Canopy piloting - A personal analysis of progress under canopy, by Greg Crozier

Recently, serious accidents have led the F.F.P. to put restrictions on the use of high performance canopies used for canopy piloting. This discipline of sport parachuting implies knowing and mastering this equipment perfectly so that it involves the most critical moment of a parachute jump, i.e. the landing!

These canopies are not dangerous, but since their flight speed range is much higher, they should be reserved for a specific profile of skydivers. I agree with Dedric HOURDE, former competitor and representative of Performance Designs: "A canopy is a tool. A tool is not necessarily dangerous in itself: it is rather the misuse of it, and the lack of skill/experience."

In 2012 and 2013, I participated in the French Canopy Piloting "Swoop" Championship
With 45 training jumps in this discipline over 2 years, plus the 18 competition jumps, my best performance in JVX75 charged at 2.55 (which in retrospect was too much for this canopy):

Accuracy: 77
Speed: 2'8 seconds (4th place)
Distance: 94 meters

In 2014, a new era will begin for skydivers around the world.

In 2012, the first high-performance sails appear: The Petra and the Peregrine. Then, these 2 main manufacturers have created the Leia and Valkyrie. These are the versions adapted to skydivers who freefall on conventional jumps before opening their canopy.
In 2014, it is finally possible to buy these Class 6 canopies even if you are not a competitor in Canopy Piloting. It's a privilege to have such a cutting-edge equipment on the market and it's a new page turning for our sport. The shape of these sails is completely different from the other 5 classes of sails, as well as their reactions.

For the curious, here are the differences between the leia and the Valkyrie, compared to the models created in the first place exclusively for competition:

• The fabric first. On the lower and upper surface it is identical to all the sails you already know and use. This is essential so that they can be left folded for several days. Yes, the fabric of the Petra and Peregrine is "Full Sail", so very thick. It offers an amazing lift but is very difficult to fold and should not be left in POD for several days.
•  The openings. In addition to the less constraining fabric to manage, it was important to propose a less demanding opening sequence. So the builders made these sails with 7 cells instead of 9 cells with a thicker profile. The speed on trajectory is slightly less important but the two following parameters are greatly improved:
  • Opening more easily guaranteed "centered" since the canopy is less reactive to the mini asymmetries of Pod exit/airing and of the parachutist. The behavior of the canopy is also more permissive for all piloting interventions, from the opening phase to the landing.
  • Opening in terminal speed without any problem. Although possible with the Petra and Peregrine, it is clearly strongly discouraged by the manufacturers. Just like paraglider wings, these wings are designed for high performance flying as a priority and not to withstand the shock of terminal speed launches.
• The posers. Even if everyone always wants more, it would be a mistake to constantly land with a Petra or a Valkyrie elsewhere than on a dedicated area: Pond + tub, or fine grass, would be a mistake. If you jump over a desert every day, it's possible. If it is not the case, it is a risk taking a little too big in my opinion.

I hope this article and my mini-experiment will serve you well.