Canopy class refers to the performance level of a parachute and its appropriateness for your skill level and/or chosen discipline. The main things that affect this are shape, size and control sensitivity.
Understanding the shape of a wing and its taper ratio is important here…confused? Don’t worry we’re going to explain!
Basically every canopy JYRO (previously NZA) makes is elliptical, so calling them semi-elliptical or fully elliptical is outdated. What matters is how tapered a canopy is and we know this using the taper ratio. This indicates the size of the end rib (tip chord) in comparison to the centre rib (middle chord). The diagram below should help explain it.
Now you know how we get the taper ratio, let's break some down.
The Safire 3 has a taper ratio of 0.8, which simply means the tip chord is 0.8 (or 80%) of the middle chord and classifies it as slightly tapered. At the other end of the scale, Petra has a taper ratio of 0.4, which means the tip chord is 0.4 (or 40%) of the middle chord and classifies it as highly tapered.
From this we can see, the lower the number, the more tapered the canopy is. To help explain, check out the infographic below.
SPORTS WINGS
Sports wings are home to your entry level beginner wing, the confident intermediate pilots fun-machine, and some specialty canopies like wingsuiting specific parachutes. The things they (should) have in common are kind, reliable openings, relatively short recovery arcs, and they tend to have cheaper price tags.
BEGINNER WINGS
If you’re buying your first canopy, this is where you start, no questions asked. Some pilots even choose to stay on these for most of their time in the sport.
The square/low taper ratio planform shape means that openings are on heading and you’re less likely to have twists or the canopy be affected by your body position and movements. The canopy isn’t too sensitive. They’re forgiving and docile for the most part - depending on what exact wing you go for will affect the level of responsiveness and pizazz - but we’re going for little-to-none here! This wing’s sole purpose is to take care of its pilot while you empty your luck bucket and fill up your experience bucket.
Their primary purpose is to get you to the ground safely and they have the following characteristics:
- Square/low taper ratio (lightly elliptical)
- Larger sizes
- Slower general flight
- Slower landings
- More docile control inputs
- More reliable openings
- Low malfunction rate
- Cheaper price tags
Canopies in this class include: Air, Safire 3, Safire 2, Sabre 1, 2 and 3, Pilot, S-Fire, Nexus, Echo
Check out our YouTube Playlist: The Beginner Series for tips for beginner skydivers.
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED WINGS
When you’re starting to get bored of your Beginner class canopy, your landings are crazy consistent, you can do all the exercises on 7 Things to do before you downsize (under coach supervision), and your coach/DZSO/every experienced pilot on the DZ is screaming at you to get a wing with a bit more performance, it might be time to consider stepping it up to an intermediate wing.
These wings tend to have the ability to have a higher wing loading than those mentioned prior, making them more advanced in their flight characteristics. The smaller you go in this class, the more high performance these wings become, so these are the canopies you will begin your baby swoops on if that’s your thing.
At higher loadings, they’ll come alive for your first 90’s and 270’s, have plenty of power in the rears, while being (a little) more forgiving than crossbraced wings. But let us be clear, they still deserve your utmost respect, these are not toys!
Generally, it’s wise to be nearing the 500 jump/1.5 wingload (wl) mark before you consider your first Intermediate/medium taper ratio wing, but there are exceptions to that. For instance, small/light people might transition onto a medium taper ratio wing with a lighter than recommended wingloading if their jump numbers and experience dictate.
They have the following characteristics:
- Low to medium taper ratio (semi to fully elliptical)
- Medium to smaller sizes
- Faster general flight
- Steeper descent
- Faster landings
- More responsive control inputs
- Slightly higher rate of malfunction
- Able to have a higher wing loading
- Mid tier price tags
Canopies in this class include: Crossfire 3, Crossfire 2, Katana, X-Fire, Gangsta
WINGSUIT SPECIFIC CANOPIES & 7-CELLS
Wingsuiters! You guys are after consistent openings and less chance of line twists, are we right?! Not something that’s highly tapered and swoops-for-miles (chances are you’d be cutting that thing away regardless of experience level!). There are some 7-cells that are general purpose forgiving wings, and some that are marketed as being wingsuit specific - either way, these are safe, on-heading, no hassle canopies with the following characteristics:
- Square/Low taper ratio (lightly elliptical)
- Larger sizes
- Slower general flight
- Slower landings
- More docile control inputs
- Opening focused design for more reliable openings
- Low malfunction risk
- Less aggressive malfunctions
- Cheaper price tags
Canopies in this class include: Kraken, Epicene, Storm, Pulse
Check out Julien talking about the Kraken on his way to the airport.
HIGH PERFORMANCE WINGS
These are the wings for pilots ready to step it up and become more performance focused; starting high performance turns, adding in rotation, learning to swoop, all the way to pond-dragging Nirvana (mmmmmm).
They are more responsive, faster and have a longer recovery arc. And with the extra performance, these canopies tend to come a higher price tag. This is also the first stage in your progression that you may fly a crossbraced wing.
So what's the difference between non-crossbraced and crossbraced canopies? Check out the infographic below for a short summary of the differences.
Have a watch of our Test Jumper Chris explaining crossbraced canopies in our old factory.
ENTRY LEVEL CROSSBRACED
Don’t let the term 'Entry Level' throw you off, these are crossbraced flying machines that have much higher performance than all the previous classes. These are suitable as your first crossbraced canopy, but in the right hands these beasts have the power to carry you across the landing area or swoop a pond at death-defying rates.
These canopies fly faster, further and more efficiently, making them suited to jumpers who have the experience, skill and are jumping regularly. If you’re in this class, then you are not starting your swooping journey, but are well into it. You’ll already be doing at least 90-degree turns on your Advanced medium tapered sports wing, using rears to plane out, and looking to start bigger turns.
These canopies have the following characteristics:
- Medium taper ratio (Fully elliptical)
- Generally no larger than 119 sq/ft
- Wing loadings of 1.9 and above
- Faster general flight
- Steeper descent
- Faster landings
- Much more responsive control inputs
- More sensitive to harness inputs and weight shift
- Slightly higher rate of malfunction
- Faster malfunctions
- Upper tier price tags
Canopies in this class include: JFX 2, JFX, Velocity, Helix
ADVANCED CROSSBRACED
These are the crossbraced everyday swoop machines. Everything is dialled up a level which means they’re only for highly experienced and skilled pilots. They fly faster, respond faster and of course land much faster than all previous classes. If you’re looking at this class of wing then you’re already swooping like a boss and looking to go further than before.
They have the latest technology and following characteristics:
- High taper ratio (Highly elliptical)
- Generally no larger than 99 sq/ft
- Wing loadings of 2.2 and above
- Much faster general flight
- Even steeper descent
- Much Faster landings
- Much more responsive control inputs
- Much more sensitive to harness inputs and weight shift
- Slightly higher rate of malfunction
- Faster malfunctions
- Less forgiving on sloppy packing and deployment
- Upper tier price tags
Canopies in this class include: Leia, Valkyrie, Airwolf 2, Wairwolf
Have a read of this article for tips on packing a Leia.
HYPER-PERFORMANCE WINGS (COMPETITION LEVEL CANOPIES)
These are the most advanced wings available - this class didn’t even exist 10 years ago! Think of them as the Formula 1 cars of the sky. Nothing flies faster or performs better than these canopies. These are the parachutes that break speed and distance world records, and allow your buddy to fly next to you…in a wingsuit…the wings that let you think you’re Maverick flying around inverted. They’re not for the faint-of-heart, un-current jumper, aspiring swooper, or pilot doing less than a 270-degree turn on landing.
They’re designed specifically for canopy flight and swooping competitions, and made from special materials to achieve the highest performance. If you’re not sure this is the class for you, then it probably isn’t.
- High taper ratio (Highly elliptical)
- No larger than 89 sq/ft
- Wing loadings of 2.5 and above
- Made from sail fabric
- The fastest flight available
- Steepest descent
- Fastest landings of any class
- The most responsive control inputs
- The most sensitive to harness inputs and weight shift
- Slightly higher rate of malfunction
- Built specifically for canopy flight
- Faster malfunctions
- Less forgiving on sloppy packing and deployment
- Highest price tags
Canopies in this class include: Petra,Peregrine, HK
Read Gonçalo Resende's review of our Queen Petra here.
Click here for the next article in our Buyer's Guide: Skydive Experience Level
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