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…...”