superstu 0 #1 February 11, 2005 Any body know why PD chose to build the velo as a 7 cell crossbrace instead of a 9? Kolla maybe you could shed some light on this for meSlip Stream Air Sports Do not go softly, do not go quietly, never back down Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canuck 0 #2 February 11, 2005 Same reason Brian Germain decided to build the Sensei a 7 (21) cell instead of a 9 (27). The idea is to create a canopy with an aspect ratio like a 9 cell but with the line drag of a 7 cell. Some argue that adding the extra lines reduces performance more than having the extra cells can make up for. And by looking at the current WC standings, they just might be right! Canuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beezyshaw 0 #3 February 11, 2005 Not being able to speak for PD, of course, but having been involved in the development of both the Icarus EXTreme and Precision Xaos canopies, I can probably give you an accurate answer. One reason is that the 27-chamber (9 cell) cross braced canopies "generally" are not the best opening wings; they can tend to have a mind of their own. So for openings, PD probably wasn't satisfied with any 9 cell prototypes they may have tested, if they even tried them before releasing the Velocity. Another reason is that canopy pilots today prefer a longer, steep dive than canopies like say the Stiletto have. The 7 cell cross braced canopy dives much steeper than the 9 cell version; this applies to all 7 vs. 9 cells, not just cross braced canopies. So anyone who is getting long recovery arcs with their VX or Xaos 27 is loading quite heavily, and PD was I'm sure trying to accomplish the long dive without forcing jumpers into ballistic wing loadings. A third reason the Velocity is a 7 cell probably has to do with cost. The velocity is already expensive enough; the addition of another 2 or 3 hundred dollars to the pricetag would have probably been prohibitive for many jumpers. Remember too that Icarus didn't release the VX until several years after the 7 cell EXTreme was in existence. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beezyshaw 0 #4 February 11, 2005 That's a valid point. Edit: While the Velocity has a lower aspect ratio than the Katana, it is about the same as a Stiletto. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygod7777 0 #5 February 11, 2005 the reason i have always been told from pd was less drag. this is the same reason the new proto type "z brace" is a 7 cell design. later Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superstu 0 #6 February 11, 2005 That's some interesting info. I posed the question because i was kind of wondering why it seems the velocity and their pilots are going so much further than VX and other 27 chambered canopies. so here's another question for you guys then. Do you think the velocity as a canopy is better then the VX or XAOS or any other canopy out there? or is it the pilot that is making up the difference right now? My thought is that the canopies today are so similar that there is really very little advantage between the brands, and that the pilots are making the difference.Slip Stream Air Sports Do not go softly, do not go quietly, never back down Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygod7777 0 #7 February 11, 2005 ***That's some interesting info. I posed the question because i was kind of wondering why it seems the velocity and their pilots are going so much further than VX and other 27 chambered canopies. so here's another question for you guys then. Do you think the velocity as a canopy is better then the VX or XAOS or any other canopy out there? or is it the pilot that is making up the difference right now? My thought is that the canopies today are so similar that there is really very little advantage between the brands, and that the pilots are making the difference. *** i think it's the pilots, but a good person to ask would be jonathan tagle, cosidering he was jumping a vx all season and has now gone to a velo. but, if you look at the distance scores, jc was up there in distance too, and so was clint clawson. i think it's the pilots. no question the lack of lines will help, but i don't think it will help that much considering the new record was done with the bag and pilot chute still on. later Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canuck 0 #8 February 11, 2005 No doubt the pilot plays the biggest part, but there has got to be something said for the canopy too. Just like in any sport, the athlete is the performer, but superior equipment gives one top athlete the edge over another. I really believe that PD is giving that edge to their pilots. Canuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superstu 0 #9 February 11, 2005 Another question. How do the line trims on an 84 velocity differ from those on an 84 vx? if you know specifics that would be great (ie A's on velo shorter then A's on vx). thanksSlip Stream Air Sports Do not go softly, do not go quietly, never back down Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beezyshaw 0 #10 February 11, 2005 As far as I can "recall" (usual disclaimer here), the Velocity is trimmed a little steeper than the Icarus FX. The Xaos 21 has a trim angle very close to the angle of the Velocity, and the trim angle of the VX (I think) is slightly more shallow than that of the Velocity. As to measuring the "A" lines, don't know which is longer, but remember the angle is based on differential between A,B,C,D not the actual length. The length affects the pendulum factor, openings, etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #11 February 12, 2005 QuoteI posed the question because i was kind of wondering why it seems the velocity and their pilots are going so much further than VX and other 27 chambered canopies. Says who? The distance record is now held by someone who was using a Velocity. Before that it was a VX, before that it was a Velocity, before that a VX. Quoteand that the pilots are making the difference. It's the pilot brother......---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygod7777 0 #12 February 12, 2005 QuoteAnother question. How do the line trims on an 84 velocity differ from those on an 84 vx? if you know specifics that would be great (ie A's on velo shorter then A's on vx). thanks i don't know about the trim, but when i had my 85, and demo'd a 84 velo, the velo's lines were almost a foot longer than the vx's when laid down next to each other ready to go in the bag. later Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superstu 0 #13 February 12, 2005 Just saying that if you look at the distances produced that day during the WCCP the velocities went way further then all other canopies, and i'm just wondering why? and all on the same day? Are some of those guys based out of that dz? if so, there's a major advantage right there.Slip Stream Air Sports Do not go softly, do not go quietly, never back down Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canuck 0 #14 February 12, 2005 Velocities rule!!!! But, if you look at the scores from the semi final distance round, the top three all went to the Icarus boys. But still - Velocities Rule! Canuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superstu 0 #15 February 12, 2005 yea, i just saw that as well. cool coolSlip Stream Air Sports Do not go softly, do not go quietly, never back down Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
