AntiPinkChrissy 0 #1 March 28, 2003 I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with the Navigator..made by PD I believe. Reason for me asking is my Dad is getting back into the sport after many years off. 2 years ago was his first jump on a square (beer!). He seems to think that a Navigator will suit him well and he has not jumped it yet. Since I have no experience with canopy, I can't really offer any insight to this. His exit weight is about 220lbs. He just wants something BIG that will land him very well. Any input would be helpful. Thanks ~La La Gang Member #2~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 March 28, 2003 I've put a few jumps on a Navigator 200, a 260 and the big 300. They are GREAT canopies, we have a nice set of them for our student gear at SD Aggieland. F-111 bottom skin, ZP top skin, they react very well and fly well, especially for beginners and students. You can even swoop one if you try. For his exit weight a Navigator 240 or *maybe* a 260 would probably do well for him. They DO NOT like to be loaded, but they can be if the person flying it knows what he/she is doing. The best landing I had with them is jumping the 300, it was just the right wingloading and it flew very well (I'm about 285 out the door). --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #3 March 28, 2003 I jumped a NAV 240 @ .7-1 and really like it when I was in student training and really enjoyed it! jasonFreedom of speech includes volume Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cmnorris 0 #4 March 28, 2003 Our club has a Navigator 240 that just about every student has used at some point. No complaints at all, it's a very forgiving canopy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AntiPinkChrissy 0 #5 March 28, 2003 Thanks everyone for your comments!! ~La La Gang Member #2~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #6 March 28, 2003 One point that nobody seems to have made... The Navigator is intended as a canopy for student operations. It makes a great first jump canopy, and is ideal for student use. I've never seen anyone buy one for personal use. If your father is looking at buying gear, there are better alternatives. If you're looking at PD, look at big Sabre 2's and Specter. Also the Aerodyne Triathlon, Icarus Omega and Safire, and the Pisa Hornet would also are good canopies for lower experience levels. Your father would do well to do his first few initial jumps on very large student gear, then downsize to something with a 1.0 wingloading. His first few jumps should be on HUGE canopies, at a .8 wingloading or less. Once he's built up his confidence under the huge student canopies, then he should start to think about buying something at a 1.0 wingloading. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #7 March 28, 2003 Navigators are fantastic mains. I use them for student mains here at Raeford in sizes 220, 240, and 260. Hard to beat them for the use your father is looking for. Chuck Blue Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ojf1982 0 #8 March 28, 2003 There is one person at our dropzone who has about 2000 jumps. 1000 on rounds and 1000 on sqaures. He has 2 rigs both with Navigators in them, and he loves them.The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over - Hunter S. Thompson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AntiPinkChrissy 0 #9 March 28, 2003 Then it sounds perfect for him. He did try a Triathlon, right after they modified it from the original version and he absolutely hated it. He is not use to forward glide, he has about 500 round jumps so he is use to pounding in straight down. ~La La Gang Member #2~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMFin 0 #10 March 28, 2003 I have flown the 280 , 240 and 200 as a student.. Very nice student canopy, but I would never buy one personally. Bottom is F-111, and most of all I dont like the line-sets that are Dacron, since they add so much packing volume and they are a pain in the ass to pack. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clownburner 0 #11 March 28, 2003 I'm still a student and I'm jumping a Nav280 loaded about .77. It's a very kind, gentle canopy. They snivel a bit on opening, which helps to make the opening softer, but pull plenty high (I had one of the older navigators at the school that took 1200 feet to open!). At that low wing loading though, they have a LOT of forward glide, I'm usually the last to land even if I'm not the last out of the plane - I believe the term is 'floaty.' Good student rig or for anyone who wants to take it really easy; used ones might be hard to get since they're mostly used by schools and I think most schools jump 'em until they're car covers. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #12 March 28, 2003 Quote He did try a Triathlon, right after they modified it from the original version and he absolutely hated it. He is not use to forward glide, he has about 500 round jumps so he is use to pounding in straight down. If he does not like forward movement, then he will dislike the Navigator. The Navigator is a tapered nine cell, that will get more forward movement to an equivalently sized triathlon. He'll find the least amount of forward movement under a very large seven cell, either the Traithlon, Spectre, or Icarus Omni. That said, he might enjoy learning to fly modern canopies. Gentle gliding landings are a bit easier on the knees then pounding in... ;) _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Watcher 0 #13 March 30, 2003 Just buy a parafoil, or classic or something else that is used for Accuracy. Very big, very soft, very straight down. --Jonathan Bartlett D-24876 AFF-I Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kris 0 #14 March 31, 2003 Quote Just buy a parafoil, or classic or something else that is used for Accuracy. Very big, very soft, very straight down. Yeah, except for the fact that they're evil on a stick when you take them to terminal for opening.Accuracy canopies are generally designed for really quick openings since accuracy dives are generally hop & pop's. They can be taken to terminal but you have to be really careful with them. KrisSky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AntiPinkChrissy 0 #15 March 31, 2003 QuoteJust buy a parafoil, or classic or something else that is used for Accuracy. Very big, very soft, very straight down. -- yeah, I was almost thinking about having him use a BASE canopy. Nice big 7 cell, F111, I am just afraid the flare wouldn't be as forgiving. ~La La Gang Member #2~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Watcher 0 #16 March 31, 2003 The Airforce Cadets take their classics to terminal, they dont seem to have a problem with it. --Jonathan Bartlett D-24876 AFF-I Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #17 March 31, 2003 My ex-wife's new ParaFoil, on the other hand, blew in half the first time she took it to terminal (5th jump on a new canopy). Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Watcher 0 #18 March 31, 2003 So I guess we should say, if you want to get something like this, big fluffy 7 cell, contact manufacturer to see if taking the canopy to terminal is OK with them. What about a Strato Cloud? --Jonathan Bartlett D-24876 AFF-I Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #19 March 31, 2003 Strato Clouds were 5 cell, weren't they? If everyone is so set on F-111 7 cells, why not the PD? I still think a Navigator would probably be the way to go.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
