post your icon

[aubsmell 0]

Your opinion is noted. One thing I can say about a lot of the rigs in these photos is they are the largest models. I6's and such, and like in any rig, the larger ones are never as sexy as the smaller ones. That’s why I posted a picture of mine (an I2) the second from smallest side by side second from largest.

I'll post a couple photos in this post of one of the new I2's, with the new design. In my opinion, which is only an opinion, it is looking much cooler, more symmetrical.

One warning I'll say to any rig buyer, container manufacturers sizes their containers not just for one parachute, or combination of parachutes. Take for instance the reserve container, you would want the container to fit a variety of canopies, say a Speed 150, PDR 143, Smart 150, Micro Raven 150, Rmax, you get the picture. Since there is no hard and fast rule on how companies size these canopies, they are all similar but not exactly the same, therefore there has to be some play in the design.

This being said, one thing that I see a lot is that people always want to stuff ten pounds of S*@# into a five pound bucket. Especially on the high end. I find myself constantly trying to talk people out of this.

When a company puts that a canopy size X to a canopy size Y will fit in the reserve container, and a G to an H in the main, it is never going to look great if you pack the two biggest things that will fit in there CAN possibly fit. However a lot of people insist on doing this. Mainly because they plan on downsizing their main. Every company has to deal with this, and the riggers that pack them have to deal with it. This is where you get somewhat undesirable looking pack jobs.

If you have ever seen Jeff from Mirage pack a rig, you'll know that guy could refold a used fitted sheet back into its original packaging, where he can put what he says is the biggest smart into an M4, there are a lot of weekend riggers that either can't get it in or stuff it in but it looks like crap.

I can tell you this from a lot of experience, I've seen a lot of rigs out there, having now taken demo rigs to events for three rig manufacturers, RWS, Sunpath and now Aerodyne, when I looked at the charts and put the biggest thing in there that would possibly fit, it NEVER looked as good as if you put one in there that was in the mid to lower end of the range.

I see that you jump all Parachute Systems gear, A Vortex and it's component canopies, I'm sure you picked the canopies that fit that system best, and therefore it looks the best. I wish more people would get the canopies that best fit the containers.

Vortex, good choice, a well designed rig.

Either way, noticing your comments in this forum, where people post pictures of the systems they took the time to design and are quite proud to jump. I'd like to thank you for your thoughtful, well-researched and poignantly articulated commentary, based on your wealth of experience.

"Those who say it cannot be done, should not interrupt those who are doing it"

[nate_1979 9]

Question, you say that people try to pack too much crap into their rigs... I'm currently planning on buying a new Icon I6 w/ Pilot 210 and Smart 190 in october... Is this a bad combination? The website says it good, but what you just said makes me question that..

FGF #???
I miss the sky...
There are 10 types of people in the world... those who understand binary and those who don't.

[Cloggy 1]

Well, it's not an Icon, but as it looks similar... Couldn't resist the chance to show off
So, if your friend likes orange...
I saw some Icon's around on my DZ: they look very nice, well built and have very happy owners.

[aubsmell 0]

That combo works well...

"Those who say it cannot be done, should not interrupt those who are doing it"

[grosfion 0]

One thing which made me curious:

first I looked at the nice pictures of the containers and then I had a look at the profiles of the owners:

Main Canopy: PD 9-cell 190 ft² (1.04 lbs/ft²)
Reserve Canopy: PD Reserve 160 ft² (1.24 lbs/ft²)


Main Canopy: Spectre 210 ft² (1.21 lbs/ft²)
Reserve Canopy: Smart 190 ft² (1.34 lbs/ft²)


Main Canopy: Vision 124 ft² (1.51 lbs/ft²)
Reserve Canopy: Smart 120 ft² (1.56 lbs/ft²)

Main Canopy: Pilot 188 ft² (1.03 lbs/ft²)
Reserve Canopy: Smart 175 ft² (1.10 lbs/ft²)


Main Canopy: Vision 117 ft² (1.71 lbs/ft²)
Reserve Canopy: Smart 110 ft² (1.82 lbs/ft²)


so maybe the aerodyne fans can tell me why on earth do you want to jump a smaller reserve than a main?

I really like the icon but I do not understand the sizing chart.

blues
Marcus

[Thanatos340 1]

Main Canopy: Pilot 188 ft² (1.03 lbs/ft²)
Reserve Canopy: Smart 175 ft² (1.10 lbs/ft²)

I choose this after talking with my Instructors, The DZO, a Gear Dealer and the Manufacturer. This was my First Rig and I will be Downsizing the main to a 168 at 1.13 to 1 next year. The container and the reaserve will be the same for many years. I am not worried about landing a 175 reserve at all (actually loaded at 1.08 to 1 which I beleive is still conservative even with my very limited experience) and yes I have jumped a 7 cell F-111 170 canopy just to make sure that I would be confortable with this choice.

[RyanofOZ 0]

The container I had before the Icon couldnt fit the 217 reserve I had in it right. I flew a few 190's and felt fine under them. So, I bought the 190 smart, eventually got a new Icon container, and kept the 210 main the old container came with. I am actually lighter than what my profile has for me as of now. I load the 210 at 1.18 and 1.31

I will eventually downsize to a 190 main and keep it that way 190:190 for the rest of my jumping career. I am a weekend warrior and will never jump over 1.4 wingload.

Oz

[John4455 0]

Don't ever, and I mean ever, say NEVER! I Have eaten that word many times.....

How do ya like it Johnny?

[RyanofOZ 0]

I thought of that as I typed it and figured I would get caught using it! I may one day venture higher but seeing as I am never going to be all that current, I doubt it. I guess we will have to see!

Oz