Sabre 2

[xine100 0]

I'm looking at some canopies to demo, and I asked one of our riggers if he knew anything about the Sabre 2. He said there have been a couple of fatalities related to very hard openings, and that he didn't recommend them. I've been looking around a little, but can't find any info on these fatalites, and I've seen mostly good reviews of the Sabre 2- am I missing something?

[Zoter 0]

Do a search in the 'Incidents' forum using 'Sabre 2' as the search title and you will find what you are looking for.

As somebody mentioned in those threads.....the Sabre 2 is one of the most popular canopies in the world, so the number of incidents/number of Sabre 2's out there needs to be taken into consideration when judging these incidents.

[xine100 0]

Thats exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

[larakiyomi 0]

Hey, I heard someone was in an accident in a Ford once, so you should totally stay away from those, too.

There's a lot more involved in any situation than just the make, model, and size. Saying every Sabre 2 out there is to be avoided because something bad happened under one of them is just not logical. (I was going to say it's the same as saying "hi, I'm stupid," but that might be a little harsher than deserved )

Lara

Blue Skies Mag

[xine100 0]

I was just looking for info- never said I wasn't going to demo one anyway!

[vdschoor 0]

You are going to be a very happy camper with the Sabre2, I've jumped Sabre2's for the last 1000 jumps and have nothing but good things to say about them.

Yes.. there are some bad apples out there, we had one on our dropzone two weeks ago.. brand new canopy, but it was opening hard. It's on it's way back to PD, and I'm sure they are going to take care of it.

I'll be honest, I've had one really hard opening on mine, and I think it's 100% packing related, although I am not sure, it never happened since so I'm not blaming the canopy.

Like others said already, the Sabre2 is a very popular canopy, so automatically there will be more reports related to a Sabre2 than any other canopy.

You will have a blast flying the Sabre2, I have had a blast flying them for the last 1000 jumps, and will continue to fly them for at least another 1000 probably..

[tcnelson 1]

i've put over 300 jumps on my sabre2 and i give it 4 out of 5 stars. i've had 1 or 2 harder than normal openings but most of them are great. my only complaint would be that it likes to dive off heading on inflation but this can be controlled with a bit of rear riser input.

"Don't talk to me like that assface...I don't work for you yet." - Fletch
NBFT, Deseoso Rodriguez RB#1329

[ChrisL 2]

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I'm looking at some canopies to demo, and I asked one of our riggers if he knew anything about the Sabre 2. He said there have been a couple of fatalities related to very hard openings, and that he didn't recommend them. I've been looking around a little, but can't find any info on these fatalites, and I've seen mostly good reviews of the Sabre 2- am I missing something?

I think the rigger is being irresponsible by making comments like that. A couple fatalities occured as a result of extremely hard opening, and it HAPPENS that they were jumping Sabre2's.
I'd be willing to bet that there have been more fatalities than that due to hard openings and that they happened under other types of canopies as well.

Hard openings are not a "common" characteristic of the Sabre2 in my experience.
I have 160 jumps on Sabre2's equally split among a 210 and a 190. I've never been slammed by either of them. I definitely havent been killed
If hard openings were a common characteristic of these canopies I think I would have had at LEAST one hard opening in 160 jumps.

__

My mighty steed

[Kris 0]

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I think the rigger is being irresponsible by making comments like that. A couple fatalities occured as a result of extremely hard opening, and it HAPPENS that they were jumping Sabre2's.
I'd be willing to bet that there have been more fatalities than that due to hard openings and that they happened under other types of canopies as well.

Hard openings are not a "common" characteristic of the Sabre2 in my experience.
I have 160 jumps on Sabre2's equally split among a 210 and a 190. I've never been slammed by either of them. I definitely havent been killed
If hard openings were a common characteristic of these canopies I think I would have had at LEAST one hard opening in 160 jumps.

No offense, but that's hardly enough experience to say for sure. The Stiletto is a known soft-opening canopy. I put 250 jumps on mine before it opened hard enough to wrench my hip & knee bad enough to make me limp for 9 weeks afterwards, blow out a complete cell top & bottom, snap 2 lines, and burn holes in the slider.

