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Subject: Student canopy size?
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SCOTT735GUser is Offline
Board Wuffo
Board Wuffo
Posts:1
11 Dec 2011 10:21 AM

What size/type of student canopies do you use at Skydive Chicago? I want the BIGGEST one possible to start off with.

I did 4 static line jumps at another DZ in October and the landings are the part that concern me most.

I want to find a good place to go in Mar or Apr to do the AFF program and this place looks really good.
JerryBUser is Offline

Posts:4
15 Dec 2011 1:28 PM
Scott,
I'm not an instructor, or do I work at SDC. But I have been jumping at SDC for 10 years and have over 500 jumps. The answer to your question is that they will put you on a canopy size that's appropriate for your weight.
Not knowing how much you weigh, I would not know what size that would be, but I know that there are canopies as large as 260sf.
I'm a big guy so this is where I started. I can also tell you that a canopy too big, can be as dangerous as one that is too small.
Your AFP instructor will tell you what will work best for you.

Good luck,

Jerry Borek D-31440
DWingardUser is Offline

Posts:4
20 Apr 2012 7:47 PM
Hey there,

Here in the AFP room we jump Sabre2 parachutes. They are considered a semi-high performance canopy, so they have a lot of stopping power. They are also known for comfortable inflation during opening.

We will teach you how to specifically handle them from deployment to feet on the ground. Depending on what you were jumping before, they could be either very familiar, or very different !

We have plenty of sizes ranging from 150 sq ft to 260 sq ft in about 20 ft increments. We also have plenty of each size. No more sharing a rig with another student and waiting around for part of the day ! It is also really nice because we are able to move our students to different parachutes as they progress, and they are not limited by what we have here at the dropzone. Usually students are ready around level 10 to downsize, which they do once in the program.

I'd agree with Jerry that too big of a parachute can also lead to problems, starting with opening and ending with sensitivity to winds !

Obviously this question was posted five months ago, but I hope to see you come out to the dropzone and check out our program yourself !

David Wingard
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