cobaltdan

I would highly recommend Argus. They are the most thoroughly tested AADs we have seen to date. As a result Atair has changed all our rigs to Argus AADs. And btw we are not sponsored to say so... Regards, Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

Actually they fly much better than nylon wings for exactly the reason you mention. We can accurately predict in software which we developed the exact deformation of a parafoil wing in flight. The challenge is getting our desired shape to match the in flight deformed shape. Ripstop nylon is the limiting factor. By engineering the fabric to resist elongation in a specific pattern we can force an overall desired shape. The first composite fabric canopy we ever produced was a cobalt 95. It weighed 70% less than a ripstop canopy and was so strong that no tapes were required anyplace in the canopy. The measured glide ratio was 65% higher than the exact same canopy constructed in nylon. This canopy was displayed opposite the 1902 Wright flyer in the Smithsonian museum and is now on a museum tour with the Extreme Textiles exhibition. We have since under contract to DARPA produced a series of canopies with glide ratios of >8.4:1 ! Cost is definitely a factor. Our automated production machinery is faster and less labor intensive than weaving however our starting point is a Ultra High molecular Weight Polyethylene fiber, know to jumpers as Spectra or Dyneema. This material is ~ 200 times more expensive than Nylon. So the resulting fabric is much more expensive. What makes our fabric and construction process stronger and lighter for parachutes translates to ballistic protection. We are producing body armor 1/2 the weight currently being fielded. As such the fabric is in extremely high demand, and parachutes applications are being pushed aside. We are in the process of adding machinery for higher production, but currently our production is booked for ~ 16 months on government orders. (I am sneaking in a small run of fabric for Jyro to build his personal swoop machine)... We have papers available on some of this work, contact me and i can send you a copy. Regards, Daniel Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

In starting Atair’s primary backer was FESTO, one of the world’s largest privately held automation companies. Having their core technology in pneumatics they have the wonderful motto ‘anything air’. Around the same time that Festo backed Atair they also funded the Swiss company Prospective Concepts. Atair Aerospace and PC had simultaneous developments of wingsuits. Yves Rossi was the talented stunt man who worked with PC on testing their wingsuit. The PC “flying man” suit utilized pneumatic unfolding wing tips. After the PC project ended I believe Yves continued on his own, to build a version which replaced the unfolding inflatable tips with rigid ones. http://www.prospective-concepts.ch/html/site_en.htm Atair continued strictly on Government projects. Now Yves Rossy being a stunt man and equally talented promoter is able to publicize things that I only wish Atair could. Atair Aerospace is a U.S. Government prime Contractor. We are prevented from publicaly releasing any details, video’s, photographs, on contracts without receiving prior permission from our government customers. For obvious reasons our government does not like to disclose information on what special equipment our operatives are using or who makes them. Much of what we produce for the Army we receive permission to disclose, however for most other agencies we do not. The wingsuits that we have on display at the Smithsonian and now Metropolitan Museum actually have subtle changes made to them over any possible Government versions in production. Btw the Aerodynamicist and co-designer on the x-wing is Barnaby Wainfan of Northrup Grumman. A few of his unclassified assignments include: • Flight mechanics lead for US Air Force Hybrid Launch Vehicle program. • Aerodynamics lead for Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (JUCAS): responsible for X-47B air vehicle aerodynamic design, testing and analysis. • Aerodynamic consultant to the F-35 program addressing issues concerning abrupt wing stall (AWS) and high-speed flying qualities. • Wind tunnel testing and control effector design for Northrop Grumman X-47A Pegasus UAV • F/A-18 E/F Transonic flying qualities enhancement. • NASA Space launch Initiative aerodynamics and vehicle concept development. • Aerodynamics/Aerothermal IPT Lead for the SA-1 airbreathing space-launch vehicle demonstrator. • Led team that designed and tested in sub-scale form an advanced ram-wing scout vehicle. • Configuration team co-leader for AFX concept development. Aerodynamic design, configuration synthesis and wind-tunnel testing of Northrop AFX concept. • Aerodynamic wing design for MALD (Miniature Air-Launched Decoy) vehicle. • Wing design lead for the Tier II+ high-altitude long-endurance UAV. • Aerodynamic design and testing of configurations and control effectors for the JAST/ Joint Strike Fighter • Configuration synthesis, aerodynamic design and wind tunnel testing of the ALF/ ASTOVL light fighter. Barnaby is recognized as one if not the worlds leading expert on flying wing design. As to the soft wingsuit on display. It’s constructed of our inventive 3dz fabric, a non woven engineered polyethylene fabric. http://www.atairaerospace.com/parachutes/composite/ Given that I was born into this industry watching Stane, Robert and Jari produce Wingsuits, it was only a mater of time before I decided to test out my own ideas. At first glance the planform is similar to Robert’s SF3, however the suits are considerably different. The inflated shape airfoils and rear deflector are radically different. Most of my effort over the last few years has been going into optimizing the drag cause by the center portion of ones body and pack. This is primary area which is aerodynamically imperfect on every wingsuit (except Jii) and where I believe the most significant improvements can be made. Blue Skies. Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

