Demo Canopy Objectives

[Spatula 0]

When you demo a canopy what are your "objectives"? I've demo'd once before and before each jump decided I'd focus on a few things to learn about that particular canopy.

For example:

1st Jump:
-Practice flares--noting how far to flare and when I let up how it recovered.
-Rear Riser turns and flare--paying attention to amount of input needed, etc
-toggle turns (90 & 180)--paying attention to speed and input pressure, etc.

2nd Jump:
-Practice flares
-More toggle turns (360's and up) plus faster turns, etc..
-Front Risers--pressure used etc...

etc....now I'm not including landing and all that, hoping you get my point. So what are your "objectives" when demo'ing a canopy. I'm looking to purchase a new canopy and am interested in everyone's approach to demoing.

Reason I ask is I have a demo canopy for this weekend.

[AggieDave 6]

Altitude clear and pulls:

1st jump:

1. 9-flares test
2. flat turns
3. aggressive toggle turns
4. rear riser flare, turns and flat turns
6. some intro to the front risers

2nd jump:

1. Front riser turns (monitoring altitude lost doing different kinds of 90s, 180s and 270s).
2. front riser bail out maneuvers with turns and without turns
3. rinse and repeat

3rd jump:

1. rinse and repeat dive #2 with a return to dive #1.


During this time I do like to see if someone with a similar canopy will go do an altitude clear and pull with me, so I can do some no-contact CReW to really get an idea on what I'm able to do relative to other objects.




That's just what I do, YMMV.

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

[Spatula 0]

Quote

1st jump:

1. 9-flares test

I'm guessing that this is just your approach to practice flaring, doing x9. Any reason for x9? Or just your way to figure out that canopy?

[AggieDave 6]

No, its a sequence of different kinds of flaring.

From full flight smoothly through finish.
From full flight quickly to 2 then smoothly to finish
From full flight, smoothly to 2 then quickly to finish

And so forth.

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

[Spatula 0]

Ahhh.... Got it!

[Brains 2]

I generally like to try and find the stall point in some of those practice flares too. It gives me a good idea of how long i can ride in DEEP breaks or on rears before stall. but like you said YMMV

Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you.

[thepollster 0]

One thing not mentioned, that should be checked out is how the canopy reacts to rear riser inputs with the brakes set. Some canopies will oversteer in that configuration, and you should know what you are getting into.

[DeNReN 0]

cool thread
another list drill could be to see how the canopy reacts to flat/flared/braked turns and the different ways to perform them?

[wildcard451 0]

Quote

One thing not mentioned, that should be checked out is how the canopy reacts to rear riser inputs with the brakes set. Some canopies will oversteer in that configuration, and you should know what you are getting into.

Or as I found out about my previous sabre2, a nice riser turn with the brakes set would not stop turning. Luckily I was on a hop and pop so I had some time to figure it out.

[johnny1488 1]

That is gonna hold true for pretty much any elliptical canopy.

With the brakes set, that is.

Johnny
--"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!"
Mike Rome

[Cloudi 0]

Great questions and suggestions! What everyone has suggested so far is right on.

The only other thing I would suggest, after getting familiar with the new canopy or new size on hop & pops, is to then experience normal traffic.

You will want to see your position & descent rate with other canopies so that you can understand how your canopy will end up in the traffic flow with varying degrees of input.

Downsizing will cause you to enter the air space of others more quickly. Going more high performance will also leave you fewer outs or time to plan ahead.

You, your instrucors, S&TA, and/or DZO will need to decide if you are ready for that higher level of awareness. Each DZ will differ depending on your skill level, typical landing conditions, the landing area(s), and the amount of traffic.

The more experienced skydivers (instructors!) will be the best for guiding you through your progression. With anything new you do in skydiving, ask instructors and be willing to hear and heed their advice. They are there for you long after you graduate to solo & beyond!

Kim
Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

[wildcard451 0]

Quote

That is gonna hold true for pretty much any elliptical canopy.

With the brakes set, that is.

yup. figured that one out. had it been a normal freefall deployment, that would have been a reserve ride.

[johnny1488 1]

I would never tell anyone to delay their EPs if they think they need to cutaway, but a quick pop of the toggles on an elliptical will stop most turns.

Make some wicked turns up high with the barkes set and then just grab the toggles, pop'em and let them go. It's usually worth a shot if you pull at a reasonable altitude.

Johnny
--"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!"
Mike Rome