Austin 0 #1 May 21, 2002 I've heard a lot of very good comments on the Hornet recently and would like to know if anybody has switched from a triathlon to a hornet. I'm looking to change to a nine cell so that I can get some more glide and maybe a little bit softer landing (I stand up 98% of my landings with the triathlon, but they still seem to be a bit hard at times). At the moment, I'm not really looking to downsize (my triathlon is a 190 at 1.14lbs/ft^2 and I have around 70 jumps). So all of you hornet jumpers, how would you rate the following characteristics: flare, glide, opening, pack volume? I do realize the obvious difference in aspect ratios i.e. 7cell vs. 9 cell, but would like to know how it compares anyway.thanksAustin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vlad 0 #2 May 21, 2002 so, you had 68.6 stand up landings ? :-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #3 May 21, 2002 Austin,I don't have a vast number of jumps on either of these two canopies. My guess would be that the Hornet will probably open harder. I finally got to jump my new hornet this past weekend and 3 of the 4 jumps openned hard. One sniveled for a few seconds and opened soft. I've only got 4 jumps on it so far and love the way it flies. I may need to work on packing it different. I have little experience packing O-P fabric. Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cloud9 0 #4 May 21, 2002 Hey AustinThis is exactly the route that I went. I was jumping a Triathlon 175 loaded at about 1.2 and went to a Hornet 150 loaded at about 1.4What I noticed was the Hornet opened about the same as the Triathlon, nice and soft and on heading. Now keep in mind my wing loading changed some so this is not apples to apples. The Hornet tuns were faster, it had better glide but really the biggest difference was in the flare. The Hornet had a lot more lift on bottom end and would actually pop me back up during a bit of a surf. The triathlon would just kind of sink in and land me nice and soft. I think both are great canopies and like I said the biggest difference you'll notice is on landing. They are made of the same type of ZP material and are both fairly easy to pack. I don't know about pack volume because I downsized.Steve I had a Hornet 150 and never had a hard opening, I didn't really do anything packing when pro-packing I did not roll the nose. I folded the 3 outside cells in toward the center of the pack and left the 3 center cell a lone. I pulled the slider out over the nose and rolled the tail fairly tight. I started psycho packing while I had the Hornet and had great luck with it also. Hope you get things straight because mine opened every bit as soft as my Triathlon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirils 1 #5 May 21, 2002 I have jumped both. The Hornet is a more versatile canopy and I think it is more fun to fly. The openings are similar. The biggest difference is the angle of decent. The Hornet flies flatter and might take a few jumps to perfect your landings.I'm not knocking the Tri, it's just that it dosen't surf very well and the Hornet has a stronger flare. I'm sure you will be impressed with the Hornet!Skydiving is not a static excercise with discrete predictability... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgoper 0 #6 May 22, 2002 i made the tramsition after about 200 jumps between a triathlon 210, and a 190. while the openings are nice, the landings tend to "sink" in, no glide, i dreaded "no wind" days. so i bought a 9 cell hornet, where has it been all my life? great canopy, just set up longer for you final, because of the extended "glide" your going to get. the hornet is fast becoming the answer to the sabre2 in my opinion, at less than half the price. having said all of this, i have a brand new cobalt on order, even as we speak. (the hornet was bought used, and i didn't get to color coordinate it with my suit/rig) plus i want the cross braced fully elipitical! Richard"Gravity Is My Friend" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 15 #7 May 22, 2002 >the cross braced fully elipitical!Um... and your getting a Cobalt? A Cobalt is only elliptical, no bracing.If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgoper 0 #8 May 22, 2002 **The spanwise triangulated braced nose reduces airfoil distortion on the most important part of the wing. Matches and exceeds performance of cross braced tricell canopies while providing the sweetest "multistage" openings, 15-20% smaller pack volume, and lower cost.The spanwise triangulated braced nose reduces airfoil distortion on the most important part of the wing. Matches and exceeds performance of cross braced tricell canopies while providing the sweetest "multistage" openings, 15-20% smaller pack volume, and lower cost.**you referring to the competition models?Richard"Gravity Is My Friend" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 15 #9 May 22, 2002 No... the regular Cobalt has no bracing and the Comp only has a nose mod to it basically. The Onyx is the crossbraced model from Atair. The Cobalt is just like a Stiletto in the basic design, elliptical 9 cell canopy.If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgoper 0 #10 May 22, 2002 no arguement oh canopy guru. dya think you could stop "stalking" my posts?Richard"Gravity Is My Friend" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 259 #11 May 22, 2002 Quotedya think you could stop "stalking" my posts?Since when is correcting an inaccurate statement stalking?pull & flare,lisa"Try not. Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda sez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgoper 0 #12 May 22, 2002 **Since when is correcting an inaccurate statement stalking?**the statement is acurate. the information provided came straight off of atairs web site. in the event it isn't accurate, if one certain person is there each and every time you post to argue, or refute what you have said, i consider that stalking. these are my thoughts, no one elses. atair makes several different models of canopies, as i'm sure your well aware, some nose modified, and the onyx, fully cross braced. consider this my last word on the subject, or go visit extremefly.com Richard"Gravity Is My Friend" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Austin 0 #13 May 23, 2002 Thanks for the opinions guys. Ok, so who's got the best price on where to buy a Hornet?? I'm thinking Roy at Rigs and Things, but if you know who's got a better deal on one, let me know!!Austin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #14 May 23, 2002 Austin,I got mine for $575. direct from South Africa. Shipping was about $70. more. I spoke with a guy named Manny. I don't have the website address with me here at work. I'm sure someone else will come up with it. It's kind of hard to get through to them with the foreign phone numbers etc. (but don't give up) I got my Hornet within 4 weeks after placing the order. Also prices seem to vary and may be higher now. Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirils 1 #15 May 23, 2002 Keep skydiving thriving homeside. Buy USA!Skydiving is not a static excercise with discrete predictability... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #16 May 23, 2002 I too have had really nice and long openings!!! I know the pack volume in hornets is smaller....for instance pack vol on my pd170 was lkke 416 and a HOR 170 is like 375......my HOR 150 is 335!!! Love this canopy...sorry cant compare to a TRI...never jumped one!!jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Austin 0 #17 May 24, 2002 Steve, That sounds like a really good plan, I remembered hearing about going that route a couple of months ago and was hoping somebody would post how they went about getting one directly from South Africa. If you still have the website or email or anything about where you got it, I'd really appreciate it if you could help if nobody else can. ThanksAustin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Engovatov 0 #18 May 24, 2002 >Keep skydiving thriving homeside. Buy USA!Where does PD sew their canopies? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #19 May 24, 2002 QuoteWhere does PD sew their canopies?Never been there, but is the answer Florida? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cobaltdan 0 #20 May 24, 2002 please do not compare the cobalt to the stilletto. the two have little in common beyond 9 cells.sincerely,danatair Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #21 May 24, 2002 Austin,It's www.icarus.co.za. (ask for Manny). I had a hard time getting my faxes to go thru, but was finally able to place an order. I would rather buy American, but the price was too good to pass up. Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Iflyme 0 #22 May 26, 2002 QuoteO-P wasn't he the kid on Mayberry RFD???"There's nothing new under the sun" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #23 May 26, 2002 Now I remember O P. I think he was Andy's kid..... Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
puffdaddy 0 #24 May 26, 2002 Contact Manny at [email protected] CheersTallies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indyz 1 #25 May 26, 2002 The PISA ad in the latest Parachutist lists [email protected]--Brian Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
