DYEVOUT 0 #1 June 16, 2003 From everything I've heard and read 'till today, the Spectre is an ideal first canopy - docile, sweet opening, and a nice, predictable, powerful flare. Now, this morning, I read about 2 separate guys chopping the critters this weekend. One spun up, and one blew up!! The one that suffered structural failure after a hard opening wasn't even loaded at 1:1. Is this more common than I'm aware of?? I'm looking for a used rig, and I'm aware of the tendencies of loaded-up Sabres to give you an occasional whack, but I'm looking to load at 1:1.1 max (210-230sq. ft.) per my instructor's recommendations. There are a lot of used, big Sabres out there, and some Spectres as well. I like the way the Sabre 230 I'm currently renting (usually) opens "briskly". From what I've read about the Spectre, they produce almost scarily long snivvels, as opposed to exploding - what gives? ----------------=8^)---------------------- "I think that was the wrong tennis court." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vallerina 2 #2 June 16, 2003 QuoteFrom what I've read about the Spectre, they produce almost scarily long snivvels, as opposed to exploding - what gives? I've jumped 3 different Spectres for a total of 150 times or so, so my opinion isn't the most valid...but I'm also taking into account other's (more valid) opinions. From what I've noticed on the Spectres I've jumped, they open nice and soft, but they don't take long to open. Mine opens in about 500 ft, and the others I've jumped (and from what other people have said) have performed the same. 500 ft is not a scarily-long snivel. Good job on taking your instructor's advice on wingloading! There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nubain1 0 #3 June 16, 2003 I think there wazs something wrong with the planetary alignment or something just as screwy yesterday with the Spectres. I would still reccomend getting one.In fact I plan on staying with the Spectre even after what happened to me yesterday.It's a great canopy,don't let 1 lemon canopy change your mind.I don't know why I had such a hard opening.I always had very nice soft openings with the Spectre.But I'm going to stick with the canopy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gus 1 #4 June 16, 2003 My first canopy off student status was a Spectre 150 (I'm about 180 lbs kitted up), I put about 200 jumps on that and then 250 on a Spectre 135. First off, any canopy can spin up, it's how it behaves with twists that you should be interested in and in my (limited) experience Deuce's mal is less common on Spectres than on other canopies. Don't forget that he's loading his Spectre at 1.5 so any mal is going to be a bit more 'exciting' than one at 1:1. I submitted a review of my Spectres a while back but in summary: great first (and second!) canopy. At 1:1 you shouldn't have any problems. Edit: As for the long snivels.....I don't have much experience on other canopies but my Spectres have never taken longer than 500ft to open. I jumped a Sabre last weekend (ie I was half expecting a slammer) and it snivelled live my Spectres never have! GusOutpatientsOnline.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
R00tj00se 0 #5 June 16, 2003 The spectre is about the 5th canopy I have jumped. The snivells aren't that bad - you may get the odd one where you're sat there wondering when it's gonna open but I find those kinds of openings nice on my back. Previous to this I had a Springo, renowned for hard openings mine had an extra large slider and I had to Psycho pack it to slow it down to an acceptable opening. Having said that if I did 5 jumps in one day my back was so bruised I couldn't jump the next day. A Spectre can be as docile or as fun as you want it to be - at 550 jumps I've just started bringing mine straight in on front risers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites spectreflyer 0 #6 June 16, 2003 I have been jumping a Spectre 170 since 2002. I'm loading it 1 to 1 (conservative type) I want a slow opening, but I have never had the feeling that it was taking too long. I've only had one hard opening on my Spectre (slack or hurried packing probably) and it ripped my risers, but did no damage to the canopy. I love mine, in fact I'm getting ready to order a new one for demo jumps with a flag. If you are a new jumper, you would be much better off in a spinning Spectre than a highly elliptical, highly loaded wing, Believe me! You will have plenty of time to deal with the problem on a Spectre. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Michele 1 #7 June 16, 2003 I love mine. Even though I've had a long snivel or two. And a wonky off heading opening (gotta be that dratted body position!) that I almost cut from until it settled down. Sometimes, things just happen up there. As someone pointed out to me, you're taking 230 feet of fabric, sewing some cords on it, stuffing it into a tight little bag, and then throwing it out into the air at 120 mph or so. The fact that any of this opens at all is a miracle! LOL.... I would absolutely recommend the Spectre. I would, however, suggest that you demo one several times before you buy it. I love mine. Love it, love it, love it. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites billvon 3,080 #8 June 16, 2003 >There are a lot of used, big Sabres out there, and some Spectres >as well. I like the way the Sabre 230 I'm currently renting (usually) > opens "briskly". If you like those openings, then you could stick to a Sabre. Used Sabres are now getting very cheap, and they will both land you well and teach you about canopy flight as you downsize. Spectres do tend to snivel; if you prefer the speed of Sabre openings Spectre openings may seem very, very long to you. There are indeed advantages to a canopy that opens quickly (as long as it's not painfully hard.) I don't think Spectres are any more prone to spinning up as, say, Sabres are. If anything they are a little less prone to blowing up than Sabres, since a dump in a track will not result in as nasty an opening. They are nice "first" canopies i.e. nice for the first canopy you buy instead of rent, after you progress through a few sizes of rental canopies. Sabres work just as well, though, and can save you some money. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites quade 4 #9 June 16, 2003 I've been jumping Spectres for quite a long time loaded at about 1.2:1 to 1.3:1 depending on how my diet is going at the time. I can't say too much about other people's experience, but in my experience it's a pretty darn forgiving canopy. I can probably count on one hand the number of "interesting" openings I've had, but so far after about 1,500 jumps on them, I've never had to cut one away and I've never had to go to the hospital. I dunno, but to me, that's pretty reliable all things considered.