Questions Pertaining to Canopy Size and Manufacturer

[akaGQ 0]

I have a friend starting in the sport and hes a bigger guy he weighs around 230 hes getting ready to start AFF but he has been asking a lot of gear questions and such and if not for his weight adding about 20 lbs or so for exit weight then I might be able to suggest certain Ideas for canopy and gear for him but I have no clue as to what type of canopy to refer him too and such...I talked over with him and even though I told him getting a used container for his first he doesnt like that idea cause he wants something that is made for him I dont blame him but I warned him that the BOC and such is gonna get dirty since hes less experienced til he stands all up but even then again standing all up isnt really a reality for us all but where do I send him to for a canopy for someone his size...I looked at icarus at the Omega and the max susp weight and such on the page seems illogical but there are many others with more experience than I so I need some answers cause I hate him asking me being as I got him interested and not being able to answer the majority of his questions. Now I did tell him that he can demo canopies and such wasnt sure about containers but someone give me a hand on this.

- GQ

... it was the love of the air and sky and flying, the lure of adventure, the appreciation of beauty ...
-Charles Lindberg

[bunge 0]

My first sugestion would be to have him ask his instructors.

that said. i have an exit weight of 240 and jump a sabre 210. i waited until i was comfortabe landing a manta in any condition (about 30 jumps) and then made the transition with the DZO's rig (he was nice enough to lend it to me and brief me a lot on the difference between a overused student rig and a hardly used ZP)

BUNGE

I don't hate them, I just like us better.

[akaGQ 0]

Quote

My first sugestion would be to have him ask his instructors.

In this I agree totally but my friend is one of those that wants to plan ahead and somewhat do things his way...basically Ive tried to talk to him about it and hejust wants to have his own rig shortly after he gets off student status and is clear to JM self. Ya cant argue with someone that has all the answers but I appreciate the 411.

- GQ

... it was the love of the air and sky and flying, the lure of adventure, the appreciation of beauty ...
-Charles Lindberg

[PhreeZone 20]

Flight Concepts makes ZP Manta's on request. Thats 288 sq foot of ZP above his head. There are lots of 230+ sozed canopies out there. Sure he won't be getting a Stiletto in those sizes but Sabre2, Safire, Spectre... all those are 230+ sizes.

Demo containers fitting that large of mains is a bit different. Sunpath would probally have them if anyone does.

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[akaGQ 0]

yeah Phree but ya know something that size to him isnt going to be the same as it would be to us as in its not gonna take him 30 mins to come down under a 250 or whatever as to you and I but Im lnot looking to put him at a 1:1 with 8 or 9 jumps either... but appreciate the info

- GQ

... it was the love of the air and sky and flying, the lure of adventure, the appreciation of beauty ...
-Charles Lindberg

[skybytch 273]

If he insists on having his own rig to jump as soon as he's off student status, I'd suggest a 260 main and no smaller than a 230 reserve (250-ish would be better). PD makes a Sabre2 260, match that with a 253R reserve in a big ol' container and he's set - not so small that he'll hurt himself on a small mistake, not so big that he'll be totally bored with it in 10 jumps - and if he is, that's his own fault for being impatient and not demoing and downsizing a bit before buying his gear.

[akaGQ 0]

thanx sky

- GQ

... it was the love of the air and sky and flying, the lure of adventure, the appreciation of beauty ...
-Charles Lindberg