Cells and Wing Loading for Wingsuit

[sdctlc 0]

I looked and there are a number of options that are recomonded for wingsuit canopies. Saw the best choices suggeted to be the Spectre or the Triathilon in terms of opening conisanticy. Then to the Pilot then Sabre 2, with a balance of Fun and openings. Finally on to the "Jump what you want" theories and more aggressive canopies.

I am looking for something probably along the less aggressive side for Wingsuit. I have a nice fast eliptical that I dont want to fly with wingsuit and a 9 cell & 7 cell eliptical that are relatively docile I could use but am thinking a canopy in the Spectre or Tri (other suggestions welcomed) might be best.

That said what loads are people using with the spectre or Tri with wingsuits. Trying to balance the opening and fun factor.. I was thinking about a 1.3 to 1.5 load but am curious as to the trend that is there.

After looking and there are a number of outlyers, i.e. people jumping small high load canopies but the trend I noted was more docile. I am just trying to dial in the load on the canopy that has worked best for people.

Thanks
Scott

"He who Hesitates Shall Inherit the Earth!"

[980 0]

Looking at your options I’m totally not sure what to vote.

I’ve been flying a Nitro 120 @ 1.67 lb/sq ft with my S3 for just over 200 wingsuit jumps now and I have been loving that canopy.

I did around 100 WS jumps on a Chute Shop ZP155 @ 1.3 before that, which was very docile.

I have a few WS jumps on a Xfire2 109 @ 1.83 and that was fine too.

I only had 450 skydives when I started jumping the Nitro and that meant a steep learning curve, but I keep current, I mostly do WS jumps (it is my only skydiving canopy anyway) and I pulled higher with it.

You do not need to go to a Triathlon or a Spectre when there are more fun canopies like Sabre, Sabre2, Pilot, Nitro, etc. that are plenty docile enough if you load them according to your skill, experience and currency.

I demo’d every canopy I thought would be suitable in my wingsuit before buying. Including 2 sizes of PD reserve.

That’s the only way to know – DEMO, DEMO, DEMO.

Give Beezy Shaw a call and he’ll hook you up with a Nitro demo, like he did for me. I liked the demo so much that I kept it.

Cya

[LouDiamond 1]

I jumped a Sabre 1 loaded at about 1.6 for the longest time. Besides being able to pick one up cheap now a days, it also opens soft on wingsuit jumps and is fun to fly with no opening issues.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[The111 1]

I think canopy type is much more important than wingloading... what do others think? I went from Spectre @1.1 to Pilot @1.5 and the Pilot feels better in most cases (not that the Spectre was bad). Every once in a while I get 1 linetwist, but before I can even think about fixing it, it fixes itself.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[Buried 0]

Quote

I think canopy type is much more important than wingloading... what do others think? I went from Spectre @1.1 to Pilot @1.5 and the Pilot feels better in most cases (not that the Spectre was bad). Every once in a while I get 1 linetwist, but before I can even think about fixing it, it fixes itself.

did basically the same thing as you. from spectre 1.15 to a pilot 1.4. Both are great canopies and no issues so far. The only problem i have with the pilot is a slight (.5 -1) line twist that i never got on the spectre. tho it's also different containers, bags, etc. I still have both rigs and having a hard time deciding if i want to get rid of one to pay some bills.

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[notsane 0]

Jumping a 7cell feels like I've riden the Delorian back to the 1980's. A moderatley loaded 9cell flies much better, flares better and opens almost as well as a similarly loaded 7cell IMHO.

There are a number of choices for a less aggressive 9cell ... the Pilot, Sabre2, Lotus and others are all in this class.

Try them all and find one you like. Never, never purchase your canopy based on someone else's opinion.

[diablopilot 2]

Quote

I think canopy type is much more important than wingloading... what do others think?

I think the only thing that's really important is that it be a canopy that you are familiar with the openings.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[Bowie 0]

using katana 120 the last 200 ws jumps. and just ordered velo 103 for my second rig. Tried velo for 30 ws jumps but deploying above 3000 ft. so far no problem but my good old katanja;o) is still my preferred canopy for WS
katana loaded 1.8
velo loaded 2.16

Bo Wienberg

vimeo.com/bowienberg

[Pendragon 1]

Chuck Blue took his Velocity out of his wingsuit rig because he felt "it was asking for trouble". He jumps a highly loaded Sabre2 now - and bear in mind he was a Pro swooper.

I've got a Safire2 129 @ 1.6 in at the moment; for freeflying I use a Xfire2 109 @ 1.8 (but I haven't chosen to wingsuit with it yet as I'm not experienced enough with it).

The comment regarding being familiar with the canopy is, IMHO, correct. I know my Safire2 will behave itself and I don't yet have the same confidence in the Xfire2. However, I do know people who jump Xfire2's at 1.8 in their wingsuit without issue.

Personally I think people overcomplicate the issue; once an experienced wingsuit pilot, line-twists should be a thing of the past. For sure, they'll happen every once in a while, but it should be a rare occurrence. For first-timers, a docile canopy is always recommended because the student will be moving to a less familiar pull technique for one and, with the wingsuit amplifying the effect of an asymmetric body position, line twists are highly likely - and potentially severe. Once over this hump though, a lot of these issues should just go away.

I'm not really sure what place some of these 7 cells out there have; you sacrifice a lot of performance and yet nice soft opening canopies with good flare (Safire2, Pilot) are out there.

--
BASE #1182
Muff #3573
PFI #52; UK WSI #13

[Martini 0]

Quote

Finally on to the "Jump what you want" theories and more aggressive canopies.

Yup. And then chop it when you don't want it anymore.

Sometimes you eat the bear..............