meatbomb

Only when it's on... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

The XFire's have always been sized the same way...the Safire1s and Omegas(?) were originally sized differently to PDs method. Now all Icarus canopies are measured using the same method as PD... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

To hijack the thread back to the OP... When I was considering buying a XFire2, the guys at Icarus were recommending that I get a 149 (1.85), rather than a 169 (1.7), as they said I was underloading the 169...However, having done 850 jumps on a Sabre1 190 (1.5), I was more comfortable moving to the 169, and they agreed. Having done 250 jumps on the 169, I now agree with them. I was finding that if I timed my turns just right, or too high, with the 169, I was getting so much lift that I was regularly climbing back in the air, with little or no input...This was leading me down the path to deliberately turning it a wee bit lower, and pulling it out of the corner, in order to get better landings. Obviously not ideal. In fact, 60 jumps ago I went back and bought another XFire, a 139 loaded at 2.0. The 139 holds the dive much better, and enables me to turn higher, with the confidence that it will keep it's speed if I have judged the turn right or slightly too high. Plus the harness turns are awesome! All this needs to be taken with the fact that I jump at Sea Level in Scotland (Highest Temp: 80F), so always a low Density Altitude. I guess from reading the other replies that because of this, and the fact that I have a larger wing, the same wing loading can cause such different behaviour. The other very interesting thing is that whilst my 169 snivels like fcuk, the 139 has very positive (whilst still soft) openings. I guess the WL has affected that as well... To sum up...for me, the 139 is the better swooping canopy, however, I am very glad I went with the 169 first...I definitely learnt a lot of skills that I didn't have from my Sabre1, and in particular the differing sight pattern of the much longer recovery arc. To learn all these, whilst still having more wing above your head is invaluable. I would very strongly recommend that you get the 149, but only after at least another 200 jumps on the Safire. You won't be sorry. (IMO there is no reason or rhyme in jumping a fully elliptical canopy before 500 jumps...you simply don't have the experience/skills to use it) --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

My Ideal: Manta (0.8) 50 jumps Safire2 209 (1.0-1.2) 250 jumps Safire2 189 (1.2-1.4) 250 jumps Crossfire2 169 (1.4-1.6) 500 jumps Crossfire2 139 (1.8-2.0) 500 jumps Extreme VX 119 (2.0-2.2) Until age 65... Crossfire2 139 (1.8-2.0) 500 jumps Crossfire2 169 (1.4-1.6) 500 jumps Safire2 189 (1.2-1.4) 250 jumps Safire2 209 (1.0-1.2) 250 jumps Manta (0.8) 50 jumps Die happy at 75, having done 5-6,000 jumps Mine (so far): Manta (0.8) 50 jumps Sabre1 190 (1.2-1.4) 850 jumps Crossfire2 169 (1.6-1.8) 250 jumps Crossfire2 139 (1.8-2.0) 60 jumps... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Just to add a me 3...I was going to hold out to demo a Katana, and couldn't get a demo Cobalt, but now I'm so glad I didn't...300+ jumps on my XFire2 169 (at 1.5-1.7) and I've just ordered a 139 (1.8-2.1)...XFires rock! --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

I understand what you're trying to point out... Touch the whole forest, the only time I have had a spinning line twists malfunction, I had deployed at 5"000ft. It took me, whilst fully aware of altitude, 2"000ft to sort it...so I understand the point you're making. I just wanted to point out that many of us don't have the luxury of being able to say, "I'll always be open by 3"500ft". Am I a safer swooper having done those 300 odd swoops from exits of 2"200ft-3"500ft, or would I be a safer swooper had I sat on the ground? As you can tell from my jumps/year, I just manage to maintain 200-250 a year, and this would be cut drastically if I cut out the lower hop'npops... My constructive criticism would reword your guideline to say: 3. STICK TO YOUR DECISION ALTITUDES. THERE IS NO GAIN FIGHTING TWISTS BELOW 1,500'. BTW I completely agree on each and every one of your other guidelines --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

More than 300 of my swoops have started with exits at or below this height...did I not gain from them? --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

