mr2mk1g 10 #1 January 14, 2005 When PD released the Katana they said they would only release the 120 at first as they were not done testing any of the other sizes. Each size would require its specific tweaking that can only be done through testing those canopies. When you buy an Icarus canopy you have the option to buy any size you can come up with – even half sizes. They just scale each element of the canopy to match and the resultant canopy works just like any other size in the range. These two schools of thought would appear to directly contradict one another. What are your thoughts? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 January 14, 2005 QuoteThese two schools of thought would appear to directly contradict one another. What are your thoughts? My honest thought is that canopies don't scale well and generally need tweaking, so I stick to the standard sizes that have been jumped and jumped and jumped. Thus I have a standard size XF2, since even though I'm cautious to get a scaled canopy, I still like their product. I'm glad PD tests the shit out of everything, but I wish they'd hurry up...I want to demo a Katana 135.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #3 January 14, 2005 PD has a school of thought that says they want their 97's to fly as similar as can be expected to their 150's. Look at the Stiletto line. They are very consistant across the entire line. You are not going to find the 89 turning 2 times faster then a 170. Look at the trim charts for the Stiletto. The sizes are not perfect steps down between each size, they adjust the trim so that they all open the same, and they fly as close to each other as possible. My understanding of Icarus is they test and design a few major sizes then they scale based off of those designs. Their 158 flies similar to how the 149 does, but not exactly. They target their regular sizes so they all fly very similar, but all the scaled sizes are custom and slightly different. So the 149 might have wonderful openings, but a 162 might have slightly different openings since something is not designed and custom adjusted to make it perfect. Then there are companies out there that design canopies based one or two sizes and just scale up and scale down based on that one working design. The largest canopies do not fly the same as the smallest at the same loading. These companies market the largest sizes towards beginners and the smallest at experienced pilots. Typically the middle of the road sized canopies are just that.... middle of the road in proformance too. If they target the middle canopies to be radical then the smallest ones would be super radical, and the largest sized ones would be way to aggressive for beginners. In my experience with scaled designs they usually all have some sort of bandaid in place to fix something that was'nt there on another sized canopy. I'm sure others have another opinion of scaled designs though.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #4 January 14, 2005 I think the Sabre supports your arguement. The 190 and the 210 (I think, it's the big ones) have that extra brake line thingy. It's not on the other sizes, so there must have been a difference when they made the big ones. As far as the Katana goes, after jumping one, I can see why their not in a big hurry to release the 135. It really performs at a much higher level than I had expected, and in truth, if you're not going to load it up a bit, there's no reason to be jumping it. As for the big guys, I guess you're out of luck. It's just like the Velo, 120 is the end of the line. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #5 January 14, 2005 QuoteIt really performs at a much higher level than I had expected, and in truth, if you're not going to load it up a bit, there's no reason to be jumping it. Hey screw you... QuoteAs for the big guys, I guess you're out of luck. Ah...right. Yeah, the 135 would be loaded at roughly 2.1:1 with me under it (not sure the weight of that canopy compared to my canopy now, what little difference in weight it might have, if any).--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #6 January 14, 2005 Hey now. I'm just callin' um like I see um. Just keep jumping hard, and in six months, jump the 120. The good news is, that when you love it, you can score a used one and save some cash. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
