Is 370 sf enough? :)

[cvfd1399 0]

Ok so I got 14 jumps and I need 186 more that is not my question. I now own a Mt1-XX rig that has twin 370Sqft 7 Cell canopies in it.

From Paraflite

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The MT-1X main and reserve parachutes are available in a 7-cell configuration.
The MT-1X is a ram air pressurized gliding canopy equipped with a slider reefing system. The canopy size is 370 sq ft (34.8m2). These canopies have the capacity to carry 360 lbs maximum. The airfoil selected for the MT-1X is the high lift low drag proprietory Lissaman 7808, which offers reasonably high forward speed, easy handling and docile stall characteristics. The MT-1X can be safely deployed from 2,000 ft AGL (610m) up to 30,000 ft MSL (9144m) and at indicated airspeeds up to 150 KIAS.

I will eventually buy a sport rig for skydiving. My question is will this rig, or canopies be usefull to me when I want to try my hand at BASE, or should I sell it to offset the cost of a new one. Right now I load the canopy at .86:1, but that is with the rig weighing 47 LBS. I figure if I get a base rig and put the 370 In it it will be loaded around .80:1 The good thing is that it only has 6 jumps on it, and it is Camouflage! What do you think.

[TomAiello 26]

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My question is will this rig, or canopies be usefull to me when I want to try my hand at BASE, or should I sell it to offset the cost of a new one.

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Mt1-XX rig

The container, certainly not. I wouldn't sell it, as the market is probably small, and you'll still want the container for skydiving, most likely.

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The MT-1X main and reserve parachutes

I have no idea if one of those would be suitable for BASE. My first guess would be "not really", meaning you could use it for Bridge Day, or easy jumps in Idaho, but not really for serious BASE.

BASE canopies are about much more than wingloading. Just because something is big, and has 7 cells, does not make it a BASE canopy. I have no idea what the inflation characteristics of your canopy are like, especially slider off (although, being military gear, I'd bet there is some data out there somewhere). However, since it's designed to deploy big loads (jumpers and heavy gear) from high altitudes, I'd bet it's designed to open very soft, which is a rather undesirable characteristic in a BASE canopy.

Short answer: I wouldn't use the canopy for serious BASE.

Long answer: You'll need to talk to someone who knows about airfoils and BASE inflation, and see what can be done. Perhaps adding bottom skin inlets would help? I'm not sure. You'll also be in for becoming a test jumper if you try to go this route. But heck, you'll be a test jumper for any custom oversized canopy you have made, as well.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[NickDG 23]

These canopies are Para-Flite's larger version of the Cruisair-Cruislite family of canopies and are based on the same Lisserman Airfoil. The MT-1s have some additional load tapes installed, but just imagine really big Cruiselites. Para-Flite sold these to the U.S. military and foreign governments. When BASE jumpers of yore had no choice but to jump skydiving canopies the Cruislite is probably the least popular 7-cell behind the Pegasus (Peggys), Units, and the Furys.

Cruislites had a reputation for 180s on short BASE delays and at least a few chilling videos are circulating, at the time, showing them doing so. However, these are the days when skydivers mostly began BASE jumping whenever and however they pleased, so skill levels may have played a part. I made about 50 BASE jumps on a Cruislite and they land like crap and I always took a good pasting downtown.

Although I know what Tom means by serious BASE jump (and I’ve often hunted for a better term myself) it’s better, especially in the beginning, that you consider all BASE jumps serious.

You have the time, so save your pennies, and buy BASE gear. There is an undeniable comfort factor in setting up your gear the same as the experienced jumper next to you, and when you have weird gear no one can help you with complete authority.

Nick BASE 194

[cvfd1399 0]

Thanks I will keep the rig as there are not alot of them out there with less than 10 jumps on it. As of now if today I had 200 jumps I would not be intrested in anything under 500ft, but one day there is a 1780ft A 5 miles from my house in a cow field that I want to conquer. As well as getting a BASE number

[NickDG 23]

Get on it now and you have chance of being BASE number 1000 . . .

A friend of mine had a tower in his back yard, too. He’d climbed it so many times when he was a kid that now he only climbs it in ice-storms, until he discovered BASE jumping.

The begining is the best.

Nick BASE 194

[DaveO 0]

MT1-XX? Oh yeah, I remember using those as a young scraping Recon Marine back in the 80's.
This is what they are good for.
This pic was taken in 1988. Damn I'm getting old.


Had a hard time scaning this pic and trying to get it under 60KB. I suck at this computer stuff. Turned out kind of small.

"When it comes to BASE, I'll never give advice, only my opinion"