Source
r/SkyDiving•
base615

Valkyrie pilots - did you size down from a Velo or keep the same size? Would you make the same choice again?

Currently on a VC84 at 2.5wl (second Velo after previously being on a 96) and I’m going to order a VK with a view to jumping it after Nationals in March. I have access to jump a VK84 but not a 79 and it’s difficult to get a demo here in Aus so I’m in two minds which size to order.

I’m just wondering what other’s experiences were when moving to the VK. Did you downsize and are happy with your choice, stay the same and happy with your choice, stay the same and wish you’d downsized, etc.

For context, I almost exclusively do CP and about 400 H&Ps per year. I compete in the Open category although, given I’m in with some of the world’s best on tiny Petra’s, HKs and Peregrines, I’m definitely well down the pecking order and not competing for a podium. That said though, I’m not really asking what you think I should do but more asking about your experience with hitch may or may not factor into how I make up my own mind.

Posted Aug 31, 2023, 1:14 PM UTC

116
Freeflyer18D license•

As a Leia pilot, downsize. You won’t regret it.

3
base615OP•

Seems to be where the consensus it.

1
Freeflyer18D license•

I was slightly hesitant at first too, but the efficiency of the wing and how much more solid it is, you really will understand once you get current why the higher w/l’s are, dare I say, encouraged. The better openings are just the icing on the cake too…

1
JustAnotherDude1990Femur Inn Concierge (TI, AFF-I)•

I downsized going to mine. The VK is a great canopy that I personally just feel safer one due to the predictable and forgiving openings alone.

1
No_Desk_3147•

Went from a VC90 to a VK84, should have gotten a 79 with hindsight. Only thing that I had to get used to was being quicker and more consistent while housekeeping after opening. It's a lot faster in brakes and way more sensitive on the harness, but nothing you won't get the hang of in 10 to 20 jumps if you are comfortable on the VC.

1
DQFLIGHT3•

I would downsize. I went from a velo96 to a vk96 when they first came out, it felt like I upsized.

1
frickflyerSwoop•

Everyone I know on VC84 went to VK75

1
labarrski•

Came here to say this. OP, did you go from VC96 to VC84, and if so, did you do so because you jumped the VC 90 and it was kind of an odd size? Personal opinion, i feel like the VK79 is really steep and fast, but doesnt have the range that the VK84 has or the rears for dayz that the VK75 has...if youve never jumped the 79, maybe try super hard to jump that and the 75 before buying.
Or try an AW2 🤘

1
Blue_Skies_66•

At high WL 2.6+, the VK will have a bit of mushy hears. The Leia will have very positive rears input at the same WL range. I haven't jumped the AW2, so I can't compare it to it. It comes down to how you like to fly it.

1
Tiger__Fucker•

AW2 71 pilot here, feel free to ask questions.

1
base615OP•

Interesting. I do have a mate with a 75 so that’s a possibility, it’s the 79 I’m struggling to find despite them being a dime a dozen on gear sales groups so they must be out there. I actually never jumped the VC90, I was going to order one and my coach told me to just get an 84 so I skipped the size without trying. In retrospect, I found 96 to 84 VC to fly quite different.

1
madkiwiNZ Aerosports•

If you’re in aus hit up Josh or Matty for a Leia demo, you won’t be disappointed!

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Red_Danger33•

I normally jump a VC96 and have a friend with a Leia 89 that let's me jump it from time to time and I've never been able to like it.

1
base615OP•

I was going to ask Matty for the demo 86 they have, he just didn’t have them at Farm last week. Will see what other sizes he has. TBH, always been a PD guy but I’m definitely getting the peer pressure lol

1
madkiwiNZ Aerosports•

It’s not just peer pressure haha, Leia is really that good! Definitely less dive than a VK(I’ve flown both) but more power in the rears, goes further and just feels ‘sharper’ if that makes sense. I’ve heard people complain about the shorter dive than the vk, but when swooping do you want to go further down, or along the ground? I know my choice!

1
base615OP•

Yeah, I mean peer pressure from all the Leia guys. No doubt it’s a great canopy.

1
westhermSummerfest•

I went from a JFX 89 to a VK 84.

1
Magnum_classic•

I have had the same canopy size progression as you and went for a VK79 from VC84. I also do almost only CP and did around 250 jump per year when I switched to VK. My CP canopy progression was Sabre2 170, Sabre2 135, Katana 120, Velo 96, VC 84, VK 79, Petra 69. Down until VC 84, with every change I felt that what I was trying to accomplish got easier with change. Going to the VK has been the biggest step for me so far, and set be back quite a lot. Did not feel any other canopy changes effected my performance as much as the switch to the VK. I’m not sure it would have been better with a VK84. It’s just a very different canopy from the VC. I think I would have been too bored in a 84 or at least felt that it was holding me back. I was borrowing smaller VKs at times, not long after I switched, which obviously gave better performance and it wasn’t a problem for me once I was over the transition. After getting to know the VK and how to fly that kind of canopy the transition to the Petra has once again been problem free. I should note that I have been getting a whole lot of prober coaching along the way.

1
base615OP•

Thanks all, appreciate all the input. In the end I’ve ordered a 79 so will see how it goes.

1
Skydiveforlife•

From Velo 84 went to VK 79 PS..the to a VK 75 PS with 23” risers and higher brake rings. Perfect for sports jumps, camera jumps, aff and good swoops. WL 2.6

1
ABlack58518 Years in sport, 2600+ Skydives, 2.8 wingloading, •

I was on Katana 107 then to a VC 90 and transitioned to a VK79 Hybrid. The Hybrid felt larger than a ZP. They are a great canopy, but I dunno if I'd recommend a progression from something like a katana to a VK just because the VC will teach you a ton about the corner and Xbrace in general. I took alot of time on each canopy and jumped sizes between but I am like you, very anti corner.

1
base615OP•

Yeah, seems a lot more of people in the states are going straight to a VK these days. I’m very glad I spent time on a couple of Velos first

1
base615OP•

For anyone interested in the future, I received my VK79 and got my first 10 jumps on it this weekend. Definitely feels like the right step. Early days and I have just over a second to trim off my rollout (harness 630 from 1500 this weekend) but it’s just an epic wing. Harness input is superb without being twitchy, rears are super powerful. The only thing that I can see taking me a little while to get used to is the sensitivity of the toggles.

1