BKS60

Try demoing a Zulu, opens good, Flys good and has fairly light front riser pressure and flares for days.

Like most I'm not a full time Rigger and limit myself to about 5 a week with occasional minor repairs also so the time factor is really not a concern to me. If I'm not happy with the way a pack goes it's easy for me to just stop and start again. Most of the packs I do are for local jumpers who are my friends and all repacks have to be done the best I can.
Watching chops makes me tense until I see a good reserve over their heads.

My vote is yes but the poll does not give the option for "of course, enjoy the company and glad to see them take the interest in their gear and how it all works".
Plus then they are carrying it in and out!

Was just wondering, I have one now that was packed twice (once after a save). An M5 which is listed for approx 330 cu. In. And had a 475 cu. In. 210 in it. I balked on that.
The owner sold the 210 and purchased an appropriate sized reserve for it after we discussed.
Glad your ok and your Rigger has checked his past customers.
Stay safe.

Yep, my personal Icarus 364 uses the 2-6 setup and I love it. Steers light on the outside 2 on main toggles and flares good when you pick up the 6 inner on flares.
Most of the other canopies at our DZ use 4/4.
Flying one toggle all day is more work than I want.

That will be fun to fly all day flying the entire tail from opening to landing. But you will be in good shape by the end of a season.

Is the reserve and container sized properly. No chance of oversized reserve. Agree packing issue just wondering if any other issue is contributing?

No profile, new to the forum and all posts have something about issues.

I'll refrain from further response.

Yes, paddle under the top "closing" flap. The cover flap has a liner that goes under the top closing flap and the paddle allows that liner to slide down easier without bunching up. It lets the cover flap pull down lower adding a good bit to the tucked in portion. It also made a lot of improvement to the aethetics of the top of the rig after closing.
Had not thought of this until this thread and looking at a rig afterwards.
Not having any luck posting pis but it's a simple process.

BKS60

Looks like the ears on the bag may be a bit full. "See if the riggers on here with more experience agree".
May help to give more tab to tuck in.

Ok here is an quick update.
Working with a fellow jumper who is practicing for his riggers ticket and has a wings with a similar issue.
We took time to fill the ears but not overfill, and kept am eye on the ears while closing. Still had less than an ideal amount of tuck afterwards. So took a packing paddle and lifted pressure on the top flap while pulling it down. This allowed the nylon under the flap to slide down and gave a big increase in the amount that tucks in.
Hope this makes sense.if not I can post a few pics.

Looks like the ears on the bag may be a bit full. "See if the riggers on here with more experience agree".
May help to give more tab to tuck in.

IMO the Zulu is a great canopy. Got several hundred jumps on one and still enjoy it. 1.7 loading.
Made one demo jump on the same size C3 and honestly found it lacking. I prefer quicker opening and it snivels to long for my taste, front risers were way to heavy, harness was minimal, and the flare response was way to late in the stroke.
Did several demo's on a size smaller than my Zulu and while the openings were still to long for my taste it did fly better but still not as well as a lighter loaded Zulu.
Again just my 0.02.

Most are loading in that range and all of them say they really enjoy them. The way it responds through the flare is probably one of its strongest points and seems to be similar in all the loadings I've seen.
Aerodyne advertises that it opens quick and I agree with them. Mine usually only snivels about 500 ft but the openings are not hard. I psycho pack and the rolled pack gives me the best openings.

I did demo'd one at close to a 2.0 and at that loading it was not happy.
I am probably going to purchase another one the same size as the one I already have for my backup rig.

Nothing but positive response here about the Zulu. I purchased a 152 and have several hundred jumps on it at a 1.7 loading. Fun to fly, with good control response, front risers lighter than other canopies I've flown and a positive and progressive flare that starts as soon as you input and continues through the entire flare. It's not a stab to flare canopy, you fly it throughout the landing.
There are about ten now at our local DZ with verious loadings and everyone who has one loves them.

THier220

***Assembled two systems in the last week. Overall seem to be decent contruction. Both "Main" trays have been overly tight in my opinion with mains showing to be normal size recommended. Neither would have handled mains showing to be max size.

But over all a good deal? Safe, would you jump with

As stated I've only assembled two, but I would have no problem with jumping either one.
As far as a good deal,........everyone needs to make that call for themselves.

This conversation ties in with one several of us were discussing last week at the DZ. I like the idea of the MS riding through also as long as altitude permits in case of a bag lock or something similar. It seems it would be easier for the MS instructor to pull the main cutaway if needed. Maybe a hard deck limit.
Not advocating changing protocol without a consensus and thorough discussion. But would like to continue the discussion.

Gary maybe we can get a jump together on one of your next visits.

Assembled two systems in the last week. Overall seem to be decent contruction. Both "Main" trays have been overly tight in my opinion with mains showing to be normal size recommended. Neither would have handled mains showing to be max size.

I'm looking for information on the break line length on one of these. I have one that is in pristine never jumped condition but there are no markings on the break lines to indicate settings and so far I am coming up without any luck on researching for the info.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Some wing suit jumpers have spent time analyzing the deployment sequence frame by frame from rear facing helmet cams and found the d-bag can really spin up in the bad air behind them as the canopy is openning..
I know a couple of them that began leaving the canopy wrap open for about 6 inches or so at the lines when they pack to allow air to start inflation quicker.
They claim it minimizes spin up considerably without causing hard openings. No personal experience myself.

Deimian

***[...]At about 80 jumps I'm seeing wear on the lines near the attachment points inside the canopy that I never noticed with 700HMA or spectra.[...]

pchapman

As background material, here's some basic info that Aerodyne gives about their new ZLX, on their Zulu page:

Quote

[...]
It maintains the feel of the line over hundreds of jumps without pilling like some lines can show over time. It provides no shrinkage and a longer life than lines currently available in the market
[...]

These two quotes seem contradictory. One off or overenthusiastic marketing? We need more input to know for sure. That's why "ask the manufacturer" is not that helpful in these kind of questions.

Interesting, I have a little over two hundred jumps on a canopy with these lines at a little over 1.7 loading. I have noticed a little wear from the guide rings on the lower steering lines but none else where. I'll try to check the trim soon.

Had a similar question a few years ago. If you contact Wings with the rigs serial number they can tell you what canopy it was originally sized for and then you can look up the pack volume specs of that canopy.
Hope this helps.

richoH

Does anyone have a picture of flipped 3 rings? I'm not sure I understand how this happens during packing. I could understand it more if it was during reassembly after a chop?

My experience is the flip through does not typically happen during packing but while turning around while picking up the canopy after landing. I have this happen commonly on my tandem rig and expect it so its the first thing I address when I take the rig off. I pack for myself so it has not been an issue. Have never had it happen on my sport rig but find myself looking for it out of habit.

peek

***... The PC should be approximately 3% of the size of your canopy.

Where did you get that information?

Hey Gary, one of the current FAA riggers written test questions is the best pilot chute size ratio to the main canopy and 3% is the answer listed. Just went through that and remember seeing it for what it's worth.

You planning on coming down south and jumping with us anytime soon?
Keith

cosmicgypsy

Never mind, found my answer.
USAPR

Was Ben your answer?

A former coworker likened it to a car:
You can't just drive it all the time;
It requires regular maintenance and sometimes repairs.

Just keep track of the trade in value! :)