BAD Crossfire2 Openings

[Kusi 0]

Hi

It's unbelievable, but possible...
I have BAD Crossfire2 openings
And the reason are my packing skills, because if someone other packed my canopy, then I have "great" openings.

I jump with a crossfire2 119 (Wingload: 1.76).
In the first moment of the opening the canopy looks good, but then the slider comes down very abrupt. Now I think the outer cells gets air BEFORE the middle cells and pull down the slider. After the slider is down, my canopy looks very crazy and mostly turn me about 360°. Very uncomfortable.

I pack like a "student":
- nose don't turn, only pulling out.
- no attention for the stabilizers.
- cover turn

Do you tell me a hint for packing method!?
Tomorrow I will upload a video with my openings (good, bad).

I hope, someone have the solution

p.s. sorry about my english. If you don't understand something, ask me please.

kevin

[phoenixlpr 0]

Quote

I pack like a "student":
- nose don't turn, only pulling out.
- no attention for the stabilizers.
- cover turn

-push the nose back
-pull the slider in the front
-roll the tail tight

[ianmdrennan 2]

Quote

-roll the tail tight

Rolling the tail tight increases the chance of the canopy cocooning, especially on hop n pops. It becomes more noticable on smaller wings and I don't recommend it.

It does oftentimes make openings 'seem' better because it helps keep the slider up against the bottom of the canopy. This can be resolved with attention to the slider during packing.

edit: to explain better, cocooning greatly increases the chance of linetwists.

Blues,
Ian

Performance Designs Factory Team

[Dougiefresh 0]

Are you really loading at 1.7 at 300 jumps?

Are you really jumping a Xfire2 at 300 jumps?

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. --Douglas Adams

[dharma1976 0]

try rolling the tail less, basically roll it without pulling on it too much and without disturbing the d lines.

also push nose in a bit and straighten it then cup the slider on all sides and flatten the grommets, put knees past grommets when removing air from canopy as it will keep the slider in place while doing that.

Lastly, I also wonder why you are flying this canopy.

Dave

http://www.skyjunky.com

CSpenceFLY - I can't believe the number of people willing to bet their life on someone else doing the right thing.

[BMFin 0]

I also jump XF2

I have never had BAD openings. In fact I love the openings Im getting.

However, I recently had the canopy relined and now the slider tends to come down quicker at the very end. The snivel part of the opening however is still as nice as it was before.

I dont think rolling the nose or any of those tricks will help if the problem is in the very last sequence of the opening and not the snivel part.

I never do anything else then just flake the canopy and bag it. It opens beautifull everytime.

[YISkyDive 0]

Try spreading your rear risers apart from the inside out. Keeps the slider up on my Velo longer.

I did that on my Xf2s as well, always helped. Just don't get into the habit of pulling on the rear risers because I have seen too many people spin themseleves up that way.

David

[BMFin 0]

Actually I dont mind the slider coming down fast in the end. The opinings are very soft and that is all I care about with camera equipment.

Im not very big fan of giving input to the canopy during opening. Instead I keep the risers free and try to be symmetric in the harness. I also think a lot of people induce linetwists themself when trying to "steer" the opening.

[Kusi 0]

First of all: Thanks for your answers!

Here is the video of two openings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNtkvNqDItg

The first opening is a normal opening. The second opening is not really a bad one, but if I pack the XF2, then ALWAYS looks like this!! What's the problem!?!?
The snivel part of the opening is still as nice but after that... I don't know. Maybe the slider stucks in the lines or... Mostly the canopy turns to the left side.

You guys told me something about how to roll the tail or how to handle with the nose...
I will use following things:
- Push the nose into the canopy before...
- ...rolling the tail not too tight.
But what about the slider? Parting in all 4 sides or pulling out completely?

Generaly I think BMFin is right... I don't give input of risers during opening. And I always have attention to my pull-position (symmetric in the harness). Sometimes I wear a camera-suit with big wings. Then it's impossible to grab the risers.

@Dougiefresh, dharma1976
I jump with this canopy because I also record RW Teams and I need a canopy with soft openings ;) Winload? I have NO problem with landings (visited some canopy control courses). 90° Frontriser turns and rising.

[BMFin 0]

I think it looks like what Im having also. It seems to be quite common for an XF2 that the slider comes down fast in the end.

If you have your hands in the risers it may hurt your fingers. Other than that, I dont find it really that annoying at all, since the canopy never spanks me at all. Its just the slider coming down fast in the end.

On another note, I dont recommend looking at your canopy during opening even if it opens as soft as an XF2

EDIT: forgot to add that Im almost positive that packing has nothing to do with how fast the slider comes down in the end. However the condition of your lineset has a lot to do with it. Worn out lines offer more friction and the slider comes down slower.

