Manta 280

[kinginCrisis 0]

Hi there.

I have just obtained a Manta 280. I believe it is by a company called Flight Designs.

I was just wondering if anyone could give me some info about it. I have no idea what model it is. The ZP model, F-111.....etc

I have done a search and must admit, this is one of the best searches I have ever seen on a site like this. But not found all the info I need.

One main question I have. What year was this canopy made?

Also, I weigh 70kg. I am too light for it?

Any advice would be great.

Cheers

Luke

[PhreeZone 20]

The canopy is made by Flight Concepts, formerly Glidepath Inc. The Manta comes in various options. The most common is the F111 but there is also a Hybrid and a full ZP option.

At 155 pounds (i'll assume with out gear for now) that puts your exit weight at closer to 180-185. That is a wingloading of .66:1 Thats is a typical student wingloading if not even on the light side for that application. There is no real such thing as being too light for a canopy. Being light uder something this large just means you have to be more aware about the winds since there is the good chance you will not move into strong winds and might go backwards.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[kinginCrisis 0]

Cheers for that. How can I find out the model I have? Do you know what year they where made.

Cheers

[PhreeZone 20]

They are still in production. If you get the serial number of it you can email the factory for details about the canopy.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[kinginCrisis 0]

Thank you very much. You have been a big help.

[riggerrob 643]

If you shake the canopy and it crinkles, it is made of ZP fabric.
Otherwise try comparing the fabric with sport mains at your local DZ.

[councilman24 37]

Please fill out your profile.

That looks like one of the one from my old DZ that closed in 2006 due to the death of the owner.

PM me the serial number and I'll check.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[riggerrob 643]

The Manta design originated during the Cold War and - inadvertently - revolutionized skydiving training.

Circa 1980, a small Florida-based company named Django was building a revolutionary canopy called the Pegasus. The 7-cell, 220 square foot Pegasus was one of the first canopies to incorporate I beam construction, F-111 fabric and several other concepts to reduce pack volume. Pegasus also flew great, gaining instant popularity with relative workers (formation skydivers) searching for smaller, lighter gear. Since this was also around the time that CReW (canopy formations) became fashionable, Pegasus canopies were also used by several CReW teams.
Meanwhile, the West German Army was searching for new ways to keep the communist hordes from invading Western Europe. One of their schemes involved dropping paratroopers behind the East German (communist) border to disrupt lines of communication, shoot communist officers, etc.

When Django President Mike Fury heard of this scheme, he merely sewed two extra cells onto a Pegasus (converting it into a 288 square foot, 9-cell canopy).
Django never sold very many LR288 canopies to the West German Army, but they set the stage for Para-Flite, Pioneer, GQ Security, etc. to develop large (300 square foot plus) ram-air canopies that revolutionized the entire military freefall (HALO: High Altitude Low Opening) business and spawned a new tactic known as HAHO (High Altitude High Opening).
Meanwhile the supply of Korean War surplus round parachutes was drying up and skydiving schools in the USA began searching for alternative canopies. They experimented with ram-air canopies (mostly 7-cells) from various manufacturers, but found that LR 288s had by far the best landings. This is because its 9-cell configuration meant a much flatter glide and much more powerful flare characteristics. This greater flare power also included a huge "sweet spot" that was very forgiving of students who flared too early or too late.
Just about the time (1983) that LR 288s were beginning to dominate the civilian student market, Django got slapped with a law suit for infringing on a (direct line attachment and associated V-tapes) patent owned by Para-Flite. Django lost the law suit and went bankrupt.
Amazingly, a new company (Glide Path) opened the next week, with a new line of canopies that closely resembled Pegasus, LR 288, etc. The only difference was mini-flares (small triangles made of fabric and tape) at each point where suspension lines attach to the bottom skin.
Flight Concepts' new Manta 280/288/290 canopy quickly dominated skydiving schools worldwide and maintained that lead well into the 1990s.
In the mid-1990s, Flight Concepts ran into problems with their Nova high-performance canopy and closed shop, only to re-open the next week as Flight Concepts.
Mike Fury left Glide Path and went on to start the Dolphin (harness container) production line.
Despite a variety of similar-sized (Navigator, Skymaster, Solo, etc.), tapered canopies from other manufacturers (Aerodyne, Icarus, PISA, Performance Designs, etc.) Mantas are still the dominant canopy for student, all because Django accidentally discovered the huge sweet spot in 9-cell canopies.

[kenneth21441 0]

Thanks for that great information on the Manta.

As that was the canopy that I used to get current back a few years ago. Back in the 1990's it was the Mighty Mack and Laser 9 canopies.


I liked the Mantas handling being its large size was like the landings that i was used to in on the military rigs. So I purchased a manta for my new Vector and after over a hundred jumps still think its a great canopy.

Im not into the higher wing loadings due to thinkgs can happen and I want to be here tommorrow.

Thanks again for the history of this good canopy.

Kenneth Potter
FAA Senior Parachute Rigger
Tactical Delivery Instructor (Jeddah, KSA)
FFL Gunsmith

[kinginCrisis 0]

Cheers for that. Very interesting.

[kinginCrisis 0]

Hi. I was wondering if anyone has a manual for this canopy. Maybe a link, or a hard copy that they could upload. I would be very greatfull. The serial number is
M -2996

Also. The container I have is an Aircare B.S.S.5. Does anyone have any info on this. I can upload pics if needed.

Cheers.

P.S. I do not intend to fly this rig, just wanted to know more info about it.

[riggerrob 643]

Yes, please post photos of your Aircare B.S.S.5 container.