I would like to stick my oar in on that. The Vector Pilot Chute is very good at terminal (which is what the video documents), but in comparison at sub-terminal (ie from cutaway) is not nearly so good. Bill has come up with a way around that, though, called a Skyhook. For my money, the best combo I have seen is the Paratec/TSE "Powershot". It has alternate meshless and half-mesh panels, and combines good low speed drag with the benifits of the meshless Vector pilot chute at terminal. JMTC, YMMV. --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Hey Mat, I don't remember seeing those in Rick's box that day, but I'm pretty sure that L-bars are still legal in this country (at least for Round reserves). I packed a few under supervision 4-5 years back...I'll have a check in my Safety Notices tonight though and get back tomorrow...if some keen bugger doesn't beat me to it... Beaten already...see the alternate thread (and explanation) from riggerrob --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Speak of the Devil... I love my neXt. It's comfortable, safe and sleek. Just like all containers made by TSE. I had mine custom-made (closing left-right so I can cover my pull-out pin) and it was delivered exactly to specification. Both the reserve and main flaps are bombproof... I currently jump both a Teardrop and a neXt, and my next rig will probably be the new Zerox (just as soon as a name gets decided on!) Why anyone in the UK/Europe jumps anything other than TSE/Paratec kit, I really don't know. It's high quality, swift to be made/repaired, and half the price of American kit (even with the current exchange rate!) --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

So you're jumping Calum's beast then...? Good luck... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Except on opening, when it's quicker to pull on a rear riser than to unstow the toggle...you don't get any turn until you pull the toggle more than half brakes...which is, I believe, the situation he's talking about... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Why? How would it affect you, given that you already jump one? I personally feel it is wrong to mandate something that takes control out of skydivers' hands...that needs to be an individual decision... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Yeah, it's a shame, and it's killed off (legal) cross-countrys. Doesn't stop some DZs ending up with people 4-5 miles off though... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

LOL! I have a hard enough time convincing people round here that that is the way to go...round here, the old-old-school idea is break-off at 3.5, track til 2.5, pull to be under canopy by 2... Not that there's any problem with that on most of the canopies people jump, but I very rarely pull below 3 on my XFire2...(on my Sabre I used to pull at 2,001ft for a canopy by 2...) --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Sounds like a law-suit in the offing... If not, I humbly apologise... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

A Manta 288 is a man-killer. See here. On another note, I did 850 jumps on a Sabre 190, loaded between 1.2-1.4, then downsized to a Crossfire2 169 (1.4-1.6). The guys at Icarus wanted me to get a 149, to load it up, but I'm glad I took the step...It was frustrating to begin with, when I was coming out of swoops just right, and going back up in the air without touching a thing but the extra dig has saved me on occasion too...currently done 200 jumps on it, and I'll probably do another 200 or so before going to a 149/139... My advice to the originator of this thread: go with a Safire2 169/189 or thereabouts...If you don't want to use the swoopiness of the Crossfire2, why risk the femuriness...? --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Just a wee thing: 200F = 93.3C... 80C = 176F... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

As far as I'm aware, we've never sent anyone! From the BPA Competitions Committee minutes: The problem is, the BPA don't currently recognise swooping as a discipline...However there are moves afoot to regulate it up to the hilt. The current plan (as I understand it) is to have Canopy Handling (CH) ratings: CH1 - Basic Canopy Control - First Jump Course CH2 - Further Canopy Control - Pre-requisite for 'A' Licence CH3 - Advanced Canopy Control - Pre-requisite for another licence and/or Swooping. CH4 - Swooping - Pre-requisite for Swooping Competitions and Coaching CH3. Once this in place, probably in April time ish, CH4s will be able to compete... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

I make that about 1000+ misfires --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

?? huh? Which would be easier to get a hold of? Clue: You would grip cutaway and BOC the same way...Another Clue: Why don't we have Cutaway hackies? --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Would you rather have a hacky cutaway, or a pad? Simple as that --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Another vote for Symbi FS suits here...they are expensive, and slow, but well worth it when they arrive! The quality is second to none in the UK, and they will make whatever you want...I personally use an XL competition suit with the fabric of a slowpo, that takes me from an average fallrate of 135, to being able to stay with sub-100 tandems...Fantastic! I also only ever get measured by the people who are making my suits / containers etc...what's the point of getting custom-made stuff, if you're not measured by the person who's custom making it???? --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Teardrops, Zeroxes and Nexts also come with this option...my new Next has it, and it's luverley...yet to see how long it lasts though.... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

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