[phoenixlpr 0]

Quote

You guys told me something about how to roll the tail or how to handle with the nose...
I will use following things:
- Push the nose into the canopy before...
- ...rolling the tail not too tight.
But what about the slider? Parting in all 4 sides or pulling out completely?

Sure, it was me. I quarter my slider than pull a bit to the nose side.

Quote

Generaly I think BMFin is right... I don't give input of risers during opening. And I always have attention to my pull-position (symmetric in the harness). Sometimes I wear a camera-suit with big wings. Then it's impossible to grab the risers.

I don't think that we had to kite on opening. I'd rather sit relaxed or a bit steer with my hips if its turning, than when the slider come down and its turning I set it strait with the opposite riser.

[dharma1976 0]

make sure as you put your nose in the packjob that you straighten it without upsetting the lineup of the flaked noses.

be careful and stay healthy my friend. Crossfire 2 is a great all around canopy that can bit you in the arse if you dont respect it.

Fly safe man.

flown 149, 129, 119, 109 btw.

Dave

http://www.skyjunky.com

CSpenceFLY - I can't believe the number of people willing to bet their life on someone else doing the right thing.

[mircan 0]

I have the same openings as you do (on video) all the time. Mine XF2 is 129, same WL as you.

I tried just stuffing the nose into packjob, not stuffing the nose, psycho packing it (oh, those were the slammers). Now I roll half of the nose to the left and half to the right, quarter the slider and pull it the in front a little and heavy roll the tail.
Still, for me the snivel lasts short, then it`s like yours - searching left and right than canopy spreads fast and slider comes down fast too. 90% of my jumps are with large camera wings and i try to be symmetric and to slow down as much as i can before pitching PC. Someone mentioned not rolling the tail so hard, so i`ll try that... and see...

dudeist skydiver #42

[Kusi 0]

Yes I will try the same like you.
Don't rolling the tail too tight.
And push the nose back into the canopy.

I think, the XFire don't like if you pack too serious

I hope that's the solution... you will hear it from me or feel it self

[mircan 0]

I`ll video my openings next time when I jump my "small" video setup. We`ll see...

dudeist skydiver #42

[sparkie 0]

i didnt see any bad opening in your vid... seriously you call that bad?

this is bad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGGw6Ol_zLI

you're spoiled

[dragon2 2]

Hey, how come you didn't give me that video for the daily vid?

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[michalm21 2]

Quote

And the reason are my packing skills, because if someone other packed my canopy, then I have "great" openings.

Easy solution - ask whoever packs it "right" to show you...

[dominicc 0]

I also have a XF2 119 load at 1.6

What make a huge difference in the opening is your line brake. If you have twist in it, you can be sure to have a so so opening!

Before you make huge difference in your packing technique, just make sure you untwsit your line brake every time you pack! That's working for me!!!

Good luck!

Dom

[ozzy13 0]

I saw ur video. That is not bad at all. I trash pack my CF 129 loaded at 1.8 and it opens just like that.

You need to fly the opening. With ur hands on the risers. Best wing loading I found for the CF is 1.9. It flies the best. That could have a little to do with ur problem.

Good luck and be careful. Thats a fast progression for your jump numbers

Never give the gates up and always trust your rears!

[Kusi 0]

Thanks guys for your comments!
I believe it will be better... and yes I'm spoiled
Before I jumped a Sabre2. This canopy has also very great openings! But then I thougt, the crossfire2 has better openings. Maybe too much anticipation/prospects

I will jump the "new" packed Crossfire at saturday...
I'm hopeful

[phoenixlpr 0]

Quote

Before I jumped a Sabre2. This canopy has also very great openings! But then I thougt, the crossfire2 has better openings. Maybe too much anticipation/prospects Blush

Well, if you want to jump a high performance canopy, you should accept the high performance openings.

[ficus 0]

Quote

You need to fly the opening. With ur hands on the risers.

YMMV of course but the best openings I have had on most canopies I have jumped are limp and straight in the harness, looking at the horizon, not touching anything. Almost all of my last 400-500 jumps have been on XF2 109s at ~1.8 depending on how fat I am on any given day.

Before I first jumped a Velocity they told me "don't try to help it, you can only make it worse". So I have been practicing the "hands-off" approach to opening even on my XF2.

[ozzy13 0]

Quote

Quote

You need to fly the opening. With ur hands on the risers.

YMMV of course but the best openings I have had on most canopies I have jumped are limp and straight in the harness, looking at the horizon, not touching anything. Almost all of my last 400-500 jumps have been on XF2 109s at ~1.8 depending on how fat I am on any given day.

Before I first jumped a Velocity they told me "don't try to help it, you can only make it worse". So I have been practicing the "hands-off" approach to opening even on my XF2.

Different strokes for different folks. If that works for you then by all means

Never give the gates up and always trust your rears!