Basejumper.com - archive

Anyone here jumped a 26 foot Strong lopo canopy on a BASE jump? If so, was it a good experience? Any advice or info about that canopy?

I'm looking to do a site from 550 feet with a grass landing area.

I have a Strong 26ft LoPo lite that I took in the water at Bridge Day a few times. Definitely wouldn't want to land it on land (173lbs + gear)

Was it worn out? What does "lite" mean? Thanks.

Strong is the manufacturer (brand) name.
26' Lopo Lite is the model.

I've landed under one (skydiving reserve ride)
3 letters, PLF

no, it was a former reserve with 1 ride, not worn out.

Lopo is made in "regular", "midlite" and "lite". Those have to do with construction/reinforcement. Lite is the weakest with a TSO of 188lbs

Sorry, hijack, but this got me thinking. Anyone have round BASE? One off each object on a parachute lacking corners?

that's actually a sweet question! anyone?

Would be a great wingsuit canopy :-)

I jumped a 26 Lopo off multiple cliffs and bridges. No problem. I wouldn't want the LZ to be anything but water.

What about a nice soft grass landing area with no rocks? I've heard wild variations in the quality of landing under that canopy.

Was your LoPo modified to pull the apex down in order to produce faster openings?

Personally, I wouldn't want to put my 26 Lopo down on hard land. Soft grass either, but that's me and my ankles aren't in the best shape.

Yes, I used a rubber band to close off the apex to speed up openings. Back in 1995, I jumped rounds with Rich Stein and he produced a round packing video for our group. I have no idea where Richie is today, but I can make some copies of the tape and hand out at Bridge Day if Richie OK's it. Anyone know where he is today?

Richie Stein (BASE 74) is in southern Florida. I have his phone number. I'll give him a call. Thanks for the info!

I haven't heard from Richie in millenia.

We used to use rounds often on certain sites. They are actually very good for certain things.

Into water, obviously.

If you don't have to travel far to a landing area obviously.

If you burn it down low it is impossible to hit the object. They just don't move very fast. They do move and are steerable, though.

I used to yard my preserve 3 out of my skydiving container and BASE it. Rich also had a couple of Preserve 3's. They were pretty small, but on normal flat ground it was no biggie to PLF. Rich loaned me one of his Preserves one night. He had put it in the bath tub with black dye and it was pretty weird with black lines and all.

Phil Smith had Hank A make him a piglet out of F-111 with flat dacron lines. That was long after rounds were gone from skydiving other than reserves, and that sucker was great.

Packing them is easy, but you need to be shown. Easier than a square if you keep it simple.

Anyway, I would take Phil's Piglet and burn it down on 600 foot objects. They opened incredibly evenly, and you could take a longer delay than you would want to with a slider down square.

The only thing I never jumped a round off of was a building. I tell ya, they do have their place. I wouldn't know where to find a quality one these days.

I also watched George Roso jump an old Para Commander from a 600 foot E. He nabbed the canopy from the pile of garbage underneath the riggers table. If any of you know what a PC is, that was pretty wild. Hell, it worked fine.

Here is a pic of John Hoover and I on a two way. I am on the round.