Keithor

I have been jumping a 150 Storm for about 300 jumps and put almost 200 on a 170 before that.

I recently ordered a 139 Kraken and had some questions for anyone who has flown both. 

How is the glide between them?

Are the openings comparable?

Flare?

I probably still have the option of going with a 149 if I decide to, but that window of opportunity is closing quickly.

Thats probably about it.  I don't swoop and even if I was going to start getting into it I would get a different canopy to start that progression.  I've always love the range and glide from a storm and almost always made it back from a long spot.  I am a little (not much) worried about the glide with a slightly smaller canopy as I am starting to WS much more and hate the idea of landing off (I know watch where I am going and there is no worry of it).

 

Thanks

13 hours ago, Heat said:

I think everyone is missing THE most important thing here: what color is your suit going to be?!

Black and Red!  I opted not to go Green as I couldn't handle that much power according to the dealer

 

 

Thanks everyone for their input.  The Funk I own doesn't really fit properly and I've had my reserve handle slide inside the suit twice.  The first time I chalked it up to not having the zippers done properly or just some sort of rigging fuck up.  After the second time I determined the suit didn't fit me properly and have been borrowing a friends Funk2.  

Ultimately I decided on the Carve 20.  I don't have the ability and time to go and properly figure out how to go open exits, or for that matter even the desire to go after some short starts etc.  IF I can get myself to a point where I can start thinking about doing something other than Brento and some "easier" exits in the Valley or Norway I may think about something else.  

Before any of the above happen I want to go get comfortable and have some fun.  Seems like the Carve is my best choice for now.

Thanks again.

I was very seriously considering an ATC2 for my WS purchase this winter.  I seem to have a bit more time on my hands these days which has had me do more looking, reading, sleeping and even household chores.  Not that anyone cares about the other shit....

Squirrels site has the ATC2 as a pretty good all around canopy that includes some good range to fly with big suits, and a good BASE suit as well.  

PF site it seems like the Strix may be a bit better than the Carve 20, however I don't have enough WS jumps for the Strix yet and not sure if I will take either into the BASE environment anytime soon.  

I am flying a Funk/2 at the moment and have been focusing on doing coach jumps to get my skills up so I feel more comfortable flying with other people.  I had plans of every other weekend travelling to different DZ's in the north north/east to get coaching and spending the other weekends jumping to practice what I had learned.  

My chances of any WS BASE in general are slim as there just arent objects close by for this to happen and I need some more overall big wall experience and many more WS skydives before I consider it.  XRW is something that is probably more realistic and inline with the shorter/mid term goals.  So I think the first question really is can both the ATC2 and Carve20 be used for this?  If the Strix is a better option should I just wait a few months (depending of course when we can start to get back to normal) and keep jumping the Funk, or is the Carve 20 or ATC2 going to be a better option.  

EDITED: I forgot to mention I am not opposed to going to the tunnel once travelling is a realistic option again.  Obviously given current conditions I am not in any huge rush but would like to get the suit ordered in the next few weeks.

Thanks for any input into this.

 

Dropout at parachute Montreal.

It's mid August I think 11-14 this year. Sky an, otter and possibly a Caravan to add to it this year. They have a huge dinner and fireworks display. And discounted jump tickets (2 years ago $29)

I've actually got another thought for you, we'll maybe more of a suggestion.

I noticed a very big difference between a Storm 170 and the 1 jump i put on a Sabre2 170. Do you have the opportunity to borrow a sabre 2 170? Satire 1/2/3? Or any of those canopies in a 150? Maybe trying one of those out before making the step to a Xfire could really help to show you the difference between a spectre and a less dicle canopy.

When did go from a 170 to a 150 i stayed with a Storm (i also lost weight before i downsized) there was a difference for sure in speed and riser pressure but not the same sort of overall performance difference that i noticed between the storm and sabre2

yes Peter. Jump 35. So i think what Peter was trying to do here is what i was trying to do. Just to tell you that my situation was similar to yours in terms of rapid downsizing. I did not make the move to elliptical though.

I was also fine. For 49 jumps.

I started skydiving when i was older, married, a little more settled in life etc. I knew I'd kill myself if i started when i was 18.

i put nearly 50 jumps on a Storm 170 oaded at about 1.1 maybe just a bit more. I was landing where i wanted, standing up impressing myself how well i was doing actually. I had done a flight 1 course as well.

The FIRST time i didnt land in the landing area i made 2 bad decisions close to the ground. I crashed into a parking lot, broke a femur close enough to the hip that it required 2 rods instead of 1 with screws. I also needed to have 1 of the 4 broken bones in my foot rebuilt and much to the surprise of the doctors, my physiotherapist AND many of my friends i was able to walk again. 18 months limping, and almost 3 years later i still go to physio.

53 weeks after the crash i upsides back to a 230, re took a first jump course and have taken multiple canopy courses, and a few 1:1 canopy coaching days. Shit happens fast on almost any canopy. But it can happen faster. I'm not saying don't do it, just saying that in my case if i would have put more time on bigger canopies, and taken the coaching before i downsized as well as had some more experience. I surely would not have had a $40043 hospital Bill (for 54 hours of being in there), nor would i be able to predict weather, and i wouldn't have needed more than a year off of skydiving.

Amad,

The best way to start this process is to talk to your instructors at your DZ. At best you get 25 opinions from a message board here and you ttry and figure out who is full of shit, who is looking after their own interests and who is genuinely trying to help out.

Having said that the first few things you need to think about is 1) what are your short term goals in the sport. 2) what are your long term goals ie: wingsuiting, freeflying etcm

I personally purchased new. I couldn't wait and by 30 jumps had brand new gear. The worst part for me was I bought a stock rig and it didn't fit perfectly sio when freeflying started the rig would slip off my shoulder a bit. Getting it custom would have saved me from purchasing a custom container later.

So many questions need to be answered before someone "should" be advising you about what gear to look for.

Thanks and will do.

N/A

I'm going in December to travel around for a month. Thinking about making a jump or few. I'd prefer not to bring my own gear, wondering if anyone has been and can say anything about their rental gear or if it's even worth jumping there.

Thanks

Peter you wrote that not too long after my opening.

To thestarter of this thread, I could also stand to lose a few pounds, but I don't think my 185lb body on a 270 Solo was what did it. I had an opening that caused whiplash and had me doing physio for months. Put me out for 30 days and like someone else said my body tensed like crazy for the next 50 jumps expecting a hard opening. This one opening was a big determining factor on purchasing a storm due to its very soft openings.

pchapman

******Canopy Aerodyne Solo 250.

A search resulted in this, which might be helpful:
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4531247#4531247

Oh, that was my thread from a year back. Not much has changed -- Here's a pic of another
student's Solo opening this year. Sucked to be him. Lots of canopy out while only slightly above his instructors, plus twists and a broken line.

Krip

Medical costs in the US are extreme.

Regardless of which insurance company you choose the big unknown is will they pay if they get a significant bill and what will it cover.

Or will the premium collector resort to the very fine print at the bottom of the last page.

We had some recent dealings with the medical system, its in a flux, with the new federal insurance program.

Please be very careful with what ever company you decide to go with. Charging different rates by counrty of origion sounds like the company's are profiling and would rather not accept certain customers they consider high risk.

Found out just last week that some hospitals are doing the same thing with which patients they will accept based on what insurance we have.

My insurace company passed and I only needed a chest xray.

I just really needed to quote the first line.

On April 27 I femur'd in NY. I was on a 1 week trip with my wife. She took a class for photography and I took the opportunity to jump at a larger dz.

After getting caught upwind, I landed in a parking lot behind the hanger. I had a $1091 ambulance ride, and then a 3 day stay in thr hospital that included titanium in my leg to put it back together. $40043 (which included food).