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Genn 0 #10 June 16, 2003 I think you should demo if you're unsure of what you want to fly. IMO, 7 cells and 9 cells fly and land differently. You just have to figure out which one you have more fun flying. The 2 canopies in question are both relatively safe canopies for a 'first wing'...Which one is up to youHave fun! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Danne 0 #11 June 16, 2003 I have made about 900 jumps and about 15 demos on Spectres. Great landings, great openings, no cut-aways, no spinning upp and no blowing upp... I love them! I did have two slammers, and I will never ever jump a colapsed slider again Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skydive84 0 #12 June 16, 2003 Ive got about 200 jumps on spectres loaded between 1.1 and 1.5. Ive never had any problems personally and would recomend them to anyone as a really forgiving canopy. However saying that a guy on my DZ blew up a spec190 (end cell came off - Shit happens!) about a month ago, wasnt loading it excessivly. Youll have fun on anything Adi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites tbrown 26 #13 June 16, 2003 What impresses me is how many jumpers with thousands of jumps are using Spectres. Some, like Eric Fradet and Tanya Garcia-O'Brian, are world champions. These are people who could easily handle a micro pocket rocket canopy if they wanted to. But they love their Spectres. I've only got a few jumps on a 230 Spectre, but really love them. I will have to demo some Sabre2's and Safires before I go and buy something, but the Spectre's going to be in the running for my money all the way to the final decision. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
spectreflyer 0 #6 June 16, 2003 I have been jumping a Spectre 170 since 2002. I'm loading it 1 to 1 (conservative type) I want a slow opening, but I have never had the feeling that it was taking too long. I've only had one hard opening on my Spectre (slack or hurried packing probably) and it ripped my risers, but did no damage to the canopy. I love mine, in fact I'm getting ready to order a new one for demo jumps with a flag. If you are a new jumper, you would be much better off in a spinning Spectre than a highly elliptical, highly loaded wing, Believe me! You will have plenty of time to deal with the problem on a Spectre. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #7 June 16, 2003 I love mine. Even though I've had a long snivel or two. And a wonky off heading opening (gotta be that dratted body position!) that I almost cut from until it settled down. Sometimes, things just happen up there. As someone pointed out to me, you're taking 230 feet of fabric, sewing some cords on it, stuffing it into a tight little bag, and then throwing it out into the air at 120 mph or so. The fact that any of this opens at all is a miracle! LOL.... I would absolutely recommend the Spectre. I would, however, suggest that you demo one several times before you buy it. I love mine. Love it, love it, love it. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,080 #8 June 16, 2003 >There are a lot of used, big Sabres out there, and some Spectres >as well. I like the way the Sabre 230 I'm currently renting (usually) > opens "briskly". If you like those openings, then you could stick to a Sabre. Used Sabres are now getting very cheap, and they will both land you well and teach you about canopy flight as you downsize. Spectres do tend to snivel; if you prefer the speed of Sabre openings Spectre openings may seem very, very long to you. There are indeed advantages to a canopy that opens quickly (as long as it's not painfully hard.) I don't think Spectres are any more prone to spinning up as, say, Sabres are. If anything they are a little less prone to blowing up than Sabres, since a dump in a track will not result in as nasty an opening. They are nice "first" canopies i.e. nice for the first canopy you buy instead of rent, after you progress through a few sizes of rental canopies. Sabres work just as well, though, and can save you some money. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #9 June 16, 2003 I've been jumping Spectres for quite a long time loaded at about 1.2:1 to 1.3:1 depending on how my diet is going at the time. I can't say too much about other people's experience, but in my experience it's a pretty darn forgiving canopy. I can probably count on one hand the number of "interesting" openings I've had, but so far after about 1,500 jumps on them, I've never had to cut one away and I've never had to go to the hospital. I dunno, but to me, that's pretty reliable all things considered.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Genn 0 #10 June 16, 2003 I think you should demo if you're unsure of what you want to fly. IMO, 7 cells and 9 cells fly and land differently. You just have to figure out which one you have more fun flying. The 2 canopies in question are both relatively safe canopies for a 'first wing'...Which one is up to youHave fun! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danne 0 #11 June 16, 2003 I have made about 900 jumps and about 15 demos on Spectres. Great landings, great openings, no cut-aways, no spinning upp and no blowing upp... I love them! I did have two slammers, and I will never ever jump a colapsed slider again Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydive84 0 #12 June 16, 2003 Ive got about 200 jumps on spectres loaded between 1.1 and 1.5. Ive never had any problems personally and would recomend them to anyone as a really forgiving canopy. However saying that a guy on my DZ blew up a spec190 (end cell came off - Shit happens!) about a month ago, wasnt loading it excessivly. Youll have fun on anything Adi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #13 June 16, 2003 What impresses me is how many jumpers with thousands of jumps are using Spectres. Some, like Eric Fradet and Tanya Garcia-O'Brian, are world champions. These are people who could easily handle a micro pocket rocket canopy if they wanted to. But they love their Spectres. I've only got a few jumps on a 230 Spectre, but really love them. I will have to demo some Sabre2's and Safires before I go and buy something, but the Spectre's going to be in the running for my money all the way to the final decision. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
