Velocity versus Icarus VX

[mischo 0]

Forgive me but this is my case of beer post,

I have been flying a Alpha 117 for a little over a season and it has been relined and has over 1000 jumps on it. Ever since the reline it does not behave like it used to. Now I am having frequent line twists 1 out of every 5 jumps, I have had to cut her away twice in two weekends. So I am going to send that lil doggy to pasture and invest the reserve repack money into a new cross braced canopy. I was wondering if any one who owns either the Velocity or the VX could shed some light about the pros and cons to either canopy.

A few details I am concerned with, I am a AFF instructor so I need to get back from long spots. I am also a wuss when it comes to hard openings so a canopy that has notoriously "BRISK" openings, would not be for me.

I appreciate the help, take care. Blue skies and long swoops.
mish

[3fLiEr 0]

All i can suggest is PM or Email Swoopmenace - he has experience of different canopies (and structured opinions) and has researched alot the physics attached to canopies............. his advice is valid!!


Cya

Michael

PS) yep still phuqking bored on a Sunday and replying to anything!!!!!

[mischo 0]

Thank you Micheal

[3fLiEr 0]

No sweat! - if you dont get a response from PM or E then - E me direct and I will forward your question to him. (he dont come here that often!)

Be Safe Be Low!!

Michael

[parachutist 2]

Quote

I need to get back from long spots. I am also a wuss when it comes to hard openings so a canopy that has notoriously "BRISK" openings, would not be for me.

The VX's glide is very flat when you give it some brakes... it can definitely get you back from a long spot. The openings are pretty snappy, so if you want a soft opening I'd say the VX is definitely not for you.

I haven't tried a Velocity so I have no experience with those yet

Have you considered a Xaos-21? It has a relatively smooth opening and can glide very nicely.

Chris

[ramon 0]

I get soft openings from that Vx I bought from you.

must be my packing skills developoed from my hard opening FX

weird

"Revolution is an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment.", Ambrose Bierce.

[parachutist 2]

Quote

I get soft openings from that Vx I bought from you.

must be my packing skills developoed from my hard opening FX

weird

yeah.. I just read your reply to this in the Swooping & Canopy Control Forum. It's interesting that we're talking about the very same canopy at a similar wing loading but have completely different impressions of it. :)

I think your packing technique does have a lot to do with it: All my pack jobs are CRW style

Chris

[Hallur 0]

I have no experience on Velocity or VX .But I love my FX loaded at 1.8 I got 100 jumps on it and I have never gotten any bad or hard openings only line twist 3-5 times but they were nothing remotly serios. Its got a strong flare and it has always gotten me back from bad spots. I bought it new from spain. Sorry if my english is crap im an eskimo and polarbear
blue sky... Hallur

When I stop skydiving is the day that I die!!! Hallur

[mischo 0]

Hallur,
thanks for the reply man, I am definitely keeping all the options open I'll probably demo them all, and see which one suits me the best.
mish

[pal 0]

Hey Mish, make sure you let us know how they go and which one you choose.

Paul

[slotperfect 7]

Wazzap Mish! Keeping your Rigger busy I see!?!?! Hey, PM SkyMonkeyOne, our resident swoopmeister here at Raeford. He will have some good tips for you, as long as you don't mind taking advice from an SF guy

Cheers,
John Hawke

[Ron 10]

Well, I have over 100 jumps on a Extreme FX 88.
3 on an Extreme 69.
Over 100 on a Velocity 96.....

Guess which one I bought?
If I am ever asked what canopy to buy....simple PD.

The FX were the new cool toy on the block. They were designed after a PD product. But they opened so damn hard. One time Boxman from Zhills asked to jump my 88. I let him (In reality he took my rig from the gear room while I was not looking, Its ok I steal his from time to time)
Anyway he landed looking white....He also looked pissed. Later he told me he wanted to hit me because it opened so hard. It did, and I sent it back.

My Velocity has yet to whack me, and in fact I jump it with a camera. I would have never jumped the FX with a camera.

I am not sponsored by PD....Relative Workshop yes, but not PD. I choose to jump PD products. I have yet to find a canopy company that has time after time put out good products of all types while having a high standard of quality.

