The easy ‘off button’ to end your wingsuit flight
After years of development, hard work, and dedication PD are delighted to announce their first wingsuit specific canopy, Horizon, is now being sold through PD’s dealer network.
In 2013 Performance Designs began development on a wing with emphasis on eliminating deployment problems caused by the large burble of wingsuits without sacrificing a great flare or responsive handling. The result, they think the Horizon has the best openings and the best landing power of any canopy in its class!
The Horizon gives you the ability to upsize as many as two sizes compared to a non-crossbraced ZP main. This means you can fit a larger canopy in your existing rig for wingsuit jumps. No need for a new container!
you can fit a larger canopy in your existing rig for wingsuit jumps
Horizon features
• 7 cell construction
• Hybrid ZP and low-bulk 30 denier fabric
• slider presentation snaps
• HMA or Vectran Lines
• packs 1-2 sizes smaller than similar ZP main
• Available in sizes 120-135-150-170-190
Horizon’s openings are stress free and comfortable, but they don’t eat up a lot of altitude. The Horizon is ‘a joy to fly’. It has a fairly long control range with excellent slow flight characteristics. Its dynamic response to braked flight turning inputs makes it an excellent canopy to conserve altitude as you fly back home from a long spot. With a quick response to proper flare input PD say it’s easy to predict the “sweet spot” for a nice easy shutdown and perfect landing no matter what the wind is doing.
Pack volume has been reduced significantly by combining PD’s proprietary low-bulk fabric technology with their Zero-P fabric. The Horizon typically packs two sizes smaller than a similar non-cross braced ZP main. The tiny pack volume facilitates easy upsizing for safety.
Can I jump this without my wingsuit?
Most people like the way the Horizon opens in freefall at terminal speeds when properly configured and packed. However, in order to get the most bang from your buck PD recommend saving the Horizon for its intended wingsuiting purpose.
What size should I buy?
The fabrics used in the Horizon’s construction are part of what make this canopy so well suited for wingsuit skydiving. Because the characteristics of this fabric combination are different from traditional ZP, jumping a Horizon that is too small or loaded too high could demand a little more from the canopy pilot to ensure comfortable landings (when compared to an all ZP canopy in a similar size and design). Size your Horizon one or two sizes BIGGER than the smallest ZP canopy you are comfortable with.
Wing Loading is also a critical factor. Check out PD’s Wing Loading chart on the Horizon page of their website. When considering what size wing is best, the size of the reserve in the container you intend to use should also be strongly considered. It’s always advisable to consult a certified wingsuit coach/ instructor when selecting a canopy to optimize your wingsuiting experience.
Size your Horizon one (1) or 2 (two) sizes BIGGER than the smallest ZP canopy you are comfortable with
Interview with canopy designer John Leblanc
Skydive Mag caught up with PD’s John Leblanc to ask about the brand new Horizon:
Lesley Gale interviews John Leblanc
