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Rethinking Wing loading

Writer's picture: Travis JohnsonTravis Johnson



We have all been there, either rolling into an event and fingers crossed my weight is good for the event. For some it is not an issue at all, as a matter of fact a few donuts and a nice steak might take a few pounds out of that weight belt. For some though, it is watching the diet and going to the gym in hopes that we are good when its time to step on the scale. For those not familiar with wing loading it is your total exit weight divided by the square footage of the parachute. By total exit weight we mean everything you are exiting the plane with. Shirt, shoes, rig, cell phone (you best have that with you), helmet, road snacks, altimeter, etc. Basically everything you on your crw jump.


The wing loading range we have always been know to aim for is 1.3 - 1.35. Now the question is being asked, why should we be rethinking wing loading?


Well, it might be better to think of the 1.3 - 1.35 as the flight range instead of the range we should be showing up to events at. If we targeted our event wing loading to be around 1.28 this would be good to shoot for. Personally, I want to be between 1.25 and 1.28. The thought behind showing up at 1.28 is now am lighter than the 1.3 to 1.35 flight range and I can throw some lead on and be anywhere in that range that the organizers are going to require and will be able to fly any slot needed. Where on the flip side of this, if we show up at 1.35 the slots we can actually fly are very limited and if we show up over 1.35 we might be asked if we have a larger canopy to jump.


For reference here is a 160 wing loading range:

WL: 1.25 Exit Weight: 200

WL: 1.26 Exit Weight: 201.6

WL: 1.27 Exit Weight: 203.2

WL: 1.28 Exit Weight: 204.8

WL: 1.29 Exit Weight: 206.4

WL: 1.30 Exit Weight: 208

WL: 1.35 Exit Weight: 216


As we see in the range for a 160, we show up to an event at 1.28 or 204.8 pounds exit weight we are 3.2 pounds from entering the 1.3 fight range. This will give us the ability to not starve ourselves at an event, and joy some decent food without going crazy. We basically have room to breath if we are targeting to show up at the 1.28 loading or in my case 1.25 to 1.28.


Why is being 1.35 or high an issue? Well as we increase wing loading we also increase performance and by performance we mean forward speed. In addition, as we increase wing loading we also descend faster. This becomes a problem when we start out driving the formation and pulling down on the formation making it heavy. When the formation starts to get heavy it can start to sink making it hard for the formation to fly healthy and for others to dock on it.


Typically, the heavy crw dogs get stuck at the bottom of the formation and on the center line where they can cause the least damage. Even then, we have seen formations funnel due to a center line being too heavy.


It can get pretty easy to identify if someone is heavy. Typically you feel it on your feet, but also if you have ever been number 2 or 3 and the person opposite of you is heavy you end up with a sore arm due to the amount of trim needed to make it fly right. Another sign that someone is heavy might them coming down from most jumps and continually commenting on how floaty the formation is, it might actually be that they might be a bit heavy. We have heard all of the excuse when it comes to wing loading. If those bad bad organizers would actually get a scale that works I wouldn't be over weight, its odd the scales pretty much work for everyone else. I work 12 hours a day and cannot eat health my only option is the vending machine, well meal prep is a thing.

I am not hear to tell you to go on a diet, go to the gym or any of that. That is a choice we have to make for our own selves. What I am saying is that if you own a lightning and are too heavy to fly it, you might consider getting the next size up. This will improve your opportunity to fly.


Be aware at events you may be asked to fly the next size up, and there might even be a canopy you could borrow or rent from someone. If you are asked to upsize, that might be your only way to fly at the event.


In the end, we are each responsible for our wing loadings and know what is expected of us. We just wanted to give you some information to think on in regards to wing loading.


See you at the scales!

Travis Johnson

Raw Dog 19

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1 comentario


dsb34953
25 ene

We now have a calibrated medical scale so the numbers are "right." It premiered at the November 2024 event and will be available at Spring Fling and again in November 2025. As a matter of fact, your ground support has purchased another one that will be located in an area where you all can fiddle with your weights and get it right before coming to the official check-in/weigh in table to record your wind loading on your magnet. Thanks Travis for some nice info.

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© The Raw Dogs, LLC 2024. The contents of this site are entirely based on the views of The Raw Dogs, LLC and should not be considered suitable for any purpose whatsoever. Sport parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in serious injury or death. CRW is extra non-advisable. You'd have to be mad to think this is a good idea. Absolutely bonkers.

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