In starting Atair’s primary backer was FESTO, one of the world’s largest privately held automation companies. Having their core technology in pneumatics they have the wonderful motto ‘anything air’. Around the same time that Festo backed Atair they also funded the Swiss company Prospective Concepts. Atair Aerospace and PC had simultaneous developments of wingsuits. Yves Rossi was the talented stunt man who worked with PC on testing their wingsuit. The PC “flying man” suit utilized pneumatic unfolding wing tips. After the PC project ended I believe Yves continued on his own, to build a version which replaced the unfolding inflatable tips with rigid ones. http://www.prospective-concepts.ch/html/site_en.htm Atair continued strictly on Government projects. Now Yves Rossy being a stunt man and equally talented promoter is able to publicize things that I only wish Atair could. Atair Aerospace is a U.S. Government prime Contractor. We are prevented from publically releasing any details, video’s, photographs, on contracts without receiving prior permission from our government customers. For obvious reasons our government does not like to disclose information on what special equipment our operatives are using or who makes them. Much of what we produce for the Army we receive permission to disclose, however for most other agencies we do not. The wingsuits that we have on display at the Smithsonian and now Metropolitan Museum actually have subtle changes made to them over any possible Government versions in production. Btw the Aerodynamicist and co-designer on the x-wing is Barnaby Wainfan of Northrup Grumman. A few of his unclassified assignments include: • Flight mechanics lead for US Air Force Hybrid Launch Vehicle program. • Aerodynamics lead for Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (JUCAS): responsible for X-47B air vehicle aerodynamic design, testing and analysis. • Aerodynamic consultant to the F-35 program addressing issues concerning abrupt wing stall (AWS) and high-speed flying qualities. • Wind tunnel testing and control effector design for Northrop Grumman X-47A Pegasus UAV • F/A-18 E/F Transonic flying qualities enhancement. • NASA Space launch Initiative aerodynamics and vehicle concept development. • Aerodynamics/Aerothermal IPT Lead for the SA-1 airbreathing space-launch vehicle demonstrator. • Led team that designed and tested in sub-scale form an advanced ram-wing scout vehicle. • Configuration team co-leader for AFX concept development. Aerodynamic design, configuration synthesis and wind-tunnel testing of Northrop AFX concept. • Aerodynamic wing design for MALD (Miniature Air-Launched Decoy) vehicle. • Wing design lead for the Tier II+ high-altitude long-endurance UAV. • Aerodynamic design and testing of configurations and control effectors for the JAST/ Joint Strike Fighter • Configuration synthesis, aerodynamic design and wind tunnel testing of the ALF/ ASTOVL light fighter. Barnaby is recognized as one if not the worlds leading expert on flying wing design. As to the soft wingsuit on display. It’s is constructed of our inventive 3dz fabric, a non woven engineered polyethylene fabric. http://www.atairaerospace.com/parachutes/composite/ Given that I was born into this industry watching Stane, Robert and Jari produce Wingsuits, it was only a mater of time before I decided to test out my own ideas. At first glance the planform is similar to Robert’s SF3, however the suits are considerably different. The inflated shape airfoils and rear deflector are radically different. Most of my effort over the last few years has been going into optimizing the drag cause by the center portion of ones body and pack. This is primary area which is aerodynamically wrong on every wingsuit (except Jii) and where I believe the most significant improvements can be made. Blue Skies. Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

