Canuck

Couldn't agree with ya more!! I think what we are seeing though is swoop capability being the principal contributor to overall quality of a canopy in many people's eyes. I'm not sure they are thinking "if I get this canopy I'll be able to swoop it badass", rather they are thinking "if this canopy is capable of badass swoops, it must be an all around great canopy." The funnier phenomenom I see here is how we are all so loyal to our own brand of canopies. I always defend the Crossfire, you are a huge advocate of the Stiletto, and god knows the Cobalt jumpers out there love to sit on their soapboxes. It's a little childish, but like I said, I'm as guilty as the next guy. Canuck

I've jumped both canopies - lots. The Stiletto is a faster turning canopy on both toggles and risers. However, other than turns, the Crossfire is a better performing, more agressive canopy than a Stiletto in all aspects. It dives WAY steeper and faster, will swoop MUCH further in the same pilot's hands, and will set you down on tip toes everytime. The Crossfire is categorically a step up from a Stiletto. As a side note on the turns, talk to people who have just started jumping a Velocity/FX/VX. Many of them will tell you that their old Stiletto's turned faster. Then once they get a bit more experience on the canopy and figure out the control range is MUCH deeper, they change their story. Same with the Crossfire. You don't start pulling g's in the first two inches of your toggle stroke like a Stiletto, but get a toggle down to your chest and you better have your shoes tied up tight. Canuck

And the 105's. I believe Chuck's quote was "Every bitch in the field seems to be a 105." I bought one and sold it without jumping it because of the reported hard openings. Sure enough, the girl that bought it from me reported "brisk" openings. A friend here has a 105 that has rocked him a few times too. Canuck

You're probably thinking abou the "Eclipse" container made by "Stunts something-or-other." You can find info in the gear section I believe. I know a guy that has one. I have not given it a really close inspection, but it looks like a nice enough rig. Oh yeah, they also make tandem rigs, which are really nice. Look just like a sport rig all packerd up, not like a Strong or an old style Vector. Canuck

Crossfire 1 119, loaded at about 1.7, no mod list. In 300 + jumps I've had one hard opening, and line twists maybe 3 or 4 times. The hard opening wasn't really that hard (two cameras on my head and it's still attached), and the line twists didn't cause the canopy to turn or dive. I'm on heading 80 to 90 percent of the time, and continually get comments from people watching my video along the lines of "I wish my canopy opened like that!" Love the openings, and everything else for that matter. Swoops like a muthafugga. Canuck

I have one - it rocks. What do I like about it? Well, for starters, it was the original rig with the "reversed" leg straps. Since then Jav's and Mirage's have copied, but it was the original, and that legstrap configuration is WAY more comfy, and they NEVER loosen off in the plane. Also, it's hard to find a rig with better pin and riser protection. There are others out there that may be equally as good, but none better. As far as how it looks, the design's not for everyone, but I really like it. I've always been a fan of narrow rigs, and would trade narrow for short anyday. As far as the rounded off bottom goes, it looks cool, but I really don't notice any difference when I'm upright. I've had no complaints about the reserve re-pack. According to both of the riggers I use, it packs fairly similar to a Talon. I have a V1 with a Crossfire 119 and a PD126 in it, and it looks great - no stretched areas, no loose areas. My next rig will be another Voodoo. Canuck

I have two comments. #1 - At under 100 jumps, you're not ready for a Stiletto. Period. There is no way with that few jumps that you have experienced all or even most of the worst case scenarios. What happens when you have to land off? The pattern gets all fubar and someone cuts you off at 100 feet? Night jumps? Busy dropzones with multiple big planes? The list goes on. #2 - There are always good deals on used Stiletto's. I guarantee there will be an equally good deal for you in a few hundred more jumps. Get yourself something zp and square. Canuck

My point is that the h-mod is a performance enhancer for a stock cobalt. If you want an enhanced cobalt right out of the factory, the competition cobalt is the alternative. Canuck

They do. It costs about $400 and it's called a competition cobalt. Canuck

Two words for you. Mr. Bill. That's what I did for my 500th. Wicked fun - cool video. I'll be doing my 800th in Eloy during the Canadian Invasion in January - so I too am looking for something fun to try. Canuck

Yup, that's a Strong rig. The drogue attachment is in the centre of the rig as compared to the bottom on a Vector, Eclipse, etc. It does allow you to shoot from on level, although I try to get under them for at least part of the dive to get the full body shot. I find the Strong rigs wash around the sky a little more though, whereas a Vector rig seems to be tracking at you in freefall. Canuck

Anybody out there know what the options are for a fixed 28mm lens for a Canon EOS are? I know Canon sells one for around $330 Cdn - are there other brands I might find for less? Ideas for where to look? I got through one season with this monster 28-80 hangin' off my head, but I really would like to get something a little less phalic over the winter!!! Canuck

Let me begin by saying I don't fly either (I jump a Crossfire), but I know people that do, and I have been following these forums long enough that I think I can accurately encapsulate the general opinions on these two canopies. If you don't want a canopy that will occasionally, or even somewhat regularly, open quite briskly, the VX is not for you. It is prone to hard openings. It's a swoopin' machine, and was never really intended as an all'rounder. I know lots of people who jump Velocity's and love the openings, riser pressure is going to be lighter on the Velocity, and getting back from long spots will also be easier. And hey...the Velocity holds the current records for both distance and speed...how can you argue with that?! Oh yeah, they retail cheaper too. Canuck

