Skydive2 1 #1 October 2, 2002 I've been looking for what seems like ever (!) for a used Velocity 90 or 84, and I just can't seem to find one. Anyway, I have the opportunity to trade one of my stiletto's for an FX that would be loaded around 1.8. I've never jumped an FX, but I've jumped a Velocity 96 and 90 and a VX 120 which all opened great! How does the FX compare? I've always heard they open hard, any truth to that? Thanks Lance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveMonkey 0 #2 October 2, 2002 I'm no where near being able to jump one of these, but I've seen video from an instuctor I know and he's had some "funky" openings on his, but they looked ok. "funky" being end cells touching each other etc. ____________________ Say no to subliminal messages Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverds 0 #3 October 2, 2002 Depends on the particular FX. Some of the canopies have a reputation of opening hard, others are great. I have an FX loaded at 2.2 (my third) that was giving me some real slammers. It was getting to the point that I was almost debating weather or not to pull at all because it hurt so bad sometimes. About 1 in 3 of my openings was like this. I talked with Icarus about it and they told me that many of the FX's built by Precision were having this problem. They advised me to move my brake setting up 2.5 inches which I did. Since then I have had nothing but beautifully soft openings. I jump camera with it on a regular basis now with no worries. Precision no longer builds canopies for Icarus and I have not heard of problems with the canopies built by their other manufacturing plants out of country. Hope this helps. P.S. I like the canopy very much. Skydive Radio Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramon 0 #4 October 2, 2002 Wow. Mine is from Precision and it must be packed very carefull or else. My friends FX from New Zealand opens great. My vX from New Zealand opens great too. stirring the pot.. You can tell where it is from by looking at the warning label. if it came form Precision it will have a stamp that says inspected by precision. If it came from New Zealand or Spain it will have a little parachute with an I on one side and a number on the other side. good luck. P.S. I have personally witnessed two instances of stiching coming apart on FXs form precision a 104 and my 109. r"Revolution is an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment.", Ambrose Bierce. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverds 0 #5 October 2, 2002 Ramon, I have been considering switching to a vx but have not been able to demo one. Were you able to do so before you bought yours? There are none at my dz that I can borrow. Skydive Radio Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramon 0 #6 October 3, 2002 I was lucky enough to find a used 97. cut a cashiers check for the money, gave it to a rigger to hold and sent the owner a xerox of it and he sent the canopy to the rigger. I jumped it and decided to keep it so I sent him the check. I had to buy it I wiegh 190 and there are few VXs that size running around. You could probably get a Xaos27 to demo from Precision or send Icarus a deposit for a new one and get your money back in 30 days if you don't like it. "Revolution is an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment.", Ambrose Bierce. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygod7777 0 #7 October 3, 2002 you can demo one, but they only have 2 sizes i beleive on the demo list. a 83 and like a 77 or something around that size. you could always order one, and if you don't like it you can send it back for another canopy, or you money back(as i'm sure you already know since you have 3 fx's) and also almost every icarus fx canopy that i have heard about, or jumped opens either hard every time, or 3 out of 5 times. later blue sky's and long swoops kelly "hook low, flare late..............dirt, tumble, dirt.........ouch" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygod7777 0 #8 October 3, 2002 oh ya, go with the vx, you'll love it blue sky's and long swoops kelly "hook low, flare late..........dirt, tumble, dirt..........ouch" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobsoutar 0 #9 October 3, 2002 I've got an FX loaded at 1.9. Never opened hard but had really squirrelly openings when I first got it as the pilot chute was too big and the bridle line was too long. I now have a 21" zp pilot chute (Icarus recommend between 18"-22" depending on the canopy size) and a 5' bridle line on a pull-out system. I also psycho pack it and have had nice openings ever since. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
craddock 0 #10 October 3, 2002 I have a NZ areosports Fx 85 that is a great canopy. I have had the occasional hard opening with it, but then again I have with every canopy I have jumped. Most likely my quick packing. My friend has an 89 made here in the states that opens incredible. It was opening hard when he first got it, then I convinced him to pycho pack it. He never went back. He usually wears video and I have seen his canopy opening from that plenty, and it sure is sweet. I believe it is all packing. He packs mine on occasion and they are better then most of mine. Blue skies, Josh Oh- My FX is for sale 300 jumps ,make offer That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbaur 0 #11 October 3, 2002 I owned an FX107 for about 350 jumps, a transition canopy from my PD-210 to the FX99 I've had for almost 900 jumps. My back-up canopy is a VX93, which I've jumped nearly 500 times. All three were or are Precision-made models. No problems with structural integrity. Easy to pack. No malfunctions, not even a hint. I'm working on wearing out the 99 so I can buy a Xaos, but I figure I've got 1000 jumps to go. Mark Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #12 October 4, 2002 Quote I owned an FX107 for about 350 jumps, a transition canopy from my PD-210 to the FX99 you seriosly went from a PD210 F1-11 to a FX107???? Marc otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbaur 0 #13 October 4, 2002 Quote you seriously went from a PD210 F1-11 to a FX107? Not exactly. I made 10 or 15 jumps on a Sabre 135 before going to the 107. Before anyone gets the idea that this would be a good transition program in general, I need to point out that at the time I had 2000 jumps, including a bunch on my own experimental designs, as well as 4000 hours piloting a variety of aircraft. BTW, the fabric is F-111 (not F1-11), named after the Air Force swing-wing fighter-bomber. George Harris also made a heavier fabric he called B-1, but there was never a big demand for it since F-111 did the job with lighter weight. George was a pretty nice guy, former airborne trooper in the 101st. Mark Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JGarcia 0 #14 October 4, 2002 I highly reccommend the Xaos...haven't jumped the X-27, but my X-21 is incredible in every respect. --JairoLow Profile, snag free helmet mount for your Sony X3000 action cam! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
