flare halfway and the canopy planes out. Then they drift to one side and they "stick their hand out to break their fall." This, of course, turns the canopy in that direction, making the problem that much worse. That's one reason that flaring with your hands to your crotch can help - you're less likely to want to stick a hand out.

[d604 0]

Remember it might be the canopy, have a rigger check out the line trim including control line length it might be as simple as poor performance from out of trim lines, but if the lines are fine…

I see from your profile that you are flying a 190 Triathlon, and from your post that you are trying the 2 stage flare. You know your parachute can probably be flared with a single motion flare. Often when I coach skydivers at your level to make the step off of student canopies to smaller more intermediate canopies I recommended that they flare it much like the student canopy just at a little bit lower altitude; so far most can do a stand up landing (or close too) on their first jump with the new parachute, and so far no ones slammed in. I point out that if they are flaring the student canopy by punching the toggles down hard and fast they might want to try a more smooth gentle type flare.

Basically my briefing states, to start the flare at about 15’ (from your eyes not your feet) and bring the toggles down smoothly to about the stall point in approx. 3-4 seconds. Now this varies, as I’m usually familiar with the skydiver and their landing technique. One skydiver I might say flare at 10’ another flare at 20’, people often have different interpretations of altitude, and the same goes for the flare speed. Also I tell them that after they are comfortable with landing, they can modify the flare to their liking.

Teaching some one to flare by written suggestions is a difficult thing to do, so please be vary careful when trying any advice from this forum (including mine) it would be best to talk to an instructor or two before trying anything you here from anyone.

BTW. My home DZ has Manta 288 for the student canopies and Hornet 190 as a rental that novice skydivers usually make their first non-student canopy jump, weight depending of course.

Sean

[icebreaker 0]

What helped me was getting my landings taped by someone. Then discuss the tape with your instructor/Canopy Control Specialist and let them teach you what to improve. If you keep that up for a day ot what of jumping or so I know you're landings will improve! Goodl luck!

[Tonto 1]

The Skymaster is ZP. Has been since 1996 or there about, and was a hybrid before that. Either your DZ is using very old gear, or you're mistaken.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[aneblett 0]

my dz just got a new skymaster and it is still hybrid.

age

S.E.X. party #2

..It is far worse to live with fear, than to die confronting it.