freakyrat

Mark I received a realy neat Katana luggage tag with my Katana purchase and I intend to ask PD when they come to TX where they had them made. I think the logo on the luggage tag would be neat Chris

Kolla, Reference the Stiletto, I have about 700 jumps on my 135 and about 300 on my 120 and I've jumped other brands of canopies and when I put my 120 Stiletto on my back and made a jump it seemed like jumping and old friend for a canopy. I bought the Katana 120 after demoeing one because I believe it just fly' cleaner, smoother and quieter than my Stiletto not that any of my Stiletto's were not great canopies cause they are. Chris

Kolla I'm enjoying my 120 Katana I'm about 180 out the door. I slowly getting used to it and it sure has a lot of range. I'm also slowly getting the landings figured out. You are right with your experience with the 135. With all the speed range that this canopy has the wing loading you put under it is just a matter of taste and preference. It's fun flying at a conservative wing loading that I'm flying mine at and has plenty of performance for me. Chris

Jason Find out who the TSA's Federal Security Director is for Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and write him/her a letter about your experience. Be polite when explaining what happened. Chris

PD - called me with findings on my canopy when I sent it in for a reline. Work was done very professionally and in a timely manner. My recent experience with their demo program just rocked also. Mirage Systems - made sure my G4 rig's colors were right and also made a harness adjustment on the unysin harness when I took it back while I was in Florida. Yuki at Ouragon Suits - For the cool shorts she made for me when I gave her the colors and told her to use her imagination on the trim design. The design came out pretty cool and the shorts fit perfect to. And of course Bonnie (GravityGirl) for getting me my Mirage. Chris

Prayers and vibes Dave for you and your family. Chris

Russ Happy you had a good time I had to work Saturday and the weather here in Houston SUCKED Sunday and Today. Chris

Hey Madjohn Hope you get heal quickly. I'm slowly nursing a right hamstring pull back to life. (4 wks ago) Did it running out a landing but it's a lot better and I have slowly got back to jumping after getting physical therapy and lots of icing. Chris Skydive Houston (jumped with you at Lost Prairie some time ago, also did one of the POP's Big-Way attempts at Skydive Arizona. You were our bench coach)

In the World, I think Empuriabrava, Spain would rank up there too. Chri

Isaiah Thank's for your informative post on the Katana and wing loading. I so far only have 6 jumps on my 120 with HMA lines loaded about 1.6. It suits me fine. I've only had two off heading openings. The other openings have been really slow, easy and on heading. I kind of think it's settling down now. The approach path is slightly steeper and the speed a little faster than my 120 Stiletto. It sure has been fun so far and I'm very happy with the Canopy. Chris

Britanny I might go as I saw him spin before at Moby's Area 2 Tour and he is excellent. Chris

Got it also but refreshed the post and it went through Chris

Just got my issue of skydiving and just laughed my ass off at that centerfold. The rumors have been confirmed. The Ranch is the gayest Dropzone on earth. Who is playing Jack and Ennis? Jack Twist's old Chevy pickup would make a good addition to The Ranch's parking lot. But seriously, The Ranch is a fun place to skydive. (ben thar for POP's Nationals some time back) When I drove into the the DZ I thought I was on the set of M*A*S*H* (It looks like it) It's just that laid back. "Why Drink And Drive When You Can Smoke And Fly" Chris

Hi Ya'll I'm going to go to the WFFC for the first weekend. Just for Kirsten I dusted off the old "bumper suit" this past weekend and made a couple of 4-ways after flying on "The Dark Side" for so long. Wow I can still fly the inside slot and the rear floater. Also I'm really enjoying my 120 Katana after flying Stiletto's for so long. The parachute is an excellent flying machinje and flies faster and cleaner than my comparable Stiletto and has oodles of bottom end lift. I put myself three feet back up in the air on the flare. It is ground hungry but it is very manageable. I should have enough jumps on it by July to feel better with it at a Boogie. Packing new ZP though, It's slipperier the Astroglide. HA! HA! Speaking of Dropzones, Has anyone seen that Centerfold in this month's Skydiving? I didn't see that as a "Brokeback Mountain" joke as I always thought that The Ranch was the gayest DZ on Earth. Actually it is a very fun place to skydive. Chris Do they really do do stupid skydiver tricks at Spaceland.

I have a 2 piece Firefly suit that works great. I had the pants first and then had the top made Chris

I sent a Stiletto 135 back in for a reline. PD called me and gave me a complete riggers report on the canopy inspection and told me I also had a kill line in the slider that was fraying and would have to be replaced. They did everything promptly and sent the canopy back. I had a Katana 120 demo from them for two weekends, unfortunately the weather wouldn't cooperate here in Houston. Called Kim at PD and she said I could keep it for another weekend but they had to get it back on the following Monday and if the weather turned out bad again they would work me in to get it back to me to demo. As it turned out I only got to jump it once on Saturday before work and the weather turned crappy on Sunday (my day off). I liked the canopy and would love the opportunity to jump it some more. I'm going to wait till we get out of this crappy weather pattern here in Houston. Again, their customer service for me is top notch. Chris

My prayers are with him. Chris

I got to put a jump on a Katana 120, loading it at 1.6 this past Saturday. My opening was very slow, soft and on heading deploying it out of a new Mirage G4 container with a standard 27" F111 kill-line pilot chute. Everything about the canopy seemed nice for me and it flew smoother and quieter than my 120 Stiletto. I can understand where PD is coming from though and I agree with everything you said. They are not going to risk their reputation putting out a sub-standard product and using jumpers a guinea pigs. I applaud them for it. Chris

Hey Reginald Sorry about all the rain. We had two lousy weather weekends here in Waller, TX I have a PD demo canopy and haven't been able to jump it but I have to give kudos to Kim at PD she said I can have it another weekend. This weekend promises to be much better in Texas Yahoo, Can't wait to jump it. Chris Skydive Houston

The Mirage G4 split main bag has this center stow. Chris

I just had mine on and Embraer 145. I have it packed in a Aero Tech Products kit bag and have my jumpsuits etc in the little zip off bag. I've also had it on ATR's, Dash 8's , even got it in a Dornier 328 overhead and also a Saab340 overhead. Chris

I just travelled through Jacksonville Florida with my new Mirage rig. I had no problems with TSA, You can do a search and check my post. The supvr. in charge of the screeners even gave them a little OJT in what our rigs look like I produced the Cypres card and showed them, my USPA card and had all the TSA paperwork from the web. The JAX security folks like you to run the rig through the x-ray separately in one of those grey bins. I was polite and the TSA folks were polite. Just like one of the earlier posters said be prepared to give a little OJT. It works for me. Funny the only other place I had some problems before was PHX and PSP( Palm Springs) and at PSP they just didn't know about the rigs and I produced the paperwork and stood my ground and found a TSA supervisor that said "it passed a swipe test didn't it" well let him on with it it's OK. To sum up. ARRIVE EARLY BE POLITE HAVE YOUR DOCUMENTATION Works everytime. Chris

For You folks that asked about the Canadian Tax Refund Form for Visitors I'm uploading the PDF File Here. Cheers Chris

Last October I went to Montreal and Canadian Customs went through my luggage. I guess it's a random thing to say they are doing their job as I had nothing in my luggage that was interesting. Crossing the border by car is easier though as always they've asked me if I had any guns which I don't and they just say have a good day etc. Chris

I hope all you folks know that I think you now need passports to travel in and out of the US to Canada. Chris