The worst HP swooping canopy

[flyhi 24]

Shhhh. He'll figure that out.

Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

[ianmdrennan 2]

I was just thinking about the Prodigy I jumped last year and how it beat the everliving shit outta me sub-terminal

Performance Designs Factory Team

[skreamer 1]

From your experience how does the Sabre2 compare to the Pilot, Nitro, Nitron and the Safire 2?

[rsibbald 0]

I've got an original Safire I 119 without the flare mod and if you stab the brakes it'll just stop on landing, no plane-out & glide.... just acts like a huge airbrake

Edit to add: It is fun to play with up high, and can even do half a barrel roll!

[AggieDave 6]

I prefer it over the Safire2, it has a different flare...as for the Pilot, Notro and Nitron, couldn't say haven't had the chance to jump those. I need to demo those this season just for shits and giggles.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[DJL 235]

I just got done with a Nitro 150 demo. I was extremely impressed with the range this canopy has. Take into account that my previous jumping was mostly on 7 cell canopies. You can sink a Nitro into a back yard or you can wring out some real nice high performance landings. Take your pick. I recommend that you try one.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[bobsled92 0]

Quote

DARE you to take that Lightning to terminal

I did once (back in '92) WHAMMO!
they said they could here me scream from up there. (just got my "A" & didn't know CReW canopies were different)

_______________________________
If I could be a Super Hero,
I chose to be: "GRANT-A-CLAUS". and work 365 days a Year.
http://www.hangout.no/speednews/

[billvon 2,991]

> If you want to go fast, that fast has to go somewhere when you want to touch down.

It can go into lift or drag - indeed, it goes into both on most landings.

On my old Nova, I could plane it out, and as soon as my feet touched the ground, I could take a wrap and stall it hard. It would drop behind me and hit the ground. If there was just a little wind the drag would bring me to a stop. This isn't recommended (of course) but it does show you that you don't need to dissipate that energy in a long swoop.

[DancingFlame 0]

Using rear risers it's easy dissipate a lot of energy... had to do that yesterday (after my brake line broke on opening).

[dragon2 2]

On our DZ quite a few people can swoop a Lightning. Also there are 2 that can and do take their lightnings to terminal regurlarly. Both are big (176 sqft), I think both are hybrids (F111+ZP) and both have very large sliders and a bag.

I tried taking a ZP 143 w/spider (bagged) to terminal (up to 9 secs out the door) a couple of times, cause I flunked the exits. The 9th time really screwed up my back and neck I recommend you do not do that Although I did learn to perform great hopnpop exits from the experience

The Lightning 126 (ZP) I used to have could turn on a dime though, I loved to fly it

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[PhreeZone 20]

Get short enough line on any canopy and she will turn on a dime My 160 was a fast turner also.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[divnswoop 0]

Quote

I know very few people can understand why, but that is ok. Over the years I have tried many different canopies and I guess what I like pretty much comes down to "A fast, ground-hungry canopy that swoops like crap!".

Sounds like you want a tomcat. Best openings I've ever had, always the first one down, swoops like crap!! I know where you can buy 2 or 3 of them.

side note...Personally, I think you have to have a MIN of 200 jumps on a canopy before you get to truly know what it is and ISN'T capable of. If you think you can figure a canopy out with only 5-10 jumps then good on you?!?? If I was only jumping a couple jumps a year I'd go with a more conservative canopy with a glide...It might save you one day.

[Tonto 1]

Quote

"A fast, ground-hungry canopy that swoops like crap!"*** You got it mate, that is what I want! Really!

Have you considered the ZP or ZP.exe from Parachute systems?

