Sabre 2 opening

[tinfoil 0]

Why hello!
Another joins the club. Put 15 or so jumps on my Sabre2 150, hard right turn between 90 to 180 degrees once the canopy has inflated.
Tried keeping my legs together, didn't seem to do too much but they weren't straight, I'll try that next time.

But I was talking to one of the riggers at the DZ about it and she suggested I put a fold in the nose. But nothing like you might have done to an original Sabre. I think the idea she had was to make the canopy inflate more evenly, but I can't be certain.
Anyone ever tried this?

“- - Sumo is the greatest of sports. It has power, grace, speed and cluture. And most importantly, two fat bastards smacking the shit out of each other. ”

[CrazyIvan 0]

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she suggested I put a fold in the nose

When I mentioned that to one of the instructors, he said to me LEAVE THE NOSE ALONE, otherwise the Sabre2 will take a long time to open, just passing it along.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[ypelchat 0]

If I can't fix the problem with my Sabre2, I'll probably start looking for a Cobalt or a Crossfire2.

Yves.

[tinfoil 0]

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she suggested I put a fold in the nose

When I mentioned that to one of the instructors, he said to me LEAVE THE NOSE ALONE, otherwise the Sabre2 will take a long time to open, just passing it along.

Yea, friend of mine got a taste of that, he was the first to jump my Sabre2, he rolled the nose and I think it took like 1500 feet to open, extra large snivel anyone?

But I can only assume that one fold wouldn't slow the opening down much, instead it would keep the nose cells together, might make the it less likely to dive.

“- - Sumo is the greatest of sports. It has power, grace, speed and cluture. And most importantly, two fat bastards smacking the shit out of each other. ”

[CanuckInUSA 0]

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But I can only assume that one fold wouldn't slow the opening down much, instead it would keep the nose cells together, might make the it less likely to dive.

I can only comment about my openings, but my Sabre2 only dives once the canopy fully inflates. It stays on heading during it's snivelling phase and I control the diving openings with my rear risers.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[CanuckInUSA 0]

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If I can't fix the problem with my Sabre2, I'll probably start looking for a Cobalt or a Crossfire2.

I am NOT a canopy nazi. But please be aware that a Crossfire2 is a high performance canopy (and all the good and bad which goes with flying a high performance canopy). I only have a handful of demo Crossfire2 jumps under my belt, so I am no authority. But my experiences with the Crossfire2 canopy (plus from what others have told me about their experiences) have convinced me that it's the right next canopy for me. The Crossfire2 has better opening characteristics and the bottom end flare is likely 2nd to none when it comes to none-crossbraced canopies. But once I get my Crossfire2, I will require many many many conservative jumps before I am able to fly it as aggresively as I fly my Sabre2 (not that I'm all that aggresive).

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[Fast 0]

Been jumping a saber2 as well. For me it has a consistant off heading opening, always a dive after full inflation. The thing that I wonder about is how I am getting such a prominant 90-180 dive when actuall harness input does not give near that. Have been working on deployment posistion to see if I can counteract the dive, but I was warned by an instructor at my DZ that I should 'not be worried, and ride out the opening' of the canopy, which signaled me to think that there are quite a few people that have off headings on saber2s.

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[ianmdrennan 2]

You'd be surprised how making the risers uneven (harness shift) can effect opening. Another factor can be if the slider stays up too long, eventually you'll more than likely get uneven inflation which causes the canopy to dive one way or the other.

Blue skies
Ian

Performance Designs Factory Team

[CrazyIvan 0]

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Another factor can be if the slider stays up too long, eventually you'll more than likely get uneven inflation

Yup, I've observed that on my Sabre2, when I see the canopy inflated, I grab the back raisers and pull them down, it helps sometimes.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[ypelchat 0]

Right now, i'm in the process of eliminating all probable causes, for the canopy to open off heading, one at a time. I load my Sabre2 190, serial 0001720 at 1.33 (I bought the canopy, brand new, in december 2002). I'm about to take delivery of my brand new container, which was built for me. My previous container had been made for a guy taller than I am, so, I had to tighten my leg straps pretty tight (walking like Lucky Luke ). I'll have a good idea if this helps, when I jump my new container this week end.

My previous canopy was a Sabre 210, and the Sabre 210 never slammed me on opening, like my Sabre2 190 do now. I will try a few more things this week end, to see if they can improve my openings.

Most of the time, the canopy opens violently and turns to the right, right after the slider comes down fully against the Slinks and risers. On a few occasions, the canopy started to turn to the right, with the slider only half way down. Anyone know if PD recommend that the Sabre2 be packed just like the Stiletto?

Anyone has tried psychopacking the Sabre2?



Yves.

[CanuckInUSA 0]

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Anyone has tried psychopacking the Sabre2?

No, but I've made numerous trash packing jumps with one.

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Most of the time, the canopy opens violently and turns to the right, right after the slider comes down fully against the Slinks and risers.

This won't solve your potential slammer problems, but try controlling your openings with your rear risers. At first it may seem wierd to be reaching for them once you pitch, but in time it will become second nature and it just may save you one day if you open up next to another canopy.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[Aviatrr 0]

I just found this topic(due to the recent posts on it), and am suprised to hear about some of the openings. I have an early model Sabre2 150(S/N 118) that I load around 1.4. Openings have rarely been off heading, and have always been soft. I have NEVER pro packed this canopy, so I don't know if that would make a difference....I have always psycho packed it.

