diveout

After two weeks and approximately 15 jumps on the canopy here are my thoughts. I was flying a 105 loaded at 2.45. I like the material, the design is interesting and easy to pack compared w/ other cross-braced designs. I sort of question the use of spectra for the lines. The slider is too small (same width but 5" shorter front to back than the slider from a Velocity 90) which of course resulted in hard openings, I was able to extend the length of the snivel with packing, but when the slider starts to come down it screamed down the lines (other pilots have had softer openings on different canopies). Factory brake setting using risers that the canopy came on was at least 5" too short. I was able to attach a temporary extra lower control line so I could fly it at an appropriate setting but send it back exactly as I got it. Canopy has a very flat glide. Riser pressure is very light, but builds like most other canopies through a riser turn. It seemed very stable and responsive to all inputs, riser, harness, toggle. I was starting a 270 deg left hand turn from about 600 feet (LOW for this wing loading). The canopy would dive well at first but recover at the bottom end fairly quickly, loosing much of it's speed in the process. Input with rear risers or toggles made the recovery very pronounced. This could be due to trim angle, line attachment location, or line length. The lines on the 105 were about .5" shorter overall than the lines on a crossfire 97. The swoop seemed to be shorter than my usual canopy, a xaos21 125 loaded at 2.05, but then again I have about 800 jumps on the Xaos. The design has potential, I would like to see a pilot who has one of these things dialed in fly it. I don't think the version that I got had noticeably better flight or landing characteristics than current designs.

16oz Chai Tea and almond candy from a gift basket

After two jumps on the Onyx "105"...(loaded at 2.42) Openings are a bit brisk, both were sub-terminal. The slider on the canopy is too small (I think). It's about 5" shallower (measuring front to back) than the slider from a velocity 90. The canopy feels very stable and very responsive to all inputs, the front riser pressure is the lightest of anything I've jumped. Easy to add riser to a turn. YES IT DIVES, the recovery is fairly quick toward the bottom, I do a 270 left from about 600-650 on my Xaos-21 125 at 2.0. The same height seemed appropriate for a 270 left on the Onyx at a much higher wing loading (2.4). The brake lines are about 4" too short. I can't believe no one else noticed this. It's clearly visible on video from today's landing that the tail is being deflected during front riser input. Rear risers generate a quick response, and the pressure is manageable, I'd say comparable to a velocity. Bottom end flare is better than average I guess for the wing loading, probably similar to the current 27cell designs that are available. I've only got two jumps so it's too early for an overall impression but I think it's a decent canopy. After this next week I'll have some more info about how it handles during the swoop, cuz that's what matters most. I'd like to see somebody fly one of these that has it really dialed in, I think it's go potential.

I'm the most curious about the bottom end as well, this will be the smallest canopy I've flown. I've flown plenty of overloaded 9 cells at like 2.1-2.2 without any problem. as well as various tri-braces up to 2.35. Being a competition swooper the biggest concern I have is the ability for a canopy to maintain its speed as it planes out, like with decent riser input. My Xaos is really, really good at this (at least I think it is). By the way I opened the box and it seems to be the same canopy, turquoise blue with white diamonds and ribs. The label has been altered by hand with a pen (it looks pretty good actually) to reflect the actual size which is 105-sitting at work ready to drive to the dz and take this thing for a dance as soon as I get off -not till 6pm

I wonder if I'm getting the same exact canopy that you guys jumped? What was the color scheme? You don't happen to have the serial # do you? I was told I would be getting a canopy that had the correct label on it, so maybee it's different. I've only heard from one person that they like the way the onyx dives, anybody else?

I'll be there friday, probably around 6:30-let's do a bunch of hop-n-pops right before sunset

Do you think it dove less than the next size up of the other designs? like the 105 might dive similar too or even less than my 125? That would be wierd. I'm curious to inspect the design up close too.

I've got a package coming today via Fed-Ex that should contain a much awaited Onyx 105 demo canopy from Atair. So far the customer service has been much better that I remember it from about one and a half or two years ago. I will be loading it at about 2.45 I've flown Velocity 111's, VX 109's and a Xaos -27 108, my regluar canopy is a Xaos-21 125. Anybody who's flown one of these things got any advice? I hear they like to be carved for the turn and loaded up high, which should be right up my alley.

nothin superficial about that, that's mine too- especially any missing, broken or discolored teeth, yuk. That said, I don't like kissing smokers so that's a dealbreaker for me also. I have a friend who's a non-smoker, he makes his girlfriend brush her teeth all the time and he refuses to kiss her after she has a cigarette

yea that was a hell of a good time, the wind made the accuracy very challenging. I was pretty happy with my distance runs that counted, 295 and 310 (thought it was 330) but whatever. Brian showed that it's the guy who has three counting scores who'll win, I had one that would have measured about 365 if my big toe was about 10 inches lower and in the gate, but close doesn't count, you're either in or over the gate, and I was clearly over... but I won't be next time

I heard gile was swooping at 9am yesterday to practice up for this pig, I think the kid must be gettin nervous. I don't think he's been in a real comp before...beer.