I removed a lot of "You're a Pussy" type comments from this thread.
If it looks like the thread has run it's course, I'll lock it.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[Pubwoof 0]

After reading what everyone has said, I'm wondering if maybe you shouldn't consider going the other way in your thinking. What I mean, is that, around here, the better swooping canopies are considered to be the ones that generate the most lift during the flare. I'm also guessing that most around here would agree (I'm sure someone will jump in to correct me if I'm wrong) that the speed of your landing is so much more a function of your wingloading and approach/technique than your planform. So, if you're wanting to fly a speeding bullet up high and still have cushy landings, wouldn't you be better off with something that generates more lift with the toggles? Or, is there a reason you can't land a higher performance canopy more like you would a 7-cell by flaring sooner? If a canopy you're flying is wanting to plane out on you, have you tried adding some brakes on final? Also, "ground hungry" is a term more typically associated with long recovery arcs than short ones. And, for anyone out there, do canopies with flatter glideslopes typically also have shorter recovery arcs? I ask because I'm still not sure everyone is on everyone else's page when it comes to the terminology going back and forth on this thread.

The glass isn't always half-full OR half-empty. Sometimes, the glass is just too damn big.

[crazydiver 0]

A canopy with a higher glide ratio (it glides flatter) does not mean it has a shorter recovery arc. It's somewhat proportional, but not directly. I would say this guy's best bet is a spectre in all honesty. Spectres, when loaded a little higher, are definetly zippy canopies up top, but don't need extra speed on landing to get a good landing. Putting breaks on on landing is just going to set you down harder... a person needs the speed to create the lift to give you a soft landing. In this guys case...a canopy with a long recovery arc isn't really an issue since he isn't doing drastic turns down low to surf. Playing in brakes, a canopy wiht a steep glide ratio can turn with little altitude loss also.

Cheers,
Travis

[Dutton 0]

THE ANSWER BELOW....


Ragged out PD 150

been there, done that.

[crazydiver 0]

Tru dat!!!! This fella needs to explore some canopy characteristics to understand that good landings come from speed and this "zippieness" that he speaks of.

Cheers,
Travis

[skybytch 273]

Quote

I've never seen anyone (other than possibly Rusty Vest or Chris Gay) swoop one of those.

I have (yes, other than Rusty or Chris). I think you know him too.

[flyhi 24]

Quote

I think you know him too.

I have friends with mad skillz?

Dish, girl.

Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

[skybytch 273]

Quote

I have friends with mad skillz?

Let's just say he's a very close friend of mine.

[laird 0]

I jumped this canopy last weekend. Its the U.S. version of the papillon (none of that french crap for me!) I didn't flare it, but it did turn in place well. I don't know if its still around, but you might try the "thunderbow". I've even heard you can flare a para-commander using the rear risers.

"HIGAF" Honestly I Give A F*^%

[odendan 0]

Actually most cargo rounds would be highly effective in attaining that critical non swoop characteristic that has recently grown very popular.

However when you are playing with the rounds rated for over 5000lbs (heard the texan boys like them) try to avoid winds over 1mph, otherwise you may end up with an undesired swoop of significant distance.

On second thought, with the right thermals, you might be able to break the distance record. So I would not consider cargo rounds the best all weather solution, but for that perfect day, they should work.

whips n' chains n' hand-grenades with a little ugly on the side.

[rhys 0]

i havn't seen anyone mention a springo. they don't have to be ragged out to have shit flare they are fully eliptical turn fast not too sure on the ground hungrynass but they definately don't swoop very well.

heatwave swoops o.k. but has a small recovery arc and very twichy on the toggle.

diablos give a hell of a ride if you don't release the brakes straght away but i supppose if you aren't swooping then you arent stashing the slider behind your helmet or opening the chest strap first.

try a springo they swoop like shit.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[chopchop 0]

Quote

>which elliptical canopy is the worst at swooping?

The Pilot is pretty bad.

Really? Hmmm... maybe I shouldn't be doing this...

chopchop
gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking..

Lotsa Pictures

[Canuck 0]

I had almost forgotten all about this thread...

I'll second the vote for the Springo. Not sure why I didn't think of it the first time around. It's a perfect match for what you want - trimmed pretty steep, turns fast as hell, and lands like a piece of shit (unless you don't like to swoop).

You don't see many of them on this side of the pond, but over there you could probably find one to put a few jumps on, and I bet a Springo wanted ad in the classifieds would turn up a bunch of replies.

Canuck