7/27/2019 The Size of Skydiving Parachutes.docx

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The Size of Skydiving Parachutes

Comments Apr 8, 2011 | By Linda Tarr Kent Linda Tarr Kent is a reporter and editor with 20 years'

experience at Gannett Company Inc., The McClatchy Company, Sound Publishing Inc., Mach Publishing,

MomFit The Movement and other companies. Her area of expertise is health and fitness. She is a Bosu

fitness and stand-up paddle surfing instructor. Tarr Kent holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from

Washington State University.

Skydiving is an equipment-intensive sport. You need a jumpsuit, helmet and -- of course -- a parachute.

The canopy size of a skydiving parachute will largely determine how fast you descend once you jump

from the airplane. In general, the larger your canopy is, the more slowly you'll descend and the softer

your landing will be.

Tandem

If you are learning to skydive, you'll likely use a tandem parachute that is designed for a student who is

attached to an instructor. The instructor will have a main parachute and a reserve parachute, which are

similar in size. Typically, a tandem chute has a surface area of 350 to 500 square feet. The parachute is

rectangular in shape.

Solo

When you jump solo, the canopy size for your parachute is based on your exit weight, which is your

weight plus the weight of your gear. This typically adds 20 to 25 lbs. However, there's no standard

formula for choosing a canopy size, and different manufacturers will have different recommendations

for the maximum exit weight of their parachutes, even though they may be the same size. Manufacturer

recommendations on size vary by the parachute design as well. For example, one manufacturer's

smallest recommended canopy is 190 square feet if you have an exit weight of 133 lbs. or less and are a

student. If you're a novice jumper, you can use the same-sized canopy if you have an exit weight of 209

lbs. or less. With another canopy, the manufacturer's smallest recommended size for a student is 170

square feet, which is good for an exit weight of 119 lbs. or less. If you are a novice, the maximum

recommended exit weight is 127.5 lbs. for the same-sized canopy.

It's important to follow the manufacturer's recommendation for the parachute's maximum weight. It's

equally important to consider your expertise level -- larger parachutes descend more slowly and are

easier to make landings with, notes skydiving instructor Scott Miller in a 2001 Skydiving magazine

article. As a general rule of thumb, when you downsize, go down one size at a time and make numerous

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jumps with each new size before you progress. Also, don't confuse maximum weight for a parachute

canopy with recommended weight. A canopy with a maximum weight of 190 lbs., for example, can be

used by a 130-lb. person, but not a 200-lb. person.

Experts

Equipment that expert skydivers use is often smaller and lighter than the gear that newer skydivers

utilize. Expert skydivers use parachutes that range in size from 80 square feet to 200 square feet. As

with those learning, the expert divers use parachute sizes that are based on weight. However, some

experts use parachutes that are small for their weight to gain a faster descent.

Considerations

Canopy design will have an impact on how your parachute performs. Two parachutes with canopies of

the same size will perform differently if they have trims, airfoils or other design elements that are

dissimilar. The canopy shape will change performance as well, with semi-elliptical designs typically being

more responsive than rectangular designs. Fabric type can also be a factor.