Downsizing in a few months

[FFlyer 0]

Yes, its yet another downsizing thread.

Just a bit of info about my current situation,... I weigh about 165 out the door and jump a 150 pilot at the moment. So my wingloading is 1.1. I have 350 jumps now. I have been on a canopy piloting coarse at my dz and am currently reading Brian Germain's book, 'The Parachute and its Pilot'. Im basically just trying to get as much info as I can about canopy piloting so when I get my new canopy it will be the correct one for me.

Im quite a small guy and in comparison to most other people at my dz im at a very low wingloading for my jump numbers. But im happy that ive been jumping my 150 for so long because I feel that I know it quite well now and have benifited from not downsizing even though im quite light and some people are surprised when I tell them im jumping a 150.

I think I am going to finally have saved enough money for a new canopy by about June. By that time I will probably have just over 500 jumps. The logical choice would obviously be to downsize to a 135, but do you think getting a 120 would be possible? Or is that a stupid idea?

I was playing around with the idea of maybe borrowing a 135 for a while if possible. Then when ive got enough money for my new canopy, getting a 120 (or there abouts).

On the 135 my wingloading would be 1.22 and on the 120 it would be 1.37. Im just throwing around ideas at the moment, and ill be speaking to the experienced canopy pilots at my dz.

Any advice?

edited - Sorry, i just realized this should probably be in the gear forum? Could a moderator please move it.

[FFlyer 0]

Im actually quite interested in the Icarus Safire2. So it would probably iether be a 129 or a 119. What do you think?

[frenchyflyer 0]

Getting that kind of advice from a forum is a bad idea as nobody has seen you fly...

However, here goes my point of view:

You MIGHT be fine buying a 120 (of the same class, i.e. pilot,safire,sabre2,etc.) but you MUST make some jumps on a 135 (or 129) BEFORE making this decision in order to be absolutely sure that you want to go one more size down.

Just demo several canopies of that class in the 130/135 range and THEN make a decision.

[marks 0]

Quote

Im actually quite interested in the Icarus Safire2. So it would probably iether be a 129 or a 119. What do you think?

jump 2 pilot's, demo a 135 and then 120.

then demo the two sifire's your considering.

you should be able to make a good decision for yourself on this one.

[FFlyer 0]

Ok, thanks for the advice. I think ill start looking around to see if I can put a few jumps on a 135. Then closer to the time ill start demoing the smaller safires if anyone at my dz has one I can try.