Cudos for Cobalt

[DZBone 0]

I know, it's "kudos". It's also Atair, but too bad. Sue Me! haha
Anyway, I am really impressed. Susan from Atair called me yesterday afternoon to say that they were ready to ship out the demo they had for me. I wanted to jump it this weekend so I asked if she could send it overnight. No problem!
The hotel just called, it just arrived.
Dude, it's like 9:30 in the morning! This is so cool!! Not only will I have it for the weekend, but I can sneak out early from work and jump it this afternoon! Waaaahooooo!!
Big points for Atair and Susan. I'll let you all know how the canopy is next week.
Carl

[Michele 1]

WWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
(some alliteration is appropriate in this auspicious occasion). See you tomorrow!
Michele

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

Carl,
go fast, take chances, and for god's sake don't wear a helmet!
Chuck
<><>swoop lord

[DZBone 0]

How about a dorky frap hat?

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

There is no such a thing as a dorky frap hat. Mine is 15 years old, smells very bad, and is rotten along the entire front seam. Sewing it back down does no good anymore, so I let it inflate like a balloon. A true "meat helmet" if ever there was one. I don't use it much anymore, but those times when it's hot, but I must wear one because I am working with students, I take it off and stick it down my jumpsuit after opening. Very unobtrusive. If I push it down far enough it makes it look like I have a bigger "package".
Chuck

[ClayFowler 0]

Carl, Why would you wear a peice of protective equipment named after a blender setting?

[Aviatrr 0]

Cool.. Just be sure you send the thing back in one piece, Carl....I'm next on the demo list for it.. Let me know what you think of it.. We'll both be loading it about the same.. I'm still wondering if I will want to go with the 150 or a 135 - but I will try the 150 first..
Mike

[PalmettoTiger 1]

Quote

go fast, take chances, and for god's sake don't wear a helmet!

Pack fast, pull low, and flirt with your rigger's wife!!
Blues, squares,
PTiger
"Beer: the OTHER other white meat."

[Stacy 0]

definite kudos to AtAir for the Cobalt. Beautiful openings- even with the way I pack!!!! I have no complaints about it at all after demoing it twice, 2 diff sizes at diff DZs.... just have to save up enough for my new rig and main... sigh. this sport is so expensive... =c)
Stacy
http://astro.temple.edu/~sweeks

[Aviatrr 0]

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definite kudos to AtAir for the Cobalt. Beautiful openings- even with the way I pack!!!! I have no complaints about it at all after demoing it twice, 2 diff sizes at diff DZs.... just have to save up enough for my new rig and main... sigh. this sport is so expensive... =c)

What were your wing loadings on the Cobalt? Have you jumped a Spinneto or Crossfire at the same loading? If so, what can you say about the comparison?
Mike

[Stacy 0]

I jumped the cobalt at about 1.4 and 1.5. The crossfire I have loaded at 1.5. (The cobalt was demoed in an almost 0 wind condition, and the crossfire was in a high wind day). Both flew beautifully and in my opinion fairly similarly- toggle input was similar. If you're demoing one of these I highly recommend looking up and watching the openings, as it's a little different than other canopies. I found the cobalt easier to pack, but the crossfire seemed to have slightly more forward glide. Didn't notice much diff in sinking out. Both were able to cover lots of ground in an instance of a long spot. I've never jumped a stilletto before, but I am going to try a jedei in the near future.
Stacy
http://astro.temple.edu/~sweeks

[Aviatrr 0]

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If you're demoing one of these I highly recommend looking up and watching the openings, as it's a little different than other canopies.

How so? Are you referring to the 2 stage openings on the Cobalt? I always look up and watch my openings - so that shouldn't be a problem.. I normally have a camera on my head, so I should get some good video of the openings as well.. I like to watch 'em in slo-mo so I can see everything that happens when it's an unfamiliar canopy.. I've seen a couple things on playback that have scared the hell out of me..
Mike

[Stacy 0]

yep the two stager is what i'm referring to. it's just different from what i was used to seeing. Good different though. definitely good. =c)
Stacy
http://astro.temple.edu/~sweeks

[HotLoad 0]

I overheard a conversation about Cobalts this weekend. A dzo and dealer for Cobalt said basically they fly like a dream, but the customer service is almost non-existent. He said that it was bad enough that he will no longer deal with them. With that said, it should be known that his canopy of choice is, yes, a Cobalt.

