XtremeSteve 0 #1 March 17, 2003 Hey all, I am having a real tough issue with this whole downsizing right now... Currently, I have 98 jumps in 6 months...exit weight is about 235/240...depending on how many burritos I eat for breakfast.... I fly a Falcon 235 and it has been treating me really good...I have a buyer for it and I think I am ready to go a little bit smaller and stay there for a while. 2 months ago, I ate some shit in Eloy with a Sabre2 210 on a day that was extremely gusty, they were shutting the planes down, that's how bad it was. The winds died, I went up and by the time I got back down, they picked back up...hurt my knee, but it's good as new now and ready to jump again (doctor says it looks good and MRI showed no damage) I think I am ready to do about 8-10 more on my Falcon and then move to a ZeroP...I was debating a 210 or a 190...I can also get a good deal on a Hornet right now brand new too... What do you guys all think? My idea, do 8-10 jumps on the Falcon, then try 10-20 on a Similar 210 and then settle on the 190 and stay there for over 300 jumps or more....? Suggestions? Blue Skies! Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #2 March 17, 2003 QuoteI ate some shit in Eloy with a Sabre2 210 on a day that was extremely gusty That's a worst case scenario. Size your main for the worst case scenario - get something that you are confident you can land safely when things go to shit. I'd suggest no smaller than a zp 210 (which you'd load at around 1.14) until you are flying it to it's full performance potential (regardless of how many jumps that takes), then think about going smaller. I'd also suggest advanced canopy control training as soon as possible. I would not suggest jumping an all F111 smaller than the 235 you've been jumping. I've been jumping a canopy that I load at about 1.0-1.1 for the last 150 jumps or so. I have plenty of fun with it, and I can land it safely when things go to shit around me. But... I've already hurt myself at a bit higher wingloading and spent over a year on the ground because of it; I'm in this sport for the long run so I'm in no hurry to go any smaller or more aggressive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,991 #3 March 17, 2003 Don't go smaller than a 210 until you can do everything you need to survive under it (the usual list, flat turns at 50 feet, 45 deg flare turns etc.) A Sabre II 210 will give you good landings (with a bit of training) great openings, good glides and will keep a good resale value; it's an excellent canopy to work on canopy control with. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XtremeSteve 0 #4 March 17, 2003 A Sabre II 210 will give you good landings *** Actually, the Sabre2 210 that I was flying in Eloy gave me really good landings...besides the obvious fecal meal I had... I was thinking the 210 was a better idea too... The only reason I was also questioning is that PD had in a .pdf file that stated something (and this is not a quote) like when downsizing from F111 to ZeroP that up to 20sq ft is considered the similar size....don't roast me if I worded this wrong... thx Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #5 March 26, 2003 Hi There, You've had good advice so far. The only reason to downsize is to go faster. I've just gone to a 107 after 10 years and 2500 dives on a 120. It was a long, carefully thought out desision. Downsizing is a critical choice for all of us. The Sabre 2 is a fine rag. The change to ZP will give you a lot more zip, and in a year or so, with another 200 dives or so, you can take that next step. Slowly slowly. Those of us who have been around for a while know that next weekend, next month, next year etc will always be there. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
