Fast Canopies

How not to become a statistic and still have fun

Mark Bayada

Can you handle a faster canopy ?

Are you

• Just getting away with it on your existing canopy ?

• Confident when flying around a busy sky ?

• Landing accurately ?

• Having smooth landings ?

• Are you the “accident waiting to happen” ?

CANOPY MIN STUDENT NOVICE INT ADV EXP MAX

Velocity-079 79 N/R N/R N/R 103 15050 174

Velocity-084 84 N/R N/R N/R 109 160160 185

Velocity-090 90 N/R N/R N/R 117 171171 198

Velocity-096 96 N/R N/R N/R 125 182182 211

Velocity-103 103 N/R N/R N/R 134 196196 227

Velocity-111 111 N/R N/R N/R 144 210210 244

Velocity-120 120 N/R N/R N/R 156156 228 264

Stiletto-120 VLC N/R N/R N/R 144 168168 204

Stiletto-135 VLC N/R N/R N/R 162162 189 229.5

Stiletto-150 VLC N/R N/R N/R 180180 210 255

Stiletto-170 VLC N/R N/R 136 204204 238 272

Stiletto-190 VLC N/R N/R 152152 228 266 285

Sabre-107 VLC N/R N/R N/R 107 128 161

Sabre-120 VLC N/R 102 114 120 144 180

Sabre-135 VLC N/R 115 128 135 162162 203

Sabre-150 VLC N/R 135 150150 165 180 225

Sabre-170 VLC N/R* 153153 170 187 204 255

Openings

Off heading openings are now more of a problem resulting in

• Canopy collisions

• Malfunctions

Openings

• Packing

• Body position

• Steering the canopy on opening

Openings

• Tracking must be more effective

• Break off heights may need to be raised

Control of canopy

• Most fast canopies react best to smooth toggle input

• Collapsing the slider can make them more stable

• If using risers then hands mustmust stay in steering toggles

During Flight• Will close distances with other canopies much

faster

• Need to be constantly aware of other jumpers in the sky

• Must always be thinking one step ahead

• Need to stay altitude aware

• Be aware of the amount of height lost in a turn

• Less time to get back to PLA

Flying the canopy slowly

• The faster the canopy the quicker you get into trouble

• You must learn to fly it slowly if needed• Always have an escape route• Flying slowly must be your instant reaction

when in trouble• Learn to land slowly irrespective of wind

direction

Landings

• An aggressive approach should not be necessary to achieve a soft landing

• Smooth even toggle input is essential

• Fast canopies are susceptible to weight distribution in the harness

• A two stage flare works well and avoids flaring too early and stalling

Until all these have been mastered then swoop landings

should not be attempted

Front risers

• Increase descent rate

• Increase air speed of canopy

• This added air speed can then be converted into lift for landing

The perfect landing

• Sufficient air speed is built up

• The air speed generates enough lift with minimum the need for any toggle input

• The toggles are only needed to steer the canopy during landing and to stop it at the end of its glide

• The less toggle input the better

The Corner

How to learn to swoop

• Safety– Always check landing area is clear– Never swoop towards anybody– Ensure altitude is correct

Front riser approaches

• Line canopy up for landing as normal

• Pull down on front risers until forward speed increases

• keep hands in toggles

• Release risers slowly with enough time for canopy to settle before landing

• Use steering toggles for fine control

When the canopy is level

• The extra ground speed may be unnerving at first

• Do not try to touch down too soon• Stay still in the harness• Apply progressive even pressure on the

toggles to maintain level flight • Land after brakes are fully depressed and no

more lift is available

If you want to go faster

• Turning the canopy using a riser or a toggle will generate more speed

• Must have enough altitude

• Must be checking for other jumpers and landing area

• More turn requires more altitude and longer for canopy to recover from dive

If in trouble

• Release risers and apply brakes immediately

• Get the canopy back above tour head

• PLF position if needed

When to take it easy

• 1st jump at a new DZ

• DZs at different altitude

• Turbulence

• After a scary moment

• Under a reserve

• Crowded landing area

• Whenever you’re in any doubt

The End