NoShitThereIWas 0 #1 April 14, 2003 Hey everyone, So I have a question for those who know a lot about canopies... I now fly a Spectre 150 and I weigh about 130 pounds maybe a little less. My exit weight is about 150 so I am 1:1 wingloading this canopy. This was my first canopy that I bought when I had 80 jumps. I now have almost 600 jumps so I put a little over 500 on it. After flying it at the Blue Water Boogie where the winds were high and feeling a bit like I have outgrown it, I am looking to downsize to a 135. I have tried flying a few different kinds of canopies and love my Spectre because the openings are so nice. I like consistency and soft openings because I also fly camera. I am a conservative canopy flyer, not a hot dog but I also want something with a little pizzazz. Eventually want to learn to swoop and all that but not for another 500 jumps or so. So my major question here is: if I get a bad spot and want to make it back to the landing area will I have a better chance of getting back with a nine cell as opposed to a 7 cell? The canopies I have liked the most are the Spectre, Stiletto and Sabre 2. But after flying my friends Stiletto I was like this is a fun canopy but I can see myself hurting myself under this thing. My strongest skydiving qualities are in freefall and although I am a consistent good lander, I have had enough off DZ landings, downwinders and close calls to be concerned about safety. Does anyone know the flight characteristics of 9 cells vs. 7 cells and/or have any canopy recommendations? I don't need anything too technical just a general this is what you can expect to get landing after landing. Thanks and blue skies!Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nicknitro71 0 #2 April 14, 2003 Demo a Sabre 2 135. It is not as radical as the Stiletto and it should give you more glide than your Spectre.Memento Audere Semper 903 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Watcher 0 #3 April 14, 2003 QuoteDoes anyone know the flight characteristics of 9 cells vs. 7 cells and/or have any canopy recommendations? I don't need anything too technical just a general this is what you can expect to get landing after landing 9 cell typically has flatter glide and gets you back easier. 7 Cell typically has a bit steeper glide going to go down faster You can put a Stiletto anywhere including a 2m x 2m accuracy box once you understand how to fly it. I find the normal 9 cell easier to land than normal 7 cell. Openings all seem to be the same. Stiletto is alittle more senstive to harness inputs, but is nothing difficult, I know many people with far fewer jumps that have no problem on that canopy. Its a proven design, that you can pick up a nice used one pretty easily. A Velocity will out glide them all with rear risers but thats another story. I would say go with the stiletto, its a nice easy fun loving canopy that can easily be flown docily especially at the 1.2 wingloading a 135 would give you. --Jonathan Bartlett D-24876 AFF-I Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BETO74 0 #4 April 14, 2003 I just got a Crossfire 149 and I love the glide is better than my Safire 169. More than radically overload my canopy, I rather try with different shapes of wings. I think is great to get the most of the canopy we fly before we try something else. Safe landings is a must. Quote http://web.mac.com/ac057a/iWeb/AC057A/H0M3.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nicknitro71 0 #5 April 14, 2003 I had a similar experience. I went from a Hornet 150 (really good canopy) to a Viper 135. The latter has a flatter glide despite the higher wing loading. Demo as many canopies as you can!Memento Audere Semper 903 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 0 #6 April 14, 2003 My first canopy was a spectre 150 too, got it at 75 jumps, also loaded it at about 1:1. Then I traded it for a spectre 135. Loved it. It was more fun flying, landings seemed about the same. But then I demo'd a safire 135... Much more flare, and it has about twice as flat a glidepath (sorta tested that by letting both my spectre and that safire fly with not much input from me, starting at 1000 ft, with zero winds; the safire put me down almost twice as far). It's a safire 1 tho, so it's a bit smaller than the spectre. They're both great canopies. I think I'd have less difficulty landing a spectre in a really tight place, but then I have only 40 jumps on my first 9 cell in a looooong time. I'm keeping the spectre (unless somebody happens to make me a really great offer for it) for when I'm ready to start camera flying (CREW). I think it would also make a better canopy for demo jumping too, but I suppose once I really get to know the safire that'll work too. The safire is more fun to fly. The safire makes it easier to get back from a long spot without rear risering etc, but the spectre will usually get you back too, with some work. The spectre handles turbulence much better. I was wishing I was hanging underneath my spectre a couple of times . The spectre allows me to easily stay close to CREW guys with a much higher wingload (~1,8:1) than me, and that without collapsing too much I can follow those guys with the safire but it's more work because I float so much then. Oh well, I love both canopies... ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites