Manubis 0 #1 December 27, 2010 Hi all, I need some feedback about spectre 150 and/or silhouette 150. Fly, landings...? I have a vectra (french gear) with pd 143r and pd 170. Thanks all and happy holiday! Manu Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
petejones45 0 #2 December 27, 2010 QuoteHi all, I need some feedback about spectre 150 and/or silhouette 150. Fly, landings...? I have a vectra (french gear) with pd 143r and pd 170. Thanks all and happy holiday! Manu Both are good!Look out for the freefly team, Smelly Peppers. Once we get a couple years more experience we will be a force to be reckoned with in the near future! BLUES! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
julio_gyn 0 #3 December 27, 2010 I don't have many jumps, but to me I prefer 10 to 1 the silhouette, I didn't like the spectre....Julio Cesar blue skies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
petejones45 0 #4 December 27, 2010 QuoteI don't have many jumps, but to me I prefer 10 to 1 the silhouette, I didn't like the spectre.... why didn't you like it?Look out for the freefly team, Smelly Peppers. Once we get a couple years more experience we will be a force to be reckoned with in the near future! BLUES! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
julio_gyn 0 #5 December 27, 2010 I didn't like the way she flair (don't know how to spell it) but fly good and open very softJulio Cesar blue skies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #6 December 27, 2010 I've put several hundred jumps on Silhouettes in sizes from 230 to 135. A wise ole' jumper told me early on that the Silhouette was the "best kept secret" in skydiving. I agree. The Sil has a wonderful flare, smooth glide, and is exceptionally forgiving (even at higher wingloadings). It's a hybrid, so easy to pack. It'll get you back from long spots. I've only got around 50 jumps on a Spectre, so my opinion isn't as informed. The Spectre opens beautifully as well, but it won't get you back from a long spot. It has a steeper glide. Still, a great canopy. I've got around 1K jumps on its cousin, the Storm, and in terms of glide, they're not that different. Both are good canopies. Are you looking for slower openings, greater glide, more control? What don't you like about your current canopy? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 0 #7 December 27, 2010 Try both before you buy They're both intermediate canopies, but other than that, quite different in how they handle and fly, comes down to personal preference. Coming from a pd170 main, you'll like both ;-) Both will seem to open slooooooow though Oh yeah, I wouldn't load the silhouette too high, but if you're jumping a pd170 now I'm assuming you're not heavy, 60-70kg? In that case you'll be fine on a silhouette 150. For higher wingloads though, the spectre is better. ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manubis 0 #8 December 27, 2010 Thanks DSE and others, with my PD 170 (1996) i have hard landings...so i'm looking for soft openings...and soft landings! Manu Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manubis 0 #9 December 27, 2010 You've right dragone. 68 kgs 'tout mouillé'! exit weight 165 Manu Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
julio_gyn 0 #10 December 27, 2010 like I said, i had better flair with the silhouette, and like said before the steeper glide of the spectre would give you harder landings than the sill... maybe not.. try them, rent a gear if they have on your dz and then you will be able to decide what make your mind...Julio Cesar blue skies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manubis 0 #11 December 27, 2010 I tried them both few years ago...best place to buy one? Manu Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
julio_gyn 0 #12 December 27, 2010 used, contact square1, smartrigs, dzsports or the classifields, i bought a canopy on the classifields and if you want a tip, contact likestojump here on dz.com, he always have something on the radar or know where to find itJulio Cesar blue skies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
likestojump 3 #14 December 27, 2010 Silhouette will have a slightly longer flare both are AWESOME canopies. also Silhouette will pack a bit easier due to being a hybrid. My bet is that you won't be disappointed with either. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeatlast 0 #15 December 27, 2010 As everyone has already said - both are great canopies - try to demo both and then decide. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 258 #16 December 28, 2010 QuoteThe Spectre opens beautifully as well, but it won't get you back from a long spot. Really? My Spectre got me back. My s/o's Spectre gets him back (better than his Velo does). Why do you think the Spectre won't get you back from a long spot? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 7 #17 December 28, 2010 QuoteThe Spectre opens beautifully as well, but it won't get you back from a long spot. It has a steeper glide. I agree... My first jump on a Spectre the damn thing felt like it was diving out of the sky. It also turned faster and lost more altitude in the turn than I expected. Still a good canopy, just not the one I would want doing AFF and sometimes getting a less than ideal spot."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,344 #18 December 28, 2010 >Why do you think the Spectre won't get you back from a long spot? Because its glide angle is a bit steeper than its 9 cell cousins. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 258 #19 December 28, 2010 QuoteBecause its glide angle is a bit steeper than its 9 cell cousins. Yes, it is. But that doesn't categorically mean that Spectres won't get you back from a long spot, does it? Doesn't that depend a lot on how it is flown and wingloading? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,344 #20 December 29, 2010 >But that doesn't categorically mean that Spectres won't get you back from >a long spot, does it? Not at all! I have often jumped 7 cell canopies (Tri, Spectre) and made it back from long spots. You just have to plan a bit better - open higher and keep an eye on the winds. >Doesn't that depend a lot on how it is flown and wingloading? Definitely. But the tricks you can do with a Spectre you can also do with a Stiletto - and the Stiletto will give you the flatter glide (which means more distance covered in no wind conditions.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #21 December 30, 2010 Given that I've got approx 1K jumps each on 7 vs 9 cells...my experience is that the glide angle of either a Spectre or Storm is significantly different than a Silhouette, Pulse, Safire, Crossfire II, Firebolt, Pilot (all of which I also have jumped). Given the same opening altitude and wingloading, there is simply no way I can fly as far as the other guy on a 9 cell. Tried it on numerous occasions. Maybe I need to get some canopy coaching from ya. See you in Reno? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 258 #22 December 30, 2010 Quote Given the same opening altitude and wingloading, there is simply no way I can fly as far as the other guy on a 9 cell. Tried it on numerous occasions. Granted, you won't make it back as far under a 7 cell as you will under a 9 cell, but if you fly it for best glide you will make it back from the majority of long spots under a Spectre. Stating categorically that a Spectre (or a 7 cell) won't get you back is incorrect and may have some folks writing off a whole group of canopies that might be perfect for them before they even jump one. Quote See you in Reno? Maybe at a craps table. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chutingstar 1 #23 December 30, 2010 In the far reaches of my memory...watch out now...I remember some info from PD at one time that the glide on a Spectre and Sabre2 are actually very similar. And in some instances, the Spectre outglides the Sabre2. The Storm is a different story, as it is definitely steep glide angle. MikeChutingStar.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #24 December 30, 2010 QuoteIn the far reaches of my memory...watch out now...I remember some info from PD at one time that the glide on a Spectre and Sabre2 are actually very similar. And in some instances, the Spectre outglides the Sabre2. The Storm is a different story, as it is definitely steep glide angle. Mike John LeBlanc mentioned something along these lines at PIA a few years ago...so I jumped the Spectre a bit. Perhaps they're trimmed differently now, dunno, but the Sabre II flies a lot flatter than the Spectre did for me, but the Spectre openings are slower and a tad more predictable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites