Skipping sizes when downsizing

[gmac324 0]

I currently jump a sabre2-135, and was posting recently about possibly buying a crossfire2-119.

I have decided that I going to buy a wingsuit this summer and do most of my jumping on that, so will stick with a sabre2.

But I would like a smaller one. Used to load my 135 at 1.55 for 200 jumps, now load it at 1.41.

I could get a 120 loaded at 1.6 but was leaning towards a 107 loaded at 1.75ish.

Is it a really bad idea to skip sizes when downsizing, or should I look at getting a 120 first. I have no doubt that I could handle a 107, but I have also never seen anyone with a highly loaded sabre2 so wouldn't mind a few opinions.

Thanks, Graeme

[Hooknswoop 19]

Might want to x-post this in the wingsuit forum, but that loading sounds high (the 107) for learning to fly a wing suit. Talk to a BMI about it.

Derek

[CanuckInUSA 0]

I would heed Derek's advice on not loading a canopy too high that you plan on using during birdman jumps. As for skipping sizes, I recently skipped 1/2 a size. I went from a Sabre2 170 to a Crossfire2 139. But in the future I could see myself only downsizing in 1/2 size increments (going from a 139 to a 129 to a 119 to maybe a 109). Once we start getting up there in the high wing loading categories, I would think that baby steps are the key to survival under each new canopy. Don't bite off more than you can chew, but please don't let some of us stop you from chewing.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[aneblett 0]

I skipped a size when I got my gear last summer. I went from a BlueTrack 170 to a stiletto 135.

That being said though I don't fly a wingsuit and I only load my stiletto at about 1.22 or so.

Whatever you do, Keep your eyes open.

Age

S.E.X. party #2

..It is far worse to live with fear, than to die confronting it.

[freakydiver 0]

How about doing some demo jumps on the canopies you are thinking about?

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[GeeeeeeFly 0]

300-400 jumps Hornet 190
10-30 jumps Sabre 2 170
50-100 jumps Stiletto 150
200+ jumps Crossfire2 149
10 jumps on current canopy FX 120 wingloaded 1:1.93

I progressed through the canopies rather quickly but I am very cautious with the FX, more so than I have ever been on any canopy.
The one thing I took into cosideration with my canopy progression was one question.
"Can you land that canopy in any given condition?"
Down wind
Cross wind
Any place off the DZ
And know how to flat turn...

"The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

[sarge 0]

You should send SkymonkeyOne a PM with that question. He has a rig set-up for his winsuit that is rather mild for his canopy skill level. I'm sure he has a good reason for it.

I'm wondering myself actually? -only because why load the hell out of a sabre instead of getting something more modest like a bigger XF2 (or keeping your current stuff) since theres more than one new thing going on at a time?

Did you lose weight or something?

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--
I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

[alain 0]

i'd say first buy the suit, get some serious instruction (not a lot but some seirous one), then put a lot of jumps on your suit, then make up your mind by for an eventual smaller canopy (if there's money left after point 1 and 2 )
I know winter is a time for many questions regarding downsizing (me first) but if you wana get into skyflying, it could be wise to start with a canopy you fully master.
folks like skymonkey1 are flying sabre2's in the 1,6 range with a suit but my understanding is that their skills and experience are quit far away from your's and mine...

[alain 0]

Quote

You should send SkymonkeyOne a PM with that question. He has a rig set-up for his winsuit that is rather mild for his canopy skill level. I'm sure he has a good reason for it.

reason might be:
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=335903;search_string=skymonkey%20saves%20himself;#335903

[ryoder 1,590]

Keep your current canopy for wingsuit jumps. Buy whatever else you want that is smaller and/or elliptical and put it in a second rig. Having only one rig and needing to constantly assemble/disassemble it from a wingsuit is a pain in the ass.

I don't mix wingsuits with ellipticals. You're busy enough after opening without having to deal with a canopy that may want to spin.

Also bear in mind that when landing, you have an unzipped tail flapping around between your legs, so you may not be able to run as fast without tripping. There is also the possibility that you may not be able to get the tail off some day. I saw this happen to a guy. It was funny as hell to watch his demonstration of highspeed hopping, but I wouldn't want to try it.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[headoverheels 333]

You are beyond the absolute maximum weight PD states for the 107, so I suspect that it would be too heavily loaded for best performance.

[gmac324 0]

Think I might go with the 120 after doing some wingsuit jumps (30 or so) to get used to the openings first.

Here in sunny scotland we still jump through the winter, although only 3 or 4 instead of 10 a weekend in the summer so should have them clocked up by mid march or so.

I have just lost 18lbs of weight so my wingload on a 120 is not too different to what my 135 was about 8 weeks ago, which is why I was considering a 107. But I have decided skipping a size is a bad plan, and I can always get a 107 in a few more hundred jumps
Any more input is still appreciated,

Graeme