BrianSGermain

I understand what you are saying. If you pull your front risers while flying next to another canopy you will see yourself moving ahead of them, but only after you release your risers. This is due to the temorary increase in airspeed, converted into lift and glide. If you could do that over and over again, while facing into a strong headwind, you would theoretically gain more ground than full flight alone. Man, you guyz make me think sometimes!! Thanks for that! Ultimately, however, I think it is a better idea to open upwind of the target. Better also to jump when your canopy has lots of forward speed into the wind! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

You betcha! 3 trips on the schedule already! First weekend of the month: May, June & July!! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

As an inventor, I can see his side of the story. He worked hard to develop something new and interesting. People have made money on Intellectual Property over the years, it is nothing new. I can't blame a guy for trying to make a buck. Hippee New Englanders rarely do. I have become somewhat dissolutioned with the whole patent thing myself. I Patented the Airlock, and have barely seen a return to cover the expenses of the Patent Process. It is a game made up by the Lawyers. They find clever ways of making money while pretending to make you money. I have resolved to design great parachutes and market them. As long as ideas come pouring out of my head, I need no protection. If somebody copies what I am doing, it is my sign that I was into something good. Groovy. Improving the world is why I invent things, not to make millions in a brief insight. Hard work makes money, not ideas. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

In most cases, minimum sink is not half brakes, but full brakes, just prior to the stall. It does depend on the parachute's design and its wing loading. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Sink is about trajectory; ie glide ratio. It is true that deep brakes cause the canopy to fly at its steepest angle, its worst glide ratio. It is also true that this is the slowest decent rate on most canopies. In the case of a strong tail wind, minimizing your decent rate will allow the upper winds to carry you home, rather than relying on the parachutes glide ratio to get you home. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

To take the history a step deeper, John Buchard and I graduated from the same college, University of Vermont. We were both active in the outing club and rock climbing scene there. We have had numerous discussions about ram air wings over the years, even before I was a designer. Very wonderful place, I guess that's why they call it: "Groovy UV" Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I cannot substantiate any claims like that. I do know that the Samurai is based on the Jedei Sweptwing, a design that PD purchased rightfully when they acquired Air Time Designs back in '98. If there are design aspects of that canopy that they liked, it is fully within their rights to market a product containing those parameters. If it were true, it would be very flattering. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

There were in fact three canopies in the Jedei series. There was the original with the inboard stabilizers. This canopy was hand cut. Then there was the "Computer" cut Jedei without the inboard stabs. Last there was the eagle trimmed Sweptwing Jedei, which of course evolved into the Samurai. There were lots of other wings that we built there, but never marketed all that hard. The Genesis and Jaberwalky were rectangle 9-cells which evolved into the Lotus semi-eliptical. There was also the Warlock which was a 7-cell CRW airlock canopy. This is evolving into the Shogun. There were others, too. This is mainly because I named each prototype in order to remember which was which. Sometimes it was based on color, like the Grape Ape and the Green Machine, and others due to their flight characteritics, such as "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" and "911". Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Incorrect. There are five square cells in the middle of the Stiletto. The Jedei and Samurai have three. Does this make all the difference in the world? Only if you like what one does more than the other. I like the way the Jedei and Samurai fly. I also really like the fact that the Samurai and the Jedei lock the air into the wing. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Front risers do not increase your groundspeed, only your airspeed. You can prove this to yourself by flying beside another canopy. When you apply the front risers, you will sink, not more forward. The only time front risers are helpful in navigation is when you are facing a strong head wind and need to get down out of he "uppers". This is a much better choice than spiraling, as half of the spiral points the canopy downwind. This means that your location is moving downwind than simply facing into the headwind and crossing your fingers. In general, however, returning from a bad spot involves a tail-wind or a cross-wind. This means that you should do one of two things. If you have a strong tail wind, putting the parachute in deep brakes will attain the "minimum sink". This will allow you to stay in the air longer and allow the winds to take you home. If you aren't fortunate enough to have a straight tail-wind, however, you will need to utilize "maximum glide". This involves using your rear risers. Slight application of the rear risers will change the trim angle of the parachute without substantially increased the canopy's drag. The goal here is maintain airspeed to achieve maximum glide angle. Over application will diminish this effect, so search for the point that changes your glide without killing your speed. For more on canopy flight, look for my new Book: The Parachute and its Pilot. + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

