PD Katana 135

PD Katana 135 is a high-performance, fully elliptical, nine-cell main parachute canopy manufactured by Performance Designs.
The “135” denotes its size in square feet. It is designed for experienced canopy pilots who are looking for a more aggressive, higher-performance wing without transitioning to a cross-braced canopy.

Target user
The Katana 135 is recommended for:
Experienced jumpers making a step up from an intermediate canopy like a Sabre2 or Stiletto.
Canopy pilots who are actively working on their piloting skills.
Jumpers who enjoy high-performance flying, a steep glide, and a powerful flare.

Flight characteristics
Openings: The Katana is known for soft and smooth openings, though not always perfectly on-heading.
Glide: It features a very steep glide, which allows for aggressive approaches and high speeds.
Control Range: The canopy has a long and deep control range, providing a wide speed range and a lot of usable control before stalling.
Recovery Arc: The Katana has a long recovery arc, meaning it takes more time and altitude to recover from a dive compared to less aggressive canopies.
Front Riser Pressure: It has very light front riser pressure, which is a desirable trait for performance maneuvers.
Flare: The canopy produces a long, powerful flare, making for excellent landings when piloted correctly.

Construction and design
Canopy Type: Fully elliptical nine-cell.
Fabric: It is constructed with 100% Zero Porosity (ZP) fabric.
Lines: It comes equipped with HMA lines.
Taper: The design is highly tapered, contributing to its performance characteristics.
Comparison to other canopies
The Katana is designed to fit between Performance Designs’ Stiletto and Velocity models, offering more performance than the Stiletto but without the added complexity of a cross-braced Velocity. It is considered a more aggressive flight than a Sabre2 and is designed for swooping.

PD Katana 135

PD Katana 135

PD Katana 135