Looking for a Paradactyl

[manchuso 3]

I jumped a single keel and a double keel this year at Couch Freaks and loved them. Have been on the lookout for one for quite sometime without luck. Any advice?

Blue skies, Manchuso

[rdufokker 6]

and you didn't have a malfunction?

Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

[Beatnik 2]

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and you didn't have a malfunction?

I have a good number of single keel jumps and a growing number of double keel jumps and haven't had a malfunction or anything close on either of them. The stall on the single keel is pretty scary but it is self induced.

To the OP, neither of my dactyls are for sale.

[manchuso 3]

Beatnik: I figured you wouldn´t be in any rush to sale but if you happen to hear about someone interested in doing so please be generous and direct him to me

Rdufokker: Both openings were nice enough...


blue skies, rafael

[pchapman 278]

Single keels aren't in the greatest demand due to the way they fly, but they are the more common type.

Double keels, though, they're really rare, fly nicer, and are in quite a bit of demand among the small vintage canopy community. For example, if I found one somewhere, I know at least 2 other jumpers who'd want to snap it up before I ever announced it in public.

[Beatnik 2]

The other option that is available would be to make one or have one made. It would probably cost more to get one this way but it wouldn't be hard. The single keel and double keel share the same basic components only one has two sections and the other has three. Because of the design of them they are extremely simple to build compared to other designs.

[andrewhilton 1]

If you can't find a dactyl, how about a Russian PZ81 parawing? Packs up even smaller, flies well and should still be possible to get hold of.

[manchuso 3]

The double landed softer but I think I could learn to live with a single keel landings as it had quite more wind penetration

I´ve looking up both options. Asked some polish friends to look for a PZ81 but I´ve had no luck so far...As to making a new Paradactyl, I like the idea and I think I might be able to make one if I had the specifications. Do you have them?

Blue skies, Rafael

[Beatnik 2]

The PZ81 is a real nice parawing, probably the nicest single keel out there. But I still like the double keel as much if not better. It is a lot of fun and the landings are really soft. I have actually had jumps with the double keel where I was stuck in a thermal and going up. That jump took forever. It was from 7000 and finished 25 minutes later.

As for the specs, I can get them to you but it will have to wait a week or so. Right now I am up at the north pole with work and will be returning next week. Send me a PM.

[swovelin 11]

Manchuso: Here is the canopy I PMed you about.

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3042696;search_string=double%20keel;#3042696

[riggerrob 624]

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The PZ81 is a real nice parawing, probably the nicest single keel out there. But I still like the double keel as much if not better. It is a lot of fun and the landings are really soft. I have actually had jumps with the double keel where I was stuck in a thermal and going up. That jump took forever. It was from 7000 and finished 25 minutes later.

.........................................................................

Which is why Perris Valley Skydiving School used double-keel 'dactyls as student canopies for a while in the mid 1980s.

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[33zulu 22]

If I still had both of my old Dactyls, I'd pass them on to you. Could probably sew the two together. Pic attached of my old favorite canopies... I'm under the white one and a good friend's under the black one.

[pchapman 278]

So who owned the 'dactyls at Couch Freaks?

[manchuso 3]

The canopies look very nice. Pity you don´t have them...

I hope I get lucky and something shows up

Pchapman: Lee was kind enough to lend them to me

Blue skies, Rafael

[manchuso 3]

Still looking for a ´dactyl...

[gjhdiver 0]

If you ever get out to Byron in NorCal, you can jump mine.

[upndownshop 0]

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If you can't find a dactyl, how about a Russian PZ81 parawing? Packs up even smaller, flies well and should still be possible to get hold of.

How does one get there hands on PZ81? Would love to add it to my collection and jump one?

[spootch 0]

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Still looking for a ´dactyl...

how bout one of these?http://www.apcoaviation.com/support/manuals/guided_mayday_manual.pdf

[Beatnik 2]

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How does one get there hands on PZ81? Would love to add it to my collection and jump one?

The way I did it is make friends with someone overseas that has access to one and then buy it off them. They are a nice canopy to fly and much more stable than the single keel dactyl.

[manchuso 3]

That´s my plan B. I´m currently in touch with polish and ucrainian guys

[oldwomanc6 40]

I'm curious why anyone would want to jump a dactyl. When squares became available, everyone I knew got rid of them toot-sweet. They were horribly unreliable, and pounded even light-weight jumpers into the ground--especially on hot days.

Lisa

lisa
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9

[mjosparky 4]

Back in the early 80’s an 8 way team named Visions won the Nationals and World meet. All of them were flying dactyls.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[oldwomanc6 40]

Sparky,

Jumped with all of them at one time or another--great guys! You and I also have jumped together a few times, if I recall correctly. Didn't you always wear orange?

Lisa

lisa
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9

[mjosparky 4]

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Sparky,

Jumped with all of them at one time or another--great guys! You and I also have jumped together a few times, if I recall correctly. Didn't you always wear orange?

Lisa

Yes I did. PM me a picture.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[JerryBaumchen 1,333]

Hi Lisa & Michael,

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PM me a picture.

Think you'll recognize each other.

JerryBaumchen