Icarus NANO 106, Owner'S Manual

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OWNERS MANUAL
01 . 01 . 18 V 01
Page 14 of 36 ICARUS_NANO_01.01.18 V01 Owners Manual Letter
ICARUS Canopies, S.L. / ICARUS Canopies, Inc. - Copyright 2018 © - www.icarusworld.net
This document has no contractual value and in some cases the descriptive content may contain inaccuracies
10.5. Permitted Wing Loadings
Wing loading can be calculated as follows:
The jumper’s total exit weight is the total weight, in pounds, of the jumper’s body plus the
weight of all the jumper’s equipment, including the
parachute system itself (normally 20 – 30 pounds) and
any additional equipment such as helmets, cameras,
etc.
Wing loading is then determined by dividing the
jumper’s total exit weight (in pounds) by the surface
area of the parachute (in square feet).
Example:
- A jumper who weighs 170 lb wearing his jumpsuit,
helmet and altimeter;
- using a packed rig that weighs 25 pounds
The jumper will have an exit weight of 195 pounds.
If this jumper jumps a 169 sq. ft. canopy, he would have a wing loading of 1.15 pounds / square
foot: 195 lb / 169 ft
2
= 1.15 lb/ft²
A wing loading lower than 0.5 lbs/ft² is unsafe. In unstable atmospheric conditions such as
turbulence, such a wing loading may not allow for sufficient pressurization of the parachute.
Additionally, forward speed is reduced to the point that penetration into even light winds may
not be possible. Therefore, the wing loading range below 0.5 lb/ft² is NOT allowed.
A wing loading between 0.5 and 0.7 lb/ft² is considered a light wing loading. It is especially
recommended for low experienced jumpers. This wing loading may allow you to make small
mistakes, such as an early or late flare, without severe consequences. The parachute is still a
little bit sensitive to unstable atmospheric conditions, such as turbulence. In consideration of
this, even though other people might be jumping, this wing loading should not be considered
safe in unstable atmospheric conditions.
A wing loading in the range from 0.7 to1.1 lb/ft² is recommended for most jumpers. The
parachute will have the best overall performance within this range. This wing loading
establishes the best balance between properties like speed, flare power, reactivity, and
resistance to adverse atmospheric conditions.
A wing loading between 1.1 and 1.325 lb/ft² is ONLY allowed for very experienced jumpers who
are aware of the dangers associated with flying a highly loaded reserve parachute. Landing a
parachute with this wing loading requires a high skill level, especially in small landing areas, at
high density altitudes, or in congested traffic areas. At this wing loading, even with a fully
deployed parachute, being unconscious or making an error of judgment during landing can still
result in serious injury or even death.
A wing loading higher than 1.325 lb/ft² is unsafe because of the high descent rate even with a
fully deployed canopy. At this wing loading, the parachute cannot be expected to save your life