bertusgeert 1 #1 February 29, 2004 A quick question that I am sure has been asked before but I cannot find it. And I didnt know if this is the right place to post, but it is prolly as good as any! I was under canopy today for the first time in 2 months, on my 24th jump. (A 262 Rascal, with a wingloading of 0.8:1) Playing around conservatively, I flared, and to see what would happen if I initiated the flare too early on actual approach, I held it, arms all the way down. I watched my canopy and saw it go back, back, and eventually pick up more speed (backwards), at which I let go, I didnt wanna cause a malfunction or sumtin! (Am I a woos, or bein smart?) Are you screwed if you flare to early on approach? How much, and how agressively should I play under canopy. And what happens if you continue to hold a flare? Can I actually cause something dramatic by doing something stupid? Thanx! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimDave 0 #2 February 29, 2004 This is actually a great test to do. What you just did was find the stall point of your canopy. Did you remember how long it took and what the canopy looked like? When you let your toggles up, do it gently so that your canopy does not go too nuts and dive in front of you (not likely with that Rascal). As canopy size decreases and planform becomes more elliptical or tapered you may cause high-g spinns and be unable to recover from it. That is down the road for you though. If you continued to hold the flare as your canopy is stalled you may cause the canopy to become a useless ball of spinning crap. Be as aggressive as you are comfortable with. Don't do anything new under 2000' though. Have fun and learn a lot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bertusgeert 1 #3 February 29, 2004 So if you flared too early on approach, and your canopy stalls, you are in for a hard hit right? And you can actually have a perfect opening and beautiful canopy, and then do something to cause it to malfunction? What are some of those things? Where can I read more about canopy flight and behaviour/aerodynamics? Thanx for all your patience with the newbies! Ha --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimDave 0 #4 February 29, 2004 That is right. The thing to remeber is to let your canopy fly. So if you are at x feet and you think your canopy is abaout to stall, let up on the toggles a little (like a couple inches). This may allow the canopy to fly enough to allow you to PLF and come out smelling like a (squashed) rose Quote nd you can actually have a perfect opening and beautiful canopy, and then do something to cause it to malfunction? Absolutely. The stall thing I mentioned before is one. Another is a hard toggle turn in one direction and one in the other. This can cause a canopy to spin up. This is different than opening line twists. You may not be able to kick out of them because the canopy will likely be held in a turn (spin) by the twisted lines. This will likely cost you a case of beer and a bottle for your rigger There is a great article by Brian Burke at http://www.skydiveaz.com/resource.htm. This is a little old but the fundamentals are there. Look on http://www.bigairsportz.com and http://www.performancedesigns.com/pd.asp to get some info also. The SIM has good information also http://www.uspa.org/publications/SIM/2004SIM/SIM.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #5 February 29, 2004 QuoteThis is different than opening line twists. You may not be able to kick out of them because the canopy will likely be held in a turn (spin) by the twisted lines. I also wanted to add that a canopy in full flight (or mostly full flight from that manuever) will be harder to kick out of linetwists. You may be able to still do it, but it will most likely be harder then linetwists experienced on opening (with the brakes set).--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimDave 0 #6 February 29, 2004 Nice addition there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #7 February 29, 2004 Another article you might look at. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=20 There are actually two basic different stall modes for your canopy. When I talk to people about landings, one of the first things I have them do is play around with both of them at altitude. As long as you're on a large student canopy and at a good altitude, there's pretty much no downside to learning where your canopy stalls and a LOT to gain from learning the sights, sounds and feelings. Further, you can do this little exercises on just about any jump.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riro 0 #8 March 1, 2004 QuoteCan I actually cause something dramatic by doing something stupid? OK, I guess you will have som problems ending up like PerFlare (in this movie), with that canopy but the cutaway is from some "aggressive canopy control at 400m" as he puts it... http://www.headdown.net/archive/movies/lowpull.mov Test and play around.... but do it on a safe altitude. -- riro - http://www.ronnkvist.nu/gallery/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bertusgeert 1 #9 March 2, 2004 Thankyou everyone! I have found this very helpful, as well as the articles. I am now reading a lot more about it, and cannot wait to try and fly that wing again! I never realized how much you can do with a canopy! Thanks! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
