Icarus alpha/Atair alpha

[kurupeeblas 0]

Can anybody compare the icarus alpha with a pd stiletto? openings, performance etc...just bought one thinking it was and atair alpha...thanks a lot

Blas

[tulinov 0]

I jumped Icarus ALFA 129(mfd in NewZeland) and IMHO it's very like PDStiletto 135 in flight characteristics. But ALFA has more comfortable (soft, on heading) openings.
BS.

[Kimblair13 0]

*BUMP*

Can you compare Atair Alpha and PD Stiletto a little?

I see alot of people saying that stiletto's aren't a good way to go in a canopy progression...something along those lines.

Would Alpha fall in that same category...or is it maybe a little different. I saw some people comparing it to Crossfires and Katana's...but for some reason I find that not so true....(I stand corrected!)

Anyone?

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

I will take that one on. I jumped PD Stillettos in sizes 107 and 97 for six years prior to trying out other stuff. When I did so, I bought both an Alpha/Impulse/Space 84 and an Icarus VX-74. The Alpha/Space/Impulse is a great opening, longer-than-Stilletto-diving nine-cell. Compare it to a a PD Katana, Icarus Crossfire, HiPer Nitro, Flight Concepts Rage. I competed on what is now know as the PST as a professional under Atair canopies for three years prior to switching back to crossbraces (PD Velocities in sizes 75, 79, and 84).

I ended up back where I started (PD) several years later and really love my Velo, Sabre2 and my PD reserves, but I have more than 1000 jumps under Atair stuff and will gladly anser more questions for you via PM if you wish.

Chuck

[Kimblair13 0]

Hey Thanks!
I actually just sent you a PM about the canopy seconds before I saw this.

[nicknitro71 0]

I jump Alphas; H-mod 94 and E-mod 99.

In short they are outstanding canopies.

Because I hate pissing contests, PM me if you want more info.

Memento Audere Semper

903

[diablopilot 2]

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I see alot of people saying that stiletto's aren't a good way to go in a canopy progression...something along those lines.

I'd love to know how many jumps any of them have on Stilettos.


They are a great intro HP canopy.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[marks 0]

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I see alot of people saying that stiletto's aren't a good way to go in a canopy progression...something along those lines.

that all depends on what your progressing too.

[Canuck 0]

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Can you compare Atair Alpha and PD Stiletto a little?

Very similar canopies. I'd have to give a slight edge to the Alpha for both opening and landing performance. I am making this comparison based on a Stiletto 107 and an Alpha 104.

As to the spinoff discussion on the Stiletto not being a good canopy to learn HP flight on - I think I use to same the same thing when the smallest Stiletto I had jumped was a 135 at about a 1.4 wingload. Now that I've got a bunch of jumps on a 107 loaded close to 2.0, I call bullshit. I initiate my 270 on my Stiletto 107 only slightly lower than I do on my Velo 96, and she dives and dives. The Stiletto is also a fantastic canopy for learning the importance of flying through your openings, as is important under any HP wing. If Stilettos weren't still the shit, Airspeed wouldn't still be jumping them.

Canuck

[mattjw916 2]

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If Stilettos weren't still the shit, Airspeed wouldn't still be jumping them.

I'm more inclined to believe it's part of their sponsorship deal personally... it's not like they're paying for those canopies or anything.

NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

[Kimblair13 0]

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I see alot of people saying that stiletto's aren't a good way to go in a canopy progression...something along those lines.

I've maybe 2 jumps on a stiletto, one on accident and one I didn't land. So...I know nothing really about them.

I've just read a handful of times that they're not so great.

[ntacfreefly 0]

I have plenty of jumps on both Stiletto's and Heatwaves. They are good for what they are, but I still don't consider them a good swoop progression canopy anymore and I know of some very well respected factory pilots who agree.

I still would not include them in an modern swoop progression. Not because they aren't good, but because there are better alternatives out there.

Blues,
Ian

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu

It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

[marks 0]

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modern swoop progression

not good for that, but good for pleanty of other things.

I'm one of those many saying it isn't a good stepping stone for swooping, but if that isn't your goal, It has some great performance characteristics. but there are a few things you trade off for that also.

It is a great canopy for "beer line swooping". not competition.

[Martini 0]

Can't help putting in my 2 cents. One factor is availability. If a Stiletto is what is available or what you can afford it's a fine tool. It has it's limitations and peculiarities (like any canopy) but is a useful, fun and responsive canopy. Modern, efficient and competitive? Not. IMHO by far the biggest detriment is the short recovery arc leading to low hooks but the canopy is still a solid HP wing. Oh yeah, it opens on heading once in a while too.

Sometimes you eat the bear..............

[CrazyL 0]

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I see alot of people saying that stiletto's aren't a good way to go in a canopy progression...something along those lines.

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Really? Do the people you see alot of speak of other canopies that are good in canopy progression? I came up in the 'old school of swoop' before the term swoop was swoop. Sabre 135 was the hottest parachute on the market. The stilleto's began gaining popularity among the wild men. Hook turns became popular in incident reports and still are to this day. Stilleto's and Blue Trac were the fastest parachutes around. Nova's were popular for a little while. Would not recommend a Nova canopy for progression. The Stilleto has it's place in canopy progression if a person desires to go fast low to the ground while participating in one of the most painful and deadly parts of the sport. Stilleto recovers faster after a turn , short diver in comparison to Alpha. Alpha has/had longer dive and longer recovery arc in comparison. Just by a little bit. The Crossfire and Crossfire 2 were even longer divers and longer recovery arc with extra flare power in comparison to Alpha and Stilleto.

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