Category C: Control Your Movement

Section 2: Canopy Flight

Understanding Wing Loading

Wing loading directly affects how your parachute flies. It's calculated by dividing your exit weight (body weight + gear) by your canopy's square footage.

The formula:

Estimating your exit weight:

For example, if you weigh 185 lbs, your exit weight is approximately 215 lbs.

Wing Loading Examples:

Student canopies are typically sized to achieve a wing loading around 0.7 to 0.9 — forgiving enough to allow for learning while still flying predictably. Notice the first three examples fall in this range. The fourth example (same 185 lb person on a 190 sq ft canopy) shows why downsizing too quickly is risky — that 1.13 wing loading flies significantly faster and is less forgiving of mistakes.

Why does a smaller canopy fly faster and respond quicker?

As canopy size decreases, so does line length. Shorter lines mean the pendulum effect (you swinging under the canopy) happens faster when you give input. There's also less fabric creating drag, so the canopy moves through the air more quickly.

• Higher wing loading (Jumper B): Faster forward speed, quicker turns, steeper descent. Requires more precise flare technique — and if something goes wrong, malfunctions tend to be more violent.
• Lower wing loading (Jumper A): Slower, more forgiving flight. More affected by wind, but more margin for error on landing and during malfunctions.

Manufacturer recommendations: Each canopy manufacturer publishes suggested exit weights for their models. These recommendations exist for a reason — jumping a canopy outside its recommended range increases risk, especially as you're learning.

Recognizing and Avoiding Turbulence

Turbulence is disturbed air that can affect your canopy's flight. The best strategy is avoidance.

Types of Turbulence:

• Mechanical Turbulence: Caused by wind flowing over obstacles (buildings, trees, hangars). Expect turbulence 10-20x the obstacle's height on the downwind side.
• Convective Turbulence: Rising warm air and sinking cool air, common on sunny days over heat-absorbing surfaces like asphalt or plowed fields.
• Wake Turbulence: Disturbed air behind aircraft or other canopies. If you're too close behind and above another parachute, your canopy can collapse.
• Wind Shear: A sudden change in wind speed or direction between altitudes, often felt as unexpected bumpiness during canopy flight.

If you encounter turbulence: Fly at full flight, use smooth toggle inputs, and be prepared for a hard landing with a PLF.

The Flight Cycle: What's New

In Category B, you learned about the flight cycle — your canopy's response to any input until it returns to stable flight.

Here's what's new: gusty or turbulent winds can trigger a flight cycle unexpectedly, causing your canopy to dive just before you flare. If this happens, your flare will be less effective unless you respond forcefully.

Adjusting Your Landing Pattern for Wind

The shape of your landing pattern changes with wind strength. Understanding why helps you adapt on the fly.

In light winds: Your pattern will be wider and more square-shaped. You'll cover ground at a predictable rate in all directions.

In stronger winds:

• Downwind leg gets longer — the wind pushes you, so you cover more ground
• Base and final legs get shorter — you're flying into or across the wind, so you cover less ground
• Holding area moves upwind and feels narrower — you need to start further upwind to compensate for drift

Your instructor will help you read conditions and adjust, but start noticing how wind affects your ground track. This awareness becomes second nature with practice.

The Base-to-Final Turn: Why It's the Most Hazardous

The turn from base to final approach is when collision risk is highest. Here's why:

Imagine two jumpers — one flying a left-hand pattern, one flying a right-hand pattern. As they both turn onto final, they're turning toward each other while simultaneously getting closer to the ground. Less altitude means less time to react.

This is why clear turns matter. Always look before you turn, maintain separation from other canopies, and fly predictably.

Continuous vs. Staged Flares

You may notice experienced jumpers landing differently than you've been taught.

• Continuous flare: One smooth motion from full flight to full flare (~3 seconds). This is what most students use.
• Staged flare: A two-part motion — pause partway to let the canopy level out, then finish. Requires more precise timing.

Both convert forward speed into lift. For now, focus on your continuous flare. You'll learn the staged technique in Category E.