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Is there any issues/downside of buying a BASE canopy and jumping it as a main? It seems like this would be the best way to get experience flying, landing, and packing your BASE canopy without the other risks associated with BASE jumping.

What about testing the different slider configurations?

The openings are going to be quite different doing Hop & Pops vs. sub-terminal fixed-object exits, but you should still be able to learn a lot, correct? And, the practice landing would have to prove invaluable especially if you simulate tight area landings by resricting yourself to a chosen area of the LZ.

How about normal altitude, 4000', baloon jumps to learn more about the characteristics of fixed-object exits???

Just make sure its a small plane, Like a 182 or 205, and that they slow it down as much as possible. This will definetly help with the opening shock. Also proboly not a bad idea if you were going slider down to have a piolet assist.

Why PCA? And, what difference does the plane make? If I'm jumping from a plane I wouldn't be trying to simulate a fixed-object exit therefore I would use an appropriate slider. Is there some other characteristic about a BASE canopy that I am missing? With a standard slider wouldn't a BASE canopy tend to have similar opening characteristics?

Im still new to the base world, But in thery a base canopy is F111 wich will open much faster along with being much bigger .7-1 or so. base canopies were desined for fixed object not moving objects. So the less speed the better.

Try a search with 'skydiving BASE Canopy'.

More reading than you can shake a stick at.

A slider down PCA from an aircraft? That's got "bad idea" written all over it.

Don't go slider down out of an airplane.

The canopy can be packed to handle terminal openings too. A sail slider would make it easier.

The optimum wing loading is about .7 pounds/square foot (as in 240 square feet for a 170 pound exit weight) so one probably won't fit in most experienced parachutists' personal rigs.

It's still a fine idea.


You'll need to use a slider. A sail slider will be the most comfortable. Rolling the nose will be more comfortable than not.


There's an _enormous_ difference between consistantly landing in a 30' diameter pea gravel pit with no obstacles and substantially larger landing areas surrounded by obstacles. Dead end landing areas are _very_ intimidating.

Sashays in the skydiving landing pattern are dangerous when there are other jumpers in the air so the setup for a skydiving landing happens over 1000 feet off the ground. With BASE you don't have a choice.

More experience under canopy is always better, although it doesn't translate as well as you might expect.

I have made lots of skydives on a base canopy (266sq.' dagger) using a mesh slider and 32" PC...

Although several of these were short freefalls, I've got at least 30 terminal deployments, one time out of a track. While I wouldn't want to make more than 5 or so of these a day, I did not notice the opening shock being too hard to handle.

For two of the terminal jumps I free-packed my dagger in a J4 container using the tailpocket - those were pretty brisk but didn't hurt me. I'd recommend if you're making many skydives on it, getting a skydiving D-bag made to fit your system.

mattsplat's recommendation of using a PCA to ease opening shock of a slider down jump from a plane is just ridiculous, even if it's out of a puny & slow plane! While it may work, there's really no purpose to risk the chance of getting hurt by the opening.

Rig/reef the canopy just like you would for any skydiving terminal jump and you should be okay.

edited to add not subtract

I agree. I made 10+ jumps with my canopy and All i did was roll the nose, heading was usally between 90 and 45 degrees and not hard, but swift

If you're just looking to get practice flying, then just rig it up the same as a skydiving canopy. Sail slider, d-bag, skydiving PC and bridle.

Let me add my emphasis to what several people have said:

Do not take a slider down parachute out of an aircraft.

The relative wind speed at exit is already too great for a slider down opening. You will almost certainly be injured, or hurt your canopy, if you try this.

Ask your local CRW guys, they do it all the time. I seen them get out holding their canopy Didn't even pack it (well they put the slider up only). Practise your very deep brake approaches and landings, it's also the ideal time to dial in your deep brake settings.

ps. Only do slider off jumps from a balloon and stationary helo's, not more than 3 seconds

I've been having a hard time finding modern skydiving equipment that will hold a 300sqft canopy (the size canopy I would need) for a reasonable price, any suggestions?

Borrow a student rig and jump your BASE canopy several times. Don't use it as your main skydiving parachute because you'll wear it out and waste a perfectly good BASE canopy.

If you really want to jump a large 7 cell all the time, and I doubt you do, then buy and old Raven IV. It's similar enough to your BASE canopy to stay on top of things.

Good luck!

Thanks for all the info everyone!

What about packing? Should I just do a regular flat pack for now or should I start looking at what's involved in packing for BASE?

Mattsplat´s advice is a perfect example of the inexperienced giving unsound advice to the unexperienced. Be very careful. Ask lots of questions about the experience of your advice giver.
take care,
space

if you want to test slider off in the sky envioment a ballon is the choice

I gotta try this! It sounds like a LOT of fun

I have removed everything from the unfortunate "bite me" on down. Let's keep the biting in the bedroom, and out of the forums, please.