Scoby 0 #1 September 4, 2002 I'm still trying to work out exactly what I'm going to order for a pre-second rig. I had intended to get a Hornet 170 as my main. However, I had a hard opening with a Sabre 2 a couple of weeks ago. That led me to rent a Spectre the next weekend, as my ribs couldn't take another opening like that. Anyway, it was a revelation! I've never experienced such soft and predictable openings. However, once open, it did feel a bit sluggish. Now I'm really conflicted. I feel like the Hornet will probably fly the way that I want, but I'm concerned that I won't like the openings now that I've jumped the Spectre. Does anyone know if it is possible to pack the Hornet so that it opens really softly? I've seen a lot of comments that it can occasionally spank, and this is what I'd like to avoid. Notably, the post in the incident reports about the hard-opening/riser twist sounds just like what happened to me. So what should I do? Get the Hornet and use packing techniques to control the opening? Get the Spectre and trade off flight characteristics for the opening? Or get some other canopy that I haven't considered? So many decisions... And I still have to think of colors. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #2 September 4, 2002 QuoteHowever, I had a hard opening with a Sabre 2 a couple of weeks ago. That led me to rent a Spectre the next weekend, as my ribs couldn't take another opening like that. Just one hard opening on the Sabre2? It's possible to make any canopy open hard, including a Spectre. If I were you I would go back to the Sabre2 and a put a few more jumps on it, find out is it really a problem or did you maybe not pay attention to the slider while packing. I put about 30 jumps on a Sabre2 170 a while back and never had a hard opening. - Jim"Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nicknitro71 0 #3 September 4, 2002 I jump a Hornet 150 loaded 1.15 and I psycho pack it. I tuck the nose in and that's it. I get superb openings. I demo a Spectre 150 at Rantoul and although I liked the canopy it snivels forever. Paula warranted me about it but it still was more than I expected. The Hornet is definitely more high performance and will go further on a long spot. It turns faster too with-out much of the bank that characterizes the Spectre.Memento Audere Semper 903 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #4 September 4, 2002 Heres a quick question...what seem to be the canopies most camera flyers are jumping? Those are the soft opening canopies. Spectres are VERY NICE! Is it better to be bored under canopy and not in pain or in pain but having fun? Personally... I'd look at a Lotus too. They are pricey, but if you tell Brian/Michele how you want it to open... I think you will find it to be a better canopy then a Hornet (that opens better then a Spectre).Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoby 0 #5 September 4, 2002 I actually really dug the snivel, but maybe that was because I was throwing out at 3500. The lack of any appreciable opening force made it possible for me to jump and really gave me confidence when I had been feeling apprehension. I did manage to ride it back from a bad spot too. I didn't really like how it turned, though. It seemed like it wasn't very responsive. It did land me very nicely indeed in no wind, though, which was very nice. Does wing loading affect opening significantly? The Sabre 2 I jumped was a 190 that I was loading a bit less than 1:1. Would I be less likely to be spanked at 170? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoby 0 #6 September 4, 2002 Yeah, I noticed that almost every one of the dropzone.com denizens at Perris this weekend were jumping Spectres. At the same time, I watched literally half of the other jumpers at the dropzone slide or tumble their landings. I'm certainly not looking to be radical under canopy. I don't want to be setting myself up for permanent injury. I just don't want to be totally bored either. I know I'm being indecisive...but I'm actually enjoying the shopping process and thinking about options. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites nws01 0 #7 September 4, 2002 Hey Scoby! Spectres are awesome canopies. You saw mine this weekend. It is a great canopy for newbies and old timers alike. As far as being bored with it you just need to continually learn how to do new things with it. After a couple of hundred jumps you might be ready to downsize. However, if and when I ever downsize I will still keep my Spectre because I will have mastered it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ChileRelleno 0 #8 September 5, 2002 Yo Scoby, I've been jumping my Hornet 210 at about 1.2 for 180+ jumps and have tried various packing methods,I've found that giving the nose a good roll and tight stows with atleast 2"inch bites gives me the best opening out the methods I've tried.Gives me an average 600/800' soft sniveling opening. The Hornet is the BEST canopy for your $$MONEY$$ in my opinion on the market today,whether its swooping or deep brakes this canopy performs very well.I've demo'd the Sabre2 and the Lotus,both are quality canopies but for all around performance and price get the Hornet. ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cloud9 0 #9 September 5, 2002 Quote Heres a quick question...what seem to be the canopies most camera flyers are jumping? I would think this really depends on where you are. Around my neck of the woods most camera flyers are jumping cross braced canopies mostly FX's. A camera flyer on my DZ jumps a Sabre 135 not my first choice but hey its his neck! As for the Hornet I put about 50 jumps on a Hornet 150 and never had a bad opening. Of course who knows the next one could have wacked me. However I liked the Hornet enough I went to the Heatwave and have had the same luck (no hard openings). If I were you I would look at all the flying characteristics of both canopies and make my determination from that and not base it on just one bad experience! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skreamer 1 #10 September 5, 2002 QuoteGet the Spectre and trade off flight characteristics for the opening? I recently saw an Australian freeflyer (James Evered) flying a Spectre '150 outswooping a LOT of people with smaller elliptical canopies. Of course he does have over 5000 jumps. Another thing to consider is if you are a fun jumper who will be making 200 or less jumps a year, maybe you will want to choose the more 'conservative' canopy to match your level of currency. FWIW Eric Fradet jumps a Spectre too, his reason : 'because he wants to enjoy skydiving for a long time and become an old skydiver'. I've got about 300 jumps on a Hornet '150, but since I started jumping camera I can appreciate why camera flyers favour Spectres, Stilettos, Cobalts etc - a hard opening can *really* spoil your day/neck. Will Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites steve1 5 #11 September 5, 2002 I've been psycho packing my hornet for nice, soft, on heading openings. I love the way it flies, packs, and the price can't be beat. I've also heard a lot of good things about the Spectre so either choice would probably be a good one. Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites lazerq3 0 #12 September 5, 2002 I have around 50 jumps on my hornet 150 and yes I've gotten an accassional wack but they where all due to my bad pack job....I just give the nose a little roll on each side and get nice soft openings......Im pretty sure just about every canopy out there will spank ya if your not carfull!!! For the money this canopy is AWSOME!!! I was fortunate enoughj to buy one when the economy in SA crashed....I mean yeah it was unfortunate for them but worked out for me!!!! jasonFreedom of speech includes volume Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites thegman 0 #13 September 6, 2002 I have a hornet and let me tell you it is a great canopy.Except for one really bad opening(you willalways have an occasional hard opening)The opening are very soft and gentle.Plus the lies are color coded if your learning to pack this will make it much much much easier.The flight caracteristics are great.And I paid $950.00 for mine.My $.02 go for the hornet.Later you may want something more hp, but this is an excellent canopy.I swear I don't work for PISA. http://www.freefallmaniacs.net Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites adamsr 0 #14 September 11, 2002 I have about 80 jumps on my hornet 190 (loaded at about 1.3:1) At first my packing was a bit hit and miss, and i was getting unconsistant openings, tried to slow it down by rolling the nose and it made the openings harder!! I then changed to psycho packing, and have done about 30-40 jumps on psycho packs now, all of which have been very nice openings, approx 800 feet, on heading and very smooth and soft. I completely swear by the psycho pack technique now, and wouldn't go back to pro packing, it makes the canopy a hell of a lot easier to get in the bag as well! The psycho pack may look complicated, but isn't much different from a pro-pack. look at the tutorial on the icarus canopies web-site, they tell you all you need to know Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. 