I had more jumps on that canopy than you have jumps total before that happened, and it was caused by a manufacturing defect. This was confirmed after it was sent in for repair.

Granted, a hard opening can happen on any canopy. But the Sabre2's hard openings, when they happen, seem to be extra brutal. The fact that there's been serious injuries and fatalities under them will definitely preclude me or my wife from ever jumping one.

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[ChrisL 2]

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No offense, but that's hardly enough experience to say for sure.

No offense taken. I dont agree with you though.
I am not claiming that its not possible to have a hard opeining, but I do feel that 160 jumps without a single hard opening is enough to provide a general idea of the opening characteristics of my canopy
Brutal openings on a Sabre2 is clearly the exception, not the rule.
If it were otherwise I doubt the canopy would be enjoying the sucess that it is.
I love mine and would recommend them to anyone.

Occasional off heading openings? Now thats a different story

__

My mighty steed

[xine100 0]

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I think the rigger is being irresponsible by making comments like that.

Not at all. I asked his opinion and he gave it to me. Irresponsible would be if I were to take that opinion without question.

Thanks for all the input!

[Derekbox 0]

You wont jump a sabre 2 because of something youve heard, despite what over 6000 of them out in the field, most people jumping them love them. Like mentioned before, you have to place qualifiers on statements "like people have died from hard openings on sabre 2s". How many jumps are placed on Sabre 2s vs other canopies (which have also been known to screw ppl up) You had an opening on a stilleto that was hard enough to do serious damage and yet you still jump it, and refuse to jump a Sabre 2. Sounds like very jilted logic.

EVERY canopy can (and will once in a blue moon) slam you. Its a fact. I have had some rough openings on my sabre 2, but you know what, I can attribute 9/10 of them to bad pack jobs (mostly bad rubber bands). With over 500 jumps on sabre 2's I can say it is a great canopy and I love it (Yes I have jumped a variety of other canopies).

D'Bo

[ChrisL 2]

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I think the rigger is being irresponsible by making comments like that.

Not at all. I asked his opinion and he gave it to me. Irresponsible would be if I were to take that opinion without question.

Thanks for all the input!

Someone that is respected enough to have people asking their advice and opinions should be more careful of what they say.

If this rigger really implied that Sabre2's are dangerous or unsafe and shouldnt be used, then he was being irresponsible. There is little or no evidence to suggest that the deaths were the direct result of the fact that the canopies were Sabre2's. Thats a coincidence and is likely the result of the fact that there are a LOT of Sabre2's being jumped out there so the odds were good that when one of these fatal openings came along the odds were better that they were under a Sabre2 than another, less popular canopy.

If things turn out that there are more Javelins being jumped than any other type of container, its probable that the majority of fatal malfunctions will happen with Javelins. Does that mean they are more dangerous?

__

My mighty steed

[174fps 1]

people have died? news to me
I know of three instances where people have been injured
My friend Jody broke his femur and separated his pelvis
we dont know the exact reason for the injury, but he was
230lbs and had been sit flying
He is back jumping still on his sabre 2 , 210 he also jumps his son's
sabre 2,190 he has also lost some weight.
there was a jumper in Texas also heavier build who broke a femur
the third incident was the person in Spain.
do a search in the incidents forum.
Speed at deployment , body position and packing will all have an effect
on opening, not just canopy type.

[xine100 0]

That's what prompted me to ask for info: I haven't seen anything listed as a fatality related to a hard opening on a Sabre 2.

[Tink1717 2]

ALL canopies will, on occasion, open hard. This was a notable problem wit old Sabers. The Saber 2 is not associated with this particular problem. The Saber 2, IMHO, is the best all-purpose canopy on the market right now.

Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off.
-The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!)
AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717

[vdschoor 0]

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ALL canopies will, on occasion, open hard.

Correct.. I know someone who got seriously hurt jumping a Spectre.. a canopy known as a very very soft opening parachute..

The Sabre2 is an amazing canopy, and should not be skipped on your mission to find gear!

[fueler 0]

i love my Sabre2, even though it has spanked the crap out of me twice. most likely a packing error on my part. thats what you get after waiting until well after beer-o-clock to pack

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what!?