Crossfire 3 vs Katana

JYRO Crossfire 3 · Performance Designs Katana · Canopy explorer

Manufacturer facts side by side, with the source on every row. Nothing on this page says which canopy to choose or what wing loading to fly — that is a conversation for you, your canopy coach and your drop zone.

What differs — read from the data

Crossfire 3 is made by JYRO; Katana is made by Performance Designs.
Planform: both are listed as elliptical.
Both have 9 cells.
Neither is cross-braced.
Crossfire 3 is listed in 86–159 sq ft; Katana in 83–170 sq ft.
The listed size ranges overlap between 86 and 159 sq ft.
The manufacturers publish different systems: Performance Designs lists a maximum exit weight per skill category and size; JYRO lists a recommended wing-loading range and a chart with jump-number bands. They are shown side by side, never translated into each other.

Structural facts only (manufacturer, planform, cells, bracing, sizes, chart system). How each wing flies is described below in the manufacturer's own words; how it flies for you is a question for a canopy coach.

Side by side

	Crossfire 3	Katana
Manufacturer	JYRO	Performance Designs
Status	current	current
Cells	9	9
Planform	elliptical	elliptical
Cross-braced	no	no
Aspect ratio	not published	2.74
Sizes (sq ft)	86–159 · custom sizes available Source: JYRO — Crossfire 3 product page (page modified 2026-09-02) ↗	83–170 Source: Performance Designs — KATANA product page ↗
Designed for (manufacturer wording)	Confident intermediate jumpers stepping up from a Safire (at WL 1.0–1.4, first or second fully elliptical 9-cell) Advanced pilots accustomed to smaller / higher-loaded ellipticals (at WL 1.5+) who want performance without going crossbraced Team flyers and camera flyers Source: JYRO — Crossfire 3 product page (page modified 2026-09-02) ↗	Advanced to expert skydivers Experienced canopy pilots Camera flyers Individuals who are actively working on their canopy piloting skills Individuals who want an aggressive canopy but are not interested in or ready for a cross-braced canopy Source: Performance Designs — KATANA product page ↗
Characteristics (manufacturer keywords)	Soft, consistent openings (Crossfire 2 lineage) · More aggressive dive than Crossfire 2 · Considerably longer recovery arc than Crossfire 2 · Light but not vague front risers · Predictable stall on toggles and rears · Powerful predictable flare Source: JYRO — Crossfire 3 product page (page modified 2026-09-02) ↗	Long recovery arc · Long snivel openings · Very steep glide · Wide speed range · Very light front riser pressure · Long dynamic flare Source: Performance Designs — KATANA product page ↗
Opening	Same smooth, soft openings as the Crossfire 2; fully formed nose, no fear of spinning up (JYRO).	Soft, smooth openings; long snivel (product page).
Recovery arc	Considerably longer than the Crossfire 2 — turning at the height you are used to means coming out low (JYRO).	Long recovery arc (product page).
Glide	Extra glide from a constant cell aspect ratio; long ride back on rears (JYRO).	Very steep glide (product page).
Speed / dive	Dives more than the Crossfire 2; snappy turns (qualitative — no airspeed figures published).	Wide speed range; steep dive (product page) — no airspeed figures published.
Flare	Powerful, predictable flare; nose reinforcement reduces distortion (JYRO).	Long dynamic flare; powerful flare (product page).
Front risers	Lighter but not vague (JYRO).	Very light front riser pressure (product page).
Rear risers	Predictable, plenty of warning before stall (JYRO).	not published
Harness response	not published	not published
Toggle response	Aggressive inputs cause drastic altitude loss; predictable stall point (JYRO).	Long control range (product page).
Loading system	Recommended wing-loading range 1.3–2.0 lb/ft² plus a chart with jump-number bands (below).	Maximum exit weight per PD skill category and size (chart below).
Manufacturer-stated experience requirements	Recommended minimum of 500 jumps on a square or semi-elliptical canopy before a Crossfire 3 at WL 1.0–1.4	none stated
Evidence level	B — Manufacturer product information	A — Manufacturer technical documentation

Flight wording is quoted or closely paraphrased from each manufacturer's own documents; where a manufacturer publishes nothing for a row it says "not published". No airspeed figures are published by either manufacturer.

Your wing loading on each size

Exit weight (you + all gear): kg

Enter an exit weight to see exit weight ÷ size for every listed size of both canopies and where each number sits on the manufacturer's own chart.

Wing loading = exit weight (lb) ÷ size (ft²). PD's chart lists the MAXIMUM exit weight per skill category — the category shown is the lowest one whose maximum covers your weight, by PD's own rule. JYRO's range is a manufacturer envelope, not a target. The two systems are never translated into each other.

The manufacturers' charts

Crossfire 3 — JYRO wing-loading chart

Recommended wing-loading range: 1.3–2.0 lb/ft² Source: JYRO — Crossfire 3 product page (page modified 2026-09-02) ↗

35 chart cells (exit weight × size → wing loading), colour bands = minimum jump numbers: 400+ jumps · 500+ jumps · 600+ jumps · 700+ jumps · 800+ jumps · 1000+ jumps · 1200+ jumps

Source: JYRO — Crossfire 3 wing-loading chart (image) (WL_Chart_V4) ↗

Katana — Performance Designs chart: maximum exit weight (lb) per category

Size	Student	Novice	Intermediate	Advanced	Expert	Maximum (never exceed)
83	N/S	N/S	N/S	107	142	160
89	N/S	N/S	N/S	116	155	175
97	N/S	N/S	N/S	128	171	193
107	N/S	N/S	N/S	144	192	216
120	N/S	N/S	N/S	162	216	243
135	N/S	N/S	N/S	176	229	257
150	N/S	N/S	N/S	195	242	271
170	N/S	N/S	N/S	221	255	285

N/S = not suggested by the manufacturer for that category. Weights are maximums, not recommendations.

Source: Performance Designs — Katana Flight Characteristics and FAQ (FC-0006 Rev. 0) ↗

Sources

B JYRO — Crossfire 3 product page (page modified 2026-09-02) — open ↗
B JYRO — Crossfire 3 wing-loading chart (image) (WL_Chart_V4) — open ↗
B Performance Designs — KATANA product page — open ↗
A Performance Designs — Katana Flight Characteristics and FAQ (FC-0006 Rev. 0) — open ↗
B Performance Designs — Katana Wing Loading Chart (product page) (TABLE-0171 REV.0) — open ↗

Evidence levels: A = manufacturer technical documentation, B = manufacturer product information. Knowledge base version canopy-kb-2026.09.23-r3. All sources used on this site

See it in your own data

Fly either canopy with a FlySight? Upload your jumps to see your landing pattern, turn height per 90°, consistency and how you fly each canopy you own, from your own data.

Analyse my FlySight jumps — free Canopy explorer Compare up to five canopies

Other comparisons: Katana vs Stiletto · Crossfire 3 vs JFX 2 · Crossfire 3 vs Safire 4 · Katana vs Pulse · Katana vs Sabre3 · Comp Velocity vs Katana · Crossfire 3 vs Leia · Crossfire 3 vs Petra

Safety notice: This tool is for data review only. It does not replace canopy coaching, DZ rules, traffic awareness, S&TA guidance, or manufacturer guidance. Everything here is information for learning — not advice or a recommendation about any canopy, wing loading, turn or decision. Your decisions are your own. See the Terms of Service.