Ron 10 #26 December 5, 2002 I disagree. A 1.9 loaded Stiletto is very flyable.....but it does not perform as well as it did at 1.6. I would not recomend anything over a 1.6...for a Stiletto, and I think that 1.4-1.5 is the best range. I have 600 jumps on a 1.4 loaded ST., and 1000 on a 1.7 loaded ST. And PD's website has 181.9 pounds listed as MAX for a 107. Thats a 1.7 wingload. Infact ALL Stilettos are listed as 1.7 as MAX. If you want to load higher than that get a Vengence, or Velocity....I have a Velocity I load at 1.9. It is a much better canopy at that wingload than a Stiletto. Ron"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #27 December 5, 2002 >I wish you could hear Kolla's voice on this webpage.... one of those sexy can't quite place the accent voices. Icelandic And you are right... I know shes out there lurking on this thread too... Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,991 #28 December 5, 2002 >A 1.9 loaded Stiletto is very flyable.....but it does not perform as >well as it did at 1.6. It depends on your definition of 'perform well.' A 1.9 loading on an stiletto gives you a faster flying, faster turning, longer surfing, stronger flaring canopy than a 1.6 loading does. If you have another definition (i.e. resistance to spinning mals) then a lower loading may indeed perform better. >Infact ALL Stilettos are listed as 1.7 as MAX. No one pays any attention to max loadings on stilettos. They came out shortly after the sabre, and sabres are listed with a max loading of 1.1. It's hard to find anyone who loads a sabre to only 1.1 to 1, at least at DZ's around here. 2 to 1 loadings are pretty common on stilettos - a jumper at Otay put 3000+ jumps on a 2.5 to 1 stiletto and loved it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #29 December 5, 2002 Bill, I am not so sure that the 1.9 will surf more than the 1.7. If I recall it is close to the same distance, but just faster. I know no one pays attention to the labels, but I did say that at 1.9 it will still fly,and be safe, but I did also say that it was my opinion. In my opinion, a Stiletto is best flown below a 1.7....More like 1.5. I base this on my experiance, with both wingloadings. Just putting info out based on my observations....I never said it was law, or correct for that matter. Ron"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hallur 0 #30 December 6, 2002 QuoteI've never seen minimums for the Stiletto (haven't even looked) but I can say from firsthand experience that a 1:1 loaded Stiletto is dangerously unstable in turbulence. 1.26 to 1 as a minimum is probably a good guideline. If it is dangerous for a stiletto to be loaded at 1:1 or under, why does the PD website recomend a wingloading like 0.8:1 for intem. on a 190 sqft. Just a thought... When I stop skydiving is the day that I die!!! Hallur Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cobaltdan 0 #31 December 6, 2002 my past experience with stillettos is that swoop distance will begin to taper off after 1.8. sincerely, dan<><>Daniel Preston <><> atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kolla 0 #32 December 7, 2002 Quote Icelandic And you are right... I know shes out there lurking on this thread too... Oh my... there went my honorable reputation !!!Blue Skies Magazine Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumpster 0 #33 December 7, 2002 I've had the pleasure of listening to that voice, too! And you are sooo right! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zlew 0 #34 December 8, 2002 The stiletto first came out the max was 1.3:1 . The word got out that all the PD guys jumped theirs WAY over that..and over the years PD HAD to change their Rec to keep up with the market. I have a 97 and 107, that depending on what gear I have on, I load from 1.63 to about 1.8, and from 1.8 to just over 2.0. I have not quite 500 jumps on both canopies. For me, the 97 out surfs the 107 all day long. Having said that, I think that it depends a lot on how you fly your parachute. If you surf such that you allow your canopy to build speed over a longer time/more alt. then I think u will like the higher loaded stiletto, but will find it doesn't surf as well if you like to use toggles, or more snappy lower turns. Also, if you are a fan of running out your landings or are not skilled in unloading a canopy to a stop, then you will also like the lower wing loading. But other than that.... I define perfornance like Bill does (should that scare me?) and to me there is no loss in performance as you get over 1.6:1 on that canopy. As for spinning Mals.... any loades eliptical will be very picky durring opennings and not respondwell to line twist. Total "loaded" eliptical jumps: Over 1,000. Cutaways due to the canopy being eliptical (or total really) 1 (bag cought the edge of the pack tray on the way out and had MANY line twists before it ever came out of the bag). If you are not used to flying through your opennings, or dealing with that kind of canpy, you will enjoy the lower wing loadings. Z Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zlew 0 #35 December 8, 2002 Craig Gerard used to do pretty well at the swoop meets under a stiletto, but I can't remember what size or wing loading. Might be interesting to know. Having said that, If I wanted to go play mr. super swooper at a competition, i think there are wings out there that would fair much better than a stiletto. I guess it just depends on what you want from your parachute Z Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
