cheneyneel 0 #1 February 24, 2003 As I read through the forums about these guys and their accidents everyone is talking about the winds the call of making the jump in the winds etc.. In some of the forums they talk of the big accuracy canopies that they flew and how they were pushed back and tossed around.. My question is (just out of curiosity) how would have situations changed for the canopy pilots if they were flying different types and sizes of canopies? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #2 February 24, 2003 Its a lot harder to qualify for your pro rating on a very small canopy. Plus since on most approaches you want to come in at a fairly steep angle (sink it in) rather then have to glide it in from a long ways out your limiting your self in your gear options. I know a few military teams have to use club gear (StarTrac 1's or 2's from what I've heard) so they would'nt have had another option. 20mph winds are able to be done on most canopies (I've seen a Parafoil 252 jumped in them) but there will be a lack of drive, stronger winds just push you backwards. You'd be talking a very highly loaded canopy that would not stand still or move backwards in anything above about 25 or 30.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
parachutist 2 #3 February 24, 2003 Quote My question is (just out of curiosity) how would have situations changed for the canopy pilots if they were flying different types and sizes of canopies? No matter what size canopies they'd been flying, there would still have been a great deal of turbulence for them to deal with. I don't know what this grandstand looked like or from which way the wind was coming, but I'm sure it would have been difficult to avoid the turbulence of 40+ mph winds coming over bleachers & parked trucks under most any circumstances. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #4 February 25, 2003 CNN was running video of the crashes this morning..it looked like they were flying faster backwards than most 200+ canopies do forward..ugly ugly winds...____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
