verticalflier

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Posts posted by verticalflier

  5. Quote

    For what it is worth, there are 3 deaths/scenes/scenarios that are attributable to REAL WORLD events where a SEAL has fallen, to include the funeral scene. It may be a movie but the deaths in the movie can be traced back to real SEALS who have died in combat. We all couldn't be at the funerals, some didn't even know or hear about it on the news but at the end of the day if someone wants to show their respect/support for the fallen by standing at a movie or sending care packages to the troops deployed, etc, I think thats a good thing.


    Well said Scott! I saw the movie last week and it is great. I will be happy to see it again.

  10. Quote

    I emailed Aerodyne a few weeks ago asking to demo a canopy. (Sensei 121). The response I got back was that they were re-building their entire Sensei demo fleet out of regular ZP b/c the "ZPX canopies were not performing as they thought they should" and that they would get in touch with me once they had the new demo fleet back up. I'm not sure if they are ceasing to use ZPX on Sensei canopies only, Smaller canopies only or if they are stopping production of all canopies made of ZPX until further notice.


    ZPX option is not available only on Sensei canopies. The rest of our mains are available in both ZP and ZPX fabric.

  12. Quote

    Could anyone who has jumped both a Pilot and a Storm or Spectre do a little comparing and contrasting? I just a bought a rig with a Pilot 210 and was debating trying to sell it and upsize to a 7 cell 230 of some sort so I'm on the safer side. The WL on the 210 is 1/1 but I'm landing at 5K feet so everything is a little sportier here and I wouldn't mind the extra material.

    I have about 20 jumps on a Storm 210 and a few Spectre 230 jumps as well so I was wondering how the Pilot will compare (I'll find out myself this weekend, hopefully). I was also considering demoing a Pulse 230 because it would fit in my M6, if anyone has any comments on lightly loaded Pulses or any 230 that packs small vs Pilots I'd love to hear that as well.

    Thanks!

    Just go and jump your Pilot 210. Just do it. If you worry about your square footage, and you think about trading PT210 for PD product in 230, DON't as PT 210 translates to PD's 220+ sq anyways. Why? It just does. We also offer the Pilot in 230 but that is a huge canopy.
    As for pack volume of PT vs. Pulse, I am guessing you have a regular zp fabric but for those who don't want to sacrifice performance of zp material over hybrid canopies like Pulse, go for a ZPX option and it will be a dream to pack.

  13. Quote

    will a pilot 188 ZPX fit into a mirage G3 m4? the container is made for a 170 canopy but ive read that the ZPX packs smaller than the regular ZP fabric. any help would be appreciated!

    Thanks!

    adam


    Pilot 188 ZPX will fit in the same container as 150 zp would. Hope this helps?

  14. Peter,
    you will have to ask your dzo that question. It is easier than guessing. He made the decision of getting Aerodyne student rigs at PIA in Reno last February. Yes UPT, Mirage, Velocity (Infinity), Sunpath and others were there as well as several canopy manufacturers. He did his homework with everyone he liked and made his personal decision. I did not check if he ordered these Student Icons out of new "ballistic" fabric, I hope he did, as it is very durable in student rig application and awesome to work with. If you get a chance to work with these rigs please let us know your feedback :) I am planning on making couple of tour stops in Canada this summer. I agree with you. The skydivers up there may not have best opportunities in trying our gear. Several big way participants that come down to US for training have had a chance to demo and buy our equipment in past few years, but not all Canadian jumpers come to US. We will try to do better and bring Aerodyne to them, so they have more choices and opportunities to fly our equipment. Please keep checking our event calendar for our tours stops near you.

  15. Quote

    Yup, jumped the Mamaba as well.

    The Mamba is sort of Stiletto-ish. It is a great choice for an all around canopy, but if a swoop monster is what you want, the Katana would be my choice.

    However, knowing nothing about your experience level please understand that the Katana is for experienced canopy pilots only. Swooping starts with a solid foundation in the basics, then pushing that foundation with a solid canopy like the Sabre2. Then those skills are translated to the Katana. Swooping isn't learned on something like a Katana, if you're trying to learn with that canopy, it's like trying to teach a 16yr old to drive in a Z06. Sure you *could* do it, but the chances of a significant crash is higher.


    Whoever is reading this please do not go by above opinion that Mamba is like Stiletto. It is misleading as Mamba has by far much more performance and very long, comparing to Stiletto, recovery arc. It is direct counterpart to PD Katana and should be taken just as serious. I do not let anyone demo a Mamba unless they have at least 500 jumps and prior fully elliptical experience. If you are ready for Crossfire/Stiletto type of a canopy but would not want to fly a Katana then a Mamba would be poor choice as far as safety goes.

