drewcarp

Funny, I went scuba diving last year and the the instructor pointed out that I had much better than average body control in the water (yes, mad skillz). It was funny because the whole time I was thinking it was like free fall, just work the current to your advantage, position you body accordingly in the water and it's the same as flying in air. You can even "track" in the water. I landed downwind in 10-15kts on my 4th jump on a hot day at 5000 MSL and later that day deflowered the Bush daughters. Misread the tetrahedron. Big grin full of dirt but just fine (after both), did 2 more that day. I wouldn't recommend it but you could probably not flare a big student canopy with a good PLF and walk away (well, probably). No matter what... land in straight and level flight with your feet together, even if it's into the side of a barn. You might still get hurt by the barn but a low turn is a sure pass to much easier parking. Someone will probably argue about that but well.. that's what this site is for. If you can already side slide in a tunnel you will rock the FF portion of your AFF. Line twists aren't a problem on student canopies. Reserves work. Don't hesitate to use them, they make beer taste better. Midairs are feared by everyone, stay scared of them and welcome to the club, it's a great group. Fear and insecurity are the buns on the airsports burger. You'll never master either but gaining ground on them is what it's all about, have a blast!! Oh and if you see a lonely cow all alone in a field, that's not a cow and it's not lonely. Don't land there without a GoPro. Find that barn. Lonely sheep are another matter entirely.

Agreed, and also the Spectres since both 7 cells have a nice steep penetration angle which helps cut through those pockets a little better. I noticed the difference immediately after getting my new Triathlon a few years back transitioning from a 9 cell. Do you think that the trim angle is the biggest factor or the cell count? I know Pulses have a very flat trim angle, would they be more prone to collapse, kind of like a paraglider? Just guessing but I'd bet that the difference between the most and least stable of modern canopies is very little. All can and will collapse in bad air. A tri might take a 22 knot wind sheer and a pulse only a 21 or something but they both will collapse relatively close to the same point. Point being don't fly if the air is getting wiley no matter what you're flying.

Jeeze man, not sure what crawled up your ass about my original post but I'm getting pretty bored arguing with you over a simple post encouraging someone to be safe. The OP is downsizing from a damn Navigator, I never criticized HP for experienced pilots, nor would I. All I said was people should think twice about downsizing, especially if you are new to the sport. Surely you have seen the results of poor downsizing decisions. The culture of everyone downsizing as fast as possible is getting people killed. Velos aren't for average jumpers, no matter the # and everyone doesn't have to constantly downsize to be a skydiver. Now a days it's presented almost like a requirement. It's fine to stay on a big canopy if you want, that should be okay too and not "weird" is all I was trying to tell him. I didn't bag on anything but the general culture of too much speed too early. The amount of "downsizing" threads started here by people with 50 jumps is proof enough of the problem. Sorry if you disagree. I tend to get "fucking pissed" when people die for little reason doing a recreational activity and then you act like I'm pissing in your cheerios for pointing out the cause. Chill out man.

I give up man, you win. You obviously have much more patience for this. My original post was just meant to encourage him to keep some extra fabric over his head until he knew enough to make a good decision for himself. Do what you do, research my posts, whatever. I think the general culture of encouraging people to jump the smallest canopy possible is stupid and a bad trend. Someone can jump a 260 for 20 years and have fun and be way, way safer, if their goal is not getting injured while still being able to jump. Why you care that I like to encourage people to be safer is beyond me but good luck to you. To the OP, just take it easy and have fun on the Nav, bro. Around half of the fatalities and serious injuries in the sport come from people flying above their abilities. Go to a few funerals first, you will if you continue, most will be from little canopies. Read the reports, big canopy = long and fun future in the sport and the continued use of your legs. But above all, think about it and make up your own mind (that's for you Cradcock)

I care for the general well being of others. When people ask for advice I tend to error on the side of helping them stay alive and well and in this case, have a long a positive future in the sport. It's a free country, I didn't say he or you should be forbidden from screwing yourselves into the ground under whatever the hell you or he wants to jump. Whatever bro, your right. Tell him to get the smaller canopy, that's the right call. YOLO.

You're prob right, we better error on the side of not boring him. I said the culture of downsizing was fucking stupid, not one specific individual. I think scrolling through the incidents forum (which only reports a fraction of serious, life altering injuries) would support that claim. And you bragging about what you were flying a year into the sport to a newbie on a forum pretty much proves my statement about "stupid". I've had a few people make fun of me for sticking with a 230. Several of them are dead now, one of whom was my instructor. You should be careful how you talk to people.

I'm about your size. Got a Pilot 210 at around 40 jumps, broke my ankle the 3rd jump on it, beginning of the summer. Sucked ass being on crutches all summer, really really sucked. A Pilot 188 will feel radically different if you're coming from a Nav 240. The downsizing culture is skydiving is fucking stupid. The one who can still skydive AND walk for the rest of their lives wins. Those crippled by following the crowd don't post here. You won't get "bored" with a 240 unless you want to, even if your instructor says you will.

