jumpgod 0 #1 April 16, 2003 Hi, I'm a D licensed skydiver with 205 jumps. All are on a PD Spectre 150. I'd like a canopy with a little more zip on landing to nail out some nice performance and surfs. Is a Stilleto at bad idea? How are the opennings? Tell me your story; what do you all think? Thanks "dude, where's my main?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 April 16, 2003 QuoteI'd like a canopy with a little more zip on landing to nail out some nice performance and surfs. You don't need a new canopy for that, you need to get your canopy piloting skills up. A Stilleto's forward speed is actually a bit slower then a Spectre of the same size.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QTPi 0 #3 April 16, 2003 QuoteA Stilleto's forward speed is actually a bit slower then a Spectre of the same size. Really? What about the angle of descent? -- A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. -Oliver Wendel Holmes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #4 April 16, 2003 Quote What about the angle of descent? Aspect ratio. That is one of the main reasons why a Stilleto has a slightly slower forward speed then a Spectre. 2.14:1 is the Spectre, so basically it travels 2.14ft forward for every 1ft it goes down. 2.68:1 is the Stilleto. So, everything equal (wingloading, winds, etc), the Spectre will have a slightly faster forward speed then the Stilleto. SkymonkeyOne, Hooknswoop, any of yall that know more about this then I do, correct me if I'm wrong.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #5 April 16, 2003 Dude.. .that is totally the wrong meaning of aspect ratio. Aspct ratio is length/width. 2:1 is a perfect rectangle. 2.14 is just a a bit more then double the width. The Stiletto has a higher aspect ratio because it is narrower then the Spectre for the same length. Glide ratio is figured based on aspect ratio, trim angles, loading and a few other factors. Typical glide ratios are 5:1 or higher.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #6 April 16, 2003 Cool, I thought something wasn't quite right in my explaination! Editing...now. Lets see, foot in mouth, turn sideways, now hop away on other foot... --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jethers203 0 #7 April 16, 2003 What are you loading the Spectre 150 at? Maybe instead of downsizing, try flying a 9 cell with similar flying characteristics. Sabre 2 comes to mind. I am sure you will have a bit more fun on the landings. As far as what the Aggie said, it is better to fly whatever parachute you have to the max instead of downsizing in order to get the speed and thrilling landings. Any pro-swooper out there like Chuck Blue, Ian Bobo, or Clint Clawson can swoop that Spectre better than you will be able to swoop the Stiletto. The point is, the canopy can do it as long as the pilot can do it. This is where technique comes in. Downsizing is not always the answer. IMHO. John D-24352 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #8 April 16, 2003 QuoteTypical glide ratios are 5:1 or higher. I think that's a bit optimistic. Based on my experience, 3:1 is about what a person could expect from a Spectre. This is only a gross estimate and not backed by hard data (so, like, don't ask for it -- yet) and while a Stiletto may take you down the glide slope a bit faster, I don't currently believe it has a significantly higher glide ratio (let's call significant a 20% improvement).quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpgod 0 #9 April 16, 2003 it's all good....thanks for the help i often forget that i can generate more lift out of my current spectre with more speed. sometimes going into the wind, it feels like it is sinking rather than gliding. i always liked surfing 25' or so and coming to a safe stop. i'll get some instruction.... thanks. blue ones!! "dude, where's my main?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brits17 0 #10 April 16, 2003 way off subject but dave i just have to say that your signatures are absolutely great... they keep the song in my head all day. i'm requesting some cory morrow next you know the other night i really did play solitare till dawn, with my deck of 51... _______________________ aerialkinetics.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dgskydive 0 #11 April 16, 2003 Great answer! I had this same discussion with Tony Domenico just the other day. Learn to fly your canopy to it's limits before you downsize. Take a class from the pro's and you will surprised at what that Spectre will do!Dom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #12 April 16, 2003 Hello, my name is billvon, and I would like to ask you: Can you... -flare turn, at least 45 degrees -flat turn, at least 90 degrees at 50 feet -land in no wind and crosswind -land on slight uphill/downhills -land reliably in a 10 meter circle -land with rear risers -make a double fronts and a front riser HP approach ...under your current canopy? If so, you might be ready to downsize.Skydiving is for cool people only Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #13 April 17, 2003 Wow... Bill... I must be real drunk coz you look cuter.....Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ccowden 0 #14 April 17, 2003 Man, it took me 5 years and 4 steps down in canopy size to get to the point where you want to get now. I would say a Sabre2 is a good next step of the same size as the Spectre. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeffGordon 0 #15 April 17, 2003 If you have to ask, probably not. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
poohbeer 0 #16 April 17, 2003 QuoteIf you have to ask, probably not. You can use this for EVERYTHING you ever endever IMHO. If you're not sure of yourself.. you simply aren't ready. ------- SIGNATURE BELOW ------- Complete newbie at skydiving, so be critical about what I say!! "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,534 #17 April 17, 2003 QuoteIf you have to ask, probably not QuoteIf you're not sure of yourself.. you simply aren't ready I disagree. Some people are naturally more conservative than others. We might not have a preponderance of them skydiving, but there are a LOT of people out there who see the rules as telling them what they CAN do, rather than what they cannot. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sfc 1 #18 April 18, 2003 Quote Quote i always liked surfing 25' or so and coming to a safe stop. You can do better that that, I jumped a spectre 150 loaded at 1.1 for my first 650 jumps, I could fairly reliably do 270s and get 100-150' swoops out of it on a no-wind day. Along the way I hit the ground hard twice, only hurt my ego and we were able to laugh at the video, if I'd been jumping something a bit smaller who knows what would have happened. When learning to swoop you will fuck up on occation, the only questions are how much will it hurt and will you walk away from it, I think canopy size makes a difference to the answer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jethers203 0 #19 April 18, 2003 That's the way Marine!!!!! I was just going to say the same thing: QuoteIf you have to ask, probably not. I knew I was ready to downsize when I couldn't get anything else out of my parachute!!!!! Fly them to the limit as long as it is safe and learn semi HP landings on a chute you know. Safety First / Fun Second!!!!! John D-24352 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 56 #20 April 18, 2003 QuoteWhen learning to swoop you will fuck up on occation, the only questions are how much will it hurt and will you walk away from it, I think canopy size makes a difference to the answer. That's really true. I had an interesting experience last night at dinner. There were several skydivers sitting around the table, and we were trying to convince a guy with 30 jumps that he's not ready to downsize. The comment that seemed to make the most sense to him wasn't "you can get badly injured," but "you'll learn faster under your current canopy." The injury stuff didn't work on him, because, like all of us, he thought "it won't happen to me." But he wants to look cool in the shortest time possible, and the fact that he can do that faster under a moderately sized canopy seemed to sink in a little. Of course it remains to be seen whether he decides to go for it anyway... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpgod 0 #21 April 30, 2003 i thought about it and there is a guy with 5,000 jumps who still jumps a 7 cell....swares by it....i can do 80% of the maneuvers mentioned and i'm keeping my current canopy....thanks all :) blue ones, jg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #22 April 30, 2003 I have a friend of mine with 10,000 jumps (Tony Hathaway)... He jumps a 120 Specter. His Wife (5,000 jumps) jumps a Stiletto 120. A lot of VERY Experienced people jump what most people would call "large" canopies It's not uncool. Ron"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakydiver 0 #23 April 30, 2003 Jeeze 120 is large? I AM getting old -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." -- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #24 April 30, 2003 Quote Jeeze 120 is large? I AM getting old Notice that I said "Large"...I think large is 135Ron"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
burbleflyer 0 #25 June 19, 2004 QuoteQuoteJeeze 120 is large? I AM getting old Notice that I said "Large"...I think large is 135 Ron I resent that. I jump a 135...but I am bigger than Tony and I only have 9700 jumps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
