Martini

You could get a BASE canopy a size smaller than your normal one. Sail slider, no vents. I know someone who did exactly that so he's always in touch with his BASE skills. Downside is larger pack volume than a skydive canopy and BASE canopy wears out quicker. Upside is you have another BASE canopy for "easy" jumps. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

More than likely you'll be tired of the canopy long before it's too tired to fly. BTW I just looked at the max gross on my '93 107, it's listed as 117 lbs. I think you might be OK loading yours at 6 lbs over gross. Just go jump it. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Will I eventually want to downsize?Quote Most people eventually downsize. Reasons vary but mainly a smaller canopy is more maneuverable and therefore more fun. Yes there are issues both pro and con with a smaller canopy but you don't have to get into swooping or have a highly loaded canopy to have fun. You are in the sport for fun I'm sure, well almost any passenger car is more fun to drive than a schoolbus. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

So an Arizona jumper can just buy the rig. I'm sure the owner, if the rig is stolen, would be happy to pay $50 to get it back. And you'll know who to confront later if the rig is hot. In the meantime you can jump the rig. Am I missing something here? Sometimes you eat the bear..............

You were serious? Unfuckingbelievable. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I have hundreds of jumps on Sabre 1-170, 150 and 135. I figured out that I am too fat to jump a Sabre 1-135. The practical limit on wing-loading a Sabre 1 is around 1.5 pounds per square foot, If you load a Sabre 1 heavier than that, the glide ratio and flare suffer ... and so will your ankles.Quote I won't argue about your being too fat for the 135 but disagree on the 1.5 w/l. I fly my old Sabre 120 at 1.66 and my 107 at 1.86 (exit weight 200 lbs). They both open, fly and land very nicely but the 120 easily out-swoops the 107 which is probably a little overloaded. I would say that the max weights listed by PD were a little conservative. Obviously I would NEVER recommend these wingloadings at low jump numbers , just showing the range these canopies have. BTW the original Sabre slider is the same size from 107 through 170, that might explain the reputation of hard openings particularly on the 170. 190, 210, 230 all used a larger slider. Great canopies but line trim makes a huge difference particularly at opening. To the OP: I won't make suggestions on your wingloading, that's between you and your instructors. My perception is that your canopy, if in good condition, would not be unsafe loaded at 1.13. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

But serious question: Do air locks get cut away more often than cross braced canopies? I'm just wondering what you guys think about which type opens better on average. Quote In addition to the responses already given I'd guess that the average x-brace is flown at a higher wingload than the average airlock. I'd also guess that the chop numbers increase with wingloading. I can't imagine airlocks improving x-brace performance in any way. Since such an animal doesn't exist the implication is that manufacturers don't see a reason to build one. I think you may be looking for a solution to a nonexistant problem. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Get a splitboard, they skin up just fine. I can't ski anymore due to a leg injury so I only snowboard. I've launched a skydiving canopy on a board, countering the "twist" was no problem. Hopefully I'll get to try a speedflying wing/harness soon. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

EPs looked good, maybe a little tough getting the reserve but that's what a two hander will do for ya. BTW the cause of the twists is obvious, at 1:24 you can see the open legwing throwing her body all over, unzipping during deployment is also a poor idea if the opening isn't square. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Oh yeah, the Cobalt lineset was just OK and you're right, line trim makes a big difference on opening behavior even on "tame" canopies. I definitely have the choppers to prove that. BTW my somewhat limited background on Cobalts is that they are very opening sensitive, not just my personal experience either. That's the main reason I can't recommend the canopy to you especially with little experience, I'm no canopy nazi though. Seriously I hope the Cobalt works out, concentrating on super-symmetrical body position at opening will help you avoid reserve rides, keeping your knees and ankles tight together at opening will also help a lot. When w/s jumping very HP canopies my hands are near my front handles at opening. It might also help to find out what your rigger drinks in advance, it's likely you'll be a good customer. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

So let us know how that works out, I hope it turns out to meet your expectations. I'll not criticize, just let you know my experience with the Cobalt. I got a 120 despite a rigger friend's suggestion that it might be inappropriate, loaded at 1.6, me 1000+ jumps, probably 250 wingsuit. I sold it after the second time I chopped it, openings were too much like a Stiletto. Also the canopy wasn't much fun to fly at that low a wingloading. My wingsuit canopies are loaded at 1.6 and 1.8 (occasionally higher) but they aren't Cobalts. I do like Cobalts but not for w/s. YMMV Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Just like waiting for Godot! Sometimes you eat the bear..............

All jokes aside, anyone else got more information about this noise, and possible solutions?Quote Yes. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Actually Monkey YOU'VE GONE DEAF! Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Hope he gets video! Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I have four for wingsuiting, wouldn't trade 'em for anything I can think of. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Save yourself a bunch of money, get an "old" Sabre. I can safely suggest this as I have all the Sabres I'll ever need, no worries about the price going up. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Thanks for the tip, I was wondering why my rig was squeaking. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

You still grease your risers? I installed sealed riser bearings, get with the new tech man! Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Both of my Infinities had that problem, a few drops from a can of rig oil took care of things. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I'm not trying to be a dick here but.........asking questions like that indicates that you shouldn't be downsizing especially with a wingsuit. Not inferring that you shouldn't ask, just that you answer your own question. OK? 180 jumps + wingsuit+ 1.6 w/l=bad idea Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I can only vouch for my own dbags, I believe that the bridle or dbag would break before the slink could pull through the grommet, the bridle is a super tight fit through the grommet. OTOH I have a bridle that's half cut through from wear at the rapide link at the dbag, the pc/bridle probably has around 900 jumps, I retired it mainly because of that condition. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

just a lark head knot with the bridle cord itself. The best I have seen Quote Unfortunately many PC bridles have too small a loop to pull the pc through for a larkshead, both of my current pc bridles are made this way. IMHO a larkshead is the ideal connection, no link neccesary, usually easy to untie/retie, no tools needed, can't come undone, no more and sometimes less wear than a link connection. The larkshead can often turn into a square knot, also a trusty connection. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Two rigs, five canopies all on risers. Easy switching unless the bridle has a slink on it. I do like slinks on risers and they're fine on the bridle but not for switching canopies. BTW I also like a slink on the bridle stop at the dbag, metal links are a real wear point there (Infinity), can be as many as six slinks on a rig. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

If you change canopies often then slinks are a PITA. Carry a small wrench and bar, change the PC/D-bag in a few seconds. Or wrestle a slink until you'd rather cut the damn thing off. YMMV Sometimes you eat the bear..............