ypelchat 0 #1 September 19, 2003 I was just wondering if this new canopy was developped as a response to the Crossfire2? Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #2 September 19, 2003 I'm sure the PD people would deny this, but the Katana does appear to be a canopy built to compete with the Crossfire2. The Katana is likely a good canopy, but I love my Crossfire2. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #3 September 19, 2003 QuoteI'm sure the PD people would deny this, but the Katana does appear to be a canopy built to compete with the Crossfire2. Really? Why? - Jim"Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflydrew 0 #4 September 19, 2003 I think that PD was refing the Stiletto and ended up with a canopy inbetween the Stiletto and the Velocity... wasn't the Crossfire2 made to replace the Crossfire1 after a couple of strange incidents? And wasn't the crossfire1 developed to compete with the Stiletto? There's a cycle developing here! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trigger 0 #5 September 19, 2003 Only time will tell!Quess well have to wait for some decent reviews of the thing ,hopefully in the coming months from u guys stateside..... I would like to add that after a conversation with a PD employee about the canopy,i concluded that it's going to fly v.similar to a cf2. Can't wait to find out!!!.CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 15 #6 September 19, 2003 We have a Katana 120 on the way to my DZ once they are released. The guy who put in the demo form was told he's in the top 10 to get that size. Once it comes in I'll give my Demo report. Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #7 September 20, 2003 The Xfire 2 was well under development when they had issues with the precision made Xfire 1's.....they were coming out with a new one any way. just happened at the time. call Simon at Icarus and he can inform you better... Marc otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superstu 0 #8 September 20, 2003 any body know when this canopy will be coming out?Slip Stream Air Sports Do not go softly, do not go quietly, never back down Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ypelchat 0 #9 September 20, 2003 Quoteany body know when this canopy will be coming out? I dunno. Even on the PD website, no pricing information is available yet. I guess we just have to wait. Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 259 #10 September 20, 2003 According to an email I got from PD this week the Katana is still being tested. They'll release it to the public as soon as their R&D team deems it "ready for market." No estimates as to when that will be. They expect the price to be lower than the Velocity yet higher than the Sabre2. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirils 1 #11 September 20, 2003 PD brags about being innovative, they were maybe 20 years ago but now they just making copy-cat canopies. I really don't expect the Katana to be anymore innovative in today's market than the Sabre II. PD has good service and good quality products but they are not cutting edge design wise. But some people keep buying Fords and are quite happy...."Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kimgriffin 0 #12 September 20, 2003 Wow, bold statement by someone who has no real information to base his claim on. I have heard straight from a PD reps mouth that the Katana does indeed have some type of new technology built in it. The owner Bill Coe - who started off as a jumper sewing parachutes by hand in his garage - designed the first cross braced canopy way back when (Excalibur), designed and built multiple top of the line lasers table himself, and has worked (and is working) with the textile manufactures to create the best possible zp on the market, and I'm sure there are a ton of other things that I'm just not aware of. PD is always behind the scenes coming up with some kind of new fabric, line or design that most jumpers are probably just not aware of. Either way, I'd rather jump a company's product who puts time in to testing every size of new canopy and with all sorts of wingloadings and in every condition imaginable. All this tesing takes a lot of time which makes PD look like they're slow. But, in my option, their canopies are worth the wait. I'd rather not be a test jumper. ~Kim-Kimberly Griffin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ypelchat 0 #13 September 20, 2003 QuotePD brags about being innovative, they were maybe 20 years ago but now they just making copy-cat canopies. I really don't expect the Katana to be anymore innovative in today's market than the Sabre II. PD has good service and good quality products but they are not cutting edge design wise. But some people keep buying Fords and are quite happy.... To each his own ! Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ypelchat 0 #14 September 20, 2003 QuoteWow, bold statement by someone who has no real information to base his claim on. I have heard straight from a PD reps mouth that the Katana does indeed have some type of new technology built in it. The owner Bill Coe - who started off as a jumper sewing parachutes by hand in his garage - designed the first cross braced canopy way back when (Excalibur), designed and built multiple top of the line lasers table himself, and has worked (and is working) with the textile manufactures to create the best possible zp on the market, and I'm sure there are a ton of other things that I'm just not aware of. PD is always behind the scenes coming up with some kind of new fabric, line or design that most jumpers are probably just not aware of. Either way, I'd rather jump a company's product who puts time in to testing every size of new canopy and with all sorts of wingloadings and in every condition imaginable. All this tesing takes a lot of time which makes PD look like they're slow. But, in my option, their canopies are worth the wait. I'd rather not be a test jumper. ~Kim If only Bill could design and market some kind of a device, to help us Sabre2 owners pack our "slippery as hell" canopies, and put it in the bag, such a device would definitely be a tremendous seller! Btw. I still have an Excalibur 150, somewhere in my closet, and occasionally, I bring it to the DZ on windy days, just to play with it. A lot of fun. The lines are in need of being replaced, but PD no longer make them. Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kimgriffin 0 #15 September 21, 2003 To each his own - I agree 100%. Viva la diference! Competition within our sport generates constant improvements in quality and service. Plus, if we were all alike life would be very boring. ~Kim-Kimberly Griffin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #16 September 21, 2003 Quote was just wondering if this new canopy was developped as a response to the Crossfire2? I think we could speculate on that all day and have justifications to substantiate both sides but it doesn't prove anything in the long run. What I think is more important is the fact that an industry leader continues to pour time and money into R&D and testing of new technologies. Many companies have made their mark with a certain product or line and allow it to carry the company till it's dead or their forced to come up with something more innovative. PD has continually put out a wide variety of canopies over a period of time that have all been used as a base line for comparrison when talking about other manufacturers canopies. What that says is that PD has set the bar and others are always trying to pass it. I think that is great because it does spur on newer ideas and better products for the user in the end. So did PD market the Katana in response to the Crossfire2? I tend to think no. I do know they have been testing it for quite a while now and have been making modifications and that takes time and research. A response type development usually is hastily concieved, quickly manufactured and marketed directly at the competition. That just does not seem to be the case with the Katana IMO. I think PD is once again raising the bar with time proven methods of not releasing something until it's ready by putting it through every possible scenario."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #17 September 21, 2003 Either way, I'd rather jump a company's product who puts time in to testing every size of new canopy and with all sorts of wingloadings and in every condition imaginable. All this tesing takes a lot of time which makes PD look like they're slow. But, in my option, their canopies are worth the wait. I'd rather not be a test jumper.~Kim It's funny, if you go back twenty or so years, the leaders in the industry were Para Flite, GQ Security, and Pioneer. All three are gone now, at least from the sport market. PD was some upstart company in Florida that was marketing their 9 celss in small (like 1/4 page size or smaller) ads in the back pages of Skydiving Magazine, while the big 3 had full page color ads. Goes to show, getting to the top is one thing, staying there is another. It's tough either way. I'm glad PD tests so thoroughly too. In 1977 Para Flite released a 160 ft 5 cell called the Strato Flyer, billed as the first "lightweight" canopy. It did use a lighter weight pre-F-111 fabric. Had a lousy flare and two or three experienced jumpers I knew broke legs landing the damn things. It came with a lengthy questionnaire. Turns out the questionnaire was being used to help them develop the Safety Flyer - the first square reserve. Here you had the world's leading canopy manufacturer developing the world's first square reserve by using it's customers as test subjects. If that don't take the cheese....so hey PD, test away all you want and God bless! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites