Kolla

Hey Andrea! I missed the cutaway, but I caught the landing - good job girl!! I'm not sure if you guys know that you can demo a PD reserve - set up as main (on risers and with a pilot chute attachment point) just like any other canopy. It's something I would highly recommend, as being familiar with your reserve will definitely definitely come in handy when the time comes to use it

Arlo, I think this year might be somewhat special with the next world meet being out of Porters - and DeLand has those. Not sure though, just a thought. DeLand is a great DZ for training + competition though - this weekend will be fun!!!

Hi Cliff! The links/Slinks are shipped with the canopy (they don't come from the container manufacturer), and thus are a part of the TSO for that canopy. To the best of my knowledge, the only reserves that are TSO'd with Slinks (or any form of "soft" links) are the PD reserves, but if you have canopy made by some other manufacturer, check in with them. Or just get a PD reserve.... Blue ones, Kolla Blue Skies Magazine

Hi Kinaa! I run the demo program for Performance Designs

Hi Clownburner ( )! I saw in your profile that you jump at Elsinore - the gear store there (Ground Zero) can help you with the demo process. The quite often get demos from PD for their customers, so if you prefer to deal your gang locally rather than contact me directly at PD for a demo or two (...sniff sniff ) - then just go see Kama or one of the staff at Ground Zero, I'm sure they will take great care of you.

Go pack it a few times

Congrats on your new canopy Jo! It's a bit hard to give any advice since I don't know very much about you or your jumping (what sizes/models you have tried before and how you felt about those canopies). However, there is a great article on PD's website (http://www.performancedesigns.com/sabre2.htm - at the bottom of that page) about the flight characteristics of the Sabre2. Also, for the first few jumps you might want to pull a little bit higher (check with manifest + pilot to see what altitude is ok) as that gives you a little bit more time to feel out the canopy before you bring it in for your first (beer!!!) landing

The demo canopies have the brakes set on the factory marks. Some Stiletto jumpers prefer to let the brakes even further out to accommodate their style of flying. The demos also are monitored quite closely to make sure they are in trim and the control lines are set properly - it wouldn't really make sense for PD to have a bunch of demos with incorrect brake settings. However, the Stiletto has a short control range compared to many other canopies, a little input through a toggle/risers/harness gives you a lot of response from the canopy - that is a part of the design, and what many jumpers really love about their Stiletto (including me

The cross ports are actually cut by the laser, not a hot knife - same as the rest of the canopy. But good point about inspecting the crossports - they can wear and tear just as the rest of the canopy. Kolla Blue Skies Magazine

I sent mine to SSK just before Christmas - they said it would most likely take 10-14 days which it did

HE???? Better make sure that the rest of the chicks on my ALL GIRLZ team don't find out!! LOL Kolla Blue Skies Magazine

This has been an excellent thread! Thanks for all the good tips

Well, since I've only known Pablito for a week, the beginning middle and end would be good!! It's looking promising though, so far nobody has posted any gnarly stories!!

ooooh Sunshine!! tell me tell me!!! PM me if you must - if it's too shocking for the public!! Kollz Blue Skies Magazine

Pablito was in fact quite the gentleman - so I let him hang out with my buddy Gillian

Hi Sandy! I would suggest that you send it to PD for an inspection, and based on what PD says once they have checked it out, make up your mind about the reline. The cost of the inspection is $15.00, and the reline (assuming you have microlines) is $185.00. If needed, PD can also check the porosity levels of the fabric to make sure the fabric is still holding up - and if the fabric doesn't look good they will probably recommend a "clamp test" to check the strength of the fabric. Get in touch with Donna Wagner at PD (donnaw@performancedesigns.com) - she can let you know the details - she's a great gal

Thanks for sharing that Dan - many feel that "a pilot chute is a pilot chute", but as you pointed out they can vary quite a bit in not only size but construction as well. The pilot chute can play a big role in the opening of your canopy and that is at times overlooked by jumpers when they dealing with opening problems. Thanks for the heads up! Kolla Blue Skies Magazine

Holy cow Peter!!! Man, looks like I will need to have a little talk with the ladies in the shipping dept tomorrow - this might also mean that there is a lady in AZ wondering what the hell to do with the Sabre2 she just received... man oh man Lets get hook up first thing tomorrow, wonder if there is Sat. delivery in your area so I can send you another one??? We will work that out in the AM - I sincerely apologize. I'm very sorry about this, will try my best to make get this straightened out ASAP.... and stay off that 107 please

Amen to that Lisa

Emmie, I would recommend that you inspect your main (perhaps with the help of your rigger or someone else that is knowledgeable about gear). Just lay it down on the side (as if you were about to flat pack it), and then go over the canopy from one end to another (do both top skins and bottom skins). It really doesn't take that long, but allows you to get to know your canopy pretty well, so you can monitor it for wear and tear. Pay attention to the fabric, seams and tapes, and just keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. It can really help you to catch minor stuff before it turns into something nasty. You also need to keep an eye on the lines for wear and tear, but if you need to check the trims you might need to enlist your rigger. How often you want to do this depends a bit on how much you jump, but for the average jumper out there perhaps 1 x every repack cycle is pretty good. Take good care of your canopy and give it a little TLC every now and then, and your canopy will take good care of you right back This is not meant to replace a careful inspection by a rigger or a manufacturer should that be needed, but rather a tool to help you stay on top of your gear, just as you check your container :) Blue ones! Kolla Blue Skies Magazine

Carl is indeed at DeLand, and is doing some crazy 10-way here - I jumped with them couple of weeks back, and I'm still sore . It was fun though - scared the crap out of me several times but for some odd reason (that I can't explain to myself) I'm joining them again the next time :) Kolla Blue Skies Magazine

Go Mac! Now if I could get you to do that for the FSL schedule as well, life would be good

Oh my... there went my honorable reputation !!! Blue Skies Magazine

I agree with Kirk - fly before you buy! Most manufacturers have demo programs in place, and some dealers/DZ's offer demos/rentals as well, so you can try the model/size you are looking for to make sure you like the way it opens/flies/lands. Also take your time with your current canopy too - really learn how to fly it and make sure you have fully explored all that it has to offer before you move either up in performance or down in size - be safe

I'm with you Dave, I prefer to pro pack. I can't really say that I'm a great packer, but my pack job is mostly under control and the openings are nice (normally jump a Stiletto). The trick for me was practice practice practice and then practice some more.... At the end of the day - as long as you are getting openings that you like and your canopy isn't getting damaged - use what works for you! There are probably about as many twists on packjobs as there are skydivers - you'll soon find out what works for you. I honestly really didn't learn how to pack properly until I had about 500 jumps, and went to a packing seminar at the DZ (DeLand), held by Scott Miller (of PD) - and that was about the time I was moving on to the Stiletto from a Sabre(and the Stiletto really didn't appreciate my former packing "technique")! Best of luck Canuck - I'm sure you'll get the beast under control soon - enjoy your new canopy! Blue Skies Magazine