yesterday I woke up old, now what

[godziller 0]

I am 51 6'3" 225, have had my knees cut on 11 times, and have degen disc disorder. I wake up every morning feeling and acting like a kid, but I like to lie to myself. My problem is that landing is starting to hurt, and I need a new main. I am honestly at a loss as to what to buy. I probably have no more than 500 jumps left in me. 3 months ago I broke down and pulled out a rig I had made for my son. the main is a PD190 with only about 80 jumps on it. The landings are fine, but its a dog. everthing else I own is just plain not big enough anymore. so help me out. what should I buy?

[monkycndo 0]

What have you jumped in the past? Maybe something of the same make but larger.

If you want soft openings in a 9 cell, Pilot, Safire2, Silhouette. In a 7 cell, Spectre or Storm.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[AggieDave 6]

Take a long hard look at the Silhouette. Its a hybrid canopy and something that is still fun to fly, but something that is a little more forgiving then other canopies in a lot of regards.


Call up Kim and get a demo.

http://www.performancedesigns.com/products.asp?product=si

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

[LouDiamond 1]

Quote

Call up Kim and get a demo.

http://www.performancedesigns.com/products.asp?product=si

I have to agree but would be more inclined to point you toward the Storm in 190 or bigger.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[AggieDave 6]

The Storm is also an excellent choice! You know, that really is a great all around canopy.

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

[JohnRich 4]

Triathalon 260

[Andrewwhyte 1]

Try and demo a Pilot. I think you pay a small price on performance compared to a Sabre 2 or Sapphire 2 but the combinations of opening and landings could be what you are looking for.

[hackish 8]

Try out a katana 190. I've heard some old farts speaking very highly of it...

-Michael

[BIGUN 1,297]

Oh, for what we know not,
Those things we do in our twenties,
That will come back to haunt us in our fifties,
Each twinge a memory.

I'm on the path of up-sizing myself.
The one thing I can say about the F111 canopies was that I had a lot more tippy-toe landings...
May just go back in time to a large Falcon.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[Andrewwhyte 1]

Quote

Try out a katana 190. I've heard some old farts speaking very highly of it...

-Michael

I would not recommend a Katana. The landings often are fast.

[jumpwally 0]

I heard good things about the Firebolt also....quite frankly i don't get the need for speed...so what if the canopy is a dog,,enjoy the ride !! I think every one is in too much of a rush, relax,,enjoy,,look around relax ,,enjoy,,,and most of all smile, we forget how lucky we really are !!

smile, be nice, enjoy life
FB # - 1083

[JerryBaumchen 1,354]

Hi BIG,

Quote

The one thing I can say about the F111 canopies was that I had a lot more tippy-toe landings...

+1

JerryBaumchen

[Bip 0]

Great thread, I was about to post something similar myself. I am 50 and weigh about 190lb, im flying a Spectre 170. To be honest my knees are shot and with fast no wind landings I am hurting myself with PLF's.

I have a vector V348M So it is only going to fit a ZP 170 or a f-111 190-210. I was interested to see godziller says the landings are fine on the PD-190 and several others mention the Silhouette 170. I have got to the stage where I dont care how it flies as long as it lands soft.

One great advantage with the PD-190 is the ease of packing. Is the Silhouette as easy? I must admit I loath packing my ZP.

[billvon 2,989]

>One great advantage with the PD-190 is the ease of packing. Is the
>Silhouette as easy?

Not quite. It's considerably easier than most ZP canopies, since it is a hybrid, but it still has a ZP topskin.

[gearless_chris 1]

Quote

Quote

Try out a katana 190. I've heard some old farts speaking very highly of it...

-Michael

I would not recommend a Katana. The landings often are fast.

I'm pretty sure he was kidding, they don't make a 190 Katana do they?

"If it wasn't easy stupid people couldn't do it", Duane.

My momma said I could be anything I wanted when I grew up, so I became an a$$hole.

[3331 137]

Check out the Firebolt from JumpShack

Easy openings, soft landings and you don't have to run out the landing unless you feel like running.

I Jumped with the guys who invented Skydiving.

[love2flyhigh 0]

nope no katana 190 the biggest is a 170 I think.

[godziller 0]

The firebolt wasnt on my list. Anyone here jump it and at what WL.

[Rover 11]

Crossfire 2. I've done 700 camera jumps on 1 and have never been slammed.

2 wrongs don't make a right - but 3 lefts do.

[airdog07 0]

demo triathlon 219, they are soft opening and land soft and pack easy,they also have Hybrid too.
if you want little bit more speed on landing safire soft opening and good flare power.

"A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones ..."

[P-dro 0]

Quote

Quote

Call up Kim and get a demo.

http://www.performancedesigns.com/products.asp?product=si

I have to agree but would be more inclined to point you toward the Storm in 190 or bigger.

+1 for the Storm, perfect openings,fun to fly and ultra powerful flare for easy landings....

[shropshire 0]

Paraglider?






Or take up golf

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[tkhayes 348]

Spectre with dacron lines. 1000' openings and flies and lands great.

I have had two of them and swear it is one of the best canopies around (especially for old farts with crippling arthritis....like me)

[airtwardo 7]

I am 51 6'3" 225, have had my knees cut on 11 times, and have degen disc disorder.

I'm 51 6'4" 240, no knee cuts but bottom 4 discs are fused...

I jump a Z-Po 170, 190 & 210...depending on the winds that day, I'm hoping for at least another 5000 jumps in me!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[Bones 0]

I fly a Spectre 135 and 150 and recently demo'd the Storm 135. It's a great canopy, but you'll probably be running out your landings more with the Storm. Definitely try to demo them both. As you'll see from PD's site, the same size Spectre and Storm have different recommended wingloadings. Go to a POPS event you'll see a lot of Spectres. They're also popular with wingsuiters, mostly for their benign opening characteristics. One thing I've always liked about my Spectres is that they're fairly forgiving so I can fly them aggressively (lots of quick toggle turns, near stalls, etc.) but then land them conservatively.