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> Skydiving Gear and Equipment: Main and Reserve Parachutes: Aerodyne Research Corporation: Pilot

Pilot Average Rating

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Pilot

Item: Pilot 
Manufacturer: Aerodyne Research Corporation   (4731 Hits)
Purpose: Main 
Shape Elliptical 
Cells
Fabric: ZP 
   

Description:
The name says it all... A canopy designed by pilots for pilots.
When we made our “wish list” for an ultimately versatile canopy, we came up with terms that were echoed by canopy pilots around the world. Of course the list included characteristics like: consistent openings, excellent glide, predictable, responsive turns and great landings, but these are the “buzz words” that every equipment manufacturer uses. This is the analytical answer to the question. But experiencing canopy flight is more than just analysis. We had to try harder.

When we pushed farther, and were really willing to listen, we started hearing the more important needs, the soul of the pilot. We heard terms like “effortless”, “fun”, “confidence”, “reliability”, and “safety”. We had finally reached the heart of a pilot.

We designed our Pilot to meet these needs. Our engineering and development team worked for well over a year developing and testing this new canopy. We can now say, we have the ultimate in versatile canopies that you have been looking for.

If you are looking for a canopy that you can truly enjoy, without the need to “work at it”, then the Pilot is the canopy you have been waiting for. “Try one on for size”, trust your feelings and you will not be disappointed. The Aerodyne Pilot: for people who love to fly.

Added: 2003-05-19 | Item ID: 420


User Reviews:

Average Rating: Average Rating
Total Reviews: 49

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3 Recent Reviews:


16 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

I love this canopy!!
Rated by: Jeth (more about me) on 2009-08-05 08:47:11 (user reviews) Review ID:2226

Pros: Nice openings, very responsive
Cons: none

I have been jumping a Pilot 168 for about 200 jumps. I have always liked my canopy, but I am under-loading it and decided it was time for me to experience a higher wing-loading. Wow, it is fabulous!! I went down to a Pilot 140, and am in love with it!! The responsiveness I am getting at the higher WL is awesome. The turns are so much quicker, and with less input. The flares are awesome! I am having better landings with less input. I landed it in fairly high winds with no problem, and also on a no-wind day I got a great flare and ran it out. On the bigger canopy I did not get very good penetration into the wind. What a difference on the 140! I am able to get much better drive, and I actually get some penetration on final instead of coming straight down. Another thing I really like is that it recovers really quickly from turns. I can whip a 180 and it comes back up really quick - it's so much fun! I demo'd some other 150's (Safire 2 and Pulse), and those were totally sluggish in comparison. A half flare on the Pilot was way better than a full flare on the Safire. The Pilot is truly a great canopy. The openings are always on-heading and quick, but still soft (the way I like it). At a low WL, it is very easy to fly and forgiving. And now at a higher WL, I am really getting some sweet performance out of it that is really fun. (And I am still very conservative at 1:1.2. I imagine it only gets better as you increase.) This canopy rocks!!

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10 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

Pilot ZPX 188
Rated by: coldsteel (more about me) on 2009-07-24 19:14:33 (user reviews) Review ID:2220

Pros: Superb performance, Packs easily and small
Cons: You'll have to get in line to order one

The Pilot has always had a solid reputation as an all-round good canopy but the ZPX fabric makes this an exceptional canopy. I jumped a Pilot ZPX 190 today loaded at 1.1. I packed it with a Precision style "psycho" pack job which gave me a nice orderly on-heading terminal opening. The ZPX fabric makes the Pilot way easier to pack than a traditional ZP canopy...suprisingly so. My Wings W-21 main container designed to take a PD 190 ZP was almost too large despite shortening the closing loop to a couple of inches. In flight the ZPX flew and turned in both full flight and braked turns with suprising speed, flat glide and precise handling. Near no-wind landing was an easy standup with a two stage technique. This is a great product! Well worth the ordering wait and the extra $200.

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2 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

pilot 168
Rated by: jamesndavis (more about me) on 2009-06-22 16:58:50 (user reviews) Review ID:2202

Pros: Fast
Cons: I dont live on the dz

Just got my new pilot 168 made 3 no wind landings. Great landings very soft openings almost scary low speed malfunction. pain in the but to pack for me I previously owned a f-111. Can't wait to jump some more

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