Blink

I usually don't, but last winter I did. Around Christmas time I had gained 15 lbs, which wouldn't been a big deal but I was planning on downsizing the next summer, so I would have been increasing the wingloading from both sides. I didn't feel comfortable doing that so I started eating healthier and working out. As a result, I lost all the weigh gained. I wouldn't be concerned about it now, because of my comfort level with my canopy and wingloading.

I don't think many people do know what determines the "recovery arch", but you might be better off asking about the canopy's "recovery ARC".

OP, So just out of curiosity, why don't you post your actual jump numbers in your profile?

Hmm, how hard did you look? http://cgi.ebay.com/Risers-for-Aerodyne-ICON-Rig-Excellent-Condition_W0QQitemZ200267583808QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item200267583808&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 http://cgi.ebay.com/Miniforce-Risers-for-Aerodyne-ICON-Rig-Excellent_W0QQitemZ200267588376QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item200267588376&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Thanks guys for all the replies. Yours definately makes sense, I assume you mean they're now similar to the Wings or Vector flaps. That's too bad, I actually like the original long riser covers better (when compared to the Wings independent flaps).

I thought I read somewhere that the new Javelin Odyssey's came with secondary riser covers, but I haven't seen them on the Sunpath website anywhere, am I just mistaken? If so, my next question is why hasn't Javelin incorporate them yet? Are they really necessary? or over rated? Before anyone tells me to email the manufacturer, I have already emailed them recently about another question several times, and have yet to recieve a response (over a month since first email).

I've been flying my Sabre2 135 (WL: ~1.25-1.3) for about 125 jumps and absolutely love it, but wanted to wait until I had a good understanding of how it flew before posting a review. Although I'm sure what I'm about to say has probably already been said in several different posts or gear reviews, I'd thought I'd post it anyway, maybe it'll help someone decide on what gear to demo/buy. On with the review already! I did a lot of research before purchasing this canopy. The specifications I was looking for in a canopy were as follows (in no particular order): -Decent openings -Light front riser pressure -Medium recovery arc -Good glide ratio -Tapered/Semi-elliptical Openings: My opening are aways soft, and acceptably on heading. Its very rare to have end cell closure, maybe 1 in 15 jumps, but it's no big deal, just pump the rear risers and they're open. The only thing that I find a pain, is that my slider likes to say up about two inches from the slinks, and because I've got 24" risers, it's just enough to be out of my reach, but like the end cell closure, a little bit of rears and it drops down. A price I have to pay for using long risers. I have only had line twists once, and the canopy flew very stable and straight (hence my desire for a tapered planform). Flying: Toggles are very responsive, as I'm sure you know it's not hard to put your self in line twists with a hard toggle turn. Nice light/medium front riser pressure, I can hold this in a dive for a 540 no problem, and when you crank on them, it really starts to dive! Light rear riser pressure, no problem getting back from a long spot using the rears. The canopy is set up perfect right now (factory settings), with the combination of the length of risers, length of brake line, and arm length, I have to hold my toggles as far down as I can to get it to stall. The onset of the stall is very predictable, you can feel it start to rock back just before it folds up. If you do stall it, no big deal, recover just like any other canopy. Landing: It's not airlocked, but it's a very stable canopy in turbulence, unlike the Sabre1 which had the accordion effect as soon as some wind hit it. Very powerful flare, there is no need to run out a landing with this canopy, even with a high speed approach. Just when you think you've killed off all your speed and you're ready to touch down, just keep pushing and you can pop yourself right up. I just started HP landing with this canopy about 100 jumps ago, and can say it is a great learning tool. I am only doing 90's right now, but I can already appreciate it's recovery arc. It's long enough to let you get a nice dive, while lining up with the gates, yet short enough to be forgiving for those rare times you turn a bit too low. Closing statements: After doing only 125 jumps on this canopy, I can say without a doubt that my next canopy, will be a Sabre2, hopefully I'll be able to find one used at a decent price, because the only beef I have with the canopy is the damn price! They hold their value extremely well, which is one sense is annoying, because I can't pick one up for cheap, but on the other hand it'll be nice when the time comes to sell mine. I would recommend this canopy to anyone looking for any of the characteristics I was looking for (at a reasonable wingloading of course). This canopy can be flown conservatively at lighter wingloadings, and can really rip it up the more you load it. I would have given it 10 stars, but DZ.com only allows 5. ;) Thanks for reading my review. I hope it's helped someone. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at lanew(at)rogers(dot)com. Cheers

It's not only the color, but the flaps where it is applied. Reserve flaps are supposed to be balck. Main pin cover/flap supposed to be blue.

It's not measured in soeed, but rather in how long it takes him to make it through the course, hence 2.45 seconds.

Just curious as to why you're only interested in a non-cessna dropzone?

I've jumped one for about 100 jumps until I bought my fullface. I loved the look, the feel, the audible pockets, but the one thing I hated, what the cheapness of the finish. Everytime I hit my head, the paint would crack, and chip off. Doesn't hurt it structurally, but looks like crap. I think they've since fixed the problem (bad batch of helmets). They actually offered to replace it free of charge, but I just haven't foudn the time to mail it out. Will

Google is your friend. http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=The+Parachute+and+its+Pilot&meta=

They learned proper grammar, spelling and punctuation. That was painful to read, not to mention stupid.

Don't forget recovery "arc" instead of "arch" ;)

Rigging Innovations says it can fit up to a 170 Spectre, I wouldn't recommend putting anything larger in it because it can put a lot of stress on the canopy. Another recommendation would be to get antoher container, because even if you do get a 190 in there, a 143 reserve is not a smart decision for your skill level.

I don't think it was mentioned yet, but I've heard a big difference is the cascaded/non-cascaded lines. I was told the cascade puts a weak point into the line, and the non-cascaded lines were outlasting the cascaded ones by a long shot (several hundred jumps). Anyone have any information on this?

With my Saber2 135 factory settings I have to hold the toggles all the way for a few secodns before it'll stall, and that's on 23" risers, the amount of bow in the lines is perfect, I can stall it, yet still pul the fronts past my chest. Maybe your lines shrunk a few inches, making it buck when pulling fronts/deflecting tail.

http://www.narnya.com/clients/wings/wings.htm

I agree, the first one with trim tape, but I'd definately get some brighter colours on there!

Just a side note, the Nitron is a elliptical canopy, and is not recommended for beginners. Other than that, demo different canopies from different dealers.

Precision Aerodynamics has been putting HMA lines on all their canopies, including the Fusion and Synergy (two entry level canopies).

How can you have a tight loop with a container of that size ? By shortening it I assume? I was told/read somewhere, that because of the way Javelins close, and the location of their closing loop, that they can usually take a canopy two sizes smaller then the largest one recommended. Whether it's true or not, I'm not sure.

As far as the compensation to the pilot goes, a private pilot can not be paid, but, you are aloud to pay for the fuel and aircraft rental fee because he is not profiting from those costs.

prototype doesn't always equal better. You're right, but do you think he would be competing with a prototype if it wasn't better then the original itself? That would be (in my eyes) pointless.

Just something to add that was asked around our dropzone and several times on here: The Javelin J-1, whether it's a J1 or J1K has a MAX size of main as 150 square feet. Putting a larger main in a container then recommended by the manufacturer can cause stress to different parts of the container, causing damage to the rig. So there is a chance the owner as is has put a lot of stress on the rig, (grommets, stiffeners, fabric, etc), not to mention the stress you would be puitting on it everytime you jumped and packed it. Just something to think about, the manufacturers have limits for a reason. Note: I am not a rigger, just re-iterating what I've heard from several riggers.