Canopy database › Canopy A vs B
JFX 2 vs Katana
JYRO JFX 2 · Performance Designs Katana · Canopy explorer
What differs — read from the data
- JFX 2 is made by JYRO; Katana is made by Performance Designs.
- Planform: both are listed as elliptical.
- Both have 9 cells.
- JFX 2 is cross-braced; Katana is not.
- JFX 2 is listed in 69–119 sq ft; Katana in 83–170 sq ft.
- The listed size ranges overlap between 83 and 119 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