Re: [Lethal82] Canopy selection to prepare for BASE
Hi, mate!
If you are in Vic, I welcome you to try my 7-cell ZP Triathlon 210 setup. It's similarities to BASE canopy has been dwelled upon here:
http://www.basejumper.com/...ng=Triathlon;#957770 I went into BASE with lower skydive numbers than you have now and my hope was that learning to skydive on this 7-cell setup would contribute to learning how to pilot a BASE canopy. What I discovered through trial and error was that while there are definite similarities, there are big difference in object avoidance canopy handling. In particular, the amount of force required to put the canopy into a near-stall configuration was vastly different.
Beneficial similarities I found were:
+ accuracy landing -- the Triathlon 210 handles quite similar to my Flick in terms of building a landing approach, etc. With wing loading adjustments, etc.
+ packs similar to base :)
+ more time in the air -- if you are into that kind of thing -- I could have downsized to a handkerchief like many kids do, but flying this docile, flat, slow canopy is something I actually and honestly enjoy and have no desire to downsize.
+ Triathlon 210 has different trim to my Flick, yet, it can also fly backwards (well, it kind of collapses backwards, can't really call it "flying", but you get the idea). Getting it to do it requires somewhat of a different technique which becomes apparent when you try it on both canopies but knowing the difference, you can kind of practice stalling it and backing away. Almost.
Can't really think of any other benefits.
If anything, jumping this "almost like BASE canopy" setup gave me somewhat of a false sense of confidence. I practices "turn around" drills on it till my head was spinning but when I eventually opened into a cliff and did exactly the same thing on a Flick that I practised on a Triathlon 210, the Flick would not turn quick enough, resulting in a brush with a cliff (I still turned it 90 degrees, but clipped the rock -- no injuries, but very, very painful and uncomfy experience). I suppose that was better than nothing because if I would have hit head on, I probably would not be here. So there is your anecdotal benefits assessment :)
For me personally, I would have been better off doing an off-heading avoidance course on a bridge vs. self-learning using a Triathlon. But that's me and my mindset and learning ability might be different to yours. For me, in order to learn turning a canopy, I need to dissect the process into tiny segments and have precise understanding of everything down to manufacturing techniques of the suspension lines. Other kids "just get it" by pulling on things -- I am not one of those.
And finally: there is a tool for every trade. If the only tool you have is a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail :) S/D canopies are for jumping out of planes and BASE canopies are for BASE :) Get whatever is fun for you in the sky and just do lots of bridge jumps on a BASE canopy to practice whatever it is you need to work on.
If you still want to try my monster, PM me!