ManBird

KISS -- I just get about 45° in the door, exit that way and stay at about that angle (with my pelvis forwards), which settles into backflight. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

And just to toss in two reasons why you should leave your feet on your ass: 1. To level out more quickly (duh) 2. To prevent a flatspin/tailspin due to assymetrical presentation of your tail into the wind Backing up Ed and Chuck -- don't think about it too much. Even if you do get into a flatspin, you have about 10,000' of freefall to work it out. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

"What Dreams May Come" However, it wasn't portrayed as a BASE jump. I didn't see the movie -- I only saw the cliff jump. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I've got the pants and jacket on order. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I'm I the only one that sees something wrong with this question? "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Holy fuck! Yeah, the forward speed is nuts. Weird body position. I thought DW did 28? Must watch the vid again. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Holy crap! Sensibility! I'm assuming Tom is on that one. I'm also assuming that this is the result of letting ideas formulate in his head, unchecked for too long. When asking himself, "What could go wrong?", he very likely doesn't have the experience, information resources, or contacts to answer those questions. He needs his bubble burst. That's all. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

So, I went back to the PD web site to the list of quotes to see if I better understand their marketing now, and why it didn't have me convinced before: http://www.performancedesigns.com/katana.asp The thing is that they don't give much of a pitch. Every quote on there is very true, and is how I would describe this canopy, but across the board, it's compared to a Stilleto and a Velocity. It comes across as, "If you currently fly a Stilleto and you want to fly a Velocity, use this as a stepping stone." This canopy deserves a LOT more credit than that. And for those who don't fly Stilettos, the comparisons don't mean much. IMO, the comparisons are detrimental. Not everyone who'd like this canopy has experience on a Stiletto. Some of the really great truths found in the quotes are overshadowed by the comparison. We hear about the how easy the dive is to control and maintain, but we forget that, because we're trying to imagine what a Stilleto dives like. Also, there's a lot of difference in the dive of a Stilleto and a Velo. If anything, the dive is probably closer to a Velo -- a Stilleto pilot would be very surprised to find out what their usual front riser turn does on a Katana. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the marketing for the Katana has been very understated. We see pictures of clouds, a logo, and a few snippets of text that don't really convey anything. There was a lot of hype, but I never learned anything about the canopy until I spoke with Vladi about it for awhile, and then flew one. Keeping with the Japanese theme, I've written a haiku that, I believe would be a better bit of marketing than what they've had in the past: On a side note, I knew this canopy had a wide aspect ratio, but didn't realize that it's the widest that PD makes -- 2.74:1. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I can't get behind that. I say "chicken out" now and save the poor guy some grief. Life dealt him a tanning salon in Idaho. At least give him some pity. Edited to add: This post in no way condones this guy's practice. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

HAHAHAHAHAA!!!! That story was rad. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

So, he's not quite sure? He may or may not have done one fifth of the latter number? 250 jumps isn't that hard to keep track of. Maybe when they happen over 25 years, you forget if that last one one in December of 2001, or May of 1999. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I think the difference is that the guys who were doing tandems were at forefront of the sport, had a passion for it, and tested their gear. This guy sounds like a yahoo trying to make a quick buck with ancient gear that has questionable functionality from a dead air exit. IMO, it's an abuse of the right to jump at this bridge. Though it would be really damn entertaining to watch him put people off. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Where the "I've pulled a gun on someone while BASE jumping option." Not that I have or would or could, but it'd be interesting to see the results. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

WTF is in the APCO rig? A tiny round? "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

You all lose. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

True, but let's face it -- a sub-100 X-braced has a better chance getting flown into the ground hard than does a Spectre 190. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Most of the times, people don't. So it's probably not a good idea to justify such a rapid progression to a stranger, by citing the exception. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Some people only learn by breaking themselves, unfortunately. Even then... "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

That's how DW was, too. Train and train and train and train. That + talent. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Whereas having a gun pointed at you at some other time? Hell yeah. I dig a chick that has me doin' her while I'm held at gunpoint. It's hot. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I don't know if a boycott is necessary, but it'd be a shame to "Red Bull Clips Your Wings" go to waste. Unfortunately, I really like Red Bull, so it's hard to get behind a boycott. Hell, they sponsor FELIX and I drink the stuff. Maybe I shouldn't admit that... "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

The man in black does some really nice ones. I saw video of JJ in Norway doing very nice stuff, as well. Even when DW had some slop, it was still better than most stuff that shows up on these vids. Plus he did double thingies from like 180', which is insane. In that 2nd BASE teaser, there was one that was just crazy -- wonder who it was. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Robi would dump last Yes. Change that "K" to a "C". "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I guess it's all perspective. Again, I can't compare to X-braces. Compared the XF2, XF, Sabre2, and... a Fox 245 ... it starts higher up. You very likely have a wider array of canopies flown. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I personally like heavier rear riser pressure. It makes it tougher to distort and/or stall the canopy. You can feel the canopy "warning" you of a stall a bit more, if that makes any sense. I think the Katana had just the right amount. You can tug pretty hard to have it just trim out, and then hold it for a long time without descending, making the early-transition-before-rear-riser-power-loss thing a little easier. Also on that note, I found that I didn't really have to transition from rears to half brakes (even with the brakes lines let out just right) like I did on my Sabre2. I don't know how this compares to the various X-braces. It was more like just letting go of the risers and putting hands out about a foot or so, and then go into the flare. The control range on toggles starts pretty high. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click