Ron

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[skydvrgy20 0]

I have tried the vx and the velo and I am looking into trying the xaos 27 and onyx. So far I like the velo better. Its openings are wierd but not to bad. The vx has good openings but I was very dissapointed in the amount of front riser pressure it was insane how bad it was. Just thought I would give you my two cents on the topic.

[selwynj 0]

I own a Velo and a Xaos 27. The Velo is more ground hungry and does not get back from a long spot as easily as the Xaos. Both are good on openings. I am sure that flying teqnique could make a big change in getting back. I normally ride the rears if getting back. This seems to work better on the Xaos.

“It takes ten years to get ten years’ experience” Eric "tonto" Stephenson D515 PASA

[eUrNiCc 0]

The JVX is a nice middleground between the VX and Velo. It opens on heading like the VX & with just a little less snivel than the velo. The riser pressure is about the same as the velo & it's good at getting back from long spots. If you're on a budget a VX with the JVX lineset is the way to go.

Egad, A BASE life defiles a bad age.

[TALONSKY 0]

I have about 140 jumps on a VX, 2 jumps on a Velocity and 40 Jumps on a Xaos 27 cell. I am far from a great swooper, I would say I am mediocre at best getting pretty good swoops doing 180° turns.
Velocity:
openings: are searchy
performance: Awesome, that thing is ground hungry and can swoop. Light front riser pressure
Xaos 27 Cell:
Openings: three of the first five pack jobs a straight Pro pack ended me the end cells inflated and flying together with the center not inflated. I found if I packed it leaving the center 3 cell exposed infront of the slider and fold the other 3 cells either side back under the slider, I could get it to open with the center inflated but I always had a fast 360° turn to which ever side open last.
Perfomance: Great, more dive than VX light front riser pressure and not quite as ground hungry ast the Velocity.

VX: Openings: Fair, after learning to PRO pack and roll the nose. Everyonce in a while when I do not pack carefully it can spank me.
Performance: Good, high front riser pressure (this can be countered by starting with a harness turn then the riser pressure is light but it builds up quick), good dive( not as much as either the Xaos or Velocity). MY favorite feature of this canopy I have been in line twist with it about 15 times (trying to sort out packing for wingsuit flying) it flew straight, only once did it dive to the ground for one 360° turn before it leveled out and flew straight. On one of those line twisted openings my head was pinned to my chest and it still flew straight. LOVE this product.
Kirk

[JohanW 0]

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[snip]

Just thought I would give you my two cents on the topic.

After four years?

Johan.
I am. I think.

[irishrigger 32]

hey mish,
i give you my 2 cents worth aswell.i recently bought a velocity 120 and i have a wingloading of 2.5 on it.i have done approx 300 jumps on it now and i got to say what an awesome canopy!! i really love it.i am an aff instructor,which means i am normally out last of the plane with deep spots.i have no problem getting back from long spots.i tuck up my knees and a little back riser and i glide back with ease.never put me of a dz yet.although i did get my teeth fillings shaken loose once with a very hard opening,dont know what happend there as i packed it myself.i also use the velo for camera jumps and every one of my opening,with the one exception,was beautiful,soft and on heading!!!
i had the oppertunity to jump a VX last year in new zealand.i did 3 jumps on it and handed it back.couple where positive openings to say the least,the other was a line twist.(i did manage to get out of them after a struggle)
so my advice i would stick with the PD Velocity,i find it a much superior canopy and better all around!!

i also have repacked a few reserves here that have the same problem as you with cutaways.it might be worth getting your line trim checked out again!maybe there is an issue with that.normally a canopy should fly a lot better and smoother after a re-line!!!
might be no harm to get that checked out again by a rigger
rodger

[meatbomb 0]

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so my advice i would stick with the PD Velocity,i find it a much superior canopy and better all around!!

Interestingly, I had the exact opposite impressions!

I did 60 jumps on a Velo 120 loaded at 2.4, and handed it back, cos I didn't like the searching openings, and ridiculously steep trim. I've now done 150 on an Icarus VX 114 at 2.55, and love the openings, flight and landings so much that I'm getting a 123 (at 2.3 for distance) as well!

I guess YMMV... So my advice would be to try a Velo, a VX, and a Xaos-27, see which one you like...

One thing that no-one can deny is that both the VX and the Xaos-27 have a much flatter natural glide angle than the Velo...(I know the VX is the best cos it's what I've got! )

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Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii!
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