billvon 3,114 #1 September 18, 2006 I put a few jumps on a Neos 99, and liked it a lot. It's a partially cross braced canopy by Icarus that seems to fit the same niche as the Crossfire - a swoopable but well-behaved canopy that's pretty versatile. Openings were _very_ nice. It has that hunting feel of a small cross-braced, but 5 of 6 openings were dead on heading, and all openings were as soft as a Spectre's. (The other guy who tried it said he got spanked one time out of 30 but that might have been a fluke.) I didn't do much when I was packing it, just spread the slider and stuffed the nose a bit. (In fact I only packed 2 of them and the rest were packed by a local packer who didn't do anything unusual.) Once open, the Neos is _fast_, even with the brakes stowed. I assume this is partly due to the shallow brake settings. Leg turns are suprisingly fast with the brakes stowed. In that way it's similar to the Mamba, in that it's not all that stable before brakes are released. But unlike the Mamba it seems to do exactly what you tell it to do, and doesn't start turns on its own. I had no problems pulling booties off etc under canopy with the brakes stowed. With the brakes released the canopy sped up a bit (naturally.) Toggles are a bit heavy, but even moderate toggle deflection got you a screaming turn so it didn't matter much. Front riser pressure seemed similar to my Nitro (moderate.) Recovery arc from a 90-180 degree front riser hook was longer than the Nitro, shorter than the Katana. The brake lines were a bit short so I don't think I was seeing the full speed dive of the canopy in the initiation of the turn. Trim angle is steep, close to a Katana. That was the one thing I didn't like about it. Two long spots which would have been no problem under the Nitro resulted in me barely getting back under the Neos. However, I didn't try any mitigating tricks (like spreading the rear risers) so that may not be as big a deal once you get used to it. On landing the stroke is a little deeper than I'm used to, with more power in the bottom end. It was pretty easy to get my feet down and start sliding even on the one downwinder (about 5kts.) All in all a really nice canopy. I'd consider it as a main as long as I had another canopy (like the Nitro) I could take when I was worried about the spot; its only problem for me seems to be the trim angle, which probably isn't a problem for most people. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #2 September 18, 2006 thanks for this review Bill, how do YOU load the 99 ?scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,114 #3 September 18, 2006 >how do YOU load the 99 ? Just under 2:1. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #4 September 18, 2006 Is Noes an 11 cell platform? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,114 #5 September 18, 2006 >Is Noes an 11 cell platform? Well, if you go by the Xaos numbering scheme I suppose it's a 15 cell. Lines are rigged as if it's a 9 cell though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #6 September 18, 2006 Quite simple Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhys 0 #7 September 19, 2006 QuoteIt's a partially cross braced canopy by Icarus I don't want to start the whole debate again but i would just like to know for interests sake whether this canopy is infact an Icarus Neos, with a panel on the end cell staing so, or just a NEOS by Cisma?"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #8 September 19, 2006 what would be acceptable/recommended wingloads on a Neos ? Would 1.8 be "enough" or would the canopy be underloaded ? A 109 would put me at 1.8, a 99 would be around 2.0 I think the 109 would be "better" for me (actually on Crossfire2 119 around 1.65-1.75)scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny1488 1 #9 September 20, 2006 what does this tell you? Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhys 0 #10 September 21, 2006 Tells me it is made by CISMA!"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #11 September 21, 2006 Quotewhat does this tell you?where did you get this order form ? can't find it on icaruscanopies.aero. scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny1488 1 #12 September 21, 2006 Thats cause its not on there yet. I'm a man on the inside! Info will be posted as soon as the canopy is launched. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny1488 1 #13 September 21, 2006 Funny it doesn't say CIMSA on it. This canopy is going to be sold by Icarus Canopies. Trust me on this. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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