What wingsuit canopy (not a Storm...)

[TomOwen 0]

OK, so I'm looking to order a new container, and when it arrives next season look at downsizing my canopy.

I have 300 odd jumps, maybe 350 by the time the container arrives. It's hard to say what jumping I will end up doing but I think it's safe to say mainly wingsuit or freefly, all with camera.

Currently fly a Sabre 2 150. Did Brian Vacher's course and have always really enjoyed my canopy flight, so I want something I can progress on.

I weigh 180lbs all in (inc gear).

Now, I know a Storm would be good - but I have two concerns.

Firstly, and mainly, I would have to buy one new, meaning extra cost, which I cannot afford. I want to buy a second hand canopy with a couple of hundred jumps, and there are no second hand Storm 135s going round, especially not in the UK!

Second, it's a 7-cell (although a good one at that by all accounts), and I want to progress with my canopy flight and have something to move on from. A 9 cell 135 to 9 cell 120 will be an easier and healthier progression than Storm 135 to a 9 cell 120, right? Like I say, I want something that will fly well now as well.

Anyway, I can't afford one.

So what do I get, that opens nice, but is going to be good for me to improve my canopy skills on?

I'll be sure to be 100% confident and comfortable with risers on my 150 / talk to local instructors etc before moving on.

Cheers,

Tom

Sorry for the long post...

[LouDiamond 1]

Quite honestly, you're already flying the canopy you're looking for. Before you decide to move to another canopy I suggest you look at Bill Von's canopy downsizing checklist. At 300 jumps there is still a lot that you can learn on your current canopy.

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

[caldefly 0]

Sabre 2 is the way to go.... It is a great canopy for all disciplines. Wingsuits: you need a canopy that will still fly if you experience line twist... It is also a great canopy if you are interested in swooping ( at least until you are ready to fly a katana or comparable canopy) ... Its performance is great with smaller canopies but not to exced in my opinion a 1.7 wingloading ( it will lose performance if you go any higher) at that point other canopies like katana will have a better performance.... with 300 jumps this is probably the best way to go... This is just my two cents. God Bless u my friend and blue skies.

" THE SKY IS THE LIMIT "

[DSE 5]

I went from a Sabre2 150 to a Storm....Actually still jumping the Sabre 2 150 in one rig.
LouDiamond/Scott is spot-on, IMO.
If you feel you can't get good swoops, solid landings, sweet openings, whatever out of your Sabre2...you haven't gotten everything out of it that you should be able to. Also...wingsuiting and smaller canopies don't always go well together. As your wingloading rises, so can the likelihood of a spinner in the event of linetwists. Are you prepared for that?

[TomOwen 0]

OK, so that's kind of good news then. I love the Sabre 2 and flew a Sabre 2 170 before this.

Yeah, I'd already looked at the checklist! Happy it would all be ticked off before I jump a smaller canopy.

The thing is, with the crap weather here in the winter, I'll only do enough jumps to stay current (1 or 2 a week), and then in the summer I'll get plenty in - this last summer I did over 200 jumps. I want to custom order my next container so that I have something that fits nicely and will last me. Therefore ordering now means it will be here for next season - waiting means I'll end up with 600 jumps and still have my Sabre 2 150 and far from great fitting container.

I would, of course, not downsize unless I was happy.

Perhaps I could order a container, then squeeze my 150 in it for a while.

[LouDiamond 1]

Given the jumping season in the UK and your fluctuating currency, it is still a good idea for you to hang onto that 150 and really squeeze all you can out of it learning wise. A smaller canopy isn't going to improve your canopy skills if you don't have a solid foundation. If its a new container you're wanting then by all means order one now. You should have no trouble ordering a container that will hold your 150 and still allow for downsizing in a season or four. Play it smart, there is no hurry.

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

[TomOwen 0]

Good advice, thanks.

I think I will get a container that I can downsize with and stay on the 150 for another year (or until I can outswoop the big boys on their JVX all sails).

Cheers,

Tom

[Pendragon 1]

Depends on how current / good you are as a canopy pilot.

Safire2 129 wouldn't be unreaasonable - and makes a good wingsuit canopy. Less aggressive than the Sabre2 at intermediate wing loadings but still swoops pretty well - and has better openings.

...but as the others have already pointed out, do you need to downsize?

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