Your canopy choices and downsize history

[piahenzi 0]

Student - 220/190 Manta ?? Don't recall.
Jump nos are approximate
30-100 - Spectre 170
100-400 - Sabre 150
400-500 - Sabre 135
500-750 - Sabre 2 120
750-1100 - Stiletto 107
1100-1400 - XF2 99 w/l at 1.7
What's next?? Hmmm, Maybe one day I will have the balls to get on a Velo....

[jimmytavino 16]

well , in the beginning I didn't HAVE a choice...

started with a 28" 7 TU.. maybe a dozen Jumps
went to a 28 foot LoPo,, maybe a couple of dozen more..
2 Jumps on a PC.... not real impressed
over 1000 jumps on a French Papillon Loved It !!
A half dozen jumps on a delta II.. ( borrowed from a friend)
a few random jumps on an old strato-cloud, (wow , it was fast>>>)
One jump on a strato star !!.. ( wow, it was scarey) ) ( never jumped a 5 cell again )
Bought a used strato cloud,, ( heavy weight ) and put 400 + jumps, on it...
Bought a rig with a Para foil 252 light...(Made maybe 100 jumps with it, including my Night SCR, ) sold it for a little more than i paid for it.

Used Light weight Cloud,,, maybe 200 jumps..
Then Bought my first and ONLY brand new main... a new RW Challenger ( from New Eng. Parachute Co. ) It was a 240 sq. feet. made almost 1,300 jumps with it,,, never a mal.. F One eleven,, just got "tired out" ( still have it )
Got a second hand jav. with a PD spectre 210. ( my current main ) pry have around 500 jumps on it, relined once. plenty of life left in it... Picked up a Mint RW Challenger 240, for 150 Bucks.... put it into a second rig..
Up size? Down size? let's just stick with the RIGHT size...

jmy
a 3914
d 12122
36 hr FF # 1281

[ozzy13 0]

1-3 340 Tandems
4-10 240 AFF
11-27 190 Rental
28-200 Saber 2 170 (wl 1.2)
1 reserve ride on a PD 150
201-215 Colbolt 150 (wl 1.5)
216- 375+ Safire 2 149 (wl 1.5)
No rush to go any smaller :)

Never give the gates up and always trust your rears!

[pchapman 279]

Mine's a mix of big F-111 with old-school fast downsizing in between for small canopies:


Jumps 1-40 -------- Manta & similar

Jumps 41-590 ------ bought Titan 265 (WL 0.65)
Usually flew it, but also ~70 jumps on zero-p of typically WL 1.2 to 1.4 (Sabre 135, Stiletto 120, etc.)

(Learned to downsize in steps, from WL 1.0 to 1.8, during jumps 185-205.)

Jumps 591 - 775 --- bought Sabre 135 (WL 1.25) but only put 35 jumps on it.
Mostly jumped Titan 265 & Parafoil 260.

(Then with 775 jumps, but only 110 zero-p jumps, went small crossbraced:)

Jumps 775-2000 -- FX 88 (WL 1.95) for 500 jumps, tandems for 450, and various other canopies

Total 82 different canopy types & sizes flown.

[superstu 0]

5.5 years in the sport, all approximations:

1-15 jumps: skymaster 290 @ .63
15-30 jumps: skymaster 220 @ .84
30-45 jumps: triathlon 175 @ 1.06
45-72 jumps: PD 190 @ .97
72-130 jumps: triathlon 160 @ 1.16 (first owned canopy)
130-437 jumps: stiletto 150/135 @ 1.23 - 1.37(started high performance experimentation at 150 jumps, also started to dedicate all jumps towards canopy flight)
437-587 jumps: impulse 120/104 and crossfire1 109 @ 1.54-1.78
587-750 jumps: crossfire1 97 @ 1.85
750-775 jumps: velocity 96 @ 1.93
775-800 jumps: VX 89 @ 2.08
800-1400 jumps: VX 84 @ 2.2
1400-1700 jumps: VX 84 with 17#'s @ 2.4
1700-2150: JVX 87 @ 2.12 - 2.42
2150 - Present (2686): Velocity 84, 90, 96 @ 2.08 - 2.56

If I could go back I would have stayed on the crossfire 97 (or a canopy similar) a little longer since my transition into the xbraced world didn't seem as smooth as i had liked. I also had a mentor that knows more than most and he helped me along quite a bit.

