Canopies

Performance Designs

Sabre II  |  Stiletto  |  Katana  |  Velocity  |  Spectre  |  PD Reserve  |  Canopy Designer  |  Stocklist  |  Pulse  |  Storm  |  Comp Velocity  |  Optimum Reserve  |  

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One word…
ev·o·lu·tion (eh vE lu shEn)
n. A gradual process in which something transforms into a different and better form.

A new breed.
Not just a modified Sabre, the Sabre2 is the latest, totally new design to emerge from 15 years of ongoing research and development.

This canopy is destined to become one of the most popular designs we have ever conceived.

From the moment you release the pilot chute, the Sabre2’s consistent, soft, on-heading openings will please you. Pilots of the original Sabre will immediately notice the Sabre2’s more crisp and positive response to toggle input, along with its lighter toggle and riser pressure. When it comes to landings, everyone will be amazed with the incredible amount of lift available on landing. This lift gives the Sabre2 pilot a tremendous ability to slow down when you wish to.

The Sabre2 will feel aggressive at higher wing loadings while maintaining its incredible ease of landing and forgiveness at lower wing loadings. The Sabre2’s performance envelope is huge.

If you are looking for a canopy that represents the evolution of modern, carefree performance, the Sabre2 is it.

The Performance Designs Sabre2…the evolution of performance!

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Whether it's the soft openings, responsiveness, extremely fast rate of turn, flat glide, or incredible landing capabilities, the Stiletto is the canopy of choice for those pilots who have taken the time (and jumps) to hone their piloting skill.

The Stiletto has been the canopy flown by more national and world champions than any other canopy in the world. From formation skydiving to free flying, Blade Running™ to skysurfing the Stiletto has become the canopy of choice for pilots who desire a canopy that performs as well after opening as they perform in free fall. The Stiletto is that canopy. If you are ready for the transition from what you currently fly, to the canopy regarded as the premiere high performance elliptical in the world...the Stiletto is ready for you.

The Performance Designs Stiletto...All out Performance

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Katana! Performance Designs new elliptical main parachute!

Performance Designs' Katana is a high-performance canopy designed for experienced canopy pilots. The Katana has been described as “a perfect fit between the Stiletto and Velocity,” and a canopy that is “very suited to modern flying styles.”

Like the PD Stiletto, the Katana is a highly tapered or “elliptical” nine-cell canopy made from zero-porosity fabric. Both the Stiletto and the Katana were designed using a conventional cell structure, without cross-braces or airlocks™ . The Katana may look similar to a Stiletto at first glance, but beneath the surface they are two completely different machines.

“……I love the way the Katana dives. It's easier to control all the way through a front riser approach, and feels a lot smoother to me than the Stiletto…..”

The Katana is very easy to control using front risers. The front riser pressure starts off very light, and tends to build up slowly. It is easy to keep the Katana in a front riser dive or diving turn, and to make adjustments to your turn rate and rate of descent while diving. By comparison, the Stiletto's front riser pressure starts out noticeably higher and builds up more quickly.

“……It's geared towards a pilot who enjoys a responsive canopy that has the characteristics of an ‘elliptical' wing. The turning characteristics, spirals, low-speed lift, and other characteristics associated with an ‘elliptical' wing are all there and all very refined…...”

“….The Katana holds a dive longer than the Stiletto after a front riser or toggle turn. People who make high-performance approaches can start their turns higher and have more time to make adjustments…..”

“…..Front riser pressure is very comfortable. Compared to a Velocity, it feels like I can just hold the fronts and do whatever degree of rotation I want…...”

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Performance Designs has again set a new standard with the Velocity. It is designed specifically to satisfy those pilots who have already been jumping high performance elliptical canopies at relatively high wing loadings, for some time, and are looking for something more. The Velocity is not a canopy for everyone.

The Velocity has a wider speed range than any other canopy we have ever seen. You will be amazed at how easy it is to achieve incredibly steep, high speed front riser turns. If long, high speed swoop landings are your thing, the Velocity will really impress you with its ability to turf surf incredible distances, while still allowing you to slow down more than any other canopy of a given size. The Velocity's landings are so incredible , you will find yourself making jumps just so that you can land it again. The Velocity will allow highly experienced pilots to explore a range of ram air flight never before possible. With its rigid cross braced structure, incredibly clean aerodynamics and almost totally enclosed leading edge, the Velocity is the most advanced ram air wing we have ever offered.

