TrickyDicky 0 #1 July 14, 2008 I had a look through a 1993 sport parachutist over the weekend, and saw and advert for the stilleto. It made me wonder a couple of things: 1. Is the stilletto the oldest canopy still in production, excluding resrves? (at least 15 years now) How much has the design of the stilletto changed over the years? 2. With the stilletto being so old, are people ignoring it as a path on the route to HP landings, and going too quickly to katanas, or to put it another way, are people treating the katana too much like the "new" stilletto? UK Skydiver for all your UK skydiving needs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damion75 0 #2 July 14, 2008 No idea about the answer to your question, but as regards the Stilletto's place on the path to swooping... I think most would agree it is not on that path. The Sabre2 would probably be a better choice. *************** Not one shred of evidence supports the theory that life is serious - look at the platypus. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuckakers 370 #3 July 14, 2008 Quote No idea about the answer to your question, but as regards the Stilletto's place on the path to swooping... I think most would agree it is not on that path. The Sabre2 would probably be a better choice. Not sure how you came up with that.Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 36 #4 July 14, 2008 While under a different company (Flight Concepts), the Glide Path canopies, both main and reserve (cricket, maverick, fury, maverone, manta, etc), are still in production and came out sometime in the 80's. Parafoil may be older but haven't paid much attention if it has changed.I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMFin 0 #5 July 14, 2008 Quote Quote No idea about the answer to your question, but as regards the Stilletto's place on the path to swooping... I think most would agree it is not on that path. The Sabre2 would probably be a better choice. Not sure how you came up with that. Not sure how you wouldnt come up with that Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #6 July 14, 2008 The oldest sport main still in production today is the PARACOMANDER, first marketed 1964 and still in production today. http://www.pioneeraero.com/2-5_fre_fal.htm And all you square pilots today that need a aerial photo and instruction sheet just to understand how to land in the LZ, couldn't handle this HP canopy..........For one thing, your spot'n with the green fucking light won't cut it. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #7 July 14, 2008 Quote Quote Quote No idea about the answer to your question, but as regards the Stilletto's place on the path to swooping... I think most would agree it is not on that path. The Sabre2 would probably be a better choice. Not sure how you came up with that. Not sure how you wouldnt come up with that Spoken like someone who believes the sport started 10 minutes before their first jump.Seriously, the Stiletto was jumped by many of the "Pioneers" of swooping, and they made that canopy look good!.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMFin 0 #8 July 14, 2008 Quote Spoken like someone who believes the sport started 10 minutes before their first jump. Laugh Seriously, the Stiletto was jumped by many of the "Pioneers" of swooping, and they made that canopy look good!. LOL Sure it has been jumped by many of the pioneers. Im sure those same pioneers have jumped much worse canopies in their days.. But hey. Skydiving gear evolves. The fact that some piece of gear was hot in the old days doesnt mean it is so in the present Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,400 #9 July 14, 2008 >Is the stilletto the oldest canopy still in production, excluding resrves? I am pretty sure there are some accuracy canopies that have been in production a lot longer. >With the stilletto being so old, are people ignoring it as a path on >the route to HP landings . . . Many people do. It's still a decent canopy, but there are better ones out there nowadays for people learning to swoop. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 13 #10 July 14, 2008 The sport canopy I jumped in the 70s was a 28 ft. C-9 with 4-Line Release. That was in production long before then and is still being made. But, that's probably not what you meant. Kevin K. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 3 #11 July 14, 2008 Quote The sport canopy I jumped in the 70s was a 28 ft. C-9 with 4-Line Release. That was in production long before then and is still being made. But, that's probably not what you meant. Kevin K. Yea, but that was when ships were made of wood men were made of iron and the earth was flat.SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drudchen 0 #12 July 14, 2008 QuoteThe oldest sport main still in production today is the PARACOMANDER, first marketed 1964 and still in production today. http://www.pioneeraero.com/2-5_fre_fal.htm So, if someone wanted to buy a brand new paracommander right now, how much would it cost? Just wondering... