Going from a square to an HP??

[pyke 0]

Okay, I have asked a few people over the past couple days, but I thought I would give my fellow dz.com'ers the chance to chime in...
I am currently jumping a Raven 1 180 (1:1.1) and I hate it. I have finally sorted out the openings and am getting better at the landings, but it just doesn't have much of a plane out so I still hit a bit rough. The only reason I started jumping my former reserve was to downsize because I was sick of my 220 always spanking me.
I have been demoing any canopy I could get my hands on...from Hornets, to Safires, to Sabres (OUCH!), to finally a Heatwave 150 (1:1.26).
It is by far the best flying, most fun, and sweetest landing canopy I have flown to date. I nailed both landings on it in the center of my target and landing them was no more than 2 steps of a run. I DON'T hook, so that isn't an issue yet in my career. Responsiveness was good and the counter-steering wasn't too difficult to figure out.
Both my rigger and another videoman who see me fly a lot have said that I had no problem handling the landings. I felt I could do it over and over again. Perhaps not into a tight out, but there aren't that many around our dz to worry about.
I guess my question is...does anyone think this is a bad idea? I have some of the other ultra-experienced jumpers tell me that I shouldn't, but admittedly they didn't know me that well (lucky if they know my name).
I want to buy the canopy and would NOT consider changing canopies for AT LEAST another 300+ jumps, but I guess I should put it out there to see if I may be getting in over my head. btw, I currently have 120+ jumps.
Cheers,
Kahurangi e Mahearangi,
Pyke
NZPF A - 2584
USPA C- ?????

[freeflir29 0]

I'm no expert ( disclaimer LMAO) and I havent seen you land but my 2 cents says at 120 jumps you should be plenty qualified for the 150. In fact I think that it's a good thing that you werent in a rush to downsize before now. I think it's crazy the way some people go and start jumping tiny canopies with 50 or so jumps. I'm flying a relatively docile PD 190 at 1.28:1 and I am in firm belief that I could kill myself with a hook (especially after Saturday) but I can also "shoot accuracy" into a back yard if I need to. I guess thats something I put real thought into before a canopy choice. I think of the worst place I have ever landed and decide wether or not I could land this canopy there. If you feel confident with it...get it! Just be careful and get a good feel before you start getting crazy with long carves to final.....
"Tryin to walk a straight line...On sour mash and cheap wine"-AC/DC
Clay

[skybytch 273]

Wellll.... you already know what I'm gonna say.....

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Perhaps not into a tight out, but there aren't that many around our dz to worry about.

Will you be doing 100% of your jumps at your home dz - ie you NEVER travel?? Plan on doing any demos? What will you do if you have an aircraft emergency and have to bail out over town?

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some of the other ultra-experienced jumpers tell me that I shouldn't, but admittedly they didn't know me that well

They may not know you that well right now, but if they are recommending that you stay away from that canopy right now it just might be that they want to get to know you better. I tend to listen to those who've made thousands of skydives, because they really do know what they are talking about - they've helped scrape friends up off the landing area and into the medi-vac helicopter, they've lost a few (or more than a few) friends to hook turns or other unexplainable things ("I don't understand it! Joe was so conservative! He never did hook turns!").
Two good landings at your home dz in perfect conditions do NOT mean that you are capable of landing that canopy safely anywhere in all conditions. That is the standard you should use to decide if a canopy is the right one for you right now. Not saying you can't handle it, just remember Murphy's Law - when the shit happens to you, are you really going to be able to pull off the landing?
If your 120 jumps had been all or most all on a Sabre, Tri, or other 170-ish sq ft rectangular zp canopy I'd almost agree with your wingloading. Personally I don't think an elliptical canopy is right for anyone with under 200 - 300 jumps - imho you'd be better off getting a Sabre2, Safire, Spectre, etc., at that wingloading and flying the shit out of it for the next 300 jumps, then move on to an elliptical. Smarter yet to get a 170 and fly the shit out of that, but I can understand the desire for the extra performance a 150 will give you.
Just be careful, whatever you decide to do!! I hate it when my friends are stuck on the ground.... and I hate it even worse when they are stuck in the ground....
pull and flare,
lisa
----
I am a nobody.
Nobody's perfect.
Therefore, I am perfect!

[mattb 0]

Pyke -
I'm no expert but what I would say is do what feels right for you. Everyone will have different opinions depending on where they jump / if they started on rounds or ZP canopies. Find the canopy / size you enjoy most and you feel safe on.
My 2 cents,
mob

[freeflir29 0]

Holy Cow!!! Hold your breath......Lisa and I agree on something. Very sound advice Lisa. Like I said I have a PD 190 F-111 and until I am doing every imaginable crazy manuever where the average spectator thinks I am going to die yet I have full confidence in my flying abilities, I'm keeping this canopy. Pyke, try out a PD F-111 or ZP canopy. I love mine. Opens great, flies steady and is very forgiving of some of the incredibly stupid things I have done. Come down to Skydive Atlanta this weekend and you can demo mine if you want.
"I.....am Powdered Toast Man!"
Clay

[jaybird 0]

Before you choose a new canopy, you should definately demo a few. I jump a crossfire 149 loaded lightly at 1.3 (190 out the door). I downsized quicker than most, (been jumping this since jump 55), however, i am a conservative pilot and understand the potential dangers of this canopy. In all actuallity, like Dan has said many times, when you load one of these canopies (crossfire, cobalt, etc.) lightly, then they can really be a docile canopy, (with better openings, landings, flying ability). definatly choose what you are comfortable with though, you are the one who has to land it.
jaybird
just my thoughts, not even worth 2 cents

[riggerrob 643]

Your total number of jumps is a minor point.
The real question is how much you learned on each jump?
"I DON'T HOOK" is such a cop out!
Half the people who die while hook turning did not plan to hook turn, they just arrived at low altitude without a plan.
If you ask any of the top canopy pilots on the Para-Performance Circuit, they will tell you that hook turning went out of fashion a few years ago.

[pyke 0]

No disrespect intended there riggerrob...I simply meant that I am not "front riser" turning or holding them for a final. I don't plan on it if I do get this canopy. At least, I don't plan on it until I am confident with my landings under the conditions pointed out by Lisa.
To answer Lisa's points...which were ALL good ones...you're right...I should be flying a canopy that I can land safely in all conditions all the time, but how does one ever get that good on any canopy unless they jump it? So, if I got it and did hop n' pops for about 20 jumps to sort out my judgement on the finals, then got into regular landing patterns, then experimented with other landing patterns...wouldn't that build up my compentency? That is my plan of attack for learning this canopy anyway. I know that I am making a big jump from not only one type of fabric to another, but one size to another. I am not trying to get too carried away here, but I can see how some would think so.
As of now, I am still undecided on it, but I have thought of it heavily, and am still leaning toward this canopy. Unless something comes along that is better, I feel my wing loading is docile enough on the canopy to not put me "in the red" too much.
That being said...should anything happen to me flying this canopy...you heard it here first!..."It was my own damn fault!"
Otherwise, I don't think there should be too much of a problem with this, but I have enough experienced "swoopers" at my dz that I still haven't talked to that I can ask about canopy piloting and other tidbits. Should the majority say, "NO", rest assured I will not buy the canopy. I may be a little bold, but I ain't stupid! [famous last words!]
Keep the comments coming!!
Kahurangi e Mahearangi,
Pyke
NZPF A - 2584
USPA C- ?????