SAMURAI MAIN ??

[miked10270 0]

Hi there,
It's about time I got a new "shiny thing"Has anyone out there used Brian Germain's Samurai main canopy - loaded around 1.5-1.6lbs/ft2?
What's the glide like? What are the landings like? How does it compare to the vengeance, Stilletto, Sabre at a similar wing loading? What is it REALLY like compared to the Jonathon/Jedei?
Mike D10270.

[Geoff 0]

I can't believe Dan hasn't replied to this yet.....

[ramon 0]

I just put 25 jumps on a 150 loaded at 1.5. I can only compare it to an Alpha and a stilleto at the same loading.
The openings were fantastic. very brisk yet soft....not a snivel, snivel whack , but a constant slow opening.
It seemed to turn faster by pulling the rear riser than by using the toggles. I couldn't really do a barrel roll in this canopy at 1.5 because of the softer toggles, but on my alpha which is very snappy I can get above the canopy fairly easily. In other words the brakes are sort of deep compared to an Alpha with medium brakes and a stilleto with light brakes.
It executes braked turns fantastically. I was clearing a trailer park down wind at about 350' I flew a little away from the trailers did 90 braked turn to a cross wind landing, and realized I had enough altitude to do another 90 into the wind. That samurai pulled it off great.
Riser pressure was less than a stilleto, but a little more than the Alpha. It dove a fairly long time probably about the same as my Alpha or longer, and longer again than a stilleto. Because of the slower recovery from a dive you can hook higher and maintain speed more with a double front riser before you plane out. Planing out must/should be initiated by an aggressive bump on the toggles otherwise your landing will be clunky. It took me about 5 jumps to figure out where to flare for the sweet landing where as it took about 2 for the stilleto, and the alpha always lands sweet. But to it's credit the samurai holds on to some speed after a dive and it beggs to be surfed. The parachute seems to want to stay in a very slight dive for a long time unless you impose toggle input (or maybe if you intitate a dive it recovers to a steeper glide angle until you pop it back to normal flight).
At 1.5 I was getting back from some horrendous spots. This canopy really does great with the brakes released and pulling the rear risers out and down a little. The canopy also performed really well in turbulence. Everyone elses Canopy would be bucking but mine would be solid, even though the ride was bumpy, it was flying in control. I liked that.
I told Brian I did not like the slider colapse tabs as the are hard to grip, but your rigger could sew somthing on them.
For me 150 sq ft of airlocked canopy was a pain in the ass on a windy day after I was on the ground. My buddy has no problem with his 135. When I get one it will be a 135 at 1.7.
bloo skies
ramon

[miked10270 0]

Hi Ramon,
Thanx for the info... Decision madeMike D10270.

[ramon 0]

Very very slippy stuff. I think he calls it "blue" fabric although it comes in different colors. I really improved my packing habits when I was jumping it . I have no idea if it is exactly the same as PD.
You can call him, he is usually working from noon to 9:00PM. He'll tell you anything you want to know.
bloo skies
ramon

[miked10270 0]

Hi Ramon,
THanx again... one further Q- Is that the Florida No. from the website or a Colorado No. (which I've lost...).
Mike D10270.

[ramon 0]

Florida
813-788-4444 or whatever number is on the website.
They were cool ,they let me have the canopy for two weeks since they did not need it back immediately.
Good luck
Ramon