kevindice

I can next month. On my two of these three jumps, my pilot chute only killed about half way and created a ton of drag. Only on the third jump, I got a more accurate feel for the wing. Since I've been jumping the Velo w/ full RDS for competition and training, I'd like to jump the Gangster in the same configuration first before really comparing the two. My initial impression is that recovery arc is similar, there is more power in the rears, the harness is a little more sensitive. For speed, I'd need to look at my Flysight data for rate of descent.

I just put 3 jumps on the Gangster 96 prototype this last weekend. The openings are fantastic. Easily the best 3 openings I've had in the last 200 jumps. (I jump a Velocity 96.) Just to clarify, I don't work for Fluid, but here's what I know from talking to them and looking at photos... It's a 9 cell canopy. The center 3 cells are cross braced tri-cells, and the rest of the cells are bi-cells. It's worth noting that cells 3 and 7 are still bi-cells, but they have a single cross brace going from the inner-most line attachment to their unloaded rib, so you see 4 "V" shapes total. This design gives you 21 internal chambers, the same number as conventional 7-cell fully cross braced canopy. However, on the Gangster, the rigidity is more concentrated towards the center of the wing where it will most benefit the wing's efficiency. Out of the 22 ribs (including end cell/stabilizers), only 4 of the ribs are free floating...neither cross braced nor directly attached to a line. You can see these are the unloaded ribs on cells 1, 2, 8, and 9. Through this structure, the benefit of rigidity is maximized while the drawback of pack volume is minimized. There's also tail ribs to give the wing a more rigid trailing edge and sweet flare. Again, the wing I jumped is a prototype. It already kicks ass, but the production version probably has some revisions to make it even better. That said, here are some opening shots: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.dice/videos/10214701429152030/

Yep, just posted a couple days ago. FLCPA #1 Skydive City Z-Hills February 24-25 FLCPA #2 Skydive Sebastian March 24-25 FLCPA #3 Skydive City Z-Hills April 21-22 FLCPA #4 West Tenn Skydiving May 19-20 FLCPA #5 Skydive Paraclete XP June 9-10 MWCPA #1 Skydive Midwest July 28 Pink Open 16-19 August Klatovy MWCPA #2 Skydive Midwest August 25 FLCPA #6 Skydive Sebastian September TBD (Pre-Nationals) USPA Canopy Piloting Nationals 2018 - Registration and Practice, September 24 - Competition, September 25 - 28

FLCPA #1 Skydive City Z-Hills February 24-25 FLCPA #2 Skydive Sebastian March 24-25 FLCPA #3 Skydive City Z-Hills April 21-22 FLCPA #4 West Tenn Skydiving May 19-20 FLCPA #5 Skydive Paraclete XP June 9-10 MWCPA #1 Skydive Midwest July 28 Pink Open 16-19 August Klatovy MWCPA #2 Skydive Midwest August 25 FLCPA #6 Skydive Sebastian September TBD (Pre-Nationals) (NECPL should post dates soonish.)

I'm flying an Odyssey 100 (bought from Kris (degeneration) ^, in fact). Loading about 1.95 usually. It's a fun canopy, and I'd agree that it's better than an XF2. It dives a bit more and has slightly more flare power than the XF2. It's not quite a fair comparison because I didn't jump the same size XF2 (129) and Odyssey (100), but I'm really liking the harness response from the Odyssey. The openings with the stock slider were a little quicker, but not uncomfortably so. After putting a larger removable slider on it, the openings take about as much time as the XF2 but require much more attention. High performance canopy = "high performance" openings. I also made a lineset out of HMA 400 for my Odyssey, and it's a noticeable step up in performance. Really lets the wing shine. All Skylark canopies have a partially formed nose, so that isn't enough reason to call an Odyssey a XF2 copy. It's a distinct design and in many ways is a better wing. Luckily, it happens to be less expensive too. As a bonus, the ZP is polyurethane coated rather than silicon coated, so new wings are a bit easier to pack.

Not the same canopy. This is Icarus Spain. Spain: S-Fire, X-Fire NZA: Safire 3, Crossfire 3

Come join us for non-stop hop and pops with the K-State Parachute Club on Saturday, April 15th. (Weather date Sunday April 16th) Make sure your reserve and USPA membership are in date. Cheap jumps, load hog award, accuracy contest for novice, intermediate, and masters!