super evolution canopy

[johnie 0]

Anyone familiar with this canopy,How does it fly,problems with openings,anything would be helpful . It is the 140 super evo from para flite with three risers from 1991 thanks

No matter where you Go!"there you are"!

[masterrigger1 2]

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Anyone familiar with this canopy,How does it fly,problems with openings,anything would be helpful . It is the 140 super evo from para flite with three risers from 1991 thanks

Ask SkymonkeyOne, I think he may have had one around 1991 or 92.

Our Video guy had one then and was at the time a fast canopy!


MEL

Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC
www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

[masterrig 1]

There was a thread on this very topic, awhile back. The 'Evolution', a 21-cell, had some problems, those were corrected with the 'Super Evolution'. If, i recall correctly, the 'big' problem (Evolution) was with the 'collapsible' pilot chute. The bridle line, tended to hang up, causing an 'inversion'. The pilot chute, collapsed as the parachute opened and the bridle line was drawn back through the top-skin and bottom skins of the parachute.


Chuck


Chuck

[gjhdiver 0]

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Anyone familiar with this canopy,How does it fly,problems with openings,anything would be helpful . It is the 140 super evo from para flite with three risers from 1991 thanks

The Ford Edsel of it's day. Probably seemed like a good idea on the drawing board, but was complex and unreliable, and subsequently out performed by the PD Excalibur and the PDF Blue Track, the two high performance canopies that it was up against.

[skydogs 0]

Are you thinking about buying one? Perhaps others could answer, but at perhaps it isn't a wise canopy choice for you.

[pchapman 279]

The one previous thread I know of on the Evolution and Super Evolution is:
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1299075;search_string=%26quot%3Bsuper%20evolution%26quot%3B;#1299075

I'll repeat and expand on what I wrote in that thread. I only have about 20 jumps on the Super Evolution 140.

It's a fun canopy to fly, but outclassed by more modern canopies. Because of its line configuration it can do things other skydiving canopies can't do. Because it is so unusual, it is not useful as part of a newer jumper's downsizing progression. I bought one cheap as a spare canopy, just because it is fun and different. The standard caveat about such a canopy is that it no longer manufactured or supported by the manufacturer.

SPECS
-- Max weight recommended by Paraflite is 180 lbs for the 140 size.
-- For the "140", Paraflite's specs call it 154 ft sq. when the slightly drooped outer cells are included. (The drooped cells replace stabilizers)
-- The canopy does pack up very large compared to others of its quoted size -- so be careful of container sizes. (E.g., a later quote from Paragear stated the Super Evolution 140 as being 483 cu. in., while a Sabre 170 is quoted at only 451. Paraflite itself says 435, but the larger number is much more believable.)

CONSTRUCTION
-- The Super Evolution is an odd canopy. The lines cascade from side to side, attaching to almost ever rib for the 21 to 23 chambers, depending on size (vs. 18 for a "9 cell" canopy). There are A, B, and C sets of lines, each going to their own riser. (Actually, the front riser splits about half way up, in a "Y" configuration, to create the "third riser") Although there are no D lines, there are still plenty of lines. When pro-packing it is a messy job sorting the lines down at the canopy, as one is dealing with groups of 10 or 11 lines on each side at the canopy, instead of groups of 5 for a normal 9-cell. It's not the sort of canopy to give to a novice to pro-pack.
-- If someone had to change a worn-out 3-riser set up to a regular 2-riser system, I'd bet that it would be acceptable. The canopy should fly fine with the A and B lines all squeezed on the same set of front risers of a normal 2-riser system. The geometry isn't going to be messed up that much, since normally in flight the A and B links are only a few inches apart horizontally.
-- The 3 riser system is accompanied by a 6 grommet slider. It is non-collapsible, and in-flight stops above the links, restrained by front to back lines between the suspension lines. These 'silencer' lines are designed to stop the slider from flapping. This looks weird when packing, and remind me of CRW cross-connectors.
-- The risers that come with the canopy are not 'reinforced risers'.
-- The Spectra lines are very soft compared to those used by other companies, and so are a little easier to snag.
-- Only the top skin is zero-p. (The non-Super version had no zero-p.)

FLIGHT
-- Openings seemed a little squirrelly on the Super Evolution 140 I flew, often diving into 180 or even 360 degree turns. The person I bought it from was a little spooked by the openings but it never bothered me. The turns were at the end of the opening sequence and never gave me line twists.
-- The canopy has a tight recovery arc, typical of fast canopies of the day. Excellent for low, toggle whipping hook turns before landing, which these days surprises spectators. (Such turns are considered dangerous.)
-- Unlike a regular canopy, where pulling the front riser pulls down both the A and B lines, on the Super Evolution, only the A lines are pulled down. Yanking a front riser down quickly can easily cause the nose of the canopy to fold under. I completely avoid front risering the canopy at low altitude, whether doing it smoothly or not.
(The instructions say that the risers are designed to limit the amount that the front riser can be pulled down, and that pulling both front and middle risers down may collapse the leading edge. I find it odd that there's no warning about just pulling front risers down.)
-- At altitude, yanking down a front riser to collapse the nose on one side can be fun. The fast spiral dive that results can be prevented by opposite brake if one is quick. Letting go of the front riser will allow the nose to return to normal.
-- Very fast turns can be accomplished by hauling down a middle riser, which quickly destroys the lifting capability of that side of the canopy. Pulling both middle risers down produces a fast descent with the canopy still mostly inflated, but slightly 'accordioned' from front to back. Again, it's something fun to try up high. This maneuver is a "B-line stall", in paragliding terminology.
-- My impression is that it doesn't have as good a flare and landing as a Sabre 135. Still, it was no problem with my weight (150 lbs + gear= approx 170 lbs).

[johnie 0]

thanks for the info it was very helpful too me,iI think im gonna practice on something more docile.Very infomative though! Blues skys and cold beer

No matter where you Go!"there you are"!