Quick canopy question

[Shadow]

Hi there,

I'm currently considering the potential for BASE jumping at some point in my future - I've been jumping for 3 years on a Sabre 2 and I'm thinking about changing canopies - I've been looking at the Storm by PD as a potential mid way canopy between the Sabre 2, and a flat wing 7 cell BASE canopy.

I know for BASE I'd probably be looking at F111 as opposed to ZP, and probably a much larger canopy too, but I'm planning on another couple of years jumping from planes before I jump from anything stationary so I don't think buying a BASE specific canopy to jump now would be a wise investment, especially since my relatively new container won't hold a BASE canopy big enough.

Basically my question is, is it worth switching canopies to get used to something a little closer to a BASE canopy, even if there are still major differences, or is it just as good to stick with what I've got for the time being and just focus on general canopy control skills.

Either way I'd be switching to jumping the canopy I intend to BASE with long before attempting a fixed object jump anyway.

All constructive thoughts welcome :-)

[22435]

My thoughts(not always the right):
Don't think about BASE when bying a skydiving canopy. Just by an awesome canopy...

When the time comes, get a BASEspecific canopy with a sailslider and put it in an old student container. This way you will only need a few jumps to "get ready".
You can practice deep break decends, simulate offheading openings etc.

Hope this will help you.

[Mac]

I spent most of my pre BASE jumping days jumping a Fury..... I found this useful... and only a 220 so not too hefty to cause issues at the DZ with opening heights and freeflying friendly containers.

[hookitt]

Don't bother buying a base like canopy for skydiving. It's boring as hell when you have to fly it down from 3000 feet. Get your swoop canopy, fly it and have fun. Your reflexes will appreciate it later. When it's time to practice on a base like canopy, find some cheap Raven and jump it for a while, or skydive the base canopy you purchase until you have a handle on it's flight characteristics in all flight modes.

[Shadow]

Thanks for all the responses. I'll stick with my S2 and get my canopy skills perfected while I'm doing all the other bits and pieces.

[JDATC]

It's boring as hell when you have to fly it down from 3000 feet.

Why the hell would you pull at 3k with a base canopy in your skydiving rig?!? Less of course, the DZO or ST&A is watching!

I have a flik 182 skydive rig. It's fun, but if it was my only rig it might be a little boring sometimes.... But then again, it was my first rig, so I sold the sabre2, and gave it new life. You can hook it too!

YouTube- FLik 182 Hook turn

Actually, I also own another skydiving rig with a crossfire 2 and a storm 120 is on the way for yet another rig. A base canopy in a dedicated skydiving rig is only a good idea if you are really sure it's what you want...

_justin

[hookitt]

Why the hell would you pull at 3k with a base canopy in your skydiving rig?!? Less of course, the DZO or ST&A is watching!

Hey dorkus... I wouldn't. A newish (few hundred jumps) skydiver who's not a base jumper probably would.

Not a bad swoop by the way.

[Shadow]

Yep I probably would pull at 3k with a BASE rig in my skydiving kit, probably higher initially, plenty of time to play about with the canopy, find the stall point, do rear riser flares, front and rear riser turns and all that sort of gubbins, get to know the characteristics of it when I've got the height to play with.

The Storm looks like a decent canopy for flying as well as being a little more BASE like, which is why I was looking at that... might test jump one when PD next come around with some.