donna.quichote

The practice is, for all canopies, regardless of x-braces, to define the number of cells through the number of load-bearing attachement points on the top skin. As you said yourself, that is what matters most. More specifically: #cells = #load-bearing attachements point on top skin - 1 9 for Stiletto. 21 for Velocity. 27 for the Onyx and the VX.

Well, yes (1) and no (2). There is a difference between load-bearing ribs and non-load-bearing ribs. (1) Yes, the 36-cell thing is purely marketing. (2) No, the 21/27-cell thing is not purely marketing. The diagonal ribs (=the crossbraces) are load-bearing ribs on both the Velocity, the VX and the Onyx. They pull on the top skin via the suspension lines. That's why they count as "cells". 21/27-cell canopies really have 21/27 cells. That's not just marketing hype. On the other hand, the central vertical rib on the Stiletto and the Onyx is not load-bearing. Similarly, the two central vertical ribs on the Velocity and the VX are not load-bearing. Therefore it does not count as a "cell".

Dan, by that rationale, the Stiletto would be an 18-cell canopy (9*2 subdivisions on the top skin). I cannot understand that that central rib on the Onyx does count, while the central rib on the Stiletto does not. Donna.

No no! The velocity has 7 * 5 subdivisions. See: http://www.square1.com/custcanopy/pdvelocity/pdvelocity.html Only 3 of those 5 help to reduce the top skin distortion. That's why the Velocity is a 21-cell canopy with 35 subdivisions. Same thing for the Onyx. Only 3 of the 4 help reduce the top skin distortion. That's why the Onyx is a 27-cell canopy with 36 subdivisions.

I don't understand why you guys call it a "36-cell" canopy. Sure, it's 9*4 subdivisions. But not each subdivision is a "cell". The Stiletto has 9*2 subdivisions. But it's not an 18-cell canopy. The Velocity has 7*5 subdivisions. But it's not a 35-cell canopy. The VX has 9*5 subdivisions. But it's not a 45-cell canopy. A cell is a cell if and only if it's separated by load-bearing ribs. The center rib on the Onyx is non-load-bearing. Therefore the Onyx is a 9*3 = 27-cell canopy. Don't get me wrong. It might still be a great canopy. It might still be a great design. But it is NOT a 36-cell canopy.