A 28' Round with a hot "Double L" modification. Dick Swanson had run out of 35's, and he told me that this one would "turn faster". Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

The first canopy with the conventional "Airlock" was flown in January of 1994. It was a modified Jonathan 120, called the "Grape Ape", due to it's all blackberry fabric. We used all blackberry because we were stuck with a bad batch of the fabric. The fill-threads of the weave were seriously warped, which would cause major built-in turns if it were used in canopies. So Tony Uragallo had no problem donating the fabric for the project, and agreed to pay me $5 per hour to do the work. I made it work by mirroring the diagonal weave on each part of the parachute. Since the "Grape" was hand-cut, I was able to place the pattern on the appropriate angle to make the weave anomaly work. The canopy was test jumped by Doug Park. I stood in the pea gravel with a beer and a cigarette, nervous as hell. Doug jumped the canopy in his own rig, which upped the stakes somewhat. Without a second reserve, a cutaway would be his last chance. Fortunately, the canopy worked perfectly, and Doug hooked it in to a perfect swoop onto the grass of Skydive City, Z-Hills. The rest is history... Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Most people assume that the first eliptical on the market was the Stiletto. This is not the case. There were two canopies before the Stiletto. The French Company PDF came out with the "Blue Track" first. This was in truth a "tapered" canopy as there is no curvature, only a linear reduction of the chord. The Jonathan, from AirTime Designs, was the predecessor to the Jedei airlock elipical. The chord reduction of the three tapering cells of each side of these canopies was non-linear, and therefore "eliptical". In actuality, the Stiletto is a tapered wing as well. There are only two tapering cells on each side of the canopy, and this chord reduction is also linear. Just though you'd be interested... Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Yup. I came up with that one with Robert Mahaffee for the Monterey X-Trials. It was a big hit, and may have won us the event. We did it with two grips: One was the cheststrap, the other was on the top of his helmet. I was the sitflyer. I stopped the rotation by pushing forward on the chest grip and pulling his head toward me, which put him slightly on his back as he got back to head down. It is a very stable maneuver when done correctly. You can exit with both fliers head down, with the chest-strap grip. The flyer that will be transitioning to head down puts his hand on the head of the one who will remain head down. Then the transition is made in the soft air just after exit. Get the formation flying stable before initiating the rotation. The way to get it rotating is to have the head down flyer sweep back to a "pencil" body position, and then bend at the waist. Simultaneously, the sit flyer widens his legs to increase the drag and holds on tight for the ride! It's great fun, and much easier than it looks!! If you are interested in more freefly thoughts, you will love my Book: Vertical Journey. It's groovy, baby. + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Juan Carlo is the head of the freefly school at SOBE. He is a great guy with amazing freefly skills. I definitely recommend working with him. The scene there is very active these days. There is a crowd from Italy, and several other freefliers from all over. Even the staff has some impressive freefly skills. I had such a good time there that I stayed two extra weeks beyond my planned departure. They even flew a load down to Key West for a party night when the weather crapped out! I hope to be back there within a month. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Actually, I think the absence of a pressure containment system puts the XFire and the Katana in a somewhat different category. Nevertheless, I believe that all three canopies are aimed at the same group of jumpers. We are looking for data here, not groundless opinions. You can go to rec.skydiving for that... Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Actually, I live less than an hour from the Ranch right now. I will be traveling most of the season, but will get there whenever I can. "Her" pilot, aye? Interesting. I think I will stick to my androgenous title. Play Up High, Fewer consequences!! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Some Thoughts on Learning to Swoop Your first steps are up high. Learn your canopy's responses to various maneuvers, and the amount of altitude lost (using your altimeter). This will help you develop the feel for the approach, as well as providing some empirical data that will help you when it is time to try things near the ground. Your first attempts should be nothing more than straight-in front riser dives. Adding the complexity of a changing heading increases the difficulty to two variables at once. Break it down, and learn the final phase of the approach first. Your next set is 45 degree turns, ending in straight-in front risers. This will begin the process of the rotational approach without being too confusing. Remember that it is better to plane-out high than hook in. Use you altimeter to train your eyes for the initiation altitude. Next is 90's, then 135's, then 180's. Take your time with each incremental increase of the turn radius. Skipping steps will only cause bad habits, and could get you severely busted up. Work toward a "carving approach" that includes a slow turn-rate, but a high descent-rate. This involves offset-double-fronts in the last phase of the turn. It is essential that you practice all this way up high, over and over again. If you can, fly with other canopies to work on your reaction skills. You must cultivate your "secondary instincts": the appropriate reactions to the situation at hand. The right choice is rarely what "primary instincts" would dictate. In animal terms, this is: "fight, flight or freezing". Since the first two are not applicable, freezing is often selected by the unconscious. If this happens at the wrong moment, the inappropriate response that was designed by the unconscious mind will in fact kill you. Lastly, realize that there is no need to swoop. It is fun, but not worth dying for. Know when to abort your approach, and when to go for it. This is about controlling your emotional response to the situation, and reacting with logic. Emotion is the horse, and Mind is the Jockey. Keep the Jockey in control. For more on this kind of groovy stuff, look for my upcoming book: The Parachute and its Pilot + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Wondering if people who have flown both the Samurai and the Katana would post their experiences here. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I will build a Lotus 210 personally if one is ordered. We are productionizing the new size at PD shortly. If it works with the production department, we'll be offering a Lotus Student with F-111 ribs to ease the packing. We'll post its release if and when it goes through. The sizes will most likely be: 210, 230, 250 sf Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