The name "Altaïr" is Arabic for "the Flying", from the phrase الطير. The spelling "Atair" is also used frequently. The name was given by Arabic astronomers and adopted by Western astronomers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altair Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

skydiving canopies are never trimmed for best glide. They are trimmed for best opening characteristics. measured in best glide a Cobalt tandem is 4.5 l/d. we use a reinforced version of this canopy on our 2200 pound guided systems for the military and have demonstrated flights of over 20 miles. Smaller Cobalts glide ratio will vary depending on the size and pilot. The highest glide ratio canopy we have built to date was for DARPA and is 8.2:1 Highest glide ratio for a non freefall deployable canopy to date is 10.1 (not very stable) Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

Have you landed too? yes, and I in NO way recommend. Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

highest wing loading live jumped on a comp cobalt has been 4.5 highest wing loading on comp cobalt used in our autonomous guided systems 22 max weight live jumped on a cobalt 350 tandem is 1200 pounds. max weight autonomously guided on a cobalt 350 is 2400 pounds... Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

Atair: office phone # 718-923-1709 Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

Atair Aerodynamics manufacturers the cobalt, competition cobalt, Onyx and X-1 canopies. What you were told was probably misconstrued from a statement that production of these canopies was shifted from Europe to the US... Nothing has been discontinued and sales has been steadily rising for years. Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

QuoteNot to get too off topic here, but when my husband ordered a brand new 135 Cobalt and received a Radical and I called you about it, are you saying you gave me innaccurate info? No, the information was accurate for the canopy supplied to your husband. Atair Europe has since further developed the canopy for higher performance based on customer requests. Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

The Radical is being produced by Atair doo, in Europe, and Cobalts are produced by Atair Aerodynamics in New York. According to Atair Europe the production Radical while being based on the Cobalt does have design changes that make it a more aggressive canopy with a deeper recovery arc. Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

I made a similar progression from student canopies to a 170 9 cell, same weight as you. Sight unseen does not seam unreasonable for 400 jumps...I would demo a variety of canopies, and you do not have to go straight and demo a 170, try the 190 first and then if comfortable the 170... As someone who loves canopy flight more than freefall i am somewhat biased against 7 cell canopies. Definitely demo a few 9 cell canopies. Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

Chris, I haven't been following this thread, just now getting caught up on current postings.... People can be harsh in these forums, but know it is because no one wants to see another friend get hurt. If you would like I will trade you a 120 or larger demo cobalt for your 105. Be safe. -Daniel Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)

>People who never swoop don't know how to turn low. They don't know how much altitude they will lose (and doing turns at 3000 feet does NOT teach you this.) They don't know how their canopy will recover, how much brake to give it to recover faster etc etc. I agree with your point.....two types of jumpers will get hurt turning low: the expert that pushes it too far, and the conservative that says I will never hook (because sooner or later you will be in a bad position or make a series of poor decisions and have to turn low, and the time to learn is not in a bad situation for the first time) with that said, I do however think that practicing turns and mock swoops high up is extremely beneficial, especially with the right instruction. When you practice high up you lack the close quarter visuals of swooping near the ground, however you can hone your sense of balance. It is your sense of balance that tells you where in your recovery arc you are and hence your vertical decent rate. most non-swoopers would have difficulty performing a 90 or 180 up high with their eyes closed and flaring to dead level flight. learning this up high will accelerate one's learning on landing and greatly increase their safety. Daniel Preston atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military)