Aerodyne Pilot

Description

The name says it all…
A canopy designed by pilots for pilots.

Ask anyone who has jumped a Pilot and they will tell you the openings are the best you can get, it is fun to fly and easy to land. Since its introduction the Pilot has charmed beginners and experienced jumpers alike. Whether your cup of tea is a conventional approach or a little more playful, the Pilot will surprise you with its stable flight, responsive turns and comfortable flare. This canopy can really do it all.

With a lighter wing loading the Pilot is the ideal choice for those who downsize after initial training and buy their first canopy. Increase the wing loading and the Pilot becomes the favorite companion of the more experienced skydiver who enjoys the higher performance and faster turns it can produce. Canopy piloting schools recommend the Pilot for their training courses, because it is reliable and versatile at the same time.

Whether you deploy following RW or a wing suit flight, with a camera mounted on your helmet or a weight belt around the waist, the Pilot will put you in the saddle in the most comfortable and reliable way. Dare we say that its name has become synonymous for good opening? Yes, but that is not the entire story, for the Pilot has so much more to offer!

The Pilot is a 9-cell ram-air canopy with top and bottom skins built from zero-porosity fabric for best performance and longevity. The plan form factor of 6.6 and the relatively short lines make it quite responsive to turn input, without becoming radical.

Available sizes: 90, 96, 104, 111, 117, 124, 132, 140, 150, 168, 188, 210, 230 and 250 sq ft.

Technical Specs

• PLANFORM FACTOR: 6.6
• ASPECT RATIO: 2.51
• NUMBER OF CELLS: 9
• FABRIC: ZP OR ZPX
• SUSPENSION LINES: 725 LBS SPECTRA, 700 LBS HMA OR 700 LBS VECTRAN ZLX

Canopy Selector

Note: The above numbers are recommendations based on the global use of similar canopies, and taking into consideration different training techniques, experiences and other varying conditions. Therefore the recommendation range may be varied based on individual and local training techniques, field elevations and prevailing atmospheric conditions.

This canopy selector program is designed as a non-exclusive guide to selecting a canopy. It is designed to be used to assist you in finding an appropriate model and size of Aerodyne canopy for your exit weight, experience level and expectations. Please remember that in no way can this selector replace professional expert advice that is based upon firsthand knowledge of your current experience, skill level and frame of reference.

Only training, experience, currency and a healthy body and mind can reduce (but will not eliminate) the risk to you of danger, serious bodily injury, or death. Regardless of your time in the sport, never hesitate to consult other more experienced or knowledgeable individuals. They are often happy to help you make appropriate decisions. At Aerodyne, we recommend that, for both your main and your reserve canopies, you choose a canopy suitable for your experience level, which you can land safely at your normal drop zone’s field elevation, in no wind, in hot summer conditions, utilizing a normal straight-in approach and progressive flare.

Please note that this selector is based upon exit weight and International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) conditions. Exit weight is body weight + equipment weight + clothing. ISA conditions are at Mean Sea Level (MSL) with a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and 101,325 Pa (29.92″ Hg). Canopy wing performance degrades at higher altitudes and with higher temperatures.

Aerodyne has developed an objective method to determine the degree of ellipticity of a canopy’s planform. We have dubbed this value the “planform factor” (“PF”). A higher planform factor equates to a greater degree of ellipticity and will likely exhibit the associated characteristics. Typically an elliptical canopy is more equally pressurized for better flight performance and exhibits better flare capability. Similarly, the toggle pressure is usually lighter and the turn response is quicker. While these observations are not absolute, they are often typical of those exhibited by canopies with more elliptical planforms.