masterrigger1

2 1/4 inches towards the Canopy. The rest of the larger sizes are 2 1/2 inches. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

What he said! MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

1 7/8 inches towards the canopy. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

There is no way that this statement is based on experience. I probably work on, test jump, and install more performance enhancing modifications than most. Remember, the different manufacturers work on their own canopies and I work on all the different makes out there. Well at least most of them. Yes, I have jumped the Katana. and the Crossfire 2. I have also taken them apart and put them back together when damaged. I have to make templates to cut ribs and so forth, so I have a good feel for the rib design. Yes, there are differences in the nose, slight increase in trim angle and construction techniques.But in the end, the Katana and Crossfire 2 are very similar in design.Remember the Crossfire 2 came out first before the Katana. Do this.. put trim tabs on the front risers with a similar sized Crossfire2 ( on a 109 pull them down almost 2 inches at altitude. Fly the canopy that way and see the performance increase. You have the right to your opinon, but remember I have one too! No one is trying to... then you could not see to land BS, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

What size do you have? MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Not that I recall!!! MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Chris, I don't think he would be guinea pig. Those canopies have been tested for quiet some time and have had many,many test jumps. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Jp, That is correct. It seems to keep the canopy from letting one side inflate faster than the other side. When one side does that it will began flying around the other side causing a spinup. It just seems to help.. Joe Bennet's canopy was about the third one I changed. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Jeff, That would be me That you are refering to, except that I never told you that PD HAD changed the settings.I said they may have! That response was in my last email to you. We changed the brake settings and found that the canopy opens better and more stable, not faster. I relayed that info to one of my friends at PD with hopes that may change it with our findings. We still install line sets with the deeper setting with great responses from the customers. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Not true. Ask Stane about it. The trim has been changed during the years. Minor stuff but it's not the same. Not in this case. 50% in reduction of the bulk above the cascade, 25% below it. You have not seen the stuff I use, much thinner than CSR's. Contact E.L. Wood Braiding Co. Inc 607.849.9663 if you want to know the specs on the stuff they made for me. Will do!! Also PM Sent.. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

The Colbalt canopies have the same trim and line set as the Viper and Alpha. As far as the bulk issue.... The Continuious lines can add more bulk. 725 Spectra is 1/8 inch wide and 1/16 thick 350 Technora is almost 3/32 inch wide and 1/16 thick If you total the Length X width X thickness to find the total area, you might just be suprised at the outcome. This is why you do not see the PD boy's jumping continious line Sets on the distance canopies. This is also why the openings are better on Continuious lines sets, more line grip on the slider grommets all the way down the lines. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Rhino, You might want to wait about 4-5 weeks before you decide!!!! You never know what is coming out next!! MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Even if it is true that the canopies are almost identical, in my experiences they fly nothing alike. I have found the Katana to be a MUCH more aggressive canopy than the XF2. *** I find them to have the same performance as do most other canopy pilots. The only difference is the Katana has a longer recovery arc from the increase in angle of attack in the line trim. Cheers, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

QuoteIt totally depends on the canopy. I feel the Katana is best loaded at 2:1, and can't say the same for other non-cross-braced canopies I've flown or been around .*** I quess I do not understand that statement because the Katana is nothing more than a Crossfire! Period. One will not not do what the other will do! The canopies are almost identical! The line trim is a little steeper, other than that the same! MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

We have!! MEL Skyworks Parachute Service Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

we used the specs the rigger got from the manufacturer (hiper performance) - so i can't to more than stick to these it puzzles me quite a bit if you state "They will vary greatly between the finished specs." - could you elaborate on this? i'm really curious...*** Depending as to which manufacturer, the way the lines are layed out, tensioned with weight,marked and cut. Some use weight some do not. Also the fingertraps at the upper loops, lower loops, and cascades make the overall length of the lines shorter than when marked on the line table. Bartacks also have some takeup. BS, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Technora ( one type of HMA) does not shrink. The Technora that is on your canopy probably came from Germany. I do not think there is any difference from the line that comes from Germany verus the line that we have CSR(line manufacturer) braid for us. We have been experimenting with this fiber for almost three years and have yet to have any shrink. It does elongate over time, but not alot. Maybe 1/2 inch after about 450 jumps. It makes me wonder if the line trim specs you used were the manufacturing specs. They will vary greatly between the finished specs. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Dang...What's up with you and JP agreeing with me on two different things in a week or so I must be mellowing out in my old age Blue ones, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Food for thought! As far as wing loadings go, the size of the Micro-Ravens are not sized as the rest of the canopies out there. They are smaller. You can lay a 150-M on top of a PD143R and it is considerably a lot smaller! I have ridden a Micro Raven 135 five times, enough to evaluate the flight characteristics. I would not recommend them to anyone.. We actually will not pack them any more as of about 2 years ago. I have seen more experienced skydivers land on their backs more than their feet just like it is stated in Parachutist. The article in Parachutist pretty much sums it up from my viewpoint. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Installing a bigger slider is NOT always the simple answer. Sometimes it makes the openings even worse than before. Also if you are having fast, hard openings as the norm, the line set could be very well out of trim and contributing to the cause as well. With spectra lines(which are on the Sabre 1) it is almost certain there are out of trim after about 200-400 jumps. It usally takes replacing the line set and installing a domed slider to make the Sabre 1 open like a modern day canopy consistently. Cheers, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

I will be in the shop all day tomorrow, so call me! BS, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Try a 7 inch domed slider.... works great! we make 'em MEL Skyworks Parachute Service Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

I"m thinking more like "roadies" MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Let me know too...! We built and installed the line set here at Skyworks. Joe did the "H" mod. Blue ones, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service "The Icarus Service Center" Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Different animal!... the cross connection has no inflation factor! The broken neck or strangulation could happen after. If that thing went to the right and the main canopy went to the left..... alot of different things could happen. The thing is just ugly looking! MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com