If you have been jumping high performance ellipticals for some time and want to explore a greater range of speed and performance, then the Velocity is your canopy.

The PD Velocity ... A new level of Performance!

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You will never look at a seven 7-cell canopy the same way again...

Forget anything you have ever heard or experienced. The Spectre is unlike any other canopy you have you have ever seen! In its first months after release, our tapered, zero porosity seven cell has already become one of the most popular canopies we have ever produced.

Feedback from skydivers around the world tell the story:

How are the openings?
..."slow, soft and on-heading"..., ..."awesome"..., ..."incredible"..., "the best I've ever had"..., ... "why don't all parachutes open like this"...

How was it to fly?
... "quick turns"..., ... "very, very stable"..., ..."glides better than my nine cell"..., ..."great diving front riser turns"..., ..."solid in deep brakes"...

How are the landings?
..."swoops better than my nine cell:..., ..."great landings, even in brakes"..., ..."the best landings I've ever had, in all conditons"...

How was it for CRW?
..."solid in stacks"..., "handled hard docks extremely well"..., ..."rotations were great, straight down the back and dock"...

All this and smaller pack volume as well...need we say more?

The Performance Designs Spectre:
Versatile...Yes!
Predictable...Yes!
Fun...Of Course

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..."Since all Reserves are certified, aren't they all the same?"...NOT HARDLY!

Look at our experience...At Performance Designs, we are the leaders in parachute technology. From rugged tandems for military use to the latest high performance designs for skydivers, we have the knowledge, experience and technology to build it right.

Look at our performance...Whether it is openings, flight characteristics or landings, Performance Designs canopies are the standard by which all others are judged.

Now look at our design...Our reserves have always been built from their "links up" as reserves. Reserves have special design and performance criteria, that's why ours are designed and built only as reserves.
Strength...

Features like I-beam construction, along with spanwise and chordwise reinforcement, make our reserves far stronger than they "need to be". Certifications are fine, but we don't stop there. Our reserves have been tested well beyond the maximum weight and speed limits required for certification.
Flight and landing...

Our reserves are Performance Designs canopies at heart. You know what that means...responsive, predictable handling, excellent glide in the brakes and outstanding landings. How important is this? Let's put it this way...bad spot, low altitude, under a reserve...now, how important do you think it is?

Performance Designs' Reserve...Performance you can count on!
When you're down to your last canopy...why would you settle for anything less?

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From openings to landings: Stress-Free Fun

The Pulse is a lightly elliptical nine cell canopy designed for the active intermediate to experienced "fun jumper." Pack volume has been reduced significantly, by combining our proprietary low bulk fabric technology with our well-known zero-p fabric. The Pulse can give you stress free on heading openings, a very flat glide and easy landings. It is highly responsive, very capable, and lots of fun to fly.

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So what is this STORM?

Thunder, Lightning, Wind and Rain� oh, the canopy. With great openings and a powerful flare at landing, this truly is the 7-cell that thinks it�s a 9-cell. Looking for a reliable canopy that will keep you challenged? Have you been searching for the perfect wingsuit canopy? Considering trying CF one day but not ready to buy a second canopy? Well here you go. We would have called it the �Perfect Storm� but that was already taken...

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PD Storm Wing Loading Chart
CANOPY MODEL	AREA (SQ.FT.)	MINIMUM EXIT WEIGHT	MAXIMUM EXIT WEIGHT						SPAN (FT.)	CHORD (FT.)	ASPECT RATIO
			STUDENT	NOVICE	INT.	ADV.	EXP.	MAX
Storm-97	97	VLC	N/S	N/S	N/S	116 (53)	150 (68)	175 (79)	14.42	6.87/6.25	2.14:1
Storm-107	107	VLC	N/S	N/S	N/S	128 (58)	166 (75)	193 (88)	15.15	7.21/6.98	2.14:1
Storm-120	120	VLC	N/S	N/S	120 (55)	144 (65)	192 (87)	216 (98)	16.04	7.64/6.98	2.14:1
Storm-135	135	VLC	N/S	122 (55)	149 (68)	169 (77)	216 (98)	230 (104)	17.01	8.10/7.39	2.14:1
Storm-150	150	VLC	N/S	143 (65)	173 (78)	188 (85)	225 (102)	240 (109)	17.93	8.54/7.72	2.14:1
Storm-170	170	VLC	N/S	170 (77)	196 (89)	213 (97)	238 (108)	255 (116)	19.09	9.09/8.29	2.14:1
Storm-190	190	VLC	133 (60)**	190 (86)	209 (95)	228 (104)	247 (112)	266 (121)	20.18	9.61/8.76	2.14:1
Storm-210	210	VLC	158 (72)**	210 (95)	221 (100)	242 (110)	263 (119)	273 (124)	21.22	10.10/9.21	2.14:1
Storm-230	230	VLC	173 (78)**	230 (105)	242 (110)	253 (115)	276 (125)	299 (136)	22.20	10.57/9.64	2.14:1

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Will you be looking up at the podium, or standing on it?

