Understanding your Canopy

There’s no doubt that when you’re in the air, your canopy is the most important piece of equipment you have. It’s what allows you to enjoy a scenic glide to the ground, instead of crashing towards it at alarming speeds. So before you strap on your pack, you really should take the time to fully understand your canopy.

The chute you will be flying with is most likely a canopy, a rectangular-shaped chute made from cells of inflated air. These are huge improvements on the balloon-style chutes that were first used in the sport. The canopy uses an angle of incidence, which is built right into the canopy and consists of two lines: the lines in the front, shaped like an “A”, which are short; and the lines in the back, shaped like a “D”, which are longer. These lines cause the canopy to descend down and slightly forwards.

The toggles on a canopy can be used to slow the chute down or to turn it. To slow down and turn right, you pull on the right toggle, which causes the back right corner of the canopy to be pulled down slightly. It’s important to remember when you are making any turns with your canopy, that it will always cause you to fall faster than when you are just gliding alone. Forgetting this can cause you to turn or land far too quickly and is the biggest reason for parachute injuries.

However, pulling down on both toggles at the same time will result in the canopy sloping slightly downward and the entire chute will begin to slow down. Normally chutes are flown ‘toggles up’ so that the maximum amount of air can pass through it and you can get a great dive! Experienced skydivers will sometimes fly ‘toggles down’ and may even completely stall their canopy in mid-air but for those who don’t know what they’re doing, this should not be attempted and the movement is actually restricted on most student canopies.

Which helmet should you choose?

One of the most vital pieces of equipment in skydiving is the helmet that you wear. Not only does it protect your head in the event of a bumpy landing but it also protects your eyes and ears from the wind that will be rushing past them. When buying a first helmet, it’s best to talk to a number of people who are heavily involved in the sport to see what brands and styles feel the most comfortable and what the different features are of some of the most popular helmets.

When it comes to the type of helmet that is worn, it is really the wearer’s preference. Most skydiving helmets are a simple helmet with a chin strap and the face is left open with goggles that are attached to the helmet to protect the eyes. Another type of helmet is one where there are no goggles because the front consists of an entire clear plastic face shield. Some skydivers prefer this type of helmet because the lack of goggles means that the view is completely unobstructed and those who wear glasses may also find the full-face helmets more comfortable.

The most important thing to remember when looking for a skydiving helmet is to remember that safety comes first, comfort is second, and price is third. This is simply one area where you can’t skimp on the price!

The Benefits of Ram-air Inflated Canopies

When skydiving first moved from being something that was done as military action only to an exciting and extreme sport, those who were doing it for fun were restricted to using equipment and designs that were based on those of the military. However, as the sport has grown, new innovations have allowed better equipment for those who are using it for recreational purposes and one of these innovations is the Ram-air inflated canopy parachutes. These are much different than the heavy, round balloon parachutes that weigh almost forty pounds and have a much higher failure rate than the new designs. Novices may recognize the Ram-air canopies for their modern, rectangular design while experienced skydivers will tend to turn more towards these types of parachutes due to how easy they are to maneuver and how much safer and lighter they are than the old military-style chutes. Out of all the skydiving equipment that should be updated in anyone’s gear, this is certainly at the top of the list.

Wear a Suitable Suit

Experienced jumpers that wish to perform many different (and difficult) tricks in the air generally prefer a freeflying suit due to their lightweight material that makes attempting such tricks much easier. They are made from a mixture of cotton and polyester. RW jumping suits are usually made from spandex and nylon, which not only provide for more drag and lift but also make the inexperienced jumper feel more secure as there are grips where the controls and chute will be attached.

It’s important to find the suit that’s right for you and to ensure that you have tried it on before jumping out of any plane! The right suit is just as important as the right chute when it comes to your safety!

What is that Chute Made of?

Before anyone attempts skydiving, they should first get well acquainted with their parachute as this is literally their lifeline as they are falling through the air. Not only must one know how to open their chute but they should also have a good idea of what it’s made of.

Silk was the first material that was used to make parachutes and with the arrival of World War II, the chutes changed to nylon, which made them more durable than the silk that was previously used. Today a substance known as Dacron is generally used in the making of parachutes. It’s interesting to know that food containers and the sails found on boats are also made from this synthetic material. This material is not only very strong but it has proven to be especially wind-resistant, which will keep you in relatively the same place as you feel the wind against your face and your chute. Spectra is another material that is used to make parachutes and this material is actually fifteen times stronger than steel…which can make you feel extremely secure when you’re up in the air! One more material that is used to make chutes is Vectran, which has a special capability of standing up against strong temperatures and moisture.

The needs of the skydiver are taken into consideration when selecting a material for parachutes. Techonology is always make advancements so there will be no end to the improvements and modifications that will be made to the chutes that are already so useful!