New to skydiving & looking for canopy tips

[msaddie7 0]

I'm brand new to this and certainly never thought I'd be spending my weekends skydiving! My story, in short -
- NEVER wanted to skydive at all (26 years, perfectly content without it).
- A year ago (after watching my hubby try it) I decided I would also like to try it.
- Around christmas time I won a free tandem skydive through a raffle.
- First tandem Jan 15th 2011
- Second & third tandems (L2 & L3) Jan 29
- Forth tandem (I passed L3 but wanted to do one more anyways) Feb 5
- Ground School Feb 10
- First solo jump this past Sunday Feb 13

So in 5 weeks I've only missed 1 weekend of skydiving. I still can't believe I'm doing this! I want to get licensed by my birthday (June).

So, as a total newbie I would love some canopy control tips. Free fall is fun and easy. The canopy stuff is a whole different thing. I find that I get very nervous and I'm afraid to try too much with it. Sunday I don't think I flared all the way to full breaks even once (not even on landing - hence the bruise on my tailbone). Its like I'm afraid that I'm gonna do something incorrectly and the whole thing is gonna collapse on top of me.

How do I get more comfortable with maneuvering the canopy?

Thanks,
Michelle

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Find a copy of "The Canopy and It's Pilot" by Brian Germain. Read it. Then read it again. Then read it a couple more times.

You really should practice finding the canopy's limits, but do it up high, where if you do stall it or something, there is room to deal with it.

DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR INSTRUCTORS!!! Make sure they know that you are unsure about canopy flight. It's not unusual. You've never done anything like this, unless you have prior piloting experience. There are canopy drills you can do, and should do, but that isn't a conversation you should have here.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot...

Welcome to the sky. You are so screwed now!!
Just like the rest of us.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[skymama 37]

Welcome to the forums!
If any canopy control classes are available at your dz, I encourage you to sign up. It's well worth the cost.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[thrillstalker 0]

number 1 thing PLF, you dont need anymore tail bone bruises (your tail bone is the base of your spinal column).

flat turns or braked turns are a life saver and you will probably need it sooner than later. i would talk with one of your instructors about it.

one thing that helped my anxiety level go down was gaining trust in the gear. do some research on the gear, find out how many pounds of pressure it takes to break a riser, it's surprising.

you aren't going to break your canopy, and if you do you have another one

"Never grow a wishbone, where your backbone ought to be."

[Klassen 0]

Germains book is good and also use the manuals from the parachute association. Lots of slow flight practice, flat turns and stall practice. Learn about the system, how to pack and flight principles of the wing. It has alot to do with the angle of attack.

As for saying freefall is fun and easy after 5 jumps or so and tandems? The fun part I get but easy, you must be a natural. I have spent a whole summer of jumps to work on controlling the air, it takes time and dicipline. Also your position at the time of activation is major importaint in a nice problem free activation.

Work on everything, ground to ground.

Good job working on the canopy skills and welcome to the machine.

[msaddie7 0]

Thank you guys! I will definitely get that book. Also, I will make some real effort to get to know the equipment I'm using. I think you are right - once I understand it more I will start to feel more comfortable with it. Its probably just going to take some time.

Thankfully, I have great instructors who really do take the time with me. I'm going to be at the DZ all weekend (husband is away; wife will play...) and my focus is going to really be to study and learn from everybody there.

Any other tips are GREATLY appreciated. I want to feel confident in my canopy's ability while also understanding its limitations.

[msaddie7 0]

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you aren't going to break your canopy, and if you do you have another one

HA! Is there something wrong with us that we find the prospect of a broken canopy humorous? As if its the equivalent of a blown out tire? I think WE are ALL nuts. But hey...at least we are like minded.

[thrillstalker 0]

you could get an instructor to explain the magic spot. it will be the only spot in your vision that doesn't seem to move toward you or away from you. that spot that doesn't move is where your canopy is going to land (if none of the variables change ie dont change break setting, wind is constant ). the lower you are the easier it is to find. it takes some practice to get it down, but once you do it will improve your accuracy. plus it comes in handy if you have a long spot and are unsure if you can make it back to the lz.

the book people have mentioned is great.
http://www.amazon.com/Parachute-Its-Pilot-Ultimate-Ram-Air/dp/0977627721

once you have completed aff, i recommend doing some high hop n pops. this is pulling right out the door at altitude. you will have a 10 to 15 minute canopy ride. that extended canopy time helped me get comfortable under canopy.

"Never grow a wishbone, where your backbone ought to be."

[monkycndo 0]

Brain's book is a good start. If you are a more visual learner, consider Canopy Control by VASST.

They are bundled together at ChutingStar. <-----clicky

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[Andy9o8 2]

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Brain's book is a good start.

http://collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Pinky_and_the_Brain/pinky_and_the_brain_volume_3_dvd1.jpg

[popsjumper 2]

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The canopy stuff is a whole different thing. I find that I get very nervous and I'm afraid to try too much with it.... Its like I'm afraid that I'm gonna do something incorrectly and the whole thing is gonna collapse on top of me.

It's not usual for student canopies to be set up where you could easily make them "collapse on top of you."

Here's some questions you might ask your instructors.

1. Can I stall this canopy by using only the toggles?

2. What will happen if I put on full brakes and hold them?

3. What will happen with this canopy if I do full toggles turns.

4. What will happen with this canopy if I do a hard turn in one direction and follow it up with an immediate hard turn in the opposite direction.

5. What will happen if I land on my butt?
Oh wait...you already know one possibility.

6. What are some other possible outcomes of landing on my butt.

The answers to those questions can ease your mind somewhat.

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Sunday I don't think I flared all the way to full breaks even once (not even on landing - hence the bruise on my tailbone).

Note: Brakes...not breaks.

Fussing at you:
DO NOT LAND ON YOUR BUTT!
PUT YOUR FEET DOWN AND PLF!

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239