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From: dbriggs@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Dan Briggs)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Anyone jumped a Paradactyl?
Message-ID: <1991Jun27.121456.16862@zia.aoc.nrao.edu>
Date: 27 Jun 91 12:14:56 GMT
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM
Lines: 20

I'm one of the new generation of student weenies who has never jumped
anything rougher than a medium sized ram-air canopy.  I can probably
borrow a Para-Commander when my urge to try some of "the old ways"
becomes overwhelming.  Still, the canopies that I really find
interesting are some of the old triangle exotics.  The Thunderbow
looks interesting.  The Paradactyl looks more than just interesting.
Perhaps terrifying is a better word?  Poynter's handbook claims that
it has a performance approaching that of a ram-air canopy, but it just
doesn't *look* like it has enough fabric!  From the photo, and one of
Boenish's films it looks like the whole canopy would fit in a good
sized throw-out pocket.  I exaggerate of course, but it really looks
small.  Has anyone ever jumped one?  Do you flare it?  If the
performance is as good as Poynter claims, why aren't they a more
serious competitor to the ram-air canopies simply based on a tiny pack
volume?

-- 
Daniel Briggs  (dbriggs@nrao.edu)
New Mexico Tech / National Radio Astronomy Observatory
P.O. Box O / Socorro, NM 87801   (505) 835-7391