In the exciting discipline of Canopy Piloting, a fraction of a second or an extra meter can make the difference between being a hero… or a zero.

Technique, Determination, Practice, Persistence, and Talent are essential. What else makes the vital difference? The relentless power of the Competition Velocity.

The podium is right there… Will you be on it?

FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS
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PD Competition Velocity Wing Load Chart
CANOPY MODEL	AREA (SQ. FT.)	MIN.(Lbs.)	STUDENT (Lbs.)	NOVICE (Lbs.)	INT (Lbs.)	ADV (Lbs.)	EXP (Lbs.)	MAX. (Lbs.)	SPAN (FT.)	CHORD (Root/Tip) (FT.)	ASPECT RATIO
Comp Velocity-071	71	71(32)*	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	149(68)*	170(77)*	13.78	5.48/4.25	2.68:1
Comp Velocity-075	75	75(34)*	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	158(72)*	180(82)*	14.17	5.63/4.36	2.68:1
Comp Velocity-079	79	79(36)*	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	166(75)*	194(88)*	14.54	5.78/4.48	2.68:1
Comp Velocity-084	84	84(38)*	N/R	N/R	N/R	109(50)*	176(80)*	206(94)*	14.99	5.98/4.62	2.68:1
Comp Velocity-090	90	90(41)*	N/R	N/R	N/R	117(53)*	193(88)*	225(102)*	15.56	6.20/4.75	2.69:1
Comp Velocity-096	96	96(44)*	N/R	N/R	N/R	125(57)*	206(94)*	240(109)*	16.07	6.40/4.90	2.69:1
Comp Velocity-103	103	103(47)*	N/R	N/R	N/R	134(61)*	221(100)*	252(115)*	16.65	6.63/5.08	2.69:1
Comp Velocity-111	111	111(51)*	N/R	N/R	N/R	144(65)*	238(108)*	266(121)*	17.33	6.91/5.23	2.71:1

VLC = Varies with landing conditions. N/R = Not Recommended *(KG)

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The Optimum Reserve just got bigger… and it still packs small.

The Optimum Reserve by PD is now offered in six larger sizes under TSO C23d (certification pending). Like the popular smaller Optimums, these canopies have our proprietary low bulk fabric, special aerodynamics and strong reinforcing to create great strength and better performance.

The larger Optimums are 160, 176, 193, 218, 235, and 253 square feet. They not only pack much smaller, but are rated for higher maximum exit weights-- up to 300 pounds!

Performance Designs has built over 35,000 PD reserves, which has a well-earned reputation as a safe, strong reserve that opens, flies and lands very well. The new Optimum builds upon that great track record. It not only exceeds the stringent standards of TSO C23d and packs far smaller than any other reserve available, but it also flies and lands far more like a main parachute. It has the most powerful flare, by a wide margin, of any reserve we have ever tried.

The Optimum Reserve is a rectangular 7-Cell canopy available in sizes ranging from 99 to 253 square feet. It is made from a new low permeability, low bulk fabric available exclusively from Performance Designs. We’ve combined this fabric with special aerodynamics and extensive reinforcing to create great strength, better performance, and a smaller pack volume for a given size. The Optimum has been successfully test-dropped at weights and speeds considerably higher than those required for FAA certification according to TSO C23d, the highest standard to date.

When describing the performance characteristics of a particular canopy, it is important to consider a person’s frame of reference. Your impression of your reserve’s performance will be influenced by the size and type of main canopy you normally jump, and by other canopies that you have jumped in the past. Remember that a main and reserve may have very different flight characteristics, especially if they are significantly different in size.

There are also many additional factors to consider when choosing a reserve parachute, since it is a canopy you will likely be using only in an emergency. Many of these items are covered in the “PD Reserve Flight Characteristics” document, and are not repeated here. We suggest you read that document entirely, as well as the PD Reserve Owner's Manual for additional safety information.

This canopy is only available in Orange

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