Landing a Hybrid Canopy

[JAGOZ 0]

Hi All
I jump a Paraflite Robo Z 165 (loaded to just under 1.5) and for the life of me can't land the thing without crashing one way or another. Can anybody tell me if a Hybrid should be planed out and landed in a "2 Stage" type flare like a ZP or should it be flared in one movement like an F111. Any advice or any other tips are welcome.

"Chicks dig guys that jump out of Planes! "

[billvon 3,064]

>Can anybody tell me if a Hybrid should be planed out and landed in
>a "2 Stage" type flare like a ZP or should it be flared in one movement
>like an F111.

There is no one way to land any make/size of canopy. Small F111 canopies can be easily planed out; large ZP canopies don't give you much planeout without an aggressive landing manuever. That being said, hybrid canopies don't land much differently than their ZP counterparts. I have a Silhouette 150 that lands a lot like a Sabre 150.

[FrogNog 1]

My advice for anyone who can't land a particular canopy without crashing one way or another is to switch to a different canopy that they can land without crashing.

I apologize if that sounds flippant and/or unhelpful, but it is my understanding that ungraceful landings are not a good thing. They may be a warning.

-=-=-=-=-
Pull.

[DrewEckhardt 0]

Quote

Hi All
I jump a Paraflite Robo Z 165 (loaded to just under 1.5) and for the life of me can't land the thing without crashing one way or another. Can anybody tell me if a Hybrid should be planed out and landed in a "2 Stage" type flare like a ZP or should it be flared in one movement like an F111. Any advice or any other tips are welcome.

My first canopy was a Turbo Z 205 which was F111 with a ZP topskin. It planed out OK and landed about like a Sabre or Monarch of similar size. My wiing loading was under 1 pound/square foot.

The Robo-Z was the model Para Flite built before the Turbo Z. No idea how they compare.

You're loading it a lot higher than was common when the canopy was designed and can't expect it to land as well as a more modern design.

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

Jagoz, IMO... the ROBO Z and TURBO Z line of canopies are basically, CRAP. They do exactly what you describe... they're "un-landable". I've got sevearl jumps on varrious TURBO Z's for varrious reasons and what I experienced was they're un-perdictable when it comes to landing... sometimes they'll flare, plane-out and land just fine while others in comparable conditions and comparable landing technique, they'll plant you or roll off to one side or the other. Awhile ago, I jumped at a DZ where the local gear dealer pushed the TURBO Z and I witnessed sevearal jumpers experience the same frustrations as you with these canopies. In fact, I have a friend that I'm sure jumping a TURBO Z was a major factor in driving her out of the sport... after several bad landings and 3 trips to a hospital (2 concusions and a badly spraned ankle) in less the 250 jumps. Hey, like I said, all just my opinion so take it with a grain of salt and I'm sure someone will flame me, but get a different canopy is my 2 cents. Personally, I've always been a fan of the PD line of canopies. In my opinion, PD's canopies, no matter what their design characteristics / goal is and/or anything else anyone has to say, they LAND! Same thing, different words, if you find yourself or hear someone say something like, "I like my canopy except for the landings", think to yourself, "What am I saying (or what are they saying)! A parachute, preferable your main, is there to get you to the ground in one piece and able to jump again! Why am I (or they) jumping something where the landings suck!!??!" I'm sure there are other newer manufacturers / canopies that hold a similar rep. Hang onto that ROBO Z though, it will make a good car cover and a good conversation piece to hang up on the wall at your 25 years in the sport party.