Sabre 2 Fans, Please Help..

[partyboy 0]

I am about to purchase a Sabre 2 135 but have a few questions on my mind. I am currently on a Tri 160 and have put near 40 jumps on the old Sabre 150. Did fine and still do well with both canopies, but wanted to finially stop downsizing and stay with the Sabre 2 135 for the next few years.

I am basically going from a 1.2 wingloading to a 1.333. Before the questions arise, I have done much play with the canopy in the air and have accuarte stand up landings on both of those canopies. Plenty of front riser turns and flat turns have also been excersised frequently under both these canopies. Thanks for the input if you have some.

Up High!!

[jose 0]

To be totally honest, no one here is going to be able to give you an educated reply. The only people that can accurately give you advice are the ones that know you and have seen you fly. These are people at your dropzone, like your S&TA, DZO, your rigger, higher skilled jumpers that have experience in the field of canopy control. If you really really are serious about this endeavor, go attend a canopy course from a reputable instructor such as Scott Miller, or the Canopy Piloting School in Perris. They are very worth the money. They are also the very few people who are capable of giving you a honest answer to your questions, as they will have no qualms about telling you what you need to hear. Your friends are not always he best resource, and the internet certainly isn't. Good luck.

[LoudDan 0]

What's the question?

Coming soon to a bowl of Wheaties near you!!

[Marion 0]

Do you have specific questions?

I also went from a Tri to a Sabre2. About me: 200 jumps since last August, 100 jumps at 1.3 on the Sabre2 150, 450 jumps slowly increasing my WL the cheap way from 1.1 to 1.3 on the Tri 150. I've also put a few jumps on an original Sabre at 1:1.

The Sabre2 is a different canopy from both the original Sabre and especially the Triathlon. It still surprises me with the forward drive I get on no wind days and the power of the flare. It's also a pretty fast canopy, and it's easy to make it go faster. Going from a Triathlon to a Sabre2 without changing size/wingloading was a HUGE step up in performance.

Have you demoed a Sabre2 at the WL you're used to flying? Without having specific questions to answer, that would be my suggestion. After you have jumped the Sabre2 in various wind conditions at the WL you're used to, then you and your canopy coach(es) can decide whether you should take it down a size. Changing size and canopy planform at the same time will make it difficult to see which changes are due to the higher WL and which changes are due to the tapered wing.

Not sure if you jump in NC at all or just in FL, but let me know if you want to borrow my canopy sometime.

Marion

[Tonto 1]

Downsizing and changing to a higher performance planform at the same time are 2 steps in an events cascade. The 3rd step is the one that hurts. You're 2 thirds of the way there.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[partyboy 0]

Thanks Tonto, you really know how to reach out and touch people..

Up High!!

[Canuck 0]

Quote

Downsizing and changing to a higher performance planform at the same time are 2 steps in an events cascade. The 3rd step is the one that hurts. You're 2 thirds of the way there.

I almost always preach to the conservative side of things, but this seems excessive. The Sabre 2 replaced the Sabre - it's not that radical of a planform change. The downsize from a 150 Sabre to a 135 Sabre 2 isn't a problem for me, but I would argue that a few more jumps are in order to get him within the Brian Germain wingload to jump # ratio.

Just my 2 cents.

Canuck

[jeiber 0]

Sabre2 is an awesome canopy. You're going to love it. I've never jumped an original Sabre, but compared to the Triathalon, you'll find that the Sabre2 is faster all around, and loses more altitude in turns. Since you're downsizing as well, this will be pretty noticeable. Don't learn this the hard way!!!

Not sure how much you're experimenting with front risers, but the Sabre2 has a pretty long recovery arc. I wouldn't go as far as calling it 'ground hungry', but it's a much longer recovery arc than a Stiletto.

Although it's considered an 'all around' canopy, it can be pretty aggressive when loaded up. Don't get complacent, it'll hurt ya'!!

Be safe and have fun!
Jeff

Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

[Gandhi 0]

yeh, the sabre2 is SHIT HOT, in my rig, the 170@1.3(ish) is a great all round canopy where i am not really limited on what i can learn on it... i love it to bits, just be aware that all of a sudden, the 150 and below turn into fast, agressive canopies. i know several people who's sabre 2 swoops make katana pilots look like flids..

