Spectre 150 Demo is Finally Here

[StearmanR985 0]

First, I need to thank RC at Action Air for getting me set up with these demos, he has been very helpful.

Looking forward to now being able to compare the Sabre2 demo with the Sepctre.

I have not found any negative reviews on the Spectre but I would still like to know if there might be something to watch out for as compared to jumping my 'OLD' Tri 175. Words of wisdom would be appreciated.

Jeff

[AggieDave 6]

Well, stand by for some really sweet openings, good flares and a quicker turn rate then you're used to.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[mustard 0]

And for heaven's sake don't pack it for a slow opening. Spectres can take more than 1K feet to open. I always ask the packers, and me, for a brisk opening, which with a spectre usually means 500-700 feet!

***
DJan

[StearmanR985 0]

Hmm, does this mean no tucking the nose and maybe pulling the slider slightly away from the nose?

[AggieDave 6]

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Hmm, does this mean no tucking the nose and maybe pulling the slider slightly away from the nose?

On a modern PD main canopy (read: anything but the old F-111 and the original Sabres) you should pack it with a nice quatered slider, leave the nose hang and roll the tail up, but you don't have to do that real tight.

It should open nice and fine. Doing anything else can actually really screw up the opening, making it faster or off heading.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[headoverheels 333]

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Hmm, does this mean no tucking the nose and maybe pulling the slider slightly away from the nose?

No, it means pulling 300 feet higher.

I only have 2 jumps on a Spectre. It had a reasonably nice flare, turns pretty fast. Full flight trim speed is slightly higher than my Stiletto of the same size. I personally wouldn't buy one with wing loading beyond 1.3, but I might make a few jumps on a smaller demo under good conditions.

[StearmanR985 0]

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No, it means pulling 300 feet higher.

I only have 2 jumps on a Spectre. It had a reasonably nice flare, turns pretty fast. Full flight trim speed is slightly higher than my Stiletto of the same size. I personally wouldn't buy one with wing loading beyond 1.3, but I might make a few jumps on a smaller demo under good conditions.

Would you mind elaborating a bit on this point for me please? The reason I ask is that a 150 Stiletto has been made available for me to try as well. It is good to get a heads up on what to expect between the two canopies.

Thanks for replying,
Jeff

[vdschoor 0]

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Would you mind elaborating a bit on this point for me please? The reason I ask is that a 150 Stiletto has been made available for me to try as well. It is good to get a heads up on what to expect between the two canopies.

Thanks for replying,
Jeff

Jeff,

Please jump the Sabre2, Spectre or Pilot for a while (say couple hundred jumps) before going for the Stiletto. With a 100 jumps there is still so much to learn under non-elipticals that you should stay away from them for a while.
Even though it is the same size as the Spectre you're about to jump, it's a different breed of canopy.

Hope to see you out in Lodi (or Byron) soon.

Iwan

[StearmanR985 0]

Hey Iwan,

One of these days I really will get out to Byron... Been so busy as of late that it is hard to leave the home DZ though.

I am most definitely aware that I still have much to learn under any kind of canopy.

Have a great day!!!
Jeff

[chopchop 0]

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The reason I ask is that a 150 Stiletto has been made available for me to try as well. It is good to get a heads up on what to expect between the two canopies.

Thanks for replying,
Jeff

Hey Jeff,
Do us all a favor and stay as far away from the Stiletto as you can for a while.. don't you remember the last time a young jumper started jumping a Stiletto in Lodi. Be patient. Live long. Have fun. I have 270 Spectre jumps.. Great canopy.. plenty of fun. and forgiving. Learn on that.. not the Stiletto.
Thanks,
Roy

chopchop
gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking..

Lotsa Pictures

[headoverheels 333]

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[ Full flight trim speed is slightly higher than my Stiletto of the same size.

Would you mind elaborating a bit on this point for me please? The reason I ask is that a 150 Stiletto has been made available for me to try as well. It is good to get a heads up on what to expect between the two canopies.

[chopchop 0]

Thanks for explaining it to him, Gary.. Just the idea upset me so much that I couldn't muster much more than a "Didn't you see what just happened?" response.

Jeff.. What Gary said.. The Stiletto is way more responsive than what anyone with 100 jumps should be flying..

chopchop
gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking..

Lotsa Pictures

[StearmanR985 0]

Well, if what I have read is indeed true about the Spectre I have an idea that I will not need to demo anything else anyway. Something tells me it will most likely be the canopy for me.

I am aware of the situation with the Lodi incident jumper last year. In fact a friend of mine was one of the first on the scene to assist. I would hate to have this thread go bad so can we forget I said anything about the "other" canopy?

Sometimes I just don't know when to STFU.

Thanks for the replies and the concerns over safety, and yes, I really do mean it.

Jeff

[chopchop 0]

Thanks Jeff.. I'll sleep easier.

chopchop
gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking..

Lotsa Pictures

[GravityGirl 0]

And also note:

The way you are loading the ANY 150 with your experience level can get you hurt or dead in a hurry.

Just be careful up there. It's not the landing that concerns me. It's your decision time. You're going to drop out ot the sky a lot quicker now. So heads up!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[kitof1976 0]

Hey jeff long time no see,

I have just bought a Diablo 150 that I have been jumping and it's also a pretty sweet and fun canopy and not down right radical. A little more fun than my old tri 150. So if you want to make a few jumps on mine to see what it's like just PM me.
I just have to work out a little bug before though.. the stupid thing has got a 45 degree built in turn. Not dangerous but irritating nonetheless.

"We see the world just the way we are...

[diablopilot 2]

So it turns 45 degrees and then stops? Wierd.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[diablopilot 2]

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I could tell from the wind on my face that the zero-brakes flight speed of the Spectre 135 was slightly faster than the Stiletto 135. This probably just means that the nose is pulled down a bit more (shorter front lines) on the Spectre.

It probably means that the two canopys are totaly different airfoils. The 7 cell Spectre has a steeper glie angle, while the 9 cell Stiletto flys a flater glide slope.

Kind of like comparing a Cessna 152 and a glider.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[headoverheels 333]

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It probably means that the two canopys are totaly different airfoils. The 7 cell Spectre has a steeper glide angle, while the 9 cell Stiletto flys a flater glide slope.

As you say. Checking the line specs and chords for the center cells, the trim angle to the bottom skin is pretty much the same.