Sabre to a Stiletto

[JasonCT13 0]

Hello everyone,

I am interested in some advice about changing canopy and down sizing. I currently have a little over 100 jumps most of them on a Sabre 190. Somewhere towards the end of the season I am thinking about changing my canopy. I am interested in purchasing a Stiletto, but am cautious when down sizing and changing canopy type.

Anyone have experience in this matter?

[wmw999 2,577]

I'll start. I don't usually post here, but what the hey.

Looks like you live in a seasonal jump location (winter jumping in NJ probably isn't incredibly frequent). Downsizing at the end of the jumping season means you'll be starting next season, uncurrent, with a smaller canopy that you're not real experienced on. Doesn't sound real good.

Your wingloading is OK; mine's about the same, and I have plenty to learn about my canopy still. You could consider going to a same-sized elliptical or semi-elliptical, or you could go to a canopy class (much cheaper than a new canopy) and find out about a whole lot of things you can do with your current canopy.

That way you'll learn how to be a badass without looking like a doofus as you practice.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Brains 2]

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That way you'll learn how to be a badass without looking like a doofus as you practice.

best line i have read on this board yet, thanks wendy.

Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you.

[trigger 0]

As you can imagine,probably no-one on this forum knows your ability under canopy,but at 100jumps IMO it's unlikely that you're ready to go to an eliptical planform..
However,i think it would be wise to speak with instructors/known canopy pilots at your DZ and have them assess your canopy piloting skills plus,if possible get quality canopy control coaching before considerring a downsize or a change in planform.
Take care,love thy canopy..just my two pence.

edited cos i can't spell

.CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER.

[sdctlc 0]

If your looking at a Sabre you might want to consider the Sabre2. The taper makes it a great canopy to fly. You can do a whole lot more with the "2" then you can with the Sabre. Bonus is you get nicer openings and take a small bit of worry out of the equation compared to a stiletto.

With the number of jumps you have posted I probably would still suggest that you stay away from eliptical just now. Most people whether they realize it or not, dont even come close to the flight potential of their current canopy. I would guess your in the same catageory considering probably 90%+ are as well. You dont need to go smaller or eliptical to get more speed or longer swoops espically if your not already flying the canopy to the MAX!! Ask your trusted people at the DZ if they think your pushing the canopy to its limits and I would guess that your not. Hell I put over 800 jumps on a Sabre 170 and learned a hell of a lot while taking some of the eliptical or small canopy risk out of the equation.

It is not always going smaller or changing the planform that you need to do to learn more and get better!

Scott C.

"He who Hesitates Shall Inherit the Earth!"

[fundgh 0]

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You can do a whole lot more with the "2" then you can with the Sabre.

What is it that you can do? I keep hearing this, and when I demoed the Sabre 2 at the same size as my Sabre, I didn't notice what all the fuss was about? I did notice the off heading openings that were a little slower than my current openings, but as far as flying the canopy goes, I didn't find the canopy all that different. Just my opinion (which is not the most experienced out there).

...FUN FOR ALL!

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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Hello everyone,

I am interested in some advice about changing canopy and down sizing. I currently have a little over 100 jumps most of them on a Sabre 190. Somewhere towards the end of the season I am thinking about changing my canopy. I am interested in purchasing a Stiletto, but am cautious when down sizing and changing canopy type.

Anyone have experience in this matter?

I put about 600 jumps on my Stiletto after 400 on squares and 200 under a Batwing.

Ellipticals are more sensitive to control input (the Stiletto more so than some other designs - Stiletto pilots like this, other people think it's twitchy) which increases the severity of mistakes. They also require more attention during opening.

A few hundred jumps more before transitioning to one at the same wing loading would be prudent.

A less agressive tapered design (Lotus, Sabre 2, Spectre, Safire 2, Omega 2, etc. in no particular order) would be a great choice at this point assuming you follow BIll von Novak's down sizing list. It'll be more fun to fly without being as much of a liability.

Changing at the end of the season is a bad idea because of how well you'll know your new canopy when you start jumping again. A few months into it is probably ideal - you'll be current and have plenty of time.

[freakydiver 0]

I would tend to agree with this as well. I fly a Sabre 135 and still get equal or even a tad bit longer swoops out of it than the Sabre II I demoed. BUT, it was most likely due to my infamiliarity of the II more than anything. Also, you can't beat the openings on the II over the I, but my I is paid for (-:

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[rmsmith 1]

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I am interested in purchasing a Stiletto, but am cautious when down sizing and changing canopy type.

If your interested in performance landings a canopy with a larger recovery arc than the Stiletto might be a wise choice since they will allow "turns-to-final" from much higher up. The Vengeance 170 or Crossfire 169 might be a good move from your Sabre 190 when you're sure you're ready. However, note that swooping is a very dangerous activity for experienced and novice skydivers alike. Being dead is probably easy to get used to, but being imprisoned in a crippled body is a life sentence of pain, unpaid medical bills, burden on the family, etc., not to mention the heavy psychological issues.

[JoeyRamone 0]

I like Wendys comments, I would get another 100 jumps under your current canopy, better safe then sorry. No need at this time to go to a smaller canopy..

[fundgh 0]

To be honest with ya....I can pack my Sabre 1 to open great. The Sabre 2 opened ok. Soft, but way off heading. I had to keep my head on a swivel when it opened because I had no idea where it was going to go for the first 4-5 seconds.

...FUN FOR ALL!

[freakydiver 0]

Yah me too, I only have a semi-hard opening one in twenty on my Sabre I. I've had other sabres over the years though that seem to have bad openings built in, but I can't complain about mine...

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[rehmwa 2]

Wow, at 100 jumps? Patience.

Take a class, try some demos and hold off a bit longer. You have the rest of your life to work your way into the ellipticals.

And canopies are expensive, that Sabre might have a lot of jumps on it and if you play with it right, quite a bit of performance.

If you are just looking for surfs, that is fun, but most canopies same surf to some extent. Heck, I can make my Maverick surf (200 sq ft F111 7 cell), not as good as the Stiletto 120, but still doable. And my old Sabre150 had great surf in it. So if that's what you're missing, go take a class and try stuff out up high.

Edit: If you really want to go elliptical at 100 jumps, then I recommend you go visit the Incidents forum for a while.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants