Bodyflight.Net 0 #1 December 6, 2003 Ok, opinions please on this for sure! I am currently happy flying a PD190 or Navigator .. I feel very confident and do well.. I am considering a downsize to a 170 Sabre. I have flown this canopy 1 time and did well, although it was faster than I expected, I still landed well. My concern is (if you read my profile) that I don't have much experience under canopy only 23 flights so far. I plan on doing a few jumps with Scott Miller to get even better and ready for the 170. My question is, is there a LESS high performance canopy, that I am LESS likely to pummel myself into the ground with. I noticed that with the Sabre, I have to COUNTER a turn to stop it, with the navigator, I can just let up and it will straighten itself out.. I like the latter better, it seems safer to me. So the real question is, is a 170 Sabre, and a PD 170 or Navigator, essentially the same? Is it a size thing? Shape? What makes one stop a turn on its own and the other require a counter-measure to stop it??? The reason for my downsize is #1 I'm still underloading, #2 easier overall flight control with less bulk overhead #3 LESS BULK on my back. Besides, I'm nearly bored with the 190. Oh, and finally, is a Sabre 2 all that different than the original?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 259 #2 December 6, 2003 I load my main at about .97. I love my Spectre (7 cell zp) because at that wingloading it's easy to land, fun to fly and docile enough that even if I screw up on landing I'm likely to walk back to the packing hangar. The Navigator is a student canopy, the Sabre is a "sport" canopy, so yes, even though they are both nine cell zp they will fly differently. The Sabre2 is different from the original. The original is rectangular in shape, the Sabre2 has a bit of "taper" to it's shape. Opens better than the original and has a bit flatter glide angle than the original. I'm doing Scott's course tomorrow - can't wait! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Spatula 0 #3 December 6, 2003 Scott's course....enlighten me please!!! John Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skybytch 259 #4 December 6, 2003 Scott Miller of Freedom of Flight is doing his Essential Skills course at Sebastian this weekend. Ask your dzo to schedule a course at your home dz... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Bodyflight.Net 0 #5 December 6, 2003 Scott Miller, The Canopy School at DeLand. Scott went Reserve side with me on my 1st 2 jumps many years ago now. He since opened his own canopy school, see him on the web www.freedomofflight.tv and learn about it. He's cost effective and one of the best canopy coaches around!!!! He's also a big warm teddy bear kinda guy, AWESOME!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Bodyflight.Net 0 #6 December 6, 2003 I have been hearing lately about the 'forgiving nature' of the 7 cell canopy, Spectre specifically. Since I'm so new, do you mind elaborating on it's flight characteristics? If I fly a 190 to test it, will a 170 act similarly? and how does it handle?? Thanks!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites GravityGirl 0 #7 December 7, 2003 Also note. Most student canopies are De-Tuned. i.e. the steering lines are longer. Making the canopy less responsive. You can do this with any canopy you choose. Just remember. It takes a longer stroke to get you into trouble. It takes a longer stroke to get ou out of trouble. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites vt1977 0 #8 December 8, 2003 I have recently gone from a Sabre(1) to a Spectre of the same size and they are lovely, lovely canopies. Compared to the Sabre, the Spectre feels very solid and a little more forgiving. The openings are wonderfully predictable - soft and on heading and the landings are great too. I'd definitely suggest that you demo one before deciding what to buy! Info on Spectre flight characteristics can be found here: http://www.performancedesigns.com/docs/Spectre-Flight-Char.pdf hth! Vicki Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cruzlite 0 #9 December 8, 2003 Try a 7 cell, (good advice). I am very happy with my model 5.0 Triathlon. If you stick with a 9 cell - you might want to try a PD Silouette. I believe it falls between a Navigator and a Sabre in performance. I've heard some good things about it from some very experienced jumpers. (Bill Booth jumps one). Plus you get the added benifits of easier packing (It's a hybrid) and crisp opennings. D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Bodyflight.Net 0 #10 December 8, 2003 How awesome! Thanis for the tip, my friend Rags is at PD so he can help me get all the demo gear to try. I'll ask Bill how he likes his Sillouette next time I see him! Thanks again, verbally, I'm sold on the 7 cell, now I'll have to try one next week! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
Spatula 0 #3 December 6, 2003 Scott's course....enlighten me please!!! John Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 259 #4 December 6, 2003 Scott Miller of Freedom of Flight is doing his Essential Skills course at Sebastian this weekend. Ask your dzo to schedule a course at your home dz... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodyflight.Net 0 #5 December 6, 2003 Scott Miller, The Canopy School at DeLand. Scott went Reserve side with me on my 1st 2 jumps many years ago now. He since opened his own canopy school, see him on the web www.freedomofflight.tv and learn about it. He's cost effective and one of the best canopy coaches around!!!! He's also a big warm teddy bear kinda guy, AWESOME!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodyflight.Net 0 #6 December 6, 2003 I have been hearing lately about the 'forgiving nature' of the 7 cell canopy, Spectre specifically. Since I'm so new, do you mind elaborating on it's flight characteristics? If I fly a 190 to test it, will a 170 act similarly? and how does it handle?? Thanks!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #7 December 7, 2003 Also note. Most student canopies are De-Tuned. i.e. the steering lines are longer. Making the canopy less responsive. You can do this with any canopy you choose. Just remember. It takes a longer stroke to get you into trouble. It takes a longer stroke to get ou out of trouble. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vt1977 0 #8 December 8, 2003 I have recently gone from a Sabre(1) to a Spectre of the same size and they are lovely, lovely canopies. Compared to the Sabre, the Spectre feels very solid and a little more forgiving. The openings are wonderfully predictable - soft and on heading and the landings are great too. I'd definitely suggest that you demo one before deciding what to buy! Info on Spectre flight characteristics can be found here: http://www.performancedesigns.com/docs/Spectre-Flight-Char.pdf hth! Vicki Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cruzlite 0 #9 December 8, 2003 Try a 7 cell, (good advice). I am very happy with my model 5.0 Triathlon. If you stick with a 9 cell - you might want to try a PD Silouette. I believe it falls between a Navigator and a Sabre in performance. I've heard some good things about it from some very experienced jumpers. (Bill Booth jumps one). Plus you get the added benifits of easier packing (It's a hybrid) and crisp opennings. D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodyflight.Net 0 #10 December 8, 2003 How awesome! Thanis for the tip, my friend Rags is at PD so he can help me get all the demo gear to try. I'll ask Bill how he likes his Sillouette next time I see him! Thanks again, verbally, I'm sold on the 7 cell, now I'll have to try one next week! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
