d123 4 #1 June 6, 2007 Open at 4000 feet, saddle at 3500. I got only 500 ft to do a canopy check, flare tests and that's it because under 3000 ft no crazy stuff under canopy:no playing with the stall, no nothing. Just look every 10 sec where the others are, find the wind direction, flare tests and maybe do some spirals if nobody is close to you. From 2000' begin standing next to your patten entry point and maybe some 360 to burn altitude but no more than 360 because the AAD might fire. That's my canopy ride. Right after I was no longer a student I was instructed to open at 4000'. Whenever I ask if I can open really really high (7000+) my former instructors/DZO says to me that is not safe because of the high winds. Some TM friends that do CReW tell me that's no problem just let ppl know that you open high. I'm getting mix signals here. I'm guessing that the DZO is telling me that for my own good but .... What can I do just to get more canopy air time? These days I'm jumping with the same canopy that I really like and I just want to try more stuff with it. Any ideas? Edit for spelling.Lock, Dock and Two Smoking Barrelrolls! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 June 6, 2007 You were taught how to spot right? Ok, now work your spot out for a decent rate of about 20mph with the forcasted uppers. BAM, get out of the plane at that spot and work on your canopie skills. This is something that is super-common amoung canopy pilots and CReW dogs. The sheep that merely turn and flare don't understand this and after thousands of jumps they still can't fly their canopy worth a crap. Let the pilot and manifest know, let the pilot know what you want for a spot and work on the skills listed in the SIMs. It will do nothing but help you.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #3 June 6, 2007 Check this with your instructor, but, no flare tests under 3k? Why? The limit at our latest canopy control course was 1500ft for crazy stuff, that was also the limit for the people with ~50 jumps. Aks if the limit can be somewhat lower for you now? Also, flare tests are not crazy stuff, unless you really stall the canopy. ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d123 4 #4 June 7, 2007 Maybe I didn't point out well enough that I am doing flare tests under 3k. My bad. I've seen some movies where people fly close to each other under canopy. I'm not talking about CReW just flying close to each other. Should I try to talk one of my DZO or TM friends into flying with me or that stuff is just to advanced for my current level? The fact that I'm flying with someone that has a lot of experience, it might also help with the DZO fear of letting me open high because the person that is flying with me can guide me to a safe landing if we're not making it back to the landing area. Any thoughts?Lock, Dock and Two Smoking Barrelrolls! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Widgeon 0 #5 June 8, 2007 Rule of thumb? Don't do anything radical below your predetermined decision altitude. If you want to stall and play with the canopy, do so and explore what it can do, but above your decision altitude. I believe the going figure is 2000' for students?? If you were to continue to mess around too much and found yourself in linetwists at 1200', that would put you in a situation where your emergency procedures would need to be carried out in a frame of time that might be too challenging for you at this stage. Take a canopy control course as soon as you can and read up. Brian Germain has an excellent volume he's updated several times that is an invaluable read at any skill level. Some of the text will make little sense to you at this point, but you can refer back for some solid advice later as your abilities and skill set grow. Be safe... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #6 June 8, 2007 QuoteI just want to try more stuff with it. Any ideas? Do another 20 jumps. Your DZO and people in general will trust you more, and be more permissive. My guess is that your still on rental gear, which belongs to the DZO. If you have a mal 7k, and cut away his main, how far away do you think it will be when it lands? How would you find a canopy that could be anywhere within five miles of the DZ? You use an airplane to search by air (which also belongs to the DZ). You'll get to do more of aht you want as you build experience. For now, just relax, and pay attention to jumping and surviving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
