kansasskydiver

oops....

final alarm as is your flat line? mine is set to 1800 and i'm not usually starting my hook or carve by then... do you guys have your set lower or just starting your turns higher?

That's odd Aggie, I called them up and got someone on the line the first attempt. We talked and he explained that the demo's were on teh road, but because few people jump the 169 that he'd get it shipped out to me. he sent me an email a week later and said it was ready to ship. i didn't respond right away thankfully. one of our riggers is an icarus dealer and he called simon up directly, simon shipped the canopy on friday tbd today and i get to keep it for 2 weeks then just ship it to lake wales, no demo fee. they know i'm holding a 37% off coupon too, so maybe that helps and rigger dave and simon are friends let me know what you think of that 149 dave. what's your loading going to be?

I'll remember to shoot you a message next year on your bday and remind me not to jump

i disagree with that statement. we have a jumper at our dz with 200plus jumps flying a sabre 170 and pd wouldn't send him a stilleto 150 that he'd load at 1.2 from atair, i spoke with him and we came to the conclusion that for what i'm looking for a 150 would be the best. i plan on buying a 150 anyways, loading around 1.7 (i'm a big guy) they weren't trying to push anything on me. Again, Atair was very friendly with me, called me back on my lunch hour as asked and shipped the canopy on a momment notice. The canopy has great performance aspects, just didn't get the openings i was expecting or that i thought would be safe doing tandem videos with a topmount trv chris

ah geez forgot about that one... i'll have to contact them in a month when i'm done with the next 2

Yes I'm being a busy man, jumping all the canopies I can to get the feel for the market and then evaluate them all. I will write the same review of the Xfire-2 as I did for the Cobalt. All the canopies I'm demoing are 170^2 ft, I will be purchasing a 150 though, but my current main is a 150. I'll go thru the top 3 canopies again in the 150 stage and then make my final purchase. So far I have jumpe: -Sabre 170 -Sabre2 170 -Heatwave 170 -Diablo 170 -Cobalt 170 This week, Crossfire 2-169 and next week Nitron 170 waiting on Stilleto 170 and Katana 150 when it comes out

The cobalt I was jumping this weekend did have the H mod, which Atair said made it like the Competition Cobalt, just that it was an after production modification. I'll have a Crossfire2 for 2 weekends this week

a dear friend of mine died flying a birdman suit 2 years ago. I am always sickened when people meet me and find out i skydive and ask "did a guy bounce" or "hey wasn't that guy who went splat" and don't realize that just possibly i could have known that person, he maybe could have been my brother. just because we're skydivers and do something that is "dangerous" (not really) doesn't mean we don't have feelings and don't react. i generally tend to ignore those whom make these comments. if they insist and then show up to jump at my dz, or signup for a jump, i politely ask them to show respect or leave

Well this is kinda weird. I knew the dates were around eachother but I just pulled out my logbook and looked at all the dates etc. First cutaway jump 17, line over. Oct 6th 2001 Oct 5th 2002 line over, cleared it from the end cell by popping the riser. didn't chop it Oct 6th 2003 spinning main after deployment, brakeline won't release from toggle didn't chop it... Anyone else kinda see what's going on here?!?!?!? Was this year a leap year, was the 6th really the 5th or something or WTF? I've heard of other people kinda having the same thing happen. if you are one of them, please post, i'm really confused about all this right now

i got 7, does that mean i such at telling when people are faking it lol

break lines breaking though is one thing, you just unstow the other one and use riser. in this instance, the left brake line would no release from the toggle. any movement with the toggle responded as if i was already in a turn and going deeper into it

always try to be, even to new students. inviting to the parties at my house etc

Just curious to see what others would have done in my situation. Over the weekend I got a toggle that wouldn't release from the eyelet (design flaw now that I look at it) I was able to unstow the brake from the keeps, but imediately after that, the canopy dove to the left. I reacted by pulling both down to "release the brakes" and spun myself up a half twist. Comp Cobalt 170 loaded at 1.5. At 2k the thought process went thru my mind to cutaway. I won't say what I did though, just curious Added: The eyelet never released even after attempted to unstow it

that's what atair told me too.

yes i know i wasn't "suposed" to roll the nose... but i was trying to see if anything was going to get it to open better. not sure if aggie got the same one... i'll pm him and ask

I rolled the nose 7 times and tail maybe 12. It's not a new canopy, it was a demo, packed somwhat easy for a new canopy