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuckakers 370 #13 July 14, 2008 Quote Quote Quote Quote No idea about the answer to your question, but as regards the Stilletto's place on the path to swooping... I think most would agree it is not on that path. The Sabre2 would probably be a better choice. Not sure how you came up with that. Not sure how you wouldnt come up with that Spoken like someone who believes the sport started 10 minutes before their first jump.Seriously, the Stiletto was jumped by many of the "Pioneers" of swooping, and they made that canopy look good!. Never thought of myself as a pioneer of swooping, but I have 1,000+ jumps on a Stiletto in the early years of production and it served its' purpose well. At the time (hand me my cane, sonny) it was the hottest thing around. There may be newer designs that have advantages over the Stiletto, but its' still an all-around solid elliptical that is quite capable on the swoop pond - if ya know what yer doin', that is.Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #14 July 14, 2008 More then you would want to pay.you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Colson 0 #15 July 14, 2008 QuoteMore then you would want to pay. $$$ aside, would Pioneer even sell one to the civilian/sport market? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swooooop 0 #16 July 15, 2008 is the paracamander not the canopy that thay use for parasailing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,048 #17 July 15, 2008 Hi swooooop, No, but similar technology. JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UDSkyJunkie 0 #18 July 15, 2008 QuoteThe oldest sport main still in production today is the PARACOMANDER Hmm... Not sure if I'd count that... it WAS a sport main, and may still be in production, but it's no longer a sport main. At least, not that people jump for purposes other than novelty and nostalgia (yes, I have a PC jump!) I was thinking the PARAFOIL might get the award, assuming they still make them (I think they do... since the accuracy freaks still use 'em). There's some other seriously old stuff you can still get made. Sharpshuters and Mantas and the like. But in terms of "modern" sport canopies that are still in production, the Stiletto may be the winner. I can only name a few ZP canopies that came before it, and none of them have been in production for a long time... I think the Sabre1 was the last holdout."Some people follow their dreams, others hunt them down and beat them mercilessly into submission." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mircan 0 #19 July 15, 2008 QuoteI was thinking the PARAFOIL might get the award, assuming they still make them (I think they do... since the accuracy freaks still use 'em). Yes they still do make `em. And a lot of people i know still jump `em.dudeist skydiver #42 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #20 July 15, 2008 The triathalon and the lightning were around before ZP was used on canopys. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
itllclear 1 #21 July 15, 2008 Quote Yea, but that was when ships were made of wood men were made of iron and the earth was flat. and the harness was made from tyrannosaurus hides, and the hardware was made from stone because they hadn't learned to work with metal h=yet."Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
likestojump 3 #22 July 15, 2008 Quote The sport canopy I jumped in the 70s was a 28 ft. C-9 with 4-Line Release. That was in production long before then and is still being made. But, that's probably not what you meant. Kevin K. But is a C9 really a SPORT main ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #23 July 15, 2008 Quote The triathalon and the lightning were around before ZP was used on canopys. ________________________________________________ Triathlon was probably the third canopy developed by Aerodyne ... after 1991 .. not sure of the exact date??? Tri's are basically early 1980s CF canopies updated with modern materials. The first Triathlon's were made of ZP fabric woven by Gelvenor Textiles in South Africa and Spectra suspension lines. Performance Designs introduced the Lightning after Poynter published Volume two in 1991. So Triathlons and Lightnings are definitely not the oldest sport canopies still in production. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 13 #24 July 15, 2008 Quote But is a C9 really a SPORT main ? I didn't use it with an ejection seat, if that's what you mean. Yeah, you're probably right. It's not. But when everyone was using them, they sure SEEMED like sport mains. I mean, most of us were not intending to kill anyone after we landed. Kevin K._____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydance1954 0 #25 July 15, 2008 QuoteWith the stilletto being so old, are people ignoring it as a path on the route to HP landingsQuote <Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0 Go To Topic Listing