That is awesome! I have been looking for an opportunity to head "Down Under". If you think OZ would be receptive to a canoy flight camp, I could bring demos with me. You can reach me directly through the Big Air Site. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I'm with you Chuck. There are fewer incidences of canopy/freefall collisions than there are of injuries caused by landing out, especially with the smaller canopies used today. That is evidence enough for me; I'm landing in. I am also talking to the group behind me to increase the chance that they won't come out right on top of me, and canopy tracking as if my life depends on it. My whole purpose of starting this thread was to make people think about the issue. I guess I succeeded! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Actually if you use the following technique, being dragged is no longer a concern: Airlocks After Landing: There are many schools of thought on the topic of walking in wind with an airlock canopy. Although many methods work well, there is one way that has tested well in most conditions. Here are the steps: 1) As soon as you are on the ground, release one toggle. This will send the canopy into a turn. As you do this, lean your body weight upwind to tension the lines. This will quicken the response to your input. 2) When the canopy if facing the ground, let go of the remaining toggle. This allows the canopy to fly into the ground. 3) Take a step forward toward the parachute. The canopy will then float on its back, with the nose facing you. There will be little or no drag at this point, which allows you to stand still for a minute and rest from your jump. 4) Do not stow your toggles or push the slider back up just yet. The cupping action of stowed toggles will increase the drag of the canopy, and pushing the slider up in this configuration will form an inflated wall that will be hard to walk with. 5) When you are ready to walk in, separate your front risers from the back risers. Pull the front risers away from the canopy, so as to tension only the nose of the parachute. 6) Next, grab all of your lines in this offset configuration and push the slider back up to the canopy and loop the lines in one hand. By tensioning the leading edge only, you end up changing the shape of the wing from a wall into a tube. Tubes have less drag because the air passes right through them. 7) Flipping the nose of the canopy to the top seems to help keep the air from re-entering the wing. Without a constant influx of air, the pressure in the wing will gradually drop as the outside air presses against the inflated mass. By the time you reach the packing area, most of the air should be out of the wing. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I guess I could have worded that one a bit better. Sorry. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

You betcha. Quote away! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com