Mirage G4

[grega 0]

Has anyone had a chance to see/test a mirage G4, or even bought it. What is it like?

All mirage freaks post your opinion on mirage G4

"George just lucky i guess!"

[freeflydeeva 0]

I have seen it. A friend of mine has one. From what he says, it is more comfortable on him. Over the shoulders and around the back. The looks, now that is a different story. It looks like a short pregnant version of the G3.

However, he does think the rig is more comfortable overall over the G3.

Dee

[grega 0]

"short pregnant version"

hehe. what size of container he has (or parachute in it), because containers - G4, for canopies size 135 or smaller, i have seen on pictures, looks everything but "pregnant" to me - even smother than G3

but i don't know, a haven't seen one in real.

"George just lucky i guess!"

[freeflydeeva 0]

He jumps a spectre 135. He had a new G3 with the same canopies. Comparing the two, the G4 is shorter and is deeper, however it is more aerodynamically designed. The reserve tray is shorter and the bulk is pushed upwards a little more. The bottom of the main tray is curved more to reduce drag in the sit position. I personally like the design a lot better. It just isn't as flat looking as the G3, in my opinion.
Dee

[SkySlut 0]

I have a mirage and a odyssey...go Javelin...the best rig on the market. Try on of those bad boys and you will love it. One of the things that pisses me off about Mirage, other than the fact of how the company was started (PD source) and how their customer service is, is that if you were paying attention to when Javelin had the chest rings and mirage didnt....Mirage said something to the fact that "we dont believe that the body articulates at the chest therefore we do not offer chest rings". Give me a break...Derek Thomas has a kick ass rig. I have never had an issue with the new odyssey (its cheaper, by the way...option for option).

Go Javelin, I have both with all the bells and whistles and I will take a Javelin anyday!!!

And by the way Lisa says hi!!!

[freeflydeeva 0]

I have to agree with you there. I just ordered my new odyssey. YEAH!!!!! My first new rig! Go Javelin!

I just happen to have a friend who has both the G3 and G4. I do like the looks of the G4 better. However, $1800 is expensive!! And that doesn't include options.

Dee

[grega 0]

yea it is tough one. To choose which one is better Mirage G4 or Javelin Odyssey. i'm buying a new rig, and i'm choosing between mirage and javelin. I've already seen Javelin Odyssey (had it on my back), and i have to say, it's pretty sweet . And i almost bought one, when Mirage G4 came out in July.
All that softness and aerodynamicaly shaped and everything that i saw from the pictures and their web page, drives me nuts, because not even one skydiver in our country owns a mirage G4 (not even G3), and i haven't seen it YET.
That is why i posted this message.

Try to convince my for either rig, so it won't be so hard to choose between those two

"George just lucky i guess!"

[freeflyfree 0]

...And if you hapen to have more pictures than what www.miragesys.com has. PLease post them.


Felipe

--
Blue Skies
NO FEARS, NO LIMITS, NO MONEY...
"A Subitánea et Improvísa Morte, Líbera nos, Domine."

[JFC3 0]

Y'all check out the Micron?

"Five days? But I'm angry now!"

[PhreeZone 18]

Does anyone else think that the fabric that they are using to encase the laterals will need changed fairly rapidly?

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[Bruno 0]

Grega
never thought on RWS's rig?
I suggest You to try a micron.
Bruno

[grega 0]

of course i did, but their page isn't presenting their products, like mirage or javelin do. I couldn't get much data about micron from their page, so i don't know much about micron. i'm sure it's just as safe as mirage or javelin, but everytime i talk with my friends about mirage they all go numb or say WAAA... you know what i mean.
But if anyone has manual of micron or any pictures or anything, can freely post them or send them to me
p.s.: i thought it'll be easier to choose between two containers if i posted a question, now i'll have to choose between three!

"George just lucky i guess!"

[Bruno 0]

Try this site http://www.paragear.com go to harness then relative workshop then vector 3 micron.
Keep in mind RWS , i think they build the best and more safe rig.
Bruno

[JFC3 0]

Yeah, they're web site is very disappointing. But RWS is the innovator of most, if not all, of the safety aspects to our rigs. Mirage buys all their supplies for their rigs from RWS also.

Square1's website can give you an "idea" of what one looks like in their customize container area.

"Five days? But I'm angry now!"

[Craig 0]

Quote

Keep in mind RWS , i think they build the best and more safe rig.
Bruno

For discussion purposes, what makes you think so?

[skycat 0]

Well a direct comparison of the 2 would be in my house. I have a Mirage MXS and Derek has a Micron 304.

Both VERY solid containers. Bridal coverage excellent. Riser coverage excellent, but both of us like the mirage's better because you can't see the internal riser covers at all. Both has excellent reserve pin protection, although Derek is not very keen on the meshless reserve pilot chute. It does work perfectly fine though, he has had 1 reserve ride with the system. Main pin protection on both is great, but the way the flap tucks into the micron I don't really like, it could be cause the container is so small, but the way that flap is squared off at the top and the space for the excess bridal is so small I always worry about catching the bridal with the tab. I don't think it would be an issue though since it should just untuck. Ummm....both of us think the containers are very comfortable. Mine is definately heavier, but then again it has bigger canopies and a cypress, but still I think the mirage just weighs more in general.

Fly it like you stole it!

[JFC3 0]

Just in regards to the meshless reserve pilot chute - it was designed that way so that no matter what angle it came out of the rig it will catch air. Other reserve PCs have to get verticle before developing any drag. I find the idea comforting actually.

"Five days? But I'm angry now!"

[skycat 0]

Actually it was designed that way due to the acid mesh scare along time ago. That is how they TSO'd it then, and since they still use the same TSO as they had on the wonderhog, it has to stay that way unless they want to re-TSO it.

Fly it like you stole it!

[Tonto 1]

Quote

I just ordered my new odyssey.

Has it arrived yet? I believe its a bit of a wait, so I didn't reply too soon.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[billbooth 10]

We use the "Meshless" reserve pilot chute on all our products simply because it works much better than the fabric / mesh pilot chutes that came before it. If it didn't, I would still be making mesh pilot chutes. Why on earth would I change to something that worked worse than what I had before? The fact that it cannot have an "acid-mesh" problem is only a bonus, not the primary reason for using the design.

My all-fabric pilot chute cannot be used on pop-top or Javelin-type rigs because the "meshless" design demands that the large end of the spring be at the bottom of the pilot chute, to make a large enough air intake. Pop-Top type rigs demand that the small end of the spring be on the bottom, to make the "crater" the exposed pilot chute must sit in.

[dinog3 0]

I wanted to comment about the mesh vs meshless pilot chute as well. I read Bill's post and he definately explains why his design works. The problem is that the PC has to inflate through the hole in the bottom which takes longer and when it inflates because of the design, air cannot spill off the sides and exits back through the opening which causes partial collapse as well. A mesh pilot chute will not do this. JT

[skydiverek 63]

You can check this whole thread to get more information on mesh and meshless reserve pilotchutes:

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=476690#476690

Also , here is one post from the above thread, explaining the great advantage of meshless reserve PC:

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=478752#478752

• Quote

[skydiverek 63]

Quote

My all-fabric pilot chute cannot be used on pop-top or Javelin-type rigs because the "meshless" design demands that the large end of the spring be at the bottom of the pilot chute, to make a large enough air intake.

I swear I saw Wings reserve PC and it was meshless. Is their design different in some other way then???

[Shivon 0]

The good.

1. If it's tailored to your size, it's VERY comfy in the plane. Deluxe backpad is also great.

2. I hear its got one of the fastest reserve deployments in the business, although this is a mute point if you're not on a RSL IMO.

3. I like the way the main risers sit on the reserve risers, without layers of riser covers / stiffeners in-between. Less crap up there means less bulk, and less chance a mal can be packed by getting the riser covers wrong.

4. I think it's one of the better looking containers out there.

The bad

1. The way the excess brake-line is stored is less than ideal. There are jumpers out there who are doing less than safe things to store excess brake-line because they don't like the way Mirage intended it. Have a look at PDs recent notice on brake-line stowage for a few great examples. I think also that there is a tendency for jumpers to 'find another way' rather then getting a rigger to add loops on the back of the risers like a Vector III.

2. I would put it on the slightly harder side of average for reserve repacks.

3. I think that the line stowage and set up of the D-bag (ie, your first locking stow goes through three gromets) is a little less then ideal. I understand that having the stows like it does, the bag is supposed to have less left-right 'jiggle' during deployment, but I would offset that against the large number of stows.

Overall?

Great rig, with a few minor problems. But if I were looking for a rig right now, I think that the Vector III / M would make it a close fight.

[diablopilot 2]

Quote

(ie, your first locking stow goes through three gromets)

Two gromets.

One to bring the split bag together (replacing the velcrow on split bags from the late 80's to early 90's), and the second is a traditional "locking stow" gromet.

I find it works pretty well. The purpose is not to reduce "jiggle" but to compensate for the fact that the D-Bag is wider at the top than the mouth. During deployment when the last locking stow is released the mouth of the bag opens wide enough to allow the pack job out of the bag evenly and without distortion. The bag is shaped the way it is to fit the taper of the container. Nice engineering me thinks.

The multiple inboard stows are also nice, and prety much the same as can be ordered on the V3 and Micron.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.