I have problems landing Springo 140 (loaded @1.25) on no-wind day. I have about 100 jumps on it and I always fly straight in. I was told that duration of flare should be 3 seconds and that I should finish at ground level. But I usually have to run it or I slide on my but. I've tried adding some speed with front risers (flying straight in) but Springo recovers in 2 seconds Also, recovery after front riser or toggle turn is very quick,... I am not interested in swooping, I am just looking how to improve my landings. I am even thinking of buying Sabre2 150 or Pilot 150. There is no one to help me on my DZ (only accuracy jumpers).
I was told that duration of flare should be 3 seconds and that I should finish at ground level. But I usually have to run it or I slide on my but.
Your info might be out of date. That wisdom can be true for canopies made from low porosity(F111) material. You should be able to execute a 2 stage flare with your ZP canopy at your wing load.
Stage 1: eliminate vertical descent - start flying on level with the ground Stage 2: reduce horizontal speed and keep flying as long as you can
In Reply To
I am even thinking of buying Sabre2 150 or Pilot 150.
Those are good canopies, but you would face the very same problems again.
There are excellent articles in the Safety/Landing section. Filming and reviewing your landing would help also.
Can you explain, please? Is this done by only using toggles or do I have to use back risers during flare ? I've looked in Landing section and I couldn't find anything about 2 stage flare.
It shouldn´t take you from 0% to 100% toggleinput 3 seconds on that canopy - this is too long. Try to start your flare a bit lower and make it take just ~two seconds. In addition try to execute the last ~30% of your flare(from ~70% to 100% toggleinput)unusually fast/all in a sudden/"explosive". While doing so you shouldn´t try to end up at 100% input the moment you touch the ground but sooner, about 2-3 feet from the ground, if in doubt even higher. Give it a try and feel free to get back to me...
A 2 stage flare has nothing to do with risers. Do NOT try to flare a Springo with back risers it stalls VERY easily
You should be able to land a springo just fine, with or without adding speed using frontrisers, provided the canopy and the lines are not in bad shape/out of trim and you're not overloading it. It's best to get someone to video your landings and the get a good debrief from someone who knows what he's looking at.
I have only few jumps on springo. As I remember, i had yo flare realy quick. But find some videos in internet of landings with springo, or even better take a canopy curse, cause you should be able to find out this kind of stuff on your own, otherwise this canopy may be too danger for you, IMO. Pilot, sabre2, safire2 is awesome canopys btw!
In addition try to execute the last ~30% of your flare(from ~70% to 100% toggleinput)unusually fast/all in a sudden/"explosive". ..
That is of course when you know where the stall-point is... otherwise you might find your canopy unusually fast/all in a sudden/"explosive" behind you...
I got over 200 jumps with a springo 140 loaded at about 1.3 and at that time I usually also came flying straight in. To my impression the springo had a very short flare range and very little bottom flare power so to me it wasn't the easiest canopy to land. A duration of 3 seconds to flare seems a bit too long, the best thing you can do is to discover your total flare range and use it as optimally as possibly. I usualy didn't have to run my landings, perhaps you're not flaring it completely.
(This post was edited by Jazzthieve on Sep 29, 2008, 1:07 PM)
I also forgot to mention that this rig doesn't have kill-line or bungee, because genius who originally ordered rig from pdf wanted standard bridle and ZP pilot chute,...
Could this be also one of reasons for 'low flare power' ?
Could this be also one of reasons for 'low flare power' ?
I got some trouble with my kill-line PC on a Pilot150. If the PC was not collapsed I got a weak flare or a terrible landing......so what is your guess?
I've installed kill-line pc, made 3 jumps, and difference is huge!!
I have a lot of more speed and more lift at the end. But most obvious change is when I pull front riser for a hook turn - turns are steeper and gained speed remains for much longer period and I was able to do a nice swoop from 90 deg. turn.
Also canopy is really stable now during flight and much easier to control.
I've loosen my chest strap and leaned forward for the swoop but I seam to forget to put one leg in front of another for stability, but I was able to do standup landings like this also.
I just got line trim specification from PdF and it looks like some lines are even 9 cm shorter. Specification says 1 cm is tolerance. Lines looks white and in good shape. Should I keep jumping or it is possible to retrim ? Could this be one of reasons for low flare power ? Should I stop investing in old canopy design and buy PD ??
(This post was edited by jerolim on Jan 22, 2009, 9:24 AM)
Its not really a popular canopy. If you want to use it for at least 200-300 get it relined.
Only a viable option if you can get the lineset from another source than PdF With their current lack of customer service I'd just keep the springo as a car cover and get something else to jump.
I've sent my Cobalt for reline (to Slovenia) after two shocking openings and I must say that not only openings have improved but landings also are better (not much but noticeable). Janusz
I was convinced that Springo has very old design, and poor flare. And that I would't be satisfied after relining. So it looks like I'll be buying Atair radical 135. I hope that openings on radical are better than cobalt openings,...
I don't know springo and in fact I'm not intend to try one. That's maybe because some bad opinion about the wing which I heard in the meantime... If you get Radical, give me some info as I think to get one myself... (120) My Cobalt opens nicely (after reline), before it was a wild animal... I like it very much. from this forum it seams that the Radical is something similar to Cobalt Comp (not the same but similar). Give a phone call to Stane and he will answer your questions. Regards Janusz
It actually flares excellent, however the design is very prone to collapsing in turbulence so that's why I will not jump one anymore after a season of jumping a Springo 120.
I really must to reply to this thread. So I've got my Atair Radical 135 3 weeks ago. I did about 10 jumps with it so far. I didn't have 1 bad landing, no running out, no sliding on my butt. All nice stand up landings,... Flare on Radical is great. Only difference is that during 90 deg. turn it eats up 200 feet of altitude. I even managed to do hop & pop and pulled from bad position, and canopy just did open in slow controled spin. No big deal! I belive that this canopy is fantastic. Thank you Stane for doing great job !
I don't know what was problem with my springo ? It is older design and it was out of trim,... However problem was with canopy not me Maybe I'll reline Springo and use it for ground launching.
I don't know what was problem with my springo ? It is older design and it was out of trim,... However problem was with canopy not me Maybe I'll reline Springo and use it for ground launching.
The Springo is actually a very good canopy, it has nice openings, can make you come back from very long spots and is very playful. The big con for me is that it has a very short recovery arc, but some like it like that...
With their current lack of customer service I'd just keep the springo as a car cover and get something else to jump. 
Maybe I'll reline Springo and use it for ground launching.
1
