Jskydiver22 0 #1 June 26, 2004 Right now i jump a spectre 150...im thinkin about finding something a little more eliptical. I have probably 100 jumps on this canopy, i have about 120 jumps total. So....should i wait and put a few more jumps on it, or would i be safe to downsize? I feel comfortable on it enough that i feel safe to find something else. --I don't even know enough to know that I dont know-- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
koz2000 1 #2 June 26, 2004 I wouldn't downsize right now. 100 jumps on a canopy when you've only got 115 jumps is not really enough to know how to get the max out of the canopy. I see that you're not even loading that canopy at 1.0, how much do you weigh? You're what, 125lbs?? If that is your true wingloading then you'd probably be ok to downsize HOWEVER I wouldn't change wing shape and downsize at the same time, ie get something elipitical in a 150. I'd ask your "canopy mentors" what they think of your downsize. Also I'd look at the post in Incidents about the 300 jump guy. [ url "http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1125536;" ] Landing Injury [/url] Also look at BillVon's Downsizing Checklist Hope this helps, D______________________________________________ - Does this small canopy make my balls look big? - J. Hayes - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #3 June 26, 2004 Have you considered trading "across"? Try a Sabre2 150 or a Pilot 150. What is it that makes you want to downsize? More speed? You want to get down quicker? Easier packing? Just want to hear from you to see what your ideas are. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JonBonGraham 0 #4 June 26, 2004 I got some great advice on downsizing from someone a LOT more experienced than me - if you can't land your canopy exactly where you want to every time without fail then your downsizing to a smaller and/or more high performance canopy will only increace your error in landing accuracy - so instead of landing anywhere up to, say, 15 metres away from your target, you're suddenly landing 30-40 metres away from your target - this may not be important on the nice, parachutist-friendly DZ, but it makes for a pretty tasty sittuation when your only option is to land in Mrs. Miggins' back yard! I suppose you can only be honest with yourself with whether you land where you want to - I try and pick a spot as soon as I've done my checks & stuff and stick with that, only changing it if I can't get to the spot OR if someone cuts me up/otherwise interferes with my intended flight pattern. Good luck to ya! Durham University Freefall Club Grounds For Divorce website (band I'm in) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jskydiver22 0 #5 June 27, 2004 Yeah, i guess my main interest is starting to go faster. I know i want to swoop, but i just want to take my time at it and not kill myself. With my gear on i weigh about 135. So your sayin that i might try goin to a stiletto 150? --I don't even know enough to know that I dont know-- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flipper 0 #6 June 28, 2004 Dude, One of the faster guys at our DZ jumps a spectre 135...pulls off the big long swoopy landings...he has spent a bit of time learning whats required....suppose what im saying is stick with it for a bit ....get some more jumps under your belt and some tution .....you can swoop anything flipper Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmdrennan 2 #7 June 28, 2004 Call PD and tell them your jump info. See if they'd sell you a Stiletto 150, that'll give you your answer. Just cause it isn't the hottest swoop machine on the market anymore doesn't mean it doesn't deserve some serious respect. Blues, IanPerformance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #8 June 28, 2004 I`d rather stay slow. Try not to forget the reason to use a canopy is get you down safely and softly. I dont want to bite dirt. I Finland Im not allowd to user anything over WL 1.35 or any elliptical under 250 jumps. Broken wings heal long... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sammer 0 #9 June 28, 2004 QuoteCall PD and tell them your jump info. See if they'd sell you a Stiletto 150, that'll give you your answer. I wouldn't count on them refusing to send him one. I have a friend with a few less jumps and about the same WL who has a Stiletto 150 demo on the way. He's currently on a 190 Spectre Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmdrennan 2 #10 June 28, 2004 QuoteI wouldn't count on them refusing to send him one. I have a friend with a few less jumps and about the same WL who has a Stiletto 150 demo on the way. He's currently on a 190 Spectre Was he truthful on his application? If he lied there's no way they'd be able to know unless he answered the questions in a suspect manner and they decided to call the DZO or S&TA. I'm definately not saying you're lying, but I have a hard time believing PD would send a jumper a stiletto if they knew the jumper was around the 100 jump mark. I've known them to call on "suspect" demo requests. EDIT: Also are you sure it's on the way? Just because he filled in the request doesn't mean they'll send it if they feel it's inappropriate. Blues, IanPerformance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sammer 0 #11 June 28, 2004 I guess you could be right about him lying on the application form. He told me he had requested a Sabre2 150 and I tried to talk him into a 170 (remember he's coming from a 190 Spectre). Last time I heard from him he informed me that he had called them up and changed that to a Stilleto 150. I let him know what I think...but he has had an instructor/DZO tell him he'd be fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kris 0 #12 June 28, 2004 Something a bit more elliptical? Interesting, since IIRC, the Stiletto and the Spectre are based off of the same planform. Like others have said....why do you want to downsize? Why do you want an elliptical? If it's to start swooping, I've seen a Spectre go coast-to-coast on a standard swoop pond. Brigiette Liss used to compete Pro class in swooping on one. At your jump numbers, there are several great choices available today. Even your Spectre would be a great canopy to learn on. It's not the canopy, it's the pilot underneath it. Just because there are newer high-performance (Crossfire, Nitron, Etc...) canopies on the market, it doesn't mean that the Stiletto is any less of an unforgiving high-performance canopy. It's still just as much of a handfull today as it was when it was introduced.Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #13 June 29, 2004 Quoteonly changing it if I can't get to the spot OR if someone cuts me up/otherwise interferes with my intended flight pattern. If you can't get to the spot, you picked the wrong spot. If you picked the wrong spot, you would not be ready to downsize. jmo SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damion75 0 #14 June 29, 2004 QuoteSomething a bit more elliptical? Interesting, since IIRC, the Stiletto and the Spectre are based off of the same planform. Is this so? Is this judged by the angle of 'elipticality' if I can use that made up word? Because the aspect ratios are very different. (2.14 / 2.68) Not picking holes - I really am curious! *************** Not one shred of evidence supports the theory that life is serious - look at the platypus. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
