A2 Tandem canopy

[whoops 0]

Hello,
is here somebody with experiencies with A2 Tandem canopy Aerodyne?
if yes, could he send some infos about flying, flare, opening, riding etc. with this parachute?
thanx

[slotperfect 7]

Here's an old thread for background info:

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1381725;search_string=a2%20tandem;#1381725

Arrive Safely

John

[kaerodyne 0]

Whoops

There are several DZ and TM's that use the A2 on a regular basis, if you'd like some contact info for them, please drop me a PM and I'll gladly assist.

Blue Skies

Karl Meyer
Marketing Coordinator
Aerodyne Research
Office: 1 813 891 6300
www.flyaerodyne.com

[ast4711 0]

PM me I will make the contact to a guy who owns an A2 and had some jumps on my brand new Icarus in the last couple of month. I think he likes both...

alex

--
www.tandemmaster.net
www.skydivegear.de

[whoops 0]

thanx guys,
for posts and help

[AggieDave 6]

If I had a choice between a A2, Sigma, Icarus, Firebolt and an EZ, I would pick the A2 nearly every time. A close second is the Sigma, followed by an EZ, the Icarus and a very very distant last place is the Firebolt.

The A2 has a light toggle stroke, and opens really well, but it still has the really solid bottom end that the Icarus really lacks unless you pop the toggles. The Sigma has the same bottom end, but has a heavier toggle stroke. The Icarus opens well, but linetwists get goofy with the canopy flying in full flight. The bottom end really lacks compared to the Sigma and the A2. The Firebolt pretty much sucks at everything. It opens poorly, flies poorly and flares even worst. I would literally rather jump a 6-grommet EZ for every tandem jump then ever do another jump on a Firebolt.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[flipper 0]

good onheading performance ... soft openings ... in flight it is fairly similer to most other tandem canopies ... light toggle pressure and good power in the flare for landing ..

[AdD 1]

I say Icarus, A2, Sigma, EZ .. never jumped firebolt. The Aerodyne tandem main I jumped was very sporty and the toggle pressure was the lightest of any tandem canopy I've jumped. Very sweet, wish I had more than 2-3 jumps on it to say more.

Life is ez
On the dz
Every jumper's dream
3 rigs and an airstream

[Freefly710 0]

I'm a fairly new at tandems but from the canopies I've jumped, I really prefer the A2. The toggle pressure is light and the flair is really nice. Not to say that I don't like other models but if given the choice, I'd choose to jump the A2.

[kaerodyne 0]

Whoops

Here is a link to our website, if you need more info, please feel free to get in touch.

http://www.flyaerodyne.com/fly/products/a2.asp

Blue Skies

Karl Meyer
Marketing Coordinator
Aerodyne Research
Office: 1 813 891 6300
www.flyaerodyne.com

[dragon2 2]

We had one at our DZ but we sold it (or traded it I think) because it didn't quite fit in with the rest (EZ, Sigma, Icarus); it was flaoaoaoaoaoty. If I saw the A2 opening when filming a tandem, I knew I was going to be in the landing area a while waiting for my tandem to land, that thing takes it's own sweet time getting down

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[NancyJ 11]

Hi Whoops,
You really should investigate the FireBolt Tandem Canopy. It has absolutely the nicest openings - very soft, very smooth. The flare is easy and responsive while the lift is sustained for a long time. There are 3 sizes: 298, 350, 396. The 350 is the best "all around". I like the 298 for the light toggle pressure and sporty feel. At 138 pounds, it works well for me. For some good video of FireBolt openings go to the Jumpshack.com video gallery.

[DougH 270]

Would you agree that you might have some bias...

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

It has absolutely the nicest openings - very soft, very smooth.

Sure, about the same as an EZ-384 with a 6-grommet slider. Its ok, but not great and not as good as other modern tandem canopies.

Quote

The flare is easy and responsive while the lift is sustained for a long time.

Sure, once again compared to an EZ-384. Compared to a Icarus tandem main, its not that great. Compared to the Sigma the Firebolt severely under performs. Compared to the A2 the Firebolt doesn't even compare.

A few years ago I got cross trained on the Racer tandem. I learned a couple of things that weekend. One is I would never jump that tandem system ever again. Two is that the Firebolt doesn't live up to the hype of the Racer cult.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[RMURRAY 1]

my DZO is buying a couple of new tandems and I will have to get him to consider the A2 main based on this discussion. Under consideration are Sigma and Precision/Icarus. Regarding the Firebolt tandem, I guess opinions vary. Riggerrob is a well respected tandem IE with 31 years in the sport and 5700 jumps - and not sponsored to my knowledge. Here is what he has said lately....."Jump Shack claims that their Firebolt canopy will do all that, just with different sizes for different experience levels.
I have only jumped the Firebolt 396, but liked it"

[DougH 270]

The price is definetly nice on the A2's, when I was pricing them out for my club they were very competitive in price.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[NancyJ 11]

If it's been "a few years", you haven't jumped a current production FireBolt. In fact you may have jumped the old Racer TD400 model or the early tapered tip (pre-FireBolt), which were fine canopies for their day. But they were not nearly the fine canopy flying experience that the FireBolt is.

I'm told by other users that the FireBolt opens soft like an Icarus - but more orderly, and far outperforms all other current production canopies in terms of flare.

Don't salt you food before you taste it.

[AggieDave 6]

So the Firebolt that I jumped in 2005 has been rebuilt into a new canopy even though the previous canopy was held up as the best thing since buttered bread. I'm very active in the sport, why was the change snuck in and not announced?

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[whoops 0]

thanx for all posts
blue skies