135 will be a big change, I'm sure you've got the brains and the skill to handle it, just keep your flying conservative to start with, or it WILL come back and bite you in your arse...

quote 'you are to go around... next time extend your landing gear'

[btucker 0]

Partyboy, Here is my 2c. I too jump a 160 Triathlon (in my backup rig.) I really like that canopy, it really can do everything {except swoop}. I'm currently jumping a 150Sabre1 in my primary rig @ 1.3. If your used to a Tri, a Sabre2 will knock your socks off!

BUT,

A Sabre2 is an aggressive canopy and it's not a square canopy + has much longer recovery arc. Both attributes which are different from what you've been jumping now.

If you make an inappropriate low turn on a sabre2 @ 1.3, it is guaranteed to kill you. As I'm sure you know; as pilots we must know how to turn low to avoid things, [unseen] powerlines, small children running onto the landing area. As you say flat turning is a good tool to have at our disposal.


Mate, if your profile is correct I would advise tremendous caution and get some more jumps, no-one wants to see you hurt or set a bad example. Can from day one you land this thing cross wind in a paddock in bad light, swerving around that tree stump?

Get a few more hundred up on that Sabre1. Please still be careful, it was the velo back in the day and does have a surprising dive ability.

I think it's really good that you are interested in canopy flight, I hope people at your local DZ are encouraging and mentoring you. I've noticed that skydivers into piloting at my DZ love to talk about piloting & canopy's – use them they are often a good resource.


Blue dreams, Benno


PS: canopy class...

[Sabre1Lucke 0]

I have now:
169 jumps on a Falcon 195 (1.01), 137 jumps on a Sabre 150 (1.32) and a little bit more than 20 jumps on a Sabre 135 (1.47).
This Sabre 135 is also a great canopy and I really like the way it flies.
With a wingload from 1.47 you can also make very nice swooplandings.
I tried a Stiletto 135 but didn't liked it, except for the openings.
My next canopy will be for certain a Sabre2 120ft² (1.65).

But first I will learn as much as I can on the one that I have now. This because, even if you think that you know your canopy pretty well, you can't and will not get all the performance out of your canopy unless you have several hundred jumps on the same canopy.

So don't rush yourself to downsize but try to learn as much as possible before you decide to buy a smaller canopy!

I didn't had any problems with downsizing from the Sabre 150 to the 135.
Concerning the Sabre2 I can only say that I jumped a few times with a 150ft² and if I compare it with the Sabre1 150 that I had during that time I didn't noticed that much difference except that the turns were a little bit faster and the riser-pressure was a little bit lighter. The Sabre2 also dives a little bit more but not much more the Sabre1.
All these things also depends on the wingloads I guess

[WeakMindedFool 0]

Dude,
Get PROFESSIONAL Canopy coaching...then do what your coach says.
Peace

Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves.
-Eric Hoffer -
Check out these Videos

[skinnyshrek 0]

Stick with a sabre2 150. Learn it learn it learn it. No sense in going to a 135 with your jump numbers. You may think you have the 150 dialed in but in reality you are just learning the canopy. I load my 150 at 1.85/9 depending how much i eat..lol The learning curve on the long run will be better. I have seen people downsize canopies like they are going out of fashion. They think its cool to be under a small canopy yet really, they are a laughing stock. Stay safe in the sport. Learn everything you can under your canopy. There's nothing cool about lying in the ER. Take as many courses as you can. people with 3 4 5000 jumps still use coaches. At the end of the day you are going to do whatever you want. just my 2 cents worth

http://www.skydivethefarm.com

do you realize that when you critisize people you dont know over the internet, you become part of a growing society of twats? ARE YOU ONE OF THEM?

[sneaky 0]

Gandhi you old navy queen, your right dude, the Sabre2 is by far the best all rounder you can get, I'd definatly second that. Something about getting back from a deep spot, when everyone else is 'Transfering their Landing Patterns' just does it for me. Such an awesome piece of kit I have a second one on order.

I also know a few people with velocity's who fly like flids.

To the origional poster, chat to your S&TA/Instructor and get a Professional opinion by someone who knows your ability in all situations. 160 to a 135 is hell of a jump, especially with your Jump Nr's.

Blue Skies