7 cells are know to be better in turbulence. I've heard Triathlons are especially good at handling it.

If she's good at softball then a 150 ought to be good.

***He also told me he was going to increase how windy it can be when I jump, If I met your instructor, I think I would have a few things to say to him. "My instructor sure was pissed that I don't understand the basic fundamentals of flight but he's increasing the student wind limit because I've got proven ability to hit the peas!" Think the instructor might have been making a joke that was misunderstood? Misunderstood like the FJC explanation on wind? Come on guys, lol.

Apples and oranges. The world needs them both. But be happy you're an orange ;) It's great when people recognize their ignorance and embrace their curiosity, even if it's only intellectual. However, the majority won't. Especially in the presence of fear.

What DZ is that? Nice view!

Ha, that's rich!

http://www.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/How_Fast.html Kinda interesting. Sound like you would only have a chance of hitting a migrating bird. There is a pretty funny video on youtube of a russian guy hitting a falcon (or something) with his paraglider. Hilarity ensues... Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGzzSIZvA40

Go to the other DZ, you'll be better for it. Air is air and the ground is hard everywhere and who knows what you're missing.

You must really hate walking. Jumping in winds over 25+ is pretty dodgy no matter how many jumps you have. I'd love to see video of a downwinder on anything in wind like that, much less a velo. Good luck bro.

No worries, all good. The fact that I'm posting here is proof enough I don't need another beer, lol. The following is not directed at you, just in general. I'm pretty much alone on this one but I think the concept of a downsizing "progression" is a terrible trend in the sport. For the few people who bang out 1000 jumps a year, sure, if you understand the risk go for it. But the majority of jumpers, the weekend warriors, they don't need to be contemplating a downsize at all times. Nothing is wrong with flying 1:1 no matter how many jumps you have. Not every pilot tries to transition to a Pitts at 200 hours and do low level aerobatics in the pattern every Saturday, thank god. Unfortunately, Velos aren't as expensive as Pitts are. What is so wrong with flying a reasonable wing that doesn't require razor sharp reactions and perfect judgement every landing? I like a wing I can land with a hangover. I like to relax under canopy and take in the view and know that i have a reasonable chance or living if I drop a toggle or do something stupid, as I sometimes do, in the air and on the ground. Everyone needs to stop saying "listen to your instructor" as well, like they know some shit that no one else does. When you ass is on the line, think twice about what anyone tells you, especially skydiving instructors :)

I wasn't replying to you.

Is jumping out of a plane so unexciting that you need to shave your margins even more on the canopy ride...at 30 jumps? You realize people break everything from ankles to spines on a very regular basis doing this and poor canopy choices are almost always to blame, yeah? Despite it's popularity, riding a sheet of nylon down from a few thousands of feet is just as crazy and unpredictable as it sounds. The only way it can be done anywhere close to safely is with great caution and foresight and even then there are no guarantees, outside of the fact that the more fabric you have over your head when when shit happens, the better chance you have of walking away. Set the tone for your skydiving career like you understand what the fuck you are actually doing or you will get reminded in of it in a very unpleasant way. Don't be a downsizing sheep. And question everything your instructor tells you. A few thousand jumps only proves good luck, not good judgement. I have some friends that would tell you the same, if they were still here.

More skydives... then maybe some drugs and the manifest chick? It's your world bro! Como si dice!

The lady's harness was not put on on correctly or checked. I only have 60 jumps but you don't need even one to see that. Even if the TI had ten million jumps he fucked up big on that one and got extraordinarily lucky. There are a ton of idiots doing all types of things they aren't suited for, skydiving has an above average number of them. Experience is not nearly as important as paying attention to WTF you are doing. I'd take a brand new TI who pays attention over some skydick with a gagillion jumps any day.

How well does it protect your head? About the same as the other expensive carbon fiber jobs or something new in the protection department as well?

Not that I'm any sort of authority but I agree with every thing you posted. Still though, if you looking for ways to decrease your risk you can, significantly, in numerous ways. Very few people have screwed themselves in under lightly loaded docile canopies. Stick with a Tri at .7 or something if you want to be safe. You can kill yourself under one but it takes a hell of a lot more effort and most people who can resist the bullshit brigade about being ready to downsize aren't likely to be pushing their limits under it. You have to admit a Stiletto 150 is not even close to in the same league, even at 1.2.

Pretty awesome to have as a hard deck alarm. Wouldn't bother for break off and pull, I'd rather keep track on my own with more reliable means.

How does the math work on that? Just curious and numbers challenged. You could cut your risk in half if you fly a big canopy that you don't swoop and even more if you aren't a dumb fuck. Numbers are only part of the story in aviation safety. Think of it this way...you have approx a 99.9% chance of making it through every year as a skydiver and a 1 in 100,000 chance of living through your next jump. Figuring 30 deaths per year out of 30,000 USPA members. Doesn't change the fact that around 30 skydivers will bet wrong and will be 100% dead come next year. Numbers are for land lubbers. So much more goes into the equation (bad pun). DC