mattjw916 2 #26 April 6, 2005 What about the Stiletto, Nitro(n), Samurai... etc... ?NSCR-2376, SCR-15080 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skinnyshrek 0 #27 April 6, 2005 QuoteWhat about the Stiletto, Nitro(n), Samurai... etc... ? Try the Blade.http://www.skydivethefarm.com do you realize that when you critisize people you dont know over the internet, you become part of a growing society of twats? ARE YOU ONE OF THEM? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crazydiver 0 #28 April 7, 2005 How come nobody has mentioned the samurai??? I love my sammy signature series. By far my favorite canopy on the market. I would say transition to a samurai 136 and eventually, if you want to, a 120. You will find that the samurai will be a nice refreshing performance difference from the sabre 2. Plus the canopy is airlocked...helps in turbulence and reduces the stall speed. Cheers, Travis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canuck 0 #29 April 7, 2005 QuoteHow come nobody has mentioned the samurai??? Because the title of the thread isn't "What's your favorite canopy?" The guy wants to know if anybody has gone from a Sabre to a Katana. Simple question, simple answer. Canuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crazydiver 0 #30 April 7, 2005 well people were suggesting alternatives to the katana from teh sabre 2. thats why I threw that out there. Cheers, Travis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,095 #31 April 7, 2005 >I was thinking of demoing a Katana 120. I am jumping a Sabre 135 >loaded at about 1.45, which I have put about 625 jumps on. I don't like the steep trim of the Katana from a safety viewpoint; its steeper glide makes it slightly less likely that you'll be able to make it to your landing area of choice. Other than that it's an excellent canopy. I'd recommend trying something like a Nitro/Nitron 135ish sized canopy first. You'll see a very significant difference between that and the Sabre, and that may be enough for you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmdrennan 2 #32 April 7, 2005 QuoteI don't like the steep trim of the Katana from a safety viewpoint; its steeper glide makes it slightly less likely that you'll be able to make it to your landing area of choice. Other than that it's an excellent canopy. Just a FYI but I got blown away by people on Katana's coming back from a long spot when I was jumping a Pilot 104. My experiences with KA's are that you can get back from further away, ESPECIALLY if you're flying into a headwind. EDIT: And Bill, we both know if a person is "pushing" a long spot for whatever canopy type they're flying - they're just asking for trouble, steep trim or not. EDIT EDIT: Side note on the jump mentioned above. Everyone jumping Stilletto's, Pilots, Sabre2's didn;t make it back. Those jumping Katana's and Velocities did - two of the steepest trimmed canopies on the market. IMO steep trim doesn't mean inablility to make it back, and it was clearly demonstrated that jump. Blues, IanPerformance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kris 0 #33 April 7, 2005 QuoteEDIT EDIT: Side note on the jump mentioned above. Everyone jumping Stilletto's, Pilots, Sabre2's didn;t make it back. Those jumping Katana's and Velocities did - two of the steepest trimmed canopies on the market. IMO steep trim doesn't mean inablility to make it back, and it was clearly demonstrated that jump. Ian, do you think they might have had a better chance to make it back not due to the fact of what they were flying, but because of their experience level? i.e....knowing how to eke out every last bit of glide from their canopies, knowing the sweet spot to hold the brakes/risers, etc...? Just a question.Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
birdynamnam 28 #34 April 8, 2005 wow, I didn't notice the JATO rockets that must be attached to Katanas. I did however wonder why it was so heavy in the bag - stupid me; I just thought that it was a plain vanilla 9-cell elipse. I must look closer next time I jump one Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmdrennan 2 #35 April 8, 2005 QuoteIan, do you think they might have had a better chance to make it back not due to the fact of what they were flying, but because of their experience level? It is a possibility I considered, however I happen to know the pilots involved and they were around (or less) my experience level. The thing they DID have going for them though was knowing their wings well, which I obviously didn't as I don't jump the pilot often. But I do spend enough time under canopy to know when I'm not making the progress I should be. Blues, IanPerformance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmdrennan 2 #36 April 8, 2005 Hey, I'm not trying to say the Katana's the greatest canopy in the world (I do think it's a pretty cool though), I was commenting on trim steepness and the abililty to get back from a spot. Anything constructive to add ? Blues, IanPerformance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spizzzarko 0 #37 April 8, 2005 I put one jump on the Katana, and in my mind I was comparing it to the stilletto, but when I got down, I thought it more resembled the velocity. Fun canopy. I would definately buy one if I went non cross braced. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #38 April 10, 2005 Quote It doesn't matter if they plan on releasing it. They have already missed their target demographic. A lot of people were waiting for the Katana 135 and 150 when the Katana was first released but many have decided to get Crossfire 2's rather than wait for an indefinate release date. This is great comedy!! First off, spend some time with people that work in the industry. You know what? Most of them are friends and this little competitive thing you have going on is funny. This is a small little corner of the sports world. The competition for business in it isn't as dramatic as you make it out to be. Most of them have worked together at one point, been on teams together, or been on world records together. Go to any of the major boogies and you will see them spending time in each other's vendor shops, drinking beers afterhours or even jumping the competition's gear. Quote Many are disgusted with PD's business strategies. To only cater to the High Performance market is disrepectful and hypocritical to the mid range canopy pilots that would love to own a Katana but don't want such a high wingloading. What's hypocritical? Only the high performance market? Last I checked they have the top Crew canopy around. They have the Sabre2 and the Spectre for midrange. Where do you come up with this stuff? I bet you would be complaining if PD rushed the Katana 135/150 to market and there were issues with it. If PD or any company wants to say it's not ready to be jumped yet, who are we to argue with them? They are making sure they have a high quality, safe product on the market. I can see how that can upset a person And if you don't want to wait - then take your money elsewhere._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #39 April 18, 2005 QuoteMany are disgusted with PD's business strategies. To only cater to the High Performance market is disrepectful and hypocritical to the mid range canopy pilots that would love to own a Katana but don't want such a high wingloading. If you are a mid-range canopy pilot then the Katana is not for you anyways. So far you seem to be the only one I have heard to be "disgusted with PDs marketing strategies." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #40 April 18, 2005 QuoteSo far you seem to be the only one I have heard to be "disgusted with PDs marketing strategies." Oh no I'm disgusted too... They set up the 6000th canopy Sabre2 contest after I got a Sabre2 (of their "ready to go/off the shelf canopies)... I'm disgusted scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,095 #41 April 18, 2005 >They could have made a killing if they had been ready. They really hyped >this Katana like it was the second coming. If they are going to promote a >product to death, at least make it accessable to your target customer base. I am glad they are not promoting the Katana as an intermediate canopy. It is not an intermediate canopy. It is a very high performance canopy that should not be jumped by someone looking for a 'cooler' Sabre 2. >I'm simply speaking from a business perspective. Sometimes there are more important things than making a buck off someone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kansasskydiver 0 #42 April 18, 2005 QuoteQuoteThey've been test jumping the shit out of the 135 prototypes, though. It doesn't matter if they plan on releasing it. They have already missed their target demographic. A lot of people were waiting for the Katana 135 and 150 when the Katana was first released but many have decided to get Crossfire 2's rather than wait for an indefinate release date. That's exactly what I did edit to add: I would have liked to have tried one out just like Aggie, I currently load my 149 Xfire2 at 2.01/1 weighed on a scale with all my gear and helmets. I trash pack it and trust it for everything else I do. Best openings I've ever had. However, I did jump a Stiletto 135 just recently. The openings were hard, off heading and just not my cup of tea. What made up for it though was the very light front riser pressure and agressive diving. I felt I could take it longer and lower without having to struggle as much with it. I still look forward to the 135 and or 150 Katana to come out and compare it to my Xfire2. I've since put around 350 jumps on my Xfire2 so we'll see how I like the Katana<--- See look, pink dolphins DO exist! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meatbomb 0 #43 April 19, 2005 QuoteThat's exactly what I did Just to add a me 3...I was going to hold out to demo a Katana, and couldn't get a demo Cobalt, but now I'm so glad I didn't...300+ jumps on my XFire2 169 (at 1.5-1.7) and I've just ordered a 139 (1.8-2.1)...XFires rock! --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybum1 0 #44 April 20, 2005 Just remember that when you go from a Sabre to an eliptical like the Katana you start getting some weird openings. I don't recall my Sabre ever doing this to me. http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=2224 (line_twist.wmv skydivingmovies.com) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmdrennan 2 #45 April 20, 2005 heh - fun opening Not sure why the pilot didn't do anything at all to try and control the opening. I think that's a big one when moving to tapered designs that people don't think about - we have to fly the entire sequence (my hands are on my rears, ready every time). If that's not something a pilot wants to have to do, more traditional "square" designs are better suited for them IMO. Blues, IanPerformance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Helmut 0 #46 April 20, 2005 I totally agree you have to fly the opening which you may not be use to with a traditional square canopy. Also do you load it up lots more than your Sabre? My Katana when I first bought it had some funky openings. About 75 jumps on it has settled down. Still dances alot and you got be able to follow its lead! Just dont be too aggressive on the risers. My previous canopies were Jedei's. However, looking at that opening you have serious endcell closure and it folds on itself. Had that happened on a square there is a good chance it would have put you into lind twists as well. Good news is it looked like it was flying pretty stable in the twists and not diving and spinning. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ColdDuck 0 #47 May 8, 2005 I decided to go ahead and demo a katana 120. Because of the crappy weather here the last two weeks I was only able toget 5 jumps on it. I really liked the canopy, it opened great everytime. Having heard from several sources that it had dive somewhere between a velocity and a stilleto, which I have jumped before, I was not really caught off guard by its' descent rate. In fact, I thought it would dive a little more than it did with riser input. I thoug th canopy had a good range also, it is definitely more ground hungry than what I am used to, but I could get it to fly pretty flat with riser and toggle inputs. I would agree that this is definitely a canopy that should not be in the hands of those who are not competent on something of a similar size. For me going from a Sabre 135 to the katana 120 was not a jump in perfomance that I wasn't ready for. I am planning on buying one as soon as I have the dinero, and as soon as PD starts making stock patterns that aren't so butt ugly "Insurance should called In case shit happens, if shit don't happen shouldn't I get my money back?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reginald 0 #48 May 9, 2005 QuoteI am planning on buying one as soon as I have the dinero, and as soon as PD starts making stock patterns that aren't so butt ugly LOL! This deserves it's own thread! I love PD canopies but DAMN they make some ugly stock canopies. That’s why I had to order custom colors, twice. I’d be happy to buy off the shelf if they had anything remotely ascetically pleasing. Just a side note, I have a friend who is in the same quandary right now."We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmdrennan 2 #49 May 9, 2005 I like the silver and orange Katana. Looks great in the air. The teal/blue velos look nice too, as do the blue and white Stiletto's and Sabre2's. The 'wonderbread' velocity though....that one I can do without Blues, IanPerformance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kmfreefly 0 #50 May 9, 2005 Seems a lot of companies don't make good stock colors, I couldn't find a cool looking hovercraft anywhere on dealer lots!! KB Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
