CANOPY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NOVICE SWOOPER

[trigger 0]

At present i'm jumping 150ft2 sabre and executing 180 front riser hook turns for landing for approx my last 100 jumps.i've taken time and advice from my mentors in canopy control and i am now considering my first elliptical wing in the 129-135 size range.i've recieved varying advice as to what to spend my cash on.Taking into account that i don't want to over stretch myself i.e run before i can walk any suggestions as to what next.Recommendations to date Crossfire/safire/stilletto/spectra/samuari.etc

.CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER.

[rgoper 0]

Cobalt! visit their web site:
Cobalt Canopies

do demo everything, and consider not "downsizing" until you've flown quite a few.

--Richard--
"We Will Not Be Shaken By Thugs, And Terroist"

[AggieDave 6]

Have you asked your mentors what you should demo? Have you considered demoing stuff that is 150ft2 instead of downsizing while going to a completely different wing? That's what I'd do (that's what I did).

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Samurai136 0]

What are you loading the 150 Sabre at?

Any elliptical you buy will turn and dive faster than what you are jumping now. I love my Samurai. If you do a forum search you'll find my thoughts on the Samurai. Or send me a PM.

You should demo a canopy before you buy it.

Ken

"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian
Ken

[trigger 0]

I've demoed the crossfire129,stilletto135 & the safire129 although i opened high and had a good play on all three canopies i didn't do any thing rad near to the ground .Liked the response of the stilletto though!Loading the sabre at ±1.4

.CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER.

[AggieDave 6]

Yeah, I demoed Stilletto 190 and 170, Crossfire2 189 and Colbalt 170, ended up buying a Heatwave 170, since I really liked the Stilletto 170 out of that group, but couldn't afford it and have heard the Heatwave flies very similarly. I'll see, come tomorrow...

Before you scoff at the sizes, know that I'm a very big guy and were loading these fairly stoughtly.

NOTE: Take my advice with a grain of salt, there are many many more people around here that have a whole lot more experience then me that will give you better advice then I did.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Jimbo 0]

It's been mentioned already, but you might just want to keep your current size and move to a fully elliptical canopy. You'll find the turns are quicker, but more importantly it will dive further and faster and that will give you longer swoops.

There's no reason to downsize unless you've really mastered your current canopy.

-
Jim

"Like" - The modern day comma
Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

[RichM 0]

Quote

I love my Samurai. If you do a forum search you'll find my thoughts on the Samurai.
Ken

Ken, you're a prolific contributor :) I would also like to know your thoughts on the sam, especially if you can draw comparisons with the cobalt. TIA.

Rich M

[PhreeZone 20]

I did a post that compaired the Cobalt directly to the Sam in the last 3 weeks. Its either here or in gear and Rigging. Both are sweet canopies that I'd be happy to fly. I'm up to 18 differnt canopies I've jumped and those 2 are in my top 3. The third is a Lightning but you don't jump it to land it...

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[RichM 0]

Found it, thanks...

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=201033;search_string=cobalt%20sam;#201033"

Rich M

[Zennie 0]

I love my Vengeance. I've flown a Stiletto of identical size and it seemed sluggish in comparison to my Vengeance. Riser input were way heavier and toggle inputs weren't as responsive.

YMMV.

- Z
"Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

[rhino 0]

I would recommend a Crossfire2 loaded at 1.65..

[flyhi 24]

Quote

I've flown a Stiletto of identical size and it seemed sluggish in comparison to my Vengeance.

Ditto. Jumped both at 1.6:1, with the Stiletto first. After mastering(kinda) those landings, the Vengeance was a piece of cake.

Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

[polarbear 1]

I am really digging(note: that doesn't mean "digging out of the corner"!) my Samurai 150, loaded 1.4. I have put a little over 100 jumps on it now and really like it. It definitely flies smaller than the other canopies I have jumped (Stiletto 150, Crossfire 149, Vengeance 150). You might demo one, but I recommend a 150 because of it's quicker responses.

You should definitely listen carefully to the people who have seen you fly...the rest of us haven't and can't really make an intelligent recommendation. BE CAREFUL!

"Holy s*** that was f***in' cold!"

[trigger 0]

Firstly i'd like to say thanks.secondly my swooping mentors at Ampuria Spain have been watching my landings and setup/approach including video of.The've recommended a 129safire or a similar size stilletto however as canopies don't come cheap and i don't wanna die[lifes too much fun] what i'd like to know if canopies like the samauri/colbalt/vengence are worth a trying without getting outa my depth .i have a little over 400jumps which i consider low experience.Just trying to add a little more background as i'm still confused as to canopie selection and don't wanna be too limited in choice when considering canopies to demo before i put my money where my mouth is,so to speak..Again thanks alot guys for your help so far

.CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER.

[cobaltdan 0]

definately give them a try.

information on cobalts can be viewed at

www.extremefly.com


sincerely,

dan<><>
atair aerodynamics

Daniel Preston <><>
atairaerodynamics.com (sport)
atairaerospace.com (military)

[freeflyswc 0]

Check out the crossfire , it's a great canopy and its fast (but not scary fast) . It has one of the longest recovery arc's of any canopy out there (non cross-braced) and it pulls out of the dive very easy just by tapping the brakes . I am a firm beleiver that a longer recovery arc is safer when learning to swoop , Reason , you can do your maneuvers higher giving you more time for pitch adjustment . on other canopies with a shorter recovery arc , you have to make your turn closer to the ground and you have less time to react before the ground rushes up and bites you!!!

[f1freak 0]

I love my cobalt, give that a try for sure...
i made most of my jumps on a sabre 170, i now fly a cobalt 120 (not recomending to drop down that much at one time for anyone) but it flys and land great....

HAVE FUN...
...JUST DONT DIE

[freeflyswc 0]

probrabbly the best advice I can give you is try before you buy . demo's are cheap (if not free) to try , and you can gradually downsize in the process

[skyedivr 0]

I downsized from a sabre 150 to a crossfire 129 after several different demo's.
the crossfires openings, glide, flare and landings are just what I was looking for.
the canopy does everything I want it to do at my skill level.

hope this was helpful.

my power is beyond your understanding.

[RichM 0]

Trigger - if you're the HPC Trigger, give me a shout if you get the opportunity to demo a Cobalt or Samurai. Demo Sams are as readily available as rocking horse poo in the UK, and I expect Cobalts to be the same. I would like to demo them too. You're welcome to try out my 119 Crossfire which flies and lands like a canopy a size bigger.

Rich M

Rich M

[trigger 0]

Good too hear from you Richie,yup you guessed right i'm the HPC TRIGGER possibly be there at the weekend if the weather looks good,definately going tobe at the Sibson freefiy fest though.muchos gracios Trig

.CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER.

[AiRpollUtiOn 0]

I've gone from Sabre 150 to Stiletto 150.
A world of difference in the openings, it's more responsive, and gives you more speed, I love it.
Was planning to downsize, but people at the DZ gave me the same advise, why go smaller???

By the way, in Antigravity, wasn't Ricster Powell flying a Stiletto 150???

"Don't make me come down there" - God.

My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html
Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

[fedykin 0]

GET A GRIP OF YOUR FEEBLE BODY, GET OUT OF BED, GET ON THE PLANE NOW!!!!

just a little advice

p

[bobsoutar 0]

Hi mate - long time no see!
All the guys are right, just buy something about the same size but eliptical. Since you are in the sunny UK, a Springo 140 may well be an option. Point Zero (near Nethers) are about to get some Cobalts in to demo (very nice but quicker than you are used to - except the openings) and I understand that PDF are about to have a few Springos on the shelf next month.