Canopy Airspeed
dmeyer@ti-csl
> Again, the key is airspeed; so stay outta those brakes near the ground,
> OK? I usually approach the target at about 1/4 brakes, and flare when I am
> 3 to 4 seconds from touchdown.
>
> *
> / \
> |---/---\---| Ken Scofield C-9355
> | Gone | Hewlett-Packard PCD
> | Jumpin' | Corvallis, OR
> |-----------|
> {ucbvax!hplabs, harpo, ogcvax}!hp-pcd!kas
Hello Ken,
That was a good piece about about hanging under a canopy. But I
wanted to discuss the airspeed issue. I agree totally that you don't
want to be in 3/4 or greater breakes on landing approach (unless
you're doing accuracy shots), as there would be a tendency for the
canopy to stall with small changes in surrounding airspeed. But on
those bumpy/gusty/unpredictable days, I don't think that you really
want to be in full glide. In full glide, those gusts would have a
tendency make your canopy surge/stall and basically get you rocking.
It's for this reason that squares are packed to open with half brakes,
to minimize canopy surge, etc. I would recommend half brakes on those
weird days -- it will recover from those changing airspeeds with a
minimum of surging. If necessary, you can land without flaring on
those windy days -- just hold those half brakes. With all that wind,
you won't have much ground speed anyway. Actually, when I was
training for squares, we weren't allowed to flare until the 3rd square
jump. The landings were not tip-toe, but were stand-upable.
Now, on those no-wind days when the ground speed makes ya think
that yer going down-wind, or when there are easy and predictable
winds, I whole-heartedly grab for all the canopy speed I can drum up
on landing approach. Then, I have half a chance to get a good enough
flare to slow that hummer down and make a nice tippy toe landing. I
recall my first real no-wind landing where I thought slower was better
(came in with about half brakes). There must still be a skid mark on
my hiney for that caper ...
=========================================================================
Dane Meyer Texas Instruments
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