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nws01 0 #7 September 4, 2002 Hey Scoby! Spectres are awesome canopies. You saw mine this weekend. It is a great canopy for newbies and old timers alike. As far as being bored with it you just need to continually learn how to do new things with it. After a couple of hundred jumps you might be ready to downsize. However, if and when I ever downsize I will still keep my Spectre because I will have mastered it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 0 #8 September 5, 2002 Yo Scoby, I've been jumping my Hornet 210 at about 1.2 for 180+ jumps and have tried various packing methods,I've found that giving the nose a good roll and tight stows with atleast 2"inch bites gives me the best opening out the methods I've tried.Gives me an average 600/800' soft sniveling opening. The Hornet is the BEST canopy for your $$MONEY$$ in my opinion on the market today,whether its swooping or deep brakes this canopy performs very well.I've demo'd the Sabre2 and the Lotus,both are quality canopies but for all around performance and price get the Hornet. ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cloud9 0 #9 September 5, 2002 Quote Heres a quick question...what seem to be the canopies most camera flyers are jumping? I would think this really depends on where you are. Around my neck of the woods most camera flyers are jumping cross braced canopies mostly FX's. A camera flyer on my DZ jumps a Sabre 135 not my first choice but hey its his neck! As for the Hornet I put about 50 jumps on a Hornet 150 and never had a bad opening. Of course who knows the next one could have wacked me. However I liked the Hornet enough I went to the Heatwave and have had the same luck (no hard openings). If I were you I would look at all the flying characteristics of both canopies and make my determination from that and not base it on just one bad experience! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skreamer 1 #10 September 5, 2002 QuoteGet the Spectre and trade off flight characteristics for the opening? I recently saw an Australian freeflyer (James Evered) flying a Spectre '150 outswooping a LOT of people with smaller elliptical canopies. Of course he does have over 5000 jumps. Another thing to consider is if you are a fun jumper who will be making 200 or less jumps a year, maybe you will want to choose the more 'conservative' canopy to match your level of currency. FWIW Eric Fradet jumps a Spectre too, his reason : 'because he wants to enjoy skydiving for a long time and become an old skydiver'. I've got about 300 jumps on a Hornet '150, but since I started jumping camera I can appreciate why camera flyers favour Spectres, Stilettos, Cobalts etc - a hard opening can *really* spoil your day/neck. Will Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #11 September 5, 2002 I've been psycho packing my hornet for nice, soft, on heading openings. I love the way it flies, packs, and the price can't be beat. I've also heard a lot of good things about the Spectre so either choice would probably be a good one. Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #12 September 5, 2002 I have around 50 jumps on my hornet 150 and yes I've gotten an accassional wack but they where all due to my bad pack job....I just give the nose a little roll on each side and get nice soft openings......Im pretty sure just about every canopy out there will spank ya if your not carfull!!! For the money this canopy is AWSOME!!! I was fortunate enoughj to buy one when the economy in SA crashed....I mean yeah it was unfortunate for them but worked out for me!!!! jasonFreedom of speech includes volume Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thegman 0 #13 September 6, 2002 I have a hornet and let me tell you it is a great canopy.Except for one really bad opening(you willalways have an occasional hard opening)The opening are very soft and gentle.Plus the lies are color coded if your learning to pack this will make it much much much easier.The flight caracteristics are great.And I paid $950.00 for mine.My $.02 go for the hornet.Later you may want something more hp, but this is an excellent canopy.I swear I don't work for PISA. http://www.freefallmaniacs.net Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamsr 0 #14 September 11, 2002 I have about 80 jumps on my hornet 190 (loaded at about 1.3:1) At first my packing was a bit hit and miss, and i was getting unconsistant openings, tried to slow it down by rolling the nose and it made the openings harder!! I then changed to psycho packing, and have done about 30-40 jumps on psycho packs now, all of which have been very nice openings, approx 800 feet, on heading and very smooth and soft. I completely swear by the psycho pack technique now, and wouldn't go back to pro packing, it makes the canopy a hell of a lot easier to get in the bag as well! The psycho pack may look complicated, but isn't much different from a pro-pack. look at the tutorial on the icarus canopies web-site, they tell you all you need to know Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