Mike

[ypelchat 0]

Thanks CanuckInUSA, Aviatrr, and all others, for your tips.

I'll have many things to try next week end. I'm not giving up yet. I'll try psychopacking the Sabre2, just to see..

Thanks

Yves.

[kimgriffin 0]

Hi Koen. I jump the Sabre2 97 loaded a little over 1.5. Mfg date is mid 2002.

I have not had the troubles you spoke of in your original post. In fact, I have not jumped a canopy that opens so consistantly on-heading and soft. I'm primarily fly wingsuits so that's pretty important to me.

I'd recommend to your friends to first make sure their stows and packing techniques are up to par (I know NO ONE likes to hear that, but it has to be said just in case.) If packing is not the trouble and their openings are consistantly diving to the left or right they should contact PD about getting their canopies checked out.

PD has an excellent testing progam. I worked there for about a year 8 years ago. Usually, when you work for company you see the inner workings of how people cut corners. At PD it was the opposite. I couldn't believe how overboard they go in making sure they put out a quality product. This includes the repair/customer service dept (for when things do go wrong). If there is something wrong with your friends Sabre2s, they will take care of the problem in one way or another. The company has a lot in integrity in that area.

Best of luck and wishes,

Kim Griffin

-Kimberly Griffin

[ypelchat 0]

Thanks for the tips Kim. I know that PD has an excellent customer service. I had my previous canopy, relined by the PD staff, and they did a superb job.



Yves.

[ianmdrennan 2]

My wifes openings were drastically improved when she stopped pushing the nose into the middle of the packjob and made sure the slider was nicely opened for the airflow.

Blue skies
Ian

Performance Designs Factory Team

[dterrick 0]

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Yea, friend of mine got a taste of that, he was the first to jump my Sabre2, he rolled the nose and I think it took like 1500 feet to open, extra large snivel anyone?

...ever tried that with a Spectre?

I did, and while I was nowhere near hard deck I didn't make it home. fifteen hun from pitch to control check sounds about right ...but then again it doesn't ... right?

Frankly, jumping a Raven as a main, all I ask is that there be SOME form of something between the snatch force and the inflation. In around 125 jumps on that canopy I've seen it slider up maybe a couple dozen times . Of course I'm tough, right?

Tune in next week to learn how to 180 riser carve a big ol' 7 cell with no flare

-Dave

Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

[PhillyKev 0]

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That's a vey good tip: "Keeping legs together",

Yeah...definitely going to give that a shot. About 1/3 of my openings dive.

[rmsmith 1]

I just bought a Sabre2-210 for my second rig. The snatch force with a pullout 28-inch ZP pilot chute is moderate, it snivels just long enough for me to grab the rear risers, and then the slider quickly hits the risers. It does "hunt for a heading", but that's life with a high aspect ratio canopy. Look at it this way: with the brakes still set, the canopy doesn't hobble, and it holds a dead-on heading. Thus, any turns on opening are due to body position. Overall, I'm very satisfied with my Sabre2-210, which I load at 1.19-lbs being 6'3" and 250-lbs out the door!

[tinfoil 0]

Though I'd give a little update.
This weekend I was playing around with the nose on my Sabre2 150. Made sure the nose cells were neat and even, put one fold in them and pulled the folded nose cells a bit out as opposed to doing nothing with them. I also kept my legs together, something I had been doing in the past but didn't work.
All my openings were on heading, compared to none the last weekend I jumped. No really long snivel, was stowing the slider about 800' after deploying.
Worked for me!

“- - Sumo is the greatest of sports. It has power, grace, speed and cluture. And most importantly, two fat bastards smacking the shit out of each other. ”

[kimgriffin 0]

I believe PD designs their main canopies so nothing should have to be done to the nose (the orginal, bigger Sabres were an exception - not sure about CRW canopies).

The Sabre2 nose is meant to hang (nice and neat but with no rolls, folds, pushing in the middle - this can actually take away from a good opening.) Slider quatered (I'm sure everyone knows that) and with the slider grommets ALL the way down against the stops.

This is how I pack mine at a 1.6 wingloading and I have very good openings.

Sometimes there are other components that can cause off heading or hard openings... like the bag, stows, rig, pilot chute, etc. I'm not an expert on deployments. But, I'm sure the customer service reps at PD could help in this area.

~Kim

-Kimberly Griffin

[philmyglass 0]

***Anyone has tried psychopacking the Sabre2?



Yves.

[tinfoil 0]

That's what I use to think, then I watched the PD packing video I was sent when I talked to someone at PD about the opening problem.

On the video they folder the 4 outer nose cells in half, beside the center cell, which was left alone.
I've never tried this, but I will next weekend.
Anyone tried PD's way?

“- - Sumo is the greatest of sports. It has power, grace, speed and cluture. And most importantly, two fat bastards smacking the shit out of each other. ”

[CrazyIvan 0]

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On the video they folder the 4 outer nose cells in half, beside the center cell, which was left alone.
I've never tried this, but I will next weekend.
Anyone tried PD's way?

That method applies to SABRES not Sabre2, I did that once and it took a long time to open, and one of the instructors at my DZ told me that when you pack a Sabre2 leave the nose straight.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[darkwing 5]

I believe the Sabre2 manual that came with my demo Sabre2 about a month ago said to do the nose by rolling in each side to the center, but don't roll the center.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History