Get the insurance! I had some, we kept our house.

piisfish

how about 3 passes of supertack through the palm and the toggle ?

This made me laugh. +1

ill nerd it up a bit

I cant remember the horsepower of each motor but I believe it is 300hp and there are 4 of them.

300hp x 746 watts/hp = 223.8kw x 4 = 895kw

electricity is billed by Kilowatt hours. rates fluctuate and there are all kinds of BS service charges in our province so if we averaged (inc fees etc) the hydro consumption out to $0.30/kwh they would have a bill of $268/hr of tunnel time.

This doesn't include general lighting, computers, etc. I also think Im being conservative in my estimates and their hydro bills will likely be much higher than this.

I actually think decompression has a great idea.

If I may add to the "uses" of this idea, I would say that this could become a new tool for the student to novice skydiver in helping them downsize.

Not only will the skydiving bladder assist the student to have a fall rate consistent with his/her instructor or coach. this brand new device will allow potential downsizers to not only determine how their projected wing loading will effect flight but will help them by slowly increasing their WL they will be better able to predict and practice flare technique to match their new approach speeds. The jumper simply "drops" 1 or 2 lbs/jump for their 15 jumps leading to their first jump on their new canopy.


Just a thought, but I would try if not buy one. I am also willing to bet that a simple idea, with relatively simple design would cost much less to create a prototype than many other ideas that may come up. This will help a student out substantially.

ianyapxw

***I will have easily put over $10,000 into just getting that A license.

Could I see some math? I serious doubt an A license and a 'good deal' rig is >$10,000 but yeah, it is expensive.


PFF course (Canadian version of AFF) $2260
15 additional jumps to make the 25 $600
6 Coach jumps slots and fees $360
rental of equipment before purchase $600
16 mins tunnel time after failed jump$300
helmet $300
altimeter, jumpsuit, shoes, etc $600

purchase of new (i know the other person said good used rig)
a lot inc new aad

adds up fast. not to mention that was just the A. it also doesnt count gas, days off work, rain days and wasted $$. Oh yeah and as a new skydiver getting used to the rules LOTS OF BEER!

GET THE SPACER FOAM BACK AND LEG PADS!!!!!!!

Best possible money you can spend for an option. Seriously makes all the difference in the world. I bought a new Wings for my first container, with a 40 or 50% discount on a stock container. with spacer foam, reserve boost, and a couple other options it came out to close to $2k.

I have a Storm 170 in mine and it was sized 150/170. The storm fits pretty easily into except for the fact it was new also which made packing a little frustrating.

Enjoy your new gear.

Just a question...... why don't you want your reserve to downsize as well?

I ask this for a couple reasons. 1) Im curious 2) In 2 out situations it can be very bad having two very different sized canopies out causing one or both to downplane.

If its a question of having more canopy over your head in the event of unconsciousness I understand. However, if you are skilled enough to fly a 150 you should be skilled enough to fly a similar sized reserve.

You can fit anything you want into it, it will probably work most times.

The company who makes your container gives you guidelines for safety reasons. I really think you should listen to them. I know it sucks to spend the money especially if you change your mind. If money is an issue just think about how worthless that container will be once someone has worn it while impacting the earth at 100 mph (I figure the PCIT will slow you down about 20 mph)

Seriously though. Just because someone has done it in the past or is doing it doesnt make it safe. Your life is on the line. Trade the container, buy a new one, or use a canopy that will fit properly. You mentioned going down 2 sizes from what the manufacturer is recommending.... its time for a new container. Just one more thing, many of the seven cells on the market are smaller bulk canopies and pack smaller. You may be making the container even softer depending on what 7 cell you have.

andrewehlinger

I don't see how she is too weak to flare? Too weak to do a front riser turn maybe, but flaring requires little to no strength at all. I'm a smaller guy at 5'6 120 lbs and fly a 149 with no issues, even jumped a 215 with no landing issues. Like everyone else said video the landings and asses the technique. Maybe have her put her hands thru the toggles and wrap the brake lines to get a deeper flare when landing? If that solves the problem, shorten the brake lines.