  17. Just to let everyone know that Aerodyne will be coming out shortly with official statement about usage of Argus AAD in Icon harness container. Please be patient and let us gather all needed info to make a fair decision.
    We will send out official statement to all our distributors and post those as well on our website so that all interested parties will have full and clear access to where Aerodyne stands on this issue.
    Having said that I would like to mention, that in the event when your AAD fires and does not cut through or jams and does not release the closing loop, you can still deploy your reserve by pulling reserve handle. This is true in all Icons, with exception to some made for customers in France, as these were specifically ordered and manufactured with add cutter placement above reserve pilot chute. The rest of Icons have aad cutters placed below reserve pilot chute which placement allows for unobstructed launch of reserve chute by pulling reserve handle. I am not familiar where other manufacturers chose to place their aad cutters please consult your equipment manual and or rigger. Logically if your Icon freefall situation calls for deployment of reserve and your aad malfunctions and no reserve handle is pulled the outcome of it could be serious injury or death. To everyone out there please learn your gear, know how it operates and make right choices in using it so it can keep you safe. Please stand by and keep checking our website www.flyaerodyne.com for official statement on Argus in Icons.

  18. Solo in a nutshell is a tamer version of our Pilot. It is a student trimmed canopy. It comes in two versions Hybrid, ZP top skin F111 ribs and bottom or Full ZPX for 100% ZP performance with low pack volume advantage.
    We build it all the way to 270 sf that would be something between 280-290 in PD sizes since you are looking for more SFootage.

  19. Quote

    Les,
    Nothing personal. I have jumped aerodyne gear before it was aerodyne (and after) and just because I choose not to jump it now is my call. I appreciate the offer on coming to discuss some of the issues with you, but respectfully decline. Again, nothing personal but field reps are generally field reps. Design issues and safety concerns are to be brought up with the appropriate individuals in a company. Recently while in Deland I tried to due this and was very surprised to find out that these design individuals didn't exist (locally). When I asked to speak to the master rigger on staff, there isn't one of those either. I truly believe the shop in Deland is set up for shipping, receiving and fielding phone calls. After some research I found out that icons are built by a subcontractor, canopies are built out of country and the final inspections are extremely limited. From what I understand the canopies are not even inspected after the leave the plant (simply shipped on to the end user, unlike all the other out of country manufactures). Please don't take this in the wrong tone, I am not trying to bash (that much) a company that has been steadily making progress in ever changing sport. Just wish for a faster response time when issues arise and step up to the plate and correct design issues when they are brought to light (the first time). Simply my two cents and best of luck to you and your firm in the future. To everyone one else, the gear you jump is your call and I have made mine. BSBD


    Jeff,
    No personal feelings hurt here. I don't take your post as bashing (that much), just wish you would have presented all facts correctly to the public. I am bit confused by your statement that you have been using Aerodyne products before it was Aerdyne and after. I am a bit of a logical person and, unless you have posted it wrong, and you have been in sport for 12 or so years you could not have possibly been using products made over 20 years ago. Aerodyne was funded in 1989.
    We at Aerodyne, though small compay, are passionate and proud of what we do. From ground up everyone works hard to provide the best service and product to all our customers. For my part, and I wear more hats than you think so called field rep does, I wish I had more demos so I had a chance to send it right and then to those who ask for them. Reading your post I do have to say that you are quite inaccurate about our manufacturing process and your opinion about our final inspection. If you were a rigger, which you did not indicate you are, who was looking to get more insides on how the Icon is build, so that you can better understand particulars within, I am sure I could have arranged an Q&A time for you in Deland with master rigger who builds our Icons. His workmanship, knowledge and long years of experience in building rigs is matched only by few innovators out there and those know and respect each others work. You forgot to mentioned that Aerodyne head office and Icon manufacturing facility is located in the very same building. Yes all canopies and Icons that require TSO have to undergo final inspection there and then they can be shipped to customers. I am sure PD does something like that with all canopies that are build for them in Honduras.
    As for the response time to the SkyHook Icon issue, is less than a week too long??? Service bulletin has been issued and the fix is in place at no cost to end user. I think that is a fair response. After all those who had Toyotas with toyota moments had to wait much longer before recall was issued and the time when they got their cars fixed.
    Hope I was able to clarify some questions at hand here, and yes you are right, we all have a choice of what gear we use, what car we drive, what brand of jeans we wear. As for me Aerodyne products have been quite satisfying years before I came on board and I am still having fun flying my Mamba. If there was something that would suit my needs better I would be using it. To all readers out there please learn your gear, use it properly, stay safe and have fun

  20. Quote

    Thank god. I wonder when they will recall the rest of the issues.


    Hi Jeff, your profile lists your place of residence as Eloy. I am an Aerodyne US tour rep and I am at Eloy till this Sunday visiting Canadian Invasion. I will be happy to hear any suggestions you may have about our gear, so please come out of the closet and share your vast Aerodyne gear knowledge with me. Hope that knowledge will not be based on what is listed for your personal gear as it is anything but Aerodyne.
    See you at the dropzone.

  22. Quote

    no..."oh...boy..here we go..just need a yes or no..vector has all the data on their website, aerodyne has not.


    UPT builds only harness containers so it is in their interest to post info about all canopies that are out there. Aerodyne builds complete system that means Icon harness, Smart reserve and whole bunch of mains. Since we trying to sell only Aerodyne, we it is in our best interest to post data about our products only.