riggerrob 613 #26 May 13, 2006 I was flying a Spectre, and it was bringing me in so steep, I was having trouble gauging the ground, when to flare, etc...it was just too scary for me! I had several HARD landings, one including tearing my quad muscle and making my knees look so black and blue everyone at the DZ was in pain for me!! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Your problem is probably more with your eyeballs than with your canopy. Chicks have a bad habit of looking straight down while landing. This provides, scary (ground rush) , but inaccurate information at flare time. I had the same problem learning how to land Cessnas. My landings never got any good until I learned to keep my eyes on the FAR end of the runway while flaring. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Avion 0 #27 May 13, 2006 Since you mentioned F-111 ribs, I'll go for that. Do you think the ribs should be ZP too? BW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 613 #28 May 13, 2006 QuoteSince you mentioned F-111 ribs, I'll go for that. Do you think the ribs should be ZP too? BW >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Top skin and end ribs should be made of ZP fabric. All the other ribs should be made of F-111 fabric, to ease packing. No one cares about rib fabric porosity - except on end ribs. Heck! You could make most of the ribs from mesh and a canopy would still fly fine. Why do you think they cut such jeesly big cross ports in most ribs? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 259 #29 May 13, 2006 Seven cell posse representing! I love 7 cells, especially the Spectre. For me they are easier to be accurate with and I much prefer the (relatively) steeper approach angle. Like others have said, the only way to figure out which you prefer is to jump several different canopies. I'd suggest trying out a Spectre (7 cell), a Triathlon (7 cell; you can find some screaming good deals on them used), a Sabre2 (9 cell), a Safire2 (9 cell), and a Pilot (9 cell) - there are other canopies that are suitable for a new jumper but these are probably the easiest to get demos of. Put 5-10 jumps on each if you can; by the time you've done that you'll know which one is best for you. I'd also strongly suggest taking a canopy control course as soon as you can, especially with someone like Scott Miller or Brian Germain. There is no canopy out there that is going to make you a better canopy pilot - only coaching and practice can do that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,334 #30 May 13, 2006 QuoteSeven cell posse representing!Here's another. I love my Diablo (but it's not a good lowtimer canopy). The "look at the horizon" trick really, really works for 7 cells. I didn't have as much success with a 9-cell. Agree about testing, and about canopy class. If you can take the canopy class before testing, that might be best -- then you'll come into the testing with more confidence. Also, test canopies that are on the large side of what you might try. In other words, if you're teetering between a 190 and a 170, test the 190's. The penalty for a less-than-perfect landing will be smaller. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #31 May 14, 2006 Yep. I have a spectre and a silhouette, and love them both. The spectre is easier to land, imo, but that's just my personal experience. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #32 May 15, 2006 QuotePersonally I think 9 cells are easier to land and I don't the steep approach and slow turn rate of a Spectre. Have you ever jumped a Spectre? It can turn tighter than a Sabre2, though it takes a little more toggle input to achieve the turn. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites