wildWilly 0 #1 October 13, 2008 I just got my new BigAir Sportz Sensei 101. I have 9 jumps on it and so far I am loving it. Openings are great (now that I learned the lesson it taught me on jump 3.... Don't look over your shoulder on deployment.) It comes back from long spots easily on rears. Flies great and the swoops are awesome. Lots of power on the bottom end of the flare. I don't know it well yet but it is very easy to handle and seems to know what you want to do. It just sucks that it is near the end of the season up here in the great white north and if I want to jump in the winter I'll have to go south. Willygrowing old is inevitable, growing up is optional. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmdrennan 2 #2 October 13, 2008 That's great to hear. I'm sure the community will be interested in your findings. Glad you're liking it so far BTW I actually wasn't even aware that the Sensei had been released yet. When did it come out? Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildWilly 0 #3 October 13, 2008 It hasn't been released to the general public yet. It's nice to have a friend like Brian. Willy growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TAXIWAY 0 #4 October 13, 2008 What were you jumping before this canopy? How does it compair? I have talked to Brian about one of these in the past. I love my 105 sameri. Love it even more after he tricked it out and now it goes alot further and faster. I hope he does release these to the public soon. I am in the market for a new canopy Brian if you want to build me one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildWilly 0 #5 October 13, 2008 I was jumping a 136 Samurai. I loved my Sam and am still feeling out the Sensei, but so far I have found the Sensei comes down a lot faster, has more power in the flare and turns a lot faster. Feels very stable, and the openings are great, about 700 ft. Willygrowing old is inevitable, growing up is optional. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BirdWoman 0 #6 October 14, 2008 As a fellow "Team Sensei" member, I am glad that you are enjoying it. I have been flying my 81 (I have two of them now) for just over a year now and just over 500 jumps between the two of them. The more you fly it, the more you will fall in love with it. I have let a couple of other swoopers fly it who normally fly a Velo, FX or like. They all had great things to say about it. Yes, it is nice to have friends like Brian. Swoop far and stay safe. "I don't know where it is that I'm going, but wherever it is there I'll be!" --quoted by me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cteague 0 #7 October 14, 2008 Hi there, Excuse my ignorance guys but I'm based down in South Africa and we dont get all the cool news. What is the Sensei based on? How many cells does it have? How does it differ from the Velo or JVX's. Is it a competition canopy? Sorry for all the questions but I love reading about new toys! Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmdrennan 2 #8 October 14, 2008 The Sensei has been in development for a number of years. I remember Mike Swanson jumping one as early as 2003. I'm not sure what Brian's production plans for it are, but it's a 7 cell x-braced canopy. Someone who has one can comment on the flight characteristics, but my understanding is that its 'velocity-like'. Blues, IanPerformance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cteague 0 #9 October 14, 2008 That long already, thanks for the update Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BirdWoman 0 #10 October 14, 2008 Yes Ian, you are correct about the "velocity like" flight characteristics. One of my fellow vidiots flies a Velo 88 and I let him fly one of my 81 for a weekend. He said that it opened better, was more responsive on the rears and had a slightly shorter recovery arc. Another swooper who flies a VX-79 was impressed with it's flight and noted that it was more responsive in the harness."I don't know where it is that I'm going, but wherever it is there I'll be!" --quoted by me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TAXIWAY 0 #11 October 15, 2008 I need to send Brian an e-mail. I am about to buy new gear. I was going for the velo but if he let me try one of these then build me one if I like it. I would go his way instead of pd. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyZ 0 #12 October 15, 2008 What is that thing, cross-braced and airlocked or something else? Got any pictures? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
verticalflyer 11 #13 October 15, 2008 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AQLM9ZLpBMw Some test swoop footage.Dont just talk about it, Do it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildWilly 0 #14 October 15, 2008 Cross-braced, not air-locked. Brian has video on his youtube page. just search his name. Willygrowing old is inevitable, growing up is optional. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BirdWoman 0 #15 October 15, 2008 His initial design was for an airlocked x-brace. One of the 81s that I have actually had the airlocks in it but he didn't like the way it flying so he cut them out. My pic on my avatar is one of my 81s. Albeit small, it's still a good looking parachute."I don't know where it is that I'm going, but wherever it is there I'll be!" --quoted by me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JSE 1 #16 October 16, 2008 Didn't I just read in parachutist that BigAir was cutting back on production? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflye73 0 #17 October 16, 2008 I Heard that PD is not manufacturing canopies for Brian anymore, and if you look at bigairsportz websites it states that that the canopies are only availible as "signature series" for 2799$. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danielcroft 2 #18 October 16, 2008 This is true, PD is no longer making Big Air Sportz canopies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sergey-san 0 #19 October 17, 2008 Quotethe canopies are only availible as "signature series" for 2799$. Is this for real? I mean, in Square 1 catalogue brand new Velo costs $2580:)) I remember how people were complaining when JVXs first came out with ridiculously high price tags:))) And that was from a major manufacturer, supported by some of the top pilots, who tested them in pro-level competitions... Are there people willing to pay THAT kind of money for "signature series"? It's like advertizing Toyota Supra from late 90's, when you can buy a brand new Porshe 911 for less money:))) One of the riggers on our DZ has got Sensei 91... I think, I should tell him to add some "signature series" badge on it and sell it for 2 grand and then buy a Velo or JVX:))) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmdrennan 2 #20 October 18, 2008 Sergey, Not sure when the last time you bought gear was, but the JVX is 3+ grand too. I'm not sure what the Velo retails for these days, but it's not far behind. High performance canopies are expensive, no matter whom you buy them from. Blues, IanPerformance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danielcroft 2 #21 October 18, 2008 Brian always made signature version (AFAIK), they're the Big air Sportz canopies without the warning label on the tail. "Signature" is just a way to spin that it's actually Brian Germain making them by hand. I'm looking at getting a lotus (demoing one soon), I hope to be able to get a signature version. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflye73 0 #22 October 18, 2008 Yes he has always made signature series but before you had the shoice of getting one that "PD" has made for less money. I personaly loves his canopies, both the lotus max i had and my current samurai, i asked him about the sensei a few month ago, but he only sells them to people he know and i'm not one of them. So i went the velo route... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
travelingmack 0 #23 October 18, 2008 hah...a x-braced 7-cell? interesting, and im the one that though 7-cells where for base and accuracy.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllisonH 0 #24 October 18, 2008 Quotehah...a x-braced 7-cell? interesting, and im the one that though 7-cells where for base and accuracy.. Velo's are 7-cells, as are Xaos 21's, and probably lots of others as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
travelingmack 0 #25 October 18, 2008 ok.. well...there you see, i have never jumped anything than spectre`s and sabre`s...sorry my lack of knowledge on skydive gear Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
