Orange1 0 #26 May 12, 2005 can somebody give me an idea of what 1sq foot of parachute material weighs? to put it differently, will there be an appreicable difference in your exit weight on jumping canopies (main and reserve) at say 170 vs 230?Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #27 May 12, 2005 QuoteIf you find a rig that is forgiving but is able to accomodate a one to two size decrease in canopy size, you can be ready to downsize when the time is appropriate. Yup. Get a container sized to fit the main that you'll be putting into it and you can put at least one size smaller main into it when it's time. For most people that means their first container/reserve will do them just fine for 200-500 jumps. When is it time to downsize? There is no magic number, in jumps or months, because every jumper is different - different levels of risk tolerance, different levels of currency, different levels of ability, different attitudes toward (or availability of) getting advanced canopy control training... Skydiving isn't a one size fits all sport, which is why the which canopy for a newbie question is so hard to answer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DOA 0 #28 May 12, 2005 next time I think I'll just keep my mouth shut ! I'll speak to the instructor when I'm there. Please dont think I dont appreciate your feedback, I DO ! although I have my head round wingloading (jump weight/canopy sq area = wingload) based on that how would I know what canpy I'd need ..... oh dear ! ok, I'm 187lb add on the avearge kit of 22lbs =209. But I dont have a canopy to work out wing size. So I'm assuming canopys are made to a maximum wingload? So this in mind I am assuming the danger here is buying a canopy that has a really low wingloading for your calculation? wingloading is a calculation to see if there is enough square area in the canopy to support your bodyweight in the air?? The lower the wingload the faster u come down or more speed u have for tricks without stalling? Where a higher wingload of say 2.0 is a slower ride with a softer landing?? I think I'm getting it ? Phil. ------------------------------------- When I learn new stuff, it pushes the old stuff out of my brain! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #29 May 12, 2005 You're almost there... at least for a good layman's definition. You just got the sum the wrong way round. The higher the wingloading the faster you fly. So you want a low one. Student usually find themselves on a canopy loaded a good way below 1:1 (1lb of weight to one Sq foot of canopy). For a first canopy you're often advised to be around 1:1. But these are just generalities - only those who've seen you jump should be advising you on the finer points and you may find their advise differs from any general figures you find... that’s why everyone here says you need to talk to them. To take your example of a wing loading of 2.0:1, this would mean you fly much faster thus decreasing the time you have in the air to think about when to apply your breaks for landing and also meaning your collision speed with mother earth is much higher. Suddenly a low wing loading makes sense eh. For your 209 exit weight (although you may well find student gear weighs more than 22lb so you might want to adjust this equation) your loading on a comon student canopy... eg say a Navigator 280 would be 0.75 lb to 1 sq foot or 0.75:1 (209/280=0.746) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #30 May 12, 2005 Don't forget that both the top and bottom skins increase by the change in area of the canopy. And the thickness changes too, so the area of the ribs changes. Not as simple as multiplying the weight of 1 square foot by the change in canopy size. You can find canopy weights at a lot of the manufacturer websites. Better yet, just put different rigs on at the DZ and weigh yourself. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
