Opinions please

[flipper 0]

Im thinking of getting myself a new chute ...ive done around 800 jumps on a stiletto 120....
i was thinking of changing over to a 120/135 spectre....( i do a lot of tandems now and finding it hard to stay current on my stiletto)
my out the door weight is around 180...
has anybody got any exp of spectres at the loading that ill be putting on it ...and how does the performance compare to that of the stiletto
any advice offered is cool
thanks
flipper

[gus 1]

I can't compare it to a Stiletto but I'm about 180 out of the door and jump a Spectre 135. To be honest I think you'll be a bit bored!
Wanna swap?! Gus
"Sex? Once every six seconds. Skydiving? Five times, every six seconds."

[Geoff 0]

I had a spectre 135 for about 100 jumps, also loading at 180 out the door. It opened very softly. Turns are fairly snappy when you start to load a Spectre (faster than a Sabre), but obviously nothing like a Stiletto. Easy to land and you can even get a reasonable swoop, but the flare will definitely feel less powerful than a stiletto.
The thing I really didn't like was the lack of glide. If you're trying to get back from upwind, it's not bad because you can put the brakes on and float back. If you're downwind, and it's blowing much, it feels like you're going straight down. This will be a real contrast to a stiletto which glides so well.
Of course it'll be generally more docile (boring?) than a stiletto, but that's why you're considering it, right?
Hope that helps
Geoff

[AlanRussell 0]

It might be worthwhile asking Andrew what he thinks of his cf. a Stiletto. I think he used to jump a Stiletto 120 and now jumps a Spectre 120.

[billvon 2,991]

It's a pretty big jump . . . Glide's not great, and turns will be very noticeably slower. How about something like a Sabre II? More forgiving than the Stiletto but better performing (and better glide) than the Spectre. Openings are decent as well.
-bill von

[drenaline 0]

DEMO, if you can take advantage of it, do it. You can answer a lot of your Q's by actually jumping one, its better to try it first than buying it and then don't like it.
"Life is full of danger, so why be afraid?"
drenaline

[wlie 0]

Check out a Diablo. 7 cell like a Spectre, elliptical or tapered like a Stilleto. Best of both worlds. My opinion. Flame away.

[AggieDave 6]

I'm going with Bill Von on this one. I"ve jumped a Spectre 190 and a Sabre2 190, both loaded at 1.45 pretty much back to back. Personally I didn't like the Spectre since it is sluggish when it turns and it sinks like a home sick rock when compared to a Sabre2. What did I like? The openings, talk about schweet. The only bad opening I had was when I dumped right out of a sit (there was a reason for it, before I get flamed). Even then, I've had worst openings before. The Sabre2 *can* open just as well, but you have to pack for it. Even if you just do a plane ol' pro-pack, it still opens nice. You do have to pay attention to body position and you may have to shift your butt around in the harness a little to keep everything kosher during opening with a Sabre2, though, it does like to move around.
Like it was mentioned, demo them if possible, but if you're transitioning from a Spinnetto, then I don't think you'll find much enjoyment in a Spectre.
PLEASE NOTE! I have just under 150 jumps, take what I say with a grain of salt and go demo them for yourself. Aerials
So up high
When you free your lives (the) eternal prize