Geoff 0 #1 August 13, 2001 Here's an issue over which I've heard contradicitory opinions.Some say that highly loaded canopies can only be successfully landed by building up speed prior to the flare. e.g. a jumper I know has a Stilletto 97 loaded at about 2.0, and claims that straight-in landings are impossible without injury.I've also heard very experienced jumpers claiming that it's just a matter of technique, and you should be able to land straight-in even at very high loadings.So - what's the truth? I guess it depends on the canopy design. I could believe that old designs (e.g. Sabre etc, maybe Stiletto) will handle much worse at high loadings than more modern designs with cross-braces or airlocks.But can Cani land his VX46 straight-in?How about a modern, but non x-braced, non airlocked design like a Crossfire or Cobalt - can the Cobalt 65 be landed straight-in, loaded at more than 3.0?Incidentally, I'm only loading my Safire at about 1.5, so I'm only asking out curiosity!thanksGeoff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zipper310 0 #2 August 13, 2001 I have landed an Icarus 93 straight in on several jumps and had no problem...my exit weight was 160lbs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cobaltdan 0 #3 August 13, 2001 >can high wing loaded canopies be landed straight in?it directly depends on the efficiency of the wing. so it is different from one design to another, and at different loadings. some designs are not safe to land straight in at extreme wing loads because they do not have enough lift, they require an increase in speed to increase their lift to a suitable point. other canopy designs are effiecint enough to provide enough lift without a speed building manuever...cobalts can most definately be landed straight in without building up speed, even at extreme loadings.in general up to a loading of 2.2 you can land a cobalt straight in on a no wind day and stop it on dime (ie. you do not have to surf it). at loadings above 2.2 it becomes dificult not to surf it.there are pictures on our web site showing mike stevens and tony canant landing the cobalt 65 both straight in and hooked.the highest wing loading i personally have landed is a 2.75 (a cobalt 75) and the first two jumps i brought straight in.sincerely,danatair Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,990 #4 August 13, 2001 >Some say that highly loaded canopies can only be successfully landed by building up speed prior to the flare. e.g. a jumper I know has a Stilletto 97 loaded at about 2.0, and claims that straight-in landings are impossible without injury.I have never jumped a modern canopy that cannot be safely landed with a straight-in approach. My old Pursuit 215 was that way, but that was more due to being an overloaded F111 CRW canopy with 1200 jumps on it than any problem with design. I've landed Safires, Omegas, Stilettos, Diablos, Extremes, Crossfires, Sabres, Spectres, Jedeis, and Monarchs at loadings from 1.5 to 2.5 to 1, and none 'ran out of flare' before I could level out and get my feet on the ground. It is true that you need more lift per square foot to flare a more heavily loaded canopy, but that heavy loading is also going to give you extra speed during final to flare with.If you hear a friend of yours describing a modern (i.e. at least partially ZP, less than 8 year old) canopy as "needing a turn before landing," one of these things may be happening:1. He has simply always landed that way, and has refined his flare assuming the extra speed2. He needs a good reason to do a hook turn in a no-hook-turn area3. His canopy is very badly out of trim and needs a new line set4. His canopy is so old that it's getting porous. Older Triathalons and some PD fabric colors had a problem with porosity.-bill von Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