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

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customer service is almost non-existent

I am not sure what kind of customer service he was looking for, but I have always been able to straighten out problems with Atair for my friends in no time at all. Most common among problems seems to be opening oddities in the 105 size. Almost every one I have seen has had the control lines set way too short (tight). I have no idea why they come like that, but the fix is generally to just let them out several inches. Those problems, if sent back to NY, get fixed right there. Canopies are then test-jumped by Dan Preston then sent back when they are right (or replaced).
Chuck

[DZBone 0]

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Beautiful openings- even with the way I pack!!!!

I'll give a full report next week, but after a dozen jumps this weekend, I am pretty happy with it. One thing that has been consistent is end-cell closures, sometimes to the point of inducing spins, sometimes taking long enough to clear to be "worrisome" but not "scary". They always cleared with a few tugs on the brakes, maybe a stall to reinflate, but then the brakes are unstowed, making it a hassle to collapse the slider, whine, whine.
Other than that, it opens very nice, packs nice, flies great! I hope to get some advice from you guys or Dan on the end-cell thing, and try it again this weekend.
Blue Skies
Carl

[cobaltdan 0]

hello,
i don't normally monitor the talk back section. but with about 1800 new messages since i last checked i thought i would poke my nose in.
in reference to the poor customer service hear say...that doesn't sound right...
heather sinclair (operations manager) and myself go far out of our way to accomodate all our dealers and flyers.
as far as end cell closures this is common in 2 instances: 1-light loadings (both sides), 2-uneven weight distribution during deployment (the side with more weight on it).
note: even 3 full cells folded under will not induce a spin but rather a slow very correctable turning. which can be corrected to straight flight using either weight shift, risers or toggles. the cells are not completely closed as in some lightly loaded squares but rather the nose on those cells is simply folded under. the best method to clear this is to slowly flare and stall the canopy. this changes the angle of attack of the canopy. pumping the toggles is not effective.
blue ones
dan
atair
ps. customer service? how many other equipment manufacturers have their design engineers monitoring web forums and answering questions?

[DZBone 0]

Thanks, Dan. Always glad to hear from the source.
I'll try watching body position and using the risers to clear the closures. You are correct, these are just slow turns, not violent "spins" by any means, but they can be a bit of a hassle. I'm looking forward to figuring this one out.
I appreciate the service I have gotten from Atair so far, and it is great that you are here to respond.
Thanks!
Carl

[cobaltdan 0]

hi carl,
about the first 20 jumps i put on a cobalt (i was relatively inexperienced)
i always has endcell closures on the right side. of course i thought whats up with the canopy?
but then i tried a little experiment, i shifted my weight in the harness during deployment to my left side.
result end cell closure on my left side now... after realizing i was not truely symetrical during deployment it was easy to pay attention and correct the problem. you can acutally watch the canopy open and stear it with weight shift at your hips throiugh the opening. after about 10 more jumps it became automatic and i rarely now ever get an end cell closed on opening...
sincerely,
dan
atair

[HotLoad 0]

I'm only reporting what I overheard, and probably shouldn't even be doing that. All I heard was that someone was receiving bills for someone else's orders and was having problems recitfying the situation with Atair. He also said that "the customer service was almost non-existent". Aside from that I know nothing. It could've been an overreaction on his part to a minor problem.....I don't know. I did add that even though he claims he's had problems dealing w/ Atair, He STILL jumps a Cobalt, which says quite a bit in my book. I apologize for interjecting what my virgin ears overheard. With all that said, I would like to add that I plan on demoing on in the near (hopefully) future.

[Aviatrr 0]

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as far as end cell closures this is common in 2 instances: 1-light loadings (both sides), 2-uneven weight distribution during deployment (the side with more weight on it).

What do you consider light loadings? I think Carl said he's loading it around 1.4, which is about where I'll be loading it.. I'm expecting that same canopy that Carl has in 2 weeks, I'll let ya know how my openings are..
Mike