Xfire openings

[alain 0]

To those of you who are (or have been) jumping crossfires: what do you think of their openings?
I've heard some wierd stuff (concerning only Xfire1) , like sniveling for ever, erratic behaviour... Is there any difference between the xfire1 and 2 on that topic?
(I've allready read heaps about the flying caracteristics but not much about openings.)

thanx for input
Alain

[RichM 0]

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To those of you who are (or have been) jumping crossfires: what do you think of their openings?

200 jumps on a Xfire1, 195 of those off heading Mine stays in the mushroom for a fairly lengthy period, and the outer 3 cells on each side inflate first causing it to hunt for a heading. Then it lurches away to one side and the centre fills from one side. Mine was on the recall list and Icarus did the trim mod. But it never spins up ala spinetto - I've even deployed it with only one brake stowed (I packed it that way) to see how it would behave, and will it went into turns they weren't radical, or scary and didn't speed up. I just fired the other brake and it was fine. I don't recommend trying this, as it is basically packing a malfunction.

On the 5 on-heading openings the heading hunt was a lot a more gentle and/or at a higher frequency, so the centre just gently filled. I've tried to recreate this but it has remained elusive.

One of my goals for the new season is to work on my body position at deployment using the many good recommendations in these forums as a reference.

Rich M

[skygod7777 0]

the openings are supper soft, and long snivels. and i guess it will tend to "hunt" for it's heading, but it will settle down as long as you don't try to fix it too much. i have about 100 jumps on a 109 crossfire 1, and about 20 on a 89 crossfire 2.

later

[skyboyblue 0]

I guess I concurr with the other two posts. I've got about 210 jumps on a 149 loaded at 1.65 or so. You won't find me pulling low that's for sure. They do snivel a lot, but I rather like that when I jump camera. I don't however find a problem with steering it thru the opening. they quite often are off heading to a degree, but because they open so soft and slow, you've got time to grab a riser before it starts to fly at full speed. would like to try a xf2 for comparison. I don't know how much better it can get.

sbb

[skygod7777 0]

the openings are the same, the flight is a lot more fun. i am thinking about getting a x-fire 2 for my camera jumps. the x-fire 2 is comparable to a fx. icarus say's the x-fire 2 may fase out the fx. i tend to think differently, but i can see it slowing down the sales of the fx's. there will still be some people who want something a little more than the x-fire 2, but not a vx.

just my $.02

later

[skycat 0]

x-fire1 (not on mod list) 104 & x-fire2 108

Both have very soft openings. I usually am dumping in a track so it opens on heading or with a 90 to the right (probably due to how I'm sitting in the harness). I've had line twists once in almost 200 jumps and it was more than likely due to dipping a shoulder since it was my 1st jump in CO and the opening felt odd so I looked. (opening at 8000MSL is very different than sea level 2,500ft) Evened out the links and easily kicked out of the twists. The canopy is much more reliable than my stiletto which tends to snivel *WACK* compared to my crossfire which is snivel *AHHHHH*, Also even at my light loading of 1.2 I never have closed end cells or anything else odd happen on opening.

Fly it like you stole it!

[cpoxon 0]

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I've even deployed it with only one brake stowed (I packed it that way) to see how it would behave,

Rich, Chris's suggestion in the canopy seminar was to pop a break on opening to see how it would react, not to pack it that way! ;-P

My experiences are similar to Rich's. I jump a modded 149 @ 1.5:1. I always to deploy at 3,000 minimum to ensure I'm open by 2,000. I have a bad habit of trying to control the opening with the risers, which does nothing for the opening, rather than steering it with my body. Like Rich, I'll be working on that.

The 'best' (i.e. on-heading and within 500 feet) opening are with my wingsuit. I've done one jump on a later (i..e no mod requried) 139 and bizarrely that was a very quick, hard opening but I think that can be discounted.

Hoping to try a Crossfire 2 at the Empuria Christmas boogie to see if I stay with Icarus for my next canopy purchase.

[Yoshi 0]

I love my crossfire openings.. usually I get a 90 or 180 but usually not to radical... it seems to be a surge after the canopy is completely open in my case... the snivel is long soft and enjoyable...I have flaked the nose out and left it completely exposed on hop and pops....it still snivels for quite a while. I have had about 600-1300 foot snivels depending on how I pack and speed @ deployment... I dont suggest getting out any lower than 2800 feet especially if you havent packed it to open a little faster. I have gotten out on some low hop and pops that I definately wont do again (isnt that right skygod????)
-yoshi

_________________________________________
this space for rent.

[skyboyblue 0]

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I dont suggest getting out any lower than 2800 feet especially if you havent packed it to open a little faster.

and if you do, make sure the plane is still going at LEAST 100. then its not so bad, as long as you dont mind the canopy opening behind you instead of above you. 2k hop n pops aint so bad.

[Yoshi 0]

yeah well I have been at 2000 doing a hop and pop and even with packing the main to open fast I still got a 800 foot snivel...to base jumpers I guess that wouldnt be that low, but for me....too low:)
-yoshi

_________________________________________
this space for rent.

[skygod7777 0]

now kevin, i think that was more like 1600 or 1700 feet, and you guys just told jamie it was 200



you guys can do that crazyness all day, and i'll sit on the ground and watch.

later

[Canuck 0]

Crossfire 1 119, loaded at about 1.7, no mod list.

In 300 + jumps I've had one hard opening, and line twists maybe 3 or 4 times. The hard opening wasn't really that hard (two cameras on my head and it's still attached), and the line twists didn't cause the canopy to turn or dive.

I'm on heading 80 to 90 percent of the time, and continually get comments from people watching my video along the lines of "I wish my canopy opened like that!"

Love the openings, and everything else for that matter. Swoops like a muthafugga.

Canuck

[cheneyneel 0]

I have about 300 jumps on a xfire1 129 loaded at 1.8:1
It was on the recall list and had new line sets. It opened very quickly most of the time. But every once in a while BAM instant canopy!!. I hated the canopy's openings. I have jumped many other xfires that were not on the lists and they were long sniveling. Good intro into eliptical world canopies.
I also had one (European) same size loved it!
What I liked was that no matter the situation on body position I could dump it.. From a full speed inverted position to belly and dump, instantly, without any worry of crazyness, a little off heading but what do you expect @150mph...
Bro just be aware of the recalled ones with the new line sets. If you search the forums you will find that other people have had continuously hard openings with the new line set....

[RichM 0]

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I have about 300 jumps on a xfire1 129 loaded at 1.8:1
It was on the recall list and had new line sets. It opened very quickly most of the time. But every once in a while BAM instant canopy!!. I hated the canopy's openings. I have jumped many other xfires that were not on the lists and they were long sniveling. Good intro into eliptical world canopies.
I also had one (European) same size loved it!
What I liked was that no matter the situation on body position I could dump it.. From a full speed inverted position to belly and dump, instantly, without any worry of crazyness, a little off heading but what do you expect @150mph...
Bro just be aware of the recalled ones with the new line sets. If you search the forums you will find that other people have had continuously hard openings with the new line set....

Interesting, my 200 jumps have all been on a modded xf1 and they have all been soft and extra snively (800-1000ft).

Rich M

[RichM 0]

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Rich, Chris's suggestion in the canopy seminar was to pop a break on opening to see how it would react, not to pack it that way! ;-P

I improvised ;P

Rich M

[cpoxon 0]

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From a full speed inverted position to belly and dump, instantly, without any worry of crazyness, a little off heading but what do you expect @150mph...

Oh yeah, forgot to say, the other time I get 500 foot openings on my Crossfire is when I'm doing 150 mph on my belly in my rubber suit whilst flaring out for 3,000 feet after a Speed dive.