First off, I never intended for this discussion of the delivery of a demo canopy to get so large, but I thank everyone who posted in the other post about the canopy and their experiences. To be fare, all and everything below is only experience from the previous 2 weekends. The canopy got around 25 jumps on it, 23 of which were mine. There are some good and some bad things, the story does get interesting though, so read along please. Recall though that I am a marketing major and studies show that an unhappy customer will tell on average 7 people about their experience, where as a satisfied customer will only tell on average 1. That is why we are seeing more people complaining about the canopy. Just some background on consumer behavior, to the story from beginning to end of my experience. I have around 500 jumps now, 320 on a Sabre 170. I consider myself an efficient canopy pilot, but was not getting the performance out of my Sabre that was needed. High riser pressure causing me to initiate my turns lower to the ground than wanted. In consideration of buying a new canopy I started the demo process First canopy on my list was the Cobalt. From my readings and other jumpers at my dz, I hadn't heard the best things from the canopy. Unpredictable openings, hard openings etc, but on the performance side very good. I came into looking at the demo with an unbiased opinion of the canopy as well due to one death of a dear friend whom deployed unstable on a birdman suit, and a low hook turn of another dear friend, who is still with us thankfully. I pushed these factors aside and said, "If I'm going to buy a new canopy, I want to jump them all that way I know for sure which one was the right one for me" The PISA heatwave has so far been the worst of my experience for the records. I had 3 instant openings and one of which I was never able to get the end cells to open. I spent 2 days in bed and a doctor's appointment. So we will classify the Heatwave as hard, and the sabre I currently jump as medium and the Diablo as extremely soft. I contacted Atair on a Tuesday and asked if there was any possibility I could have a demo for the weekend. They informed me that the lady who handled the demo department was no around, but to fax in my request. I did so and called back on Wednesday. I spoke with Atair about the canopy and yes I admit I was somewhat concerned of what I was getting in to. They informed me that the cobalt 170 had the H mod on it, much like the comp cobalt. On their website it states that the comp cobalt is for expert pilots only. By that wording I do not consider myself. I was given a call back from Atair and spoke with an expert and they addressed my concerns. Informed me that the canopy flew big and that I would have no problem under a 170. We spoke some more and determined that a 150 might actually be my best bet. We decided on the 150, but it was no available so the 170 was sent. I called Atair back on Thursday and was given a tracking number, canopy to be delivered on Friday, just as I asked. Took off work early to pick it up. First thing I noticed was, printed on the box, "we recommend a 24" pilot chute, we supply these kinds, etc" there was no pilot chute in the box. Concerned, I measured mine, 27" The canopy did come on risers, RSL on each side, not twisted and hooked up great. Packed it up, actually twice before I put it in the bag, and got ready for Saturday. Last Saturday rolls around and I make my first jump on it. I wanted to be sure I jumped it before I did my videos that day (top mount TRV and still) 10k and dumped at 7k. The canopy slammed me. Comparing to the above canopies I mentioned. It was harder than the sabre, but not as hard as the heatwave. There was no 2 stage deployment to it, instant canopy and the slider stowed itself. Concerned with this matter, I borrowed a friend's rig with a sabre 170 in it, strapped on my camera helmet and did my first video of the day. I didn't trust the cobalt enough yet to put the camera on. My friend jumped the cobalt. We both landed, he said it was the most amazing opening he's had, almost cut away cause it was so soft. We switched back. I packed the canopy a bit different, more careful, went back up, deployed in a track (101mph protrack) felt my back crunch. Closer to the heatwave, but still not as hard. Made a couple more jumps on it Saturday as I got the packing down. Still did not experience the 2 stage opening. My buddy whom jumped it and had a nice opening said I was being a pussy and I let him jump it again… he came down, bug eyes and with riser slap that left a mark on his z1. he looked at me and said I wasn't being a wimp and just shook his head. Sunday I believe was the first 2 stage opening I had. Threw out and kinda felt something maybe was there, then WHAM the outer 6 cells opened. End cell closure, easily fixed though. Only made one other jump Sunday due to 30mph winds… The canopy does fly big as stated. Going back to my first jump on it, I was sure if I was going to make it back into the wind, seemed like I was going backwards, I leaned forward in my harness and gained some. It does fly rather large and glides a lot. Sluggish turns, unless you pull all the way down. I believe this is because of the length of the steering lines. Riser pressure amazing, dives like a banchi, able to hold a 540 carve from 1000 ft no problem. Bottom end flare incredible, I pulled my butt off the ground and back up 5 ft into the air. No complaints on the swoop department or carve and stability. Cross country/crew. Great canopy. 