Carving flare

[fundgh 0]

How does a novice go about learning to turn during their flare?

...FUN FOR ALL!

[davelepka 4]

All right, for real now. You need to be able to swoop to some degree to carve. On a straight in landing, the speed on your canopy does not provide enough lift to turn and flare. Even with a good swoop, the carve uses up energy you could be using to fly further, or shut the thing down.

I agree with practicing things up high, but with the carve, you need to maintain level flight, while turning, and there is no reference for that at altitude. Even a variation of one to two feet, will have you rolling along the ground on an actual landing, and there is no way to practice with that degree of percision at altitude.

By the time you learn to swoop, you will have a better "feel" for your toggles, and the carve will work it's way into your bag of tricks. Understand that the straight swooping skills need to be solid before incorporating the carve. I find myself carving on most every landing, for lack of anything better to do (it's fun).

For now, of course, learn to land straight in, where you want, every time. These skills will prepare you for the first time you have to land a small canopy in a small space (off field). Take the swooping thing slowly, along with the downsizing thing as well. The numbers show that people do get hurt and worse when they don't follow this advice. For now, get your thrills in freefall, and be safe and cautious under canopy.

[Yoshi 0]

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[freeflir29 0]

Quote

You need to be able to swoop to some degree to carve

Yep...carving comes AFTER learning to swoop straight. You have to have LOTS of extra energy to NOT smack the ground while turning.

[JessB 0]

I agree with both bits of advice. You can learn the feel of the canopy up high. But at the same point you will not know the exact effects of altitude loss until you start working your way down towards the ground. What you will learn is the point that your canopy wants to dive in a flaring situation. and what degree of imput to use to keep it feeling level.

I would suggest that once you get to the point that you are starting to do hook's or carving approaches with a straight line surf. Mimic your actions up high and through in a little more right or left (which ever but learn both) you are comfortable with. for the feel of the canopy.

Carving is a lot of fun to do. But it can also help you out of situations at times.

But as always. Go slow and learn at your own pace. Don't push yourself too hard. You will be around to enjoy it all a lot longer this way.

Jess

[fundgh 0]

Maybe I posted the question wrong. It has been recommended in the downsizing debate that one should be able to turn at least 45 degrees during the flare on their current canopy before downsizing. I want to be able to avoid people/things in the landing area. I am not trying to carve though the swoop coarse. I mearly want to be a safer and better pilot.

...FUN FOR ALL!

[ramon 0]

practice landing slightly cross wind and making adjustments in to the wind wiith your toggles.

Start like 10 degrees off and gradually adjust. It is a feel thing, some canopies do it better than others. One toggle will be pulled slightly lower than the other, yet you are continuing your flare smoothly.

Speed helps,but until you get competant at it get readdy to run out a couple of landins slightly sideways.

On heavier loaded canopies you can lean in the harness to cause changes, I can cause about a 20 degree heading change with the harness, but it really all gets blurry becasue someimtes I am using a little bit of toggle too.

good luck

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