flipper 0 #1 January 9, 2006 Looking for a new Tandem canopy - Have done 1000+ on SET 400 What in your opinion is the best tandem canopy out there ? Ta Flipper Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
koppel 3 #2 January 9, 2006 I have approx 150 TM's on SET 400 / Jyro / Hop 330 and my favourite in all conditions and in all ways is the HOP. Smooth flight characteristics and nice toggle pressure all the way through the flare.I like my canopy... ...it lets me down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deuce 1 #3 January 9, 2006 I've got a bunch of jumps on Aerodyne A2's and like how they handle and flare, but wish they had dacron linesets. Really easy toggle pressure and very responsive. (compared to a 384, the only other tandem canopy I've jumped) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sid 1 #4 January 9, 2006 I'm pretty new at Tandems, did all my first batch of jumps on an EZ, really heavy toggle pressure and a pain. Have since jumped the RW Sigma and the JumpShack Firebolt 350, both are nice canopies with lighter toggle pressure - the Firebolt has a more dynamic flare (disclaimer - I occassionally work for JumpShack, but that's my honest opinion).Pete Draper, Just because my life plan is written on the back of a Hooter's Napkin, it's still a life plan.... right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #5 January 9, 2006 Eclipse 330 and 365. They do make a 400, but I find it to be a bit big. Nice toggle pressure, great flight and flare, and no pesky brake stows to get hung up.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 3 #6 January 9, 2006 I have a Firebolt 350 in my rig and absolutely love it. Great, on-heading, soft openings and a terrific swoop with tons of power at the end. I don't think I would ever replace it with anything bigger than a 330. I have jumped pretty much every tandem main flying in the USA right now except the A2. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #7 January 10, 2006 I too have the same canopy as SM1 and agree with him on the characteristics he pointed out."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
birdynamnam 28 #8 January 10, 2006 Have mostly jumped EZ's and compared to those the Icarus tandem really shines in every way. However I recently observed an Aerodyne A2 making a complete stop/standing up landing, quite heavy master and passenger. It was a normal straight in approach, zero wind condition - AND the DZ was in the mountains at 2500feet ASL! If the A2 opens well and flies as well as the Icarus that would be a great canopy for sure Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crazydiver 0 #9 January 10, 2006 The majority of my tandems have been at or above 4000 ft. msl. I've jumped EZs, SETs, Icaruses, and Sigmas. I definetly prefer the Sigmas out of all of those. Little higher toggle pressure, but the flare is great. I like the Icaruses as well, but seen quite a few times where there is little flare in odd conditions. Cheers, Travis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 3 #10 January 10, 2006 Most of my tandems are under Sigma 370's and they are great canopies. Too bad they don't make a 330 or one at least as small as my 350. I have jumps under Icarus/Precision tandem mains as well and thought that canopy was pretty nice (as far as toggle pressure is concerned), but the openings were less predictable than a Sigma, Firebolt, and certainly an EZ. EZ's toggle pressure just kicks my ass after about five jumps (I only weigh 155 pounds) if I flare them completely. The flight concepts tandem canopy I jumped flew almost exactly like an Icarus/Precision 365. I have seen some really big tandem instructors jump Hop 330's and I really, really liked what I saw with that canopy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #11 January 10, 2006 QuoteToo bad they don't make a 330 or one at least as small as my 350. I'm sure you know that one is coming out, though. As for the original question, I've jumped the Icarus (400 and 365), the A2, the EZ-384, Sigma 370 and the Firebolt. All in all I would rank them in this order favorite to not so much: 1. Sigma 2. A2 3. Icarus 4. EZ 5. Firebolt I've discussed my opinions on each before, and obviously this is a lot like discussing what car or truck is the best. There isn't really a true and definite best, its what you prefer and perform the best with.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NSEMN8R 0 #12 January 11, 2006 I started on Set 400s in 2003 and did about 400 jumps on them. I moved to a new dz about half way through last season that uses ez384s and Sigmas. I like the way both of these canopies fly and flare more than the set 400. I like the Sigma best. On the other hand I saw more lineovers in the last half of last season than in the previous 3 years combined. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 3 #13 January 11, 2006 QuoteOn the other hand I saw more lineovers in the last half of last season than in the previous 3 years combined. Ah, you must jump at a dropzone that PRO packs tandem mains. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NSEMN8R 0 #14 January 11, 2006 Yup. Actually, both places pro pack but I never saw a line over on a set400. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billbooth 10 #15 January 11, 2006 I'll say it again, If you want to get rid of "line-overs" and drastically lower your chance of nearly every other kind of partial malfunction on tandem mains...the answer is very simple...flat pack. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sid 1 #16 January 11, 2006 and as someone who has pro-packed a few thousand tandem mains without a line over, I'll say... "Manage your lines properly, pro-pack carefully and you'll avoid most malfunctions too".Pete Draper, Just because my life plan is written on the back of a Hooter's Napkin, it's still a life plan.... right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