50knotts up top, took it out about 7 miles, dumped at 10k. sub terminal opening, 3 center cells snivel snivel snivel the WHAM outer 6. stowed everything, opened chest strap, started to really play around with rear risers (important later on in story as you'll see) did some crew with a stiletto 120 loaded at around 1.7-1.8. great glide, lift, stable, no concerns what so ever. Back over dz at 5k and played around. While landing we caught a gust of wind or updraft. The canopy held it's composure and flew thru it well. Did not collapse nor did it have a lack of flare Next Saturday. Student day, mostly hop n pop's. tried to get packing down, stuff nose, roll tail TIGHT, track track track wham, same thing. Made another jump, much softer and nicer, still not what was expecting, but in comparison, acceptable. Got one head down from 6k, higher speed deployment slower track, same thing. By mid Saturday I felt like a rag doll on opening because I was doing the whole "relaxed deployment" head facing down, arms to side, not looking up, just taking what I got. I have a mark on my throat from hitting my chest strap so many times. The opening did get better over the day and I just didn't "care" anymore, or I got used to them lol Sunday is the important day now. Got a nicer opening from 10k with a student, deployed at 3.5 and it was a lot softer, I had rolled the nose 3 time and then stuffed it. Yet same thing though, once the 3 center cells got air and pushed the slider down, it was done. Slider half stowed itself. 2nd or 3rd jump of Sunday, rolled the nose 7 times (11 on sabre) and pushed it back. Went to 10k again, student dumped at 4 and me at 3.5 wham… same thing. I didn't look up though thru the deployment. The slider had come half way down the brakes. I stowed the slider, opened my chest strap, looked around in the air and pulled down the rear riser to have some fun. Did a 360 leveled out, grabbed the toggles and unstowed them. Immediate diving spin to the left. GRAB BOTH TOGGLES PULL THEM DOWN TO UNSTOW BRAKES!!! Even worse, spun me up one twist. Ah fuck pulled again, same thing. Shit 2k, cutaway cutaway cutaway!!! This is where the student training and me being an instructor came in "is it there? Is it square? Is it steer able?" well, now 1800 over a field, spinning main… grabbed the right righter and got it to fly straight again. Evaluated the problem. With the design of the toggles, there is a notch where the break line goes thru, not the typical grommet type. The eyelet in the steering line had gotten on the under side of this notch, either packing or on deployment and the slider smacking it and it was impossible to get it off with the pressure on the line. So my left break was stowed and every movement I made with it was that much more than the right. 1500 or so, I wrap the right toggle around my hand to counter steer and left the left toggle put. Use the rear risers to control the canopy. Lines on right cutting into my hand, I'm freaking out, don't want to land it anymore, it's turning to fast, I'm too close to the ground to cut away, left side of canopy isn't flying as I had thought compared to the right because I'm set in brakes and trying to turn low into the wind. Get myself cross wind over the dz grab the rear risers, feet and knees together, 10 ft and give it what it's worth. Slowed the canopy down as I leveled out onto my side and slide the rest of the way in. walked back to the hanger bug eyed and pissed. Everyone said, geez that was a hard opening are you done with it, I explained the situation and that I had doubts about landing it, but was fine. In retrospect, I probably shoulda cut away, but from the cross country, I was somewhat familiar with the canopy and what it could do rear riser wise. Landed, packed back up and made 3 more jumps all from 3.5 same thing though from them each time, ever rolling the nose. It's when the 3 center cells expand and it throws the slider down that is causing the issues. In my honest opinion, the Cobalt is a swoop machine. I got the longest swoop I have ever had, about 40yards from a 360 carve from 800ft. In every way shape and form the canopy performs as it should. The sluggish turns were probably due to the slack in the E lines. It landed me under a partial malfunction with sufficient flare power to not hammer me in. little riser pressure. Performance aspect I'll give it an 8 Openings were marginal 5 . Nothing that has kept me in bed today or last weekend. Just very snappy after the 3 center cells. A bit sore, but nothing that stopped me from taking the beating. I wanted to make sure I got the most out of the canopy and didn't give up on it. I would still trust my sabre over the cobalt though to do video. Overal performance of the canopy I'd say is a 6.5 The openings just weren't what I had in mind. I was told the canopy was going to be a dream compared to the sabre, and yes that was true, I'm sad to send it back because of the swoops, but won't miss the openings. Customer service 9 was prompt and easy to talk to on phone Again, this was only my experience and my opinion. I am by far not an expert and nothing I said should be written in stone. Hope this helps Blue skies, Chris

Hey everyone, I have posted a reply to the forum I started a little over 2 weeks ago. I have kept quiet while jumping the canopy because I wanted to come back to everyone with my FULL experience and not just one or 2 jumps on it. All writen is my opinion and personal experience only. I never intended for this to get so large, but my review is posted under "Comp Coblat 2 week review" blue skies everyone

and you want us to feel sorry for you or something don't ya i dated a nympho once. i couldn't keep up and she screwed like 8 guys... that was a long time ago though, 2-3 years ago. i think she's since turned into a porn star

I can't believe no one has mentioned John Petrucci from Dream Theater!!! oops sorry guys i just say that he is mentioned a number of times

I just killed the guy in the cube next to me lol i've got them tonight!!!

Wish the bastards who broke into my car 2 weeks ago woulda just taken the whole damn thing... anyone want to steal my car?!?!?!?

Sorry Jill but neither Beavers or I will be down there nor Eloy. We're going down to Brasil to jump and hang out. Wanna join us? It'll be a blast

it's 12:15 CST we need more people in the pub...