I hate to ask Andrew, but did you have the mod done on the canopy? Vectran lines? I ask because I jump a Crossfire 119 myself. Any info appreciated. Canuck

Orange and blue canopy...hmmm...who do I know that would want an orange and blue canopy.... Just kiddin' Chuck. I couldn't resist. Hope you find it. I'll keep a look out on the North side of the border for you. Canuck

How much quicker can it get!!!??? Push down on the latch and it pops right off - it takes all of about a half a second. Canuck

There are two cam fliers at my little DZ up here, and we both use digital stills. I just have a little cheapo HP, the other guy is using a Canon Powershot G2, which is still comparatively cheap at $1200 Canadian which is about $800 US. It's a 4 megapixle camera and takes great shots, and fast! Now, here's the catch. This guy is a electronics wiz. He has opened up both our cameras and built in a circuit to eliminate the shot delay - push the button, instant picture. Anyway, digital is the way to go, especially for tandems. We print them on sight and have the pics in their hands in 5 minutes. Once they see em, they bought em! Canuck

In this day and age, I think 2000 feet is too low. I find it interesting that skydive licencing requirements are changing to recognize the evolution of the sport, but pull altitudes are staying the same. When 2200 feet was set as the hard deck, a Fury was a high performance canopy. Under any 220 sq. ft. F111 canopy I would pull at 2000 and not fret. Chances are, you are in the saddle by 1500 ft plus, and even if you are twisted and spinning, it's going to take a long time before you bust through a grand. Under my Crossfire 119 on the other hand...and lets not even talk about the sub 100's. Canuck

The Flat Top Pro is designed to sit level. Jeanie has made that clear to me over the phone, and on these forums on more than one occasion. That is a definitive answer. Now...if your melon is an odd shape, or depending on how you bake your bone, it could be a few degrees up or down. I bought mine to use for money jumps (tandems) and fun jumps (freefly) and it works great for both. As far as a flat side, flat top, the only variation on the flat top Jeanie has mentioned is in development is a "Flat Top Narrow" designed for cam fliers who only need the space for one camera on the top but still like the design of the helmet. Call her, she is great to talk to. Canuck

A few question for anybody who might have been at the latest swoop comp: 1. 418 feet!!! Was that through 4 foot entry gates!? That is some mad swoop! 2. Anybody know what canopy Jason Peters was flying (4th in distance)? He had been jumping a Crossfire 102 in previous competitions, but his canopy isn't listed on the Para-Performance website. 3. Where are all the Atair boys? Chuck? Canuck

Very impressive Dan, but your post brings up an entirely different safety concern. Do you not risk spraining an elbow or shoulder patting yourself on the back so much?! Canuck

Exit - I'm at a Cessna DZ. I leave from the strut as the Tandem comes out the door. The most important thing is to come off just before they do, and let them fall to your level. For obvious reasons, never get caught above them, especially before the drogue is out. Once flying, I stay on level or just slightly below, actually I do a bit of both. I fly on my belly, in my freefly suit. I try to vary the distance between about 2 to 6 feet. Some people will argue that you need a wing suit. I shot a 65 pound seven year old 2 weeks ago - no problem. For deployment, I flip on my back and film the entire deployment. With my wide angle, I usualy get my feet in the shot, which looks kinda cool. Hope this helps. Canuck

I've only put a couple jumps on a Reflex 145, but there were quite a few guys jumping them at my DZ a few years ago. Here's what I can tell ya: They were one of the original elliptical designs, and have since been replaced by the Blade Runner and later the Hurricane. In my opinion, Chute Shop has always been a little more progressive with their canopy designs than their South African counterpart PISA, and the Reflex reflects that. At the time it came out, it was the highest performing canopy on the market. They did, however, seem to come out of the factory all different. One guy at my DZ went through three of them. The first one blew up with only a few hundred jumps on it, the other two are still kicking around. All three of them apparently flew differently. Generally speaking, they are VERY fast turning, faster than an equally sized Stiletto. Openings are a little inconsistent, more like a Sabre than a Stiletto. Landings...they will surf, but they need to be hooked hard and low (I cringe to say that). They come around the corner right now, not a divey canopy at all, and yes, they will dig out like a Stiletto. Straight in approaches at anything over about 1.3 are going to set you down a little rough. All in all, a good canopy, but a little out of date. Now, this isn't a sales pitch cause I don't jump PD, but the guy that had the three Reflex 145's got a Stiletto demo in 94 and never sent it back. His two remaining Reflexes have been sitting in his closet ever since... Hope this helps. Canuck

Blade Runner was made by Chute Shop. First ones hit the market in 94 I think, it has since been replaced with a canopy called the Huricane. I can't remeber their web address - but I know they have one. Canuck

I put over 300 jumps on a 150. I really liked the canopy. A lot of people will tell you it's the same as a Stiletto. People that have flown both (like me) know that the Blade Runner is trimmed steeper. When I had mine, I used to play end cell bumping games with a buddy under a Stiletto 135, and the two canopies had very similar speed and descent (and yes, he was about the same weight). Turns are Stiletto snappy, way faster than my current Crossfire 119. Openings are also similar to a Stiletto, soft but often off heading. I never twisted mine up, but I was only loading it at about 1.4 They were made in South Africa and were built with the Gelvesnor ZP - so easy packing. If you can get a good deal on one, and are elliptical zp ready, go for it. Everybody I know who has/had one liked it. The only people I've heard bad mouth them are the people who spent more on a Stiletto and got (in my opinion) less of a canopy. Canuck