Ron 10
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D22369 0
--->Old but still good,
I occasionally run into canopy pilots on stiletto's that shame pilots on more modern canopies.
Just because a design is old doesnt make it junk.....
I do admit I am biased
.... I have 1200 jumps on stiletto's with wingloadings from 1.2 to 1.6
If I didnt get such a good deal on this icarus of mine, I would probably still be jumping PD.....
--<
--->The stiletto is very intolerant of bad body position... the newer canopies are more forgiving if this is an issue...
Roy
They say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it.
hookitt 1
Ok.. Thanks
The stiletto is responsive which is why you felt it to be twitchy. It turns when you ask it too, whether you meant to or not.
My average wingload was about 1.7 to 1.8 on a 97 stiletto. It was smooth fun and landed well. I've loaded it up considerably more. Not as nice of landing characteristics over loading it like that but still do able if you don't go for it too hard.
It was an easier transition mostly because it simply wasn't as quick to respond to toggle input as a stiletto. To get the same type of performance from the Cobalt I had to load the heck out of it. It handled the wingload just fine but the inflight characteristics of a stiletto is GRAND!!!
I have to get my ass to work so I can't finish my thought. right now.
Cheers.
The stiletto is responsive which is why you felt it to be twitchy. It turns when you ask it too, whether you meant to or not.
My average wingload was about 1.7 to 1.8 on a 97 stiletto. It was smooth fun and landed well. I've loaded it up considerably more. Not as nice of landing characteristics over loading it like that but still do able if you don't go for it too hard.
It was an easier transition mostly because it simply wasn't as quick to respond to toggle input as a stiletto. To get the same type of performance from the Cobalt I had to load the heck out of it. It handled the wingload just fine but the inflight characteristics of a stiletto is GRAND!!!
I have to get my ass to work so I can't finish my thought. right now.
Cheers.
My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto
QuoteDo you have much time under a Stiletto?
I know and know of many who fly highly loaded Crossfires, Samurais, Cobalts etc but I don't know anyone keen on highly loaded Stilletos.
If you're going to wing load beyond about 1.6-1.7 pounds per square foot (depending on elevation), you'll have more pleasant stall speeds, longer swoops, and maybe a better glide from something else.
Up to that point, a lot of us believe that the Stiletto's overall package (responsiveness, control pressures, glide, opening firmness/consistancy, swoop length, etc) was unequaled until very recently (the Samurai beats it; Extreme FX, Crossfire, Vengance, Blade Runner, Jonathan, Batwing, etc. all fall short for different reasons).
A ten year old design holding up that long is impressive.
There isn't anything wrong with Ravens, Sabres, or Stilettos. Each still offers the same level of performance it did when brand new; although newer designs have eclipsed all of these canopies especially when loaded more heavily.
Every one who is ready for an elliptical canopy should put some jumps on a Stiletto. If nothing else it will teach you to land a responsive canopy (I think FX 104s and Samurai 105s are easier to land than a Stiletto 120 at the same weight) when you still have some square footage over your head and provide a useful benchmark for comparison.
The one reservation I have about making an absolute recomendation is how it recovers from a dive. Newer designs take longer to come out and give you more lattitude in where you start. Many will stay in a nose-down attititude so where you finish is less critical. With the Stiletto, you will be in the habbit of starting lower, and may prefer to err towards the too low side because of the speed you loose if you finish your turn too high.
This is based on about 600 jumps on a Stiletto 120 @ 1.7-1.4 pounds/square foot (belly shrinking is good for hiking and dating but bad for wing loading); 20 on a Samurai 120 @ 1.7; 80 on a Samurai 105 @ 1.7; and a few on other ellipticals up to 1.9. Mostly at ~5000 feet MSL.
Every one who is ready for an elliptical canopy should put some jumps on a Stiletto. If nothing else it will teach you to land a responsive canopy (I think FX 104s and Samurai 105s are easier to land than a Stiletto 120 at the same weight) when you still have some square footage over your head and provide a useful benchmark for comparison.
The one reservation I have about making an absolute recomendation is how it recovers from a dive. Newer designs take longer to come out and give you more lattitude in where you start. Many will stay in a nose-down attititude so where you finish is less critical. With the Stiletto, you will be in the habbit of starting lower, and may prefer to err towards the too low side because of the speed you loose if you finish your turn too high.
This is based on about 600 jumps on a Stiletto 120 @ 1.7-1.4 pounds/square foot (belly shrinking is good for hiking and dating but bad for wing loading); 20 on a Samurai 120 @ 1.7; 80 on a Samurai 105 @ 1.7; and a few on other ellipticals up to 1.9. Mostly at ~5000 feet MSL.
Dazzle 0
Quotethe .... Crossfire .... all fall short for different reasons).
Can I ask why you thought the crossfire (2?) fell short?
I ask because I demod one recently and thought it was great and am inteested in any downsides people see.
My stilletto was loaded about 1.5 now about 1.25 (belly shrinkage:-) ) and I was on a variety of crossfires, 129, 119 and 109 @ ~1.8
I've yet to get on a stiletto smaller than 135 but I have put a number of jumps on a vengence 120 and 1 jump on a vengence 107 (I know 1 doesn't mean anthing esp. as all I did was fly it back and land.)
QuoteQuotethe .... Crossfire .... all fall short for different reasons).
Can I ask why you thought the crossfire (2?) fell short?
Crossfire 1 - presumably the 2 is a different beast.
It's been a while, although IIRC it surrounded subjective control influences. Sensitivity, weight on the toggles/risers, etc. Swoop & bottom end flare were nice.
leggit 0
Reading your profile (if it's accurate), I have about the same jumps as you and was also considering a very similar option. I demoed the stilleto 120 6 times yesterday and loved it. Two sizes down and elliptical is a big (and insanely fun) step but with the right coaching and training I believe it can be done.
This probably goes no where near helping you in your decision at all, I really just wanted to brag about my new canopy. Have fun and stay safe.
This probably goes no where near helping you in your decision at all, I really just wanted to brag about my new canopy. Have fun and stay safe.
COBALT 120 FOR SURE!!
The Cobalt will create more lift, it is superior in every way. You won't have to cut it away with line twists.
I bought a 95 and when I was looking for a 105 and after 100 jumps I want a smaller one.
Cobalts also have light front riser pressure which make nice carving turns easy and when you let up it levels out very quickly.
The Cobalt will create more lift, it is superior in every way. You won't have to cut it away with line twists.
I bought a 95 and when I was looking for a 105 and after 100 jumps I want a smaller one.
Cobalts also have light front riser pressure which make nice carving turns easy and when you let up it levels out very quickly.
1.7 loaded Stiletto.
I found the Cobalt to be junk. Opened hard (unless I got a new PC for my rig....Funny the Stiletto opened great with the same PC?).
It did fly OK, but don't confuse "It flies bigger" with "Its not as fast" It did flair ok...Not really any different than my Stiletto.
I am sure both can be good canopies, but I have never jumped a Stiletto that had bad habits...I have jumped Cobalts that did.
Its hard to beat PD's consistancy. Two new Stilettos will fly very much the same...I can't say that for any other manufactorer.
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