I STRONGLY advise against wrapping the brake lines/shortening the brake lines. Especially if this canopy is ever used by anyone other than this person. If somebody else ever used the canopy and wasnt warned for some reason this could very quickly lead to a toggle stall on landing that could prove deadly or worse. Also if for some reason its a technique issue and the normal used changes her flare style to something different this could also lead to a toggle stall on landing. Way too dangerous of a fix IMO.

mattjw916

You can probably find the answer to #1 by searching.

Risers and PC/d-bag are rig parts and generally not included. Some people offer risers for an extra fee. New canopies usually come with links but this is a cheap wear item so you should replace used ones unless they are cleared by a rigger as good even if they are included. Replace metal rapide links with new soft ones as well. Slider should always come with canopy.

Risers (esp mini ones) and PCs are also wear items so replace as needed. Before they fail. ;)

Not trying to discredit the response, however there are certain components that are NOT compatible with others.

Soft links are great but not always something that can be changed out. Your rigger should a)know, or b) know where to look to find out if certain things will work from one manufacturer to another. Reserve PD soft links or "Slinks" are not approved for use with all manufacturers. Im sure they will work, but wont meet TSO regs. Just something to keep in mind.

Take the canopy to your rigger and ask about changing components.

i dont think downsizing will help with this particular problem.

I had to jump a 270 or 250 as a student and didn't load it much different than this. It took some practice but I learned how to land it.

The only other question I have to ask is what she is flying now. If she is flying a relatively docile canopy (which I assume she is) she should be ok, unless she is quite weak. I really dont see how a smaller canopy will help. Perhaps she should be taught how to properly perform a 2 stage flare.

My personal fear with downsizing at this stage is this. What if she still doesnt have the strength to flare a smaller canopy either. Now she cant stand up a landing, cant judge a flare properly, and cant pull the flare down far enough....... at a HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. Isn't this what is hurting/killing so many of us?

Id rather land softly on my face, than very quickly on it.

I had some long term goals when I started my PFF (AFF) and felt very little my first few jumps, even through to my A.

There is soooo much to learn and do with instructors/coaches/etc it's hard to think about the enjoyment when focusing so much on learning and safety.

Then I started jumping with other people and moving to/away/beside them. Then I was FLyING. It all changed give it a chance.

Not to pick on you Croc.

To the op, there3 are 3 different Storm canopy configurations. 1 Is the standard "freefall" version. #2 is the "hybrid" version, and the third is the "CRW" canopy. The most common is the "freefall" version which has different (mildly) characteristics than the other two.

Going to the CRW forum and reading the landing the Storm article may not do the freefall version justice. Taking a canopy course and learning how canopies react to various inputs etc is amazing and every new canopy pilot (under 200 jumps) should take one. The most effective method I have been able to employ is the 2 stage flare. I have popped up on landings a couple times and with the Storm this is very easy to do, due to the incredible flare power it posses'. However after 2 or 3 times doing it you should be able to learn how to handle it, and utilize it to your advantage. Try not flaring so hard and the problem will be solves. The other great option is a 2 stage flare.

*Question/Note(s) to Croc.

Did you buy your canopy used? Reason I ask is that the Storm is know for having really long brake lines from the factory. Many people are concerned about this and freak out and have the brake lines shortened. This could cause the canopy to be overly responsive to landing flare. Both myself and the main packer at my dz were surprised at the amount of brakes that were there. It turns out that this is part of the design to not only tame, but to harness the flare power of the Storm. Just a thought. Check the lines on your canopy and see if they have the right amount of brakes or just the correct lines to begin with.

Hope this helps