downsizing

[MrHixxx 0]

I am downsizing to a crossbraced canopy loaded at 2.1 (Chaos 21) this weekend from a non-crossbraced at 1.8 (Cobalt). Any advice out there from the extreme pilots on how to be smart about it?
thanxxx, Hixxx

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

The thing to do is dump high (not just 3,000 feet) and do some practice turns. Do the same type of turn you were doing under the Cobalt and "feel" for differences in the bottom end. The most important thing to find is that toggle setting where your parachute actually starts pulling around the corner. If your Cobalt was set up with loose brakes, then you will find very little difference in the flare point of that Xaos. Obviously, at that higher wingload things are going to happen faster. Unlike the Cobalt, tri-cells fly more like their true size, not "big" like you are probably used to. That means you are going to feel like you are flying quite a bit faster through the air. Bottom line is that you need to make your final turn at around 400 feet or higher. Don't go ripping 270's or greater on your first turns; keep the initial jumps down to 90's or 180's. Finally, that Xaos is not going to slow down like the Cobalt did at the end of your surf, so be prepared to slide. I highly discourage running-out landings, that's how people bust their ass and break ankles and it looks gay.
Chuck
<><>team atair
My webpage HERE

[freeflyguy 0]

You might check out my comments on the post a week or so ago with the title 'XAOS-21'. I did the same thing you are talking about, to about the same wing loading.
Chuck has some good advice above. The big thing I would tell you, is like he said, don't go ripping a big turn looking for a great surf for a while. Give yourself plenty of altitude to bail if you have too. Plus, make sure you know where the thing is going to stop. If you do a practice turn higher than normal, but at your normal turn point, you may end up in the parking lot, or, specifically, in somebody's windshield. :)
This is a different subject, but I don't much care for 180's. I feel they don't give you many outs, because you have to commit to turning a 180 to get back to your landing area. At least with a 270, if you know you accidently set up low, just do a nice 90, and you can still land nice, with useful info.
But, like I said, I am new to the XAOS, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

[cobaltdan 0]

also note that flying technique will be different between the xaos and the cobalt.
on the cobalt a proficient turn will put you right into your swoop without having to touch your toggles. on the xaos you will probably have to hit your brakes to come around the corner.
the two canopies will have a much different feel.
for best comparison jump a cobalt at 2.1 as well :)
freeflyguy: i don't know about 270 being safer than 180's......if someone pulls a 270 so low they are bailing at 90, they probably should not be trying 270's.......? and if they cant land their swoop rocket cross wind (90 exit on a 180) they shouldn't be jumping it....
sincerely,
dan
atair

[ramon 0]

I second the 270 comment from Dan.
If you have a big landing area you can do 90s and 180s with outs.
I would add that you might try carving 90s the first time you want to feel some speed, it will be more forgiving at flare time because you wont be stabing to get out of an un-intentional low tunr and you can set up so that you have plenty of outs.
PLUS!!! you get to see how quickly the riser pressure builds up on those bad boys.
try and jump an FX afterwards and let us know if the riser pressure on the Xaos really was less, because it is pretty light on a cobalt.
ramon

[freeflyguy 0]

I don't mean that you would bail at 90. That would put you heading the wrong way.
I mean that if you Plan on doing a 270, but due to traffic, or whatever you realize before you start your turn, you are low, instead of trying to whip a quick right hand 270, you make the decision to do a left hand 90. It puts you landing at the same place, but gives you a bit of altitude to work with. The fewer variables you change in a situation, like landing site, the better off you are.
It is kind of my system of checks before I commit to the turn. I have seen, and done myself, earlier on, people that plan on a 270, 180 or whatever, and don't change that plan when they and everyone else knows they shouldn't be doing that. It can happen when you have a stack of people at the pond that you end up low.
I agree, you should be able to land, crosswind, down wind, whatever. Even if you have to slide it out on your butt. But not all landing sites will allow you to land in any direction. Our pond for one. We have trees on one side. We only have so many places that are acceptable for a safe landing.
But, like I say, this is my plan. I think it is most important to have some plan that will allow you choices. Whatever works, just have a plan.