old time jumper wants to get back into it

[highspeeddirt 0]

my friend who is 65, used to jump in the 70's and 80's. his last canopy was a Para Flite XL Cloud(260 Sq ft). he wants to start jumping again using new gear. He was leaning towards an MC5. but i think thats a bit overkill (370 sq ft) for his 200 lb frame. PLUS all the mods that would be needed to convert this rig to sport use (cypress installation and hand deploy pilotchute). any suggestions on gear for him . he is looking for something conservative as far as landings and openings.

[FlyingRhenquest 1]

The new ZP canopies fly better than the one's he was used to. I jumped one of those old F111 canopies for a while. Thing flared like a cow.

He might find a new ZP 240 or 260 much more to his liking. I'd suggest he hit a tunnel for about 10 minutes if there's one conveniently nearby, then do the AFF training because really a lot has changed in the last couple decades.

Maybe find a DZ that has a decent selection of rental gear and try a few canopies. He might actually find a Safire 2 or a Sabre 2 to his liking, even if he's never going to get really aggressive with it.

I'm trying to teach myself how to set things on fire with my mind. Hey... is it hot in here?

[nigel99 143]

highspeeddirt

my friend who is 65, used to jump in the 70's and 80's. his last canopy was a Para Flite XL Cloud(260 Sq ft). he wants to start jumping again using new gear. He was leaning towards an MC5. but i think thats a bit overkill (370 sq ft) for his 200 lb frame. PLUS all the mods that would be needed to convert this rig to sport use (cypress installation and hand deploy pilotchute). any suggestions on gear for him . he is looking for something conservative as far as landings and openings.

I would have thought any docile 220+ Pilot, Navigator, Saffire etc. Makes a lot of sense to keep it large and a good decision.

Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

[JohnMitchell 14]

nigel99

I would have thought any docile 220+ Pilot, Navigator, Saffire etc. Makes a lot of sense to keep it large and a good decision.

Not sure how many jumps he had previously but I think your selection is pretty good. He's in for a real treat jumping the new canopies.

[FlyingRhenquest 1]

JohnMitchell

Not sure how many jumps he had previously but I think your selection is pretty good. He's in for a real treat jumping the new canopies.

Yeah, though the ol' Raider 2 WAS kinda fun for 20 or so jumps. I never actually DID stand that damned thing up. I keep trying to convince the DZ to get together with the guy I borrowed it from to build a "Mile Hi Challenge Rig" with it. Jumping with it certainly did give me a new appreciation for my Safire 2.

I'm trying to teach myself how to set things on fire with my mind. Hey... is it hot in here?

[NWFlyer 2]

FlyingRhenquest

He might find a new ZP 240 or 260 much more to his liking.

A jumper I know went a similar route when he got back into the sport in his 60s after a similarly-long layoff and a desire to protect his bionic knees. I believe he wound up with a Pulse 260. Couple that with an OP 253 and he'll have nice, big lightly loaded canopies with a bit less bulk on your back since both have lower pack volume.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[skybill 18]

Hi Charlie,
MC-5 The dude that said it lands like a cow is almost right, more like a big sack of fresh Bull Sh#t!!!!! 'Usedta; watch the Army guys land those things at Raeford, what a joke!! Even if they are brand new they still (read above!!). 'Definitely needs' to try some new stuff, A Navigator or some other similar canopy. I'm "Old" and my bones don't bend like they usedta' so I have a Stiletto 190!! She's a sweetheart! Powder puff landings!!

SCR-2034, SCS-680

III%,
Deli-out