Slip Stream Air Sports
Do not go softly, do not go quietly, never back down

[hparrish 0]

Student Gear 220+ 1:1-, ~ 50 Jumps
Monarch 195 / 1.1:1 ~ 250 Jumps
Spectre 170 / 1.26:1 ~ 40 Jumps
Stilleto 150 / 1.43:1 ~ 25 Jumps
Vengeance 150 / 1.43:1 ~ 200 Jumps
Vengeance 120 / 1.8:1 ~ 20 Jumps
Samurai 120 / 1:8:1 ~ 400 Jumps
Velocity 98 / 2.19:1 ~ 35 Jumps
Xaos 96 / 2.24:1 ~ 40 Jumps
JVX 99 / 2.22:1 ~ 241 Jumps

I feel my progression was way too fast particularly at the beginning of my downsizing. I feel another 200-300 jumps between 1.8 and 2.2 would have been best in hind sight. Downsizing from 1.8 to 2.2 jump was a bit extreme, and I paid the price about 300 jumps later.

Had 936 HP Landings before my accident, but still managed to smack into the ground.

[2shay 0]

0-10 manta wl don't recall
10-120 triathlon 190 wl 1.1
120-475 viper 150 wl 1.5
Yeehaw, never even hurt myself and still have not, but would do it different if I did it again

don't try your bullshit with me!!!

[TaylorC 0]

0-40 student gear 290ish
40-185 sabre 170
185-330 Cobalot 135 1.4ish
330-445 Xfire 2 1.55

[drunk 0]

0-15 - Student
16-35 - PD 210
36-50 - PD 190
51-60 - Pilot 188
61-150 - Sabre 1 170
151-215 - Sabre 1 150

[Baksteen 84]

#1-42 on a Manta 280ish
#43-53 on a Falcon 215
#54 on a Navigator 240
#55 on a Smart 250
#56-97 on a Navigator 240
#98-101 on Sabre1 210, loaded at about 1.0

All rentals. The Sabre 210 will not last me long though - I hate it, even though I can land it accurately.

"That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport."
~mom

[2shay 0]

nice to see I am not the only one

don't try your bullshit with me!!!

[rehmwa 2]

student gear (jumps 1-30) - big
Pegasus (220 - WL 0.8) (jumps 30 - 200)
Maverick (200 - WL 0.85) (jumps 80 - 600)
----5 year break
Sabre 150 (WL - 1.25) (jumps 600 - 1200)
---Maverick (CrW - WL 1.0) (jumps 700 - present ~3000)
Stiletto 120 (WL 1.8) (jumps 1100 - present ~3000)

I am VERY happy at 1.8 or so and have a lot more to get out of this canopy. This last year played with a swoop course - I can see how it could get addicting. You can really assess how what you do affects your performance. But it's just another option in the sport to me and not a primary one at that.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[TaylorC 0]

Quote

nice to see I am not the only one

i don't regret my choices but i would definetly change the canopies i choose if i could do it again

[2shay 0]

me too but I surprised the shit out of everyone by not even getting hurt at all and passing many up in skill

don't try your bullshit with me!!!

[hjumper33 0]

200 student canopy 1-7ish
Sabre2 170/200 1.2 7-26
SabreI 150 1.3 27-200ish
Crossfire 139 1.4 200ish-350 ish
Crossfire2 129 1.5 350-present
various demos mixed in. with a stiletto 120 as a GL canopy and a couple of ACE 260s for night jumps.

[Bowie 0]

1-40 student canopy 260
40-100 klipper 190
100-400 sabre2 170
400-800 sabre2 150
800-1000 sabre2 135
1000-1600 Katana 120
1600-2000 velo 103/(katana 120(for wingsuit))
2000-2200 velo 103/96/90 (cant deside wich one to buy)

(planning to buy Katana 107 or sabre2 107 for wingsuit only)

Bo Wienberg

vimeo.com/bowienberg

[JohanW 0]

See attachment.

The red line is the hypothetical 1+.1/100 jumps.

The first line @1.3 was a Silhouette 170, the second one @1.4 a Stiletto 150, the third one @1.6 a Stiletto 135 and then I discovered wingsuiting and got a Triathlon 135 and later a 120 @1.8. Remember folks, it's always the pilot. A Tri at that load does not have a world class surf but it has one hell of a dive. The experiment @2.0 with the Katana 107 was very shortlived. I was in over my head. The Ka 120 was a lovely canopy, but not for wingsuiting, not for me.

Yes, my first owned canopy was rather aggressive. Do I regret that? Not really. Maybe I was lucky, but I was flying a lot, reasonably current and a 170 with me under it, even at my 216# exit weight, was no reason for concern with my instructors (or myself, but what did I know). Still, do as I say, not as I did. I did not make that line red for no reason.

Yes, I still jump student canopies every once in a while. Preferably static-lined. Few things are more fun than bumping endcells with your jumpmaster, after you've lent him your altimeter, and before just losing to him at a hit-n-chuck competition.

Johan.
I am. I think.

[elpidd 0]

0-60 Student gear
60-200 Silhouette 150 WL 1.2
200-550 Springo 140 WL 1.4
550-560 Pilot 132 WL 1.5
560-570 Pilot 124 WL 1.6
570-580 Pilot 117 WL 1.7
580- present Mamba 111 WL 1.8

My next downsize? I don`t think thats going to happen...

[champu 1]

Skymaster 290 @0.6 (6 jumps; static lines)
Skymaster 230 @0.75 (14 jumps)
Sabre 170 @1.1 (8 jumps)
Sabre 135 @1.25 (~600 jumps)
Stiletto 135 @1.25 (~350 jumps)
Katana 120 @1.5 (~20 jumps)
Stiletto 107 @1.65 (~150 jumps)
Katana 107 @ 1.65 (~630 jumps)
Velo 103 @ 1.75 (~15 jumps)
Velo 96 @ 1.85 (~15 jumps)
Velo 90 @ 2.0 (~60 jumps and counting)

Definitely aggressive going to a Sabre 135 with 28 jumps, and I wouldn't recommend it. (Brian Germain all but called me a nutbar when I took his canopy control course at 40 jumps) but I hung on to that canopy for quite a while and made all my "learning to swoop mistakes" with it. I got dirty every once in a while, but never hurt myself.

From that point on I'd say I've had a pretty reasonable progression considering I've been doing about 500 jumps a years since I've had ~170 jumps.

[UDSkyJunkie 0]

Assorted student, borrowed, and rental gear ranging from Mantas to Sabre 170: ~40 jumps
First canopy, PD 9-Cell 170:  ~40 - 100 jumps2nd canopy, Sabre1 135: ~100 - 650 jumps, with a 50 jump stint on a Diablo 120 somewhere around 500 jumps.3rd and current canopy, Sabre2 120:  ~650 to present, 1,100 jumps.No intention of downsizing for another season or two at least.

"Some people follow their dreams, others hunt them down and beat them mercilessly into submission."

[mnskydiver688 0]

Pretty short list:

0-30ish Student gear (220-280sqft)
30-50ish PD210 .9 W/L
50-200 Sabre1 170 1.1 W/L
200-Present Sabre1 150 1.3 W/L

With the prospect of getting into WS I might stick with the 150 for a while. Although I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to jump a Velo 89 if given the chance.

Sky Canyon Wingsuiters

[Chrisky 0]

Student gear 240 0-20
Student gear 210 20-30
Rental gear PD 190 30-50
Borrowed gear Sabre 170 50-60
First owned gear Spark 150 60-250ish
Demo gear Faqtor 135 250-350
Own new Faqtor 120 350(WL:1.55)-now (750ish, WL 1.67)

yea, i gained some weight on the way...
At about 650 jumps i demoed a R.A.G.E. for 3-5 jumps, R.A.G.E. 107 @ 1.87 but gave it back, i'm not playing that league yet.
Gave me so much new appreciation for my Faqtor, a canopy that i've jumped for about 400 jumps now and that i know and can still push it's limits. And that just rocks.

The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open.
From the edge you just see more.
... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

[Deyan 36]

Let seeee....

1-21.....D-6/4 (huge round 83 sq.m.canopy with drogue system)
22-80...RS-8/3(free fall system with 52sq.m round canopy)
81-86...RL-16/3(my first square)287sq.ft WL-0.48
87-99...Para Foil 200 WL-0.72
100-104 Conquest 170 WL-0.84
105-130 ZP-155 WL-0.92
131-185 Hornet 135 WL-1.1
186-187 Safire 1 129 WL -1.13
188-present Hornet 135

Yeap.....the round isn't funny

"My belief is that once the doctor whacks you on the butt, all guarantees are off" Jerry Baumchen

[oosskis 0]

Student Gear for 50 jumps
Arrow 195 (F111 POS) 50-250
Sabre 150 250-600
Crossfire 119 1.7 600-1200
Velocity 103 2.1 1200-1900
Velocity 90 2.4 1900-Now (2200)

Good progression, but it didn't keep me from making a couple of bad decisions along the way... Be conservative, be safe, stay current and take a step back if you take a break.

"Bodygolfing" isn't as much fun as it sounds. People get pissed when you don't replace your divets.

[KennC 0]

Student (1-60)
Fury 220 (1 jump trying it out)
Student gear (62-70)
Pilot 210 (4 jumps)
Purchased a Triathlon 190 (75-118)