I remember when my teammate Willdog (now at Skydive AZ) and I drove from Oregon to Perris for one of the original Para-Performance events, we arrived at the DZ at 5:00 am and made our first jumps of the trip DURING the competition for the speed round over the pond...sick. We'll see about getting a dawn load up so some of the out-of towners can maybee get a quick hop-n-pop in.

I'll see you cats friday at about 4:30- I might even stay the night. Good luck everyone!

can't believe I posted that? really? With all of the other stuff- did you see the first bumper sticker posted on the thread, maybee your missed it? the cat quote is more schocking? come on... do people love cats geographically, like all people in my area are cat-haters or something? I just think it's a funny bumper sticker, and no I'd never hurt a cat.

cats flattened while you wait

medical grade oxygen -like from a hard-core first aide kit it the only thing that gives noticeable and IMMEDIATE relief -not cure, but you'll feel much better.

Atair just called saying that they rec'd my demo request form. I was asking for a 115 and a 105 (not at the same time)- I am totally curious about this canyopy and can't wait to fly one, especially the 105 at 2.4 wing loading. I'll let everyone know how it goes -hopefully I won't have to wait too long for my demo to show up.

dogs have traditionally been ok with the dz folks -a leash is always a good idea obviously, we've even got a dz doggie water dish. you can stay in the hangar, no need to bring a tent, just a sleeping bag. you can shower accross the way at the old KOA camping area

How did it open? How did it fly? Did you wear any weights with it? What was the loading? Did they tell you it was mislabeled?

I originally asked about getting an onyx demo over a year ago when the add for this canopy ran on the back of parachutist magazine. I've got absolutely no problem waiting for a whole year to fly one of these things as long as I eventually do get to fly one (a 105 and a 115 would be great if you're wondering), also I'd like to know if the "we're expecting a shipment of demo canopies within two weeks" is accurate as well. Until people started posting pics of these things in actual use, the ONYX was really just like a unicorn, somebody said they saw one once but no one knew anything about them -they were just a myth. Now it seems like there might be a few demo's available- Cobalt Dan?

TO ALL YOU SDO AND WASHINGTON KIDS COMMING DOWN FOR THE SWOOP CONTEST: the best time to show up would be friday afternoon, that way you can make a couple of jumps and check out the landing area and where we'll have the courses set up. Even if you have jumped down here before, Stu may be setting up the course east-west instead of North-South like the normal pattern in the main landing area is set. We're a pretty decent bunch to party with, of if you just want to cool out and collect your thoughts for the comp in the morning that works too. Either way bring a sleeping bag. Or, if a group of you wanted to get a hotel in town it's about 2 minutes away.

so... anybody constructed a removable slider/ d-bag/ pilot chute combo for the purpose of competition swooping lately? If so- do you have a pic (or tips for construction) that you might be able to post, thanks in advance- -Diveout

I just received an e-mail back from the factory regarding a demo for a 115. It stated that they are expecting a shipment of demo canopies within the next two weeks. I'm going to try to call for more info next week, and fax my demo request form in. Interested to see if Atair will be making an effort to get a fleet of demos online or if they're going to offer a big discount sometime in the future. I reallyw want to see if this wing is as good as some people say in some of the posts I'm reading

Pat' Pending, Huh? That's a larf...sliders have been removeable since the 80's, are they trying to patent the extra line betwee the d-bag and the slider? Not exactly a design breakthrough. I made one of these with a piece of spectra in about two minutes. I'm ALMOST POSITIVE that some team Xaos guys were jumping early versions of this before the PD guys had it on their rigs. Anyway- I'm not going to market this or sell it, it just going to be one system on my rig.

So I'm looking at building a detachable slider/ dbag/ p/c set up for competition swooping. I've seen some really good systems on the sponsored team's canopies- I'm gonna do a version that leaves only modified and polished medium sized standard riser rings on the risers with the slider coming completely off, attached to it are the d-bag and p/c. anyone got a close-up pic of one of these systems showing where the slider itself actually attaches to the ring on the riser? It's basically just a version of the cutaway system on the bottom of your riser. I just thought if someone has built a system recently they might have a pic they're willing to share-that would be cool.