7 cell vs. 9 cell

[popeyefireman 0]

Well, I am buying my first rig. I am demoing it on friday and had a quick question. It is a Jav. with a triatholon 190. Now I have heard great thing about this canopy. it will be a 1:1 with my exit wieght and people have said it will be a good 1st canopy as well. Now I, of coure, and found out it is a 7 cell. What is the difference? why don't more people fly them? Any info good or bad please.

"I Yam what I Yam"

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

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

do a search - it's been talked about a few times

____________________
Say no to subliminal messages

[billvon 3,088]

7 cells are:

more stable in turbulence
less glide than 9 cell
better at steep accuracy approaches
slightly more docile depending on design
slightly more reliable openings
most reserves are 7 cell

[rendezvous 0]

When I was at 25 jumps my instructor told me that 7 or 9 cell doesn't really matter at that skill level. You won't be mastering the performance range of either anytime soon. As long as you keep your wing loading withen your experience level it shouldn't matter. You'll have enough to learn out of both.

[quade 4]

Demo as many canopies as you can before buying your first rig. You may find that you like the way some open or fly better than others. Listen to other people about the pros and cons of different types of canopies, but don't get talked into something because "it'll fly better". That's far too subjective a statement for it to apply to everyone.

LOTS of folks fly seven cell canopies. Heck I fly a seven cell canopy called a Spectre that is, in my opinion, the absolute best canopy for the way -I- want it to perform.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[BoobieCootie 0]

My first and current canopy is a souped up Triathlon aka Diablo.

And until I'ze gotz me $1800 to buy a Sabre2 I'll be flying a 7-cell

[councilman24 37]

I had a sabre 190 and a Triathlon 190 that I jumped interchangably. They both had identical airspeed. The Sabre had a little more flare at the bottom, but not enough for you someone at your level to notice. A triathlon will be easier to learn how to pack because of the material used. A lot of my experienced friends are buying PD's 7 cell answer to the Triathlon, the Spectre. I still have my Triathlon 190 but now have a Sabre 170. That difference is significant, but not because of nine vs seven, but because of wing loading.

Terry

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE