JumpRu 14 #26 August 3, 2005 >I like the lotus better, stronger flair more precise >turns (but maybe a tiny bit slower turn rate) I think turn rate is mostly depends on break line length. If you make them 1-2 inches shorter\longer you will immediately see big change on how your canopy turns. So i don't think that Lotus turns slower then Sabre2 it most likely just have different toggle settings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pendragon 1 #27 August 3, 2005 QuotePilot is a better intermediate/wingsuit canopy. I have a Pilot 150 that I use for wingsuit and bigway jumps. I'd like to reiterate that. I've had a bad packjob (possibly compounded with bad body position ) open with umpteen (>9) line twists when jumping wingsuit. The canopy just flew level and stable until I'd kicked them out. No diving. I'm jumping a Pilot 150 @ 1.35 lbs/sqft and have put nearly 300 jumps on mine. Openings have been consistant - never slammed - and on heading (sloppy packing aside...) I've been learning to swoop on it as well, although front riser pressure is high and the recovery arc is short. Overall, it's a nice docile canopy that won't ever really frighten you. It dives less than a Sabre 2 in turns, so in that respect, is safer for the novice. Oh, and the Pilot is probably cheaper than the Safire2/Sabre2 (one reason why I bought mine)-- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Praetorian 1 #28 August 3, 2005 Pack is SLIGHTLY bigger than a sabreII (not as much as the 10% often quoted in my opinion) on dry days especially when its BRAND NEW the slippery of the ZP combind with the air locks keeping more air can make it a little slower to pack as you need spend more effort getting as much of the air out as you would a non airlocked. packs just like any other 9cell normal pro pack. Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #29 August 3, 2005 [pathetic whiny comment]But the name 'Pilot', even if it may be the best overall, just sounds so...mundane, while Sabre2 and Safire2 sound so much more sexy![/whiny comment] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Praetorian 1 #30 August 3, 2005 ok I'll give you that "Lotus" even when called the "Lotus MAX or Lotus Eagle trim" may not sound as butch as Sabre Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #31 August 3, 2005 just always picture the car instead of the flower. Can definitely outrun a guy wielding a heavy sword. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joellercoaster 6 #32 August 4, 2005 I think "Lotus" is a very cool name. In fact I'm going to refer to my Pilot as "Lotus" anyway. Or maybe "Tim". Although, you just cannot go past "Jedei" in the cool canopy model name stakes, can you? I mean, what's cooler than that? Unless you go to ninjas and pirates, but that's just too obvious. (I guess there's probably a joke in there about Jedei and Sabre, but it's too early in the morning and I'm just not that funny anyway.)-- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #33 August 4, 2005 Sure. That's not a perfect name for a perfect canopy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #34 August 4, 2005 Quote Although, you just cannot go past "Jedei" in the cool canopy model name stakes, can you? I mean, what's cooler than that? So did the army of Jedi lawyers come storming in when Brian picked that name? Yep, no one will ever beat that name. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joellercoaster 6 #35 August 4, 2005 BG: "No, sorry LucasArts. By a total coincidence, we named our canopy in a way pronounced identically to your intellectual property with connotations of unspeakable coolness and agility to an entire generation (who are now skydiving like no generation before them). BUT, it's actually a complete coincidence. See? It's spelled differently." Lawyers: "Oh. OK." -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chopchop 0 #36 August 4, 2005 I've got about 260 jumps on my Pilots so far this year.. I like them. Soft openings, nice swoops, I can hang in brakes, get back from a long spot on my rears.. It's a very forgiving canopy even at a 1.9 plus:1 wingloading.. If solid and predictable is mundane, that is the Pilot.. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #37 August 4, 2005 QuoteI've got about 260 jumps on my Pilots so far this year.. I like them. Soft openings, nice swoops, I can hang in brakes, get back from a long spot on my rears.. It's a very forgiving canopy even at a 1.9 plus:1 wingloading.. If solid and predictable is mundane, that is the Pilot.. Thanks. I think I will demo a Pilot at the Byron Boogie - furthering my financially irrational thinking (since I only have about 80 jumps and just got my first used starter rig and have no many, hence irrational). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
feuergnom 29 #38 August 30, 2005 so i had the chance to demo the pilot the other weekend and add some cents in comparing pilots to nitros: openings: qicker than the nitro i jump but still soft flight: i didn't feel any dramatic differences on the 131 but the smaller one 124 was definitely some canopy. turning the canopy by shifing my weight was easy - some thing the nitro 135 doesn't do so easily. thats some thing to consider when landing - a shift in weight will make you land in a slight turn. front & rear risers: as i am not into swooping all i can say: they work quite easily and don't do anything to be afraid of packing: i don't care which kind of fabric i have to pack - they all go into the bag easily, that said: nitros pack like a dream if i didn't own a canopy the choice would be hard. pilot 124 feels sportier than the nitro 135. so i guess i'd still take the nitro btw: props to arnold collanteur from aerodyne for making thgings happen in the czech republic!The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle dudeist skydiver # 666 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linc_harris 0 #39 August 30, 2005 Couldn't have said it better myself chopchop. The Pilot has it all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #40 August 30, 2005 I jumped Aaron's rig (Icon) with a Pilot 150 Saturday at Byron. All I can say is smoooooooth. It was responsive and very smooth. The glide was a lot flatter than my old Sabre (as GravityGirl warned me). I especially noticed on landind, as I'm used to my Sabre, but I was still able to stand it up easily. It made a great first impression. Back to my original point and the Nitron.. Now just a distant memory. My WL was only around 0.9 with the 170 I jumped, so I can't say much, but now I know that it is a higher performance canopy in general. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fffff 0 #41 September 1, 2005 Go for the Pilot you will not be sorry! ------------------------------------------------ NIL VOLENTIBUS ARDUUM. (nothing is difficult for those who really want it) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #42 September 1, 2005 Pilot`s pilots unite ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #43 September 1, 2005 Whatever I choose, it will be over 6 months from now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
