Performance Designs, of DeLand, Florida, positions its new Katana main canopy between its popular Stiletto and its cross-braced Velocity. So how does the Katana measure up?

For PD's description of the Katana and available sizes, click here.

Photographer Joao Tambor flies a Katana at Skydive Space Center in Florida.

Two reviewers jumped a Katana 97. They deployed the canopy at both terminal and sub-terminal velocity. Both produced soft, mostly on-heading openings. Occasional off-heading openings produced a slight surge.

A three- or four-second 180-degree front-riser turn used up a full 400 feet under the Katana, compared to less than 250 feet under a Stiletto. Although the Katana 97 dove farther after a comparable front-riser turn, it demonstrated more recovery power.

The front-riser pressure felt lighter, and back-riser response felt quicker on the Katana than on the Stiletto. Going from a front-riser turn to a back-riser flare produced powerful lift.

Holding brakes for an extended time on the Katana took a little more effort than on a Stiletto, so it seemed harder to conserve altitude. The Katana also requires a deeper flare than the Stiletto.

The Katana's most drastic attribute over the Stiletto is that it's about as ground-hungry as a Velocity. Any pilot of a standard nine-cell elliptical who jumps a Katana needs to be as cautious as if he were progressing to a cross-braced canopy.

But for a pilot who feels ready for the performance of a cross-braced canopy without all the other stuff that comes along with one, like riskier openings and fewer options in traffic and the landing pattern, the Katana offers a viable alternative.

Parachutist product reviews reflect the experiences, observations and opinions of the authors alone. Conclusions do not reflect the policies of the association. USPA does not endorse specific skydiving equipment.

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