teason 0 #17 January 11, 2006 Quote I'll say it again, If you want to get rid of "line-overs" ...the answer is very simple...flat pack. Well that simply ain't true. I'll agree that flat packs aren't as prone to mal when packed badly but to say that you can get rid of line overs with flat packing is just plain wrong. I love flat packing. I can flat pack large canopies faster than most people can pro pack. I have worked at DZs that exclusively flat pack large canopies over the past 13 years and mals still happen, even line overs. I know of a basic packing error that will cause a line over on a flat pack. Bottom line: the cause of line overs is poor packing, not the method of packing.I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 3 #18 January 11, 2006 I have been jumping for 25 years this month and I have never, ever packed a lineover. Not on my own rigs, any of the hundreds of tandems I have packed other than my own, nor any of the probably 1000 student mains I have ever packed using a flat pack or a variation thereof. For that matter, I can't recall ever hearing of a line-over mal'd main at any dropzone I have worked at where mains were flat packed (or roll packed). Actually, I have never, ever packed a malfunction of any type when flat packing. What I do hear a lot about are the incredible number of tandem mals at super-busy dropzones that PRO pack. I have one good friend (Rob St. John) that experienced 12 in four months at a dropzone he was working at in Nevada. Thanks, but I am with Bill on this one. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
teason 0 #19 January 11, 2006 At busy DZs you get far more variance in pack quality. I've never packed a line over flat or pro, that doesn't mean they don't happen. If you would like some annecdotal proof, there was a fatality at Bieseker Alberta (you can find a thread). The DZ in question flat packed all thier mains... with a packing checklist. 2 mall'd in a row. Now, once again, I like flat packing. I feel there are alot of benefits to flat packing vs. pro packing. BUT I does not eliminate line overs or any other malfunction Your post only shows that a good flat packer will have less mals than a bad propacker. BUT All packs require dilligence You cannot eliminate malfunctions with packing method, only packing quality. ***disclaimer*** I do, however, strongly believe a flat pack is less prone to packing error. I also believe that Flat packing allows packers to better check lines and catch damage, but I can't agree with Bill claiming it eliminates lines overs. I know, for a fact, it does not.I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #20 January 12, 2006 Quote If you would like some annecdotal proof, there was a fatality at Bieseker Alberta (you can find a thread). The DZ in question flat packed all thier mains... with a packing checklist. 2 mall'd in a row. Whether these were line over type mals is uncertain. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sid 1 #21 January 12, 2006 Quote Whether these were line over type mals is uncertain. It doesn't matter - we've hijacked the thread and shouldn't have. Anyway, I may have just wanted to publicly disagree with Bill and see what shit that stirred up, (I actually do disagree with him here, but still.....)Pete Draper, Just because my life plan is written on the back of a Hooter's Napkin, it's still a life plan.... right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NelKel 0 #22 January 12, 2006 I have been jumping for 25 years this month<<<< Happy birthday!_________________________________________ Someone dies, someone says how stupid, someone says it was avoidable, someone says how to avoid it, someone calls them an idiot, someone proposes rule chan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NelKel 0 #23 January 12, 2006 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1983794;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread<< -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It doesn't matter - we've hijacked the thread and shouldn't have. Anyway, I may have just wanted to publicly disagree with Bill and see what shit that stirred up, (I actually do disagree with him here, but still.....) Sid,_________________________________________ Someone dies, someone says how stupid, someone says it was avoidable, someone says how to avoid it, someone calls them an idiot, someone proposes rule chan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
teason 0 #24 January 12, 2006 QuoteWhether these were line over type mals is uncertain. Agreed, just making a counter point to Chuck's comment about places that propack. It should also be noted that the DZ is now under new and improved (just sucking up [;p]) management. To bring this thread back on topic, I've found the flare on my Firebolt 396 to be excellent, even with heavy students. Has anyone flown Flight Concepts Tandem?I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthewcline 0 #25 January 12, 2006 The Flight Concepts Rage Tandem is a fine canopy. Red made it in a more square design as opposed to a tapered wing. The idea is it will glide well and have more flare when needed.An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
