FreeflyIndian

Diablo's also right about the resale...parachutes around that size sell pretty quickly and don't lose a lot of value as you jump them. THanks. Actually a good point that I didn't really think of.

Point taken and will do. Just so happened that I jumped a friends Heatwave 170 (semi-elliptical, zp) at the previously mentioned boogie - damn straight there's a huge difference in design/material even though size may be the same Shot

Thanks Diablo Believe you me I'm all for dumping the F111. Now I've chatted to instructors/other experienced jumpers on the dz about going down to a 150 (all this before my incident as I haven't been back to dz post torn-ACL) - opinions were that I should What about wing loading? Correct me if I'm wrong but performance does increase with wing loading. So is not better to load a 150 at 1.2:1 (still relativly low as far as WL goes I believe) than a 170 at 1:1 I heed your advice on not downsizing, here are my reasons for wanting/thinking of downsizing: 1. As above (better performance?) 2. I do thoroughly enjoy flying under canopy but really my current 170 is such a bus. I want a canopy that I can play with. 3. If I'm going to change my canopy (and that I will), why get a ZP 170 only to use it for a short while and then probably want to downsize to a 150 thereafter, when perhaps I should just pay a little more for a good 150 now that I am sure I will use for a long long time to come (at least a couple years) Again, feedback most appreciative. RM

Hi all My first post here - it seems I now have alot free time on my hands. A few weeks back I tore my ACL on a landing. Before this happened, and even now, I was wanting to downsize/change my canopy. Quick background: just over 150 jumps, jump a PD170 F111 canopy (DOM '97). I've put almost a 100 jumps on this canopy myself. Usually jump at the coast (and generally not more than a couple 1000ft ASL). Recently went for a boogie where the DZ is +- 4500ft ASL. I have become quite used to this canopy and it was great as a first and until a couple weeks ago had never not landed on my feet (incl. downwind landings - though not on purpose!). I'd done about 20 jumps (and was some getting used to the harder than usual landings at this altitude) at the boogie and on my last one landed as per usual, but this time for some reason my weight felt like it shifted inwards and I tore the ACL inside my left knee. Still it wasn't a crash landing, I stepped down with left foot first and as I was bringing my right foot down I felt something go inside my knee). Anyway, now I'm really hating F111 material (no jumping for 6 months!) and definitely want to go to ZP. My loading on a 170 is 1:1 and would be 1.2:1 on a 150. It felt like I wasnt getting much flare out of the canopy. Now, I'm gonna go uncurrent, but what I'd like thoughts on is the downsizing. I was already making enquiries about buying a 150 before my incident, but now am wondering should I wait to get back in the sky, do another 50 or so jumps on my 170 F111, or perhaps do 1 or 2 mor jumps on the 170 at low ASL just to get current and then go onto a 150. Any thoughts/comments/feedback would be most appreciated! Blue skies