Have had my Hurricane 170 for 4-5 years now and 200+ jumps. I've always loved the way it flew. I've come back from many long spots, can easily be down around the same time as people with much smaller canopies, and consistently stand up landings very close to where I'm aiming if not directly on target. The only consistent problem I've experienced is a 180 deg turn immediately after the canopy is completely open. A few times it's been a complete 360. Surprisingly, I never have line twists though. Maybe once.
The main reason I came to write a review was because the other day, a DZ photographer noticed a bulge in my canopy while coming in for a landing. After deeper inspection, it was discovered the rib between cell 8 & 9 (as seen on parachute systems' website Hurricane designer) was torn from the bottom skin. Apparently the rib was reinforced in thirds and the middle section of the rib only was ripped. The front and back were in tact. After review of the photographer's archive photos all the way back to 2010, he saw the same bulge. But not in prior years. (Another skydiver owned it then). Since the damage was very hard to notice unless you turned the canopy inside out or stuck your head in the front in that exact spot, it was missed by myself and multiple riggers who had inspected it over the years. I'm not sure how a tear like this could have happened due to anything I did, but it wasn't enough of a noticeable difference to raise any flags. Particularly because I had never known it to fly any other way and the previous owner is now deceased.
I really enjoy this canopy, even with the ripped rib, and am currently getting it repaired. This discovery wouldn't stop me from buying another one new, but I'll be extra vigilant in inspecting my gear from now on. (maybe in a way, it was a good thing, since nothing bad actually happened)
Hurricane
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in Main Canopies
The main reason I came to write a review was because the other day, a DZ photographer noticed a bulge in my canopy while coming in for a landing. After deeper inspection, it was discovered the rib between cell 8 & 9 (as seen on parachute systems' website Hurricane designer) was torn from the bottom skin. Apparently the rib was reinforced in thirds and the middle section of the rib only was ripped. The front and back were in tact. After review of the photographer's archive photos all the way back to 2010, he saw the same bulge. But not in prior years. (Another skydiver owned it then). Since the damage was very hard to notice unless you turned the canopy inside out or stuck your head in the front in that exact spot, it was missed by myself and multiple riggers who had inspected it over the years. I'm not sure how a tear like this could have happened due to anything I did, but it wasn't enough of a noticeable difference to raise any flags. Particularly because I had never known it to fly any other way and the previous owner is now deceased.
I really enjoy this canopy, even with the ripped rib, and am currently getting it repaired. This discovery wouldn't stop me from buying another one new, but I'll be extra vigilant in inspecting my gear from now on. (maybe in a way, it was a good thing, since nothing bad actually happened)