Treejumps

Relax, The way I read his post it sounded like he was interested in flying an Onyx. I would fly one too I just have serious reservations about it. I think that Atair benefits from a lack of expectations. If it happens to be the next great thing I would want one. As it stands I am convinced that I am flying the best designed swooping machine available and happy about it. However, bring out something that goes faster and further and I'm all about it. Cya.

Thomas, What Garder said, Tree

My favorite: The next one. Same with my favorite jump. The next one. Tree

Odd: two stage deployment (every canopy deploys in stages), dump in track recomendation, sniveling base canopies, bringing out canopy designs years after they have been in widespread use and calling it "new designs, calling a 9 cell a 36 cell, even number cells. I do consider Ataira bit odd for these things. If you like them because of it, I mean no harm as this is just my opinion. As far as industry trailing. As I saw it Atair brought the cobalt out after the X-braced canopies had been out for a couple of years. From what I've seen the cobalt is a good canopy for a stilleto knockoff (they look and open and swoop just like stilletos). Lets remember for all the extra speed that cross brace canopies deliver, a maxed out stilleto pilot can still hold his own (well, sort of). If you like the cobalts, great. I think that the majority of the HP pilots out there don't fly them and don't hold a very high opinion of them. It doesn't mean that a pro that dials it in can't do well on them, just that the limiting factor is likely the canopy instead of the pilot. Now I must go swoop, Tree

Not really meant to be harsh, just my opinion as noted. I fly at at a pretty decent level and feel that I understand the aerodynamics and physics involved. As such I make informed opinions based on these practical and theoretical understandings. I am a rigger as well so I do put a lot of thought into my opinions on equipment. I was excited at the idea of a 36 cell canopy, even from Atair. The product per the company's own design claim just does not have 36 cells. Too bad, 36 cells may be the next step, although there have been no even number cell canopies that have ever amounted to anything. I fly a VX and like it a lot. It has a noticeably flatter and faster glide path than V-lows or FX's. I documented this on a big way HP flocking/CRW jump where I had trouble staying down and back with the group of mostly 21 cell canopies. So if a true 36 cell canopy comes out and is better, I would like to have one. We all wait together. Note: Freezone, your understanding of the function of the cross brace is off. Read up on them and the angle of them will make more sense. Better yet, build a 2' x 2' box out of 1" x 6" plank. Try to stand it up with no cross brace across the back and see what happens. Supports very little weight. The best cross angle (brace) for max support will be 45 degrees across the corners. Less angle will support less total weight. Hope this example helps make sense. Tree

An interesting design but it seems a big stretch to call this canopy a 36 cell. The bottom skin is divided into 2 sections per cell like a stilleto or cobalt. The top skin is divided into 4 sections per cell, but there are only ribs at the same location as a cobalt. 9 cells with 9 ribs still adds up to.... a 9 cell elliptical. The primary function of the extra seems on the top skin seem to be be to have a convenient location to attach the cross braces which are significantly less angled than all other cross braces currently made. As the angle is reduced (closer to verticel) it seems logical that the strength the cross brace provides would have to reduce. Why not just have lots of vertical ribs? Becasue they would not add strength.The many small panel on top obviously contribute to the leading edge being smooth and clean quite similar to a VX. My opinion: Another odd design from a company that seems to consistantly be a couple years behind in the state of the art. Good luck with it. Tree

81 jumps and you are doing 270s on a pd 170? I don't know which is worse, wanting to go to a elliptical with 81 jumps or doing 270s on a canopy entirely un-designed for it. Slow down. As much as many people would like to believe that jump numbers are meaningless (for some things its true), but for learning to fly canopies it does take time. You would be able to fly and land the stilleto in perfect conditions, but the first time you had to make a correction low or land off or any high pressure situation you would get hurt. Not to mention that at 81 jumps you would likely be chopping the thing because as stable as you think you are at pull time, you have be far more stable with ellipticals. Get a ZP square at a reasonable wing loading (1.1 to 1.3) and put at least (bare minimum) 100 jumps on it. That would be an intelligent, logical, and reasonable canopy progression. Slow down, be safe, Tree

I heard a great quote on NPR the other day. This isn't exact but it was something to the effect of "the price of life is death, but it is the still greatest bargain going". That pretty much sums up the whole "why do you risk your life to jump" (or do anything risky for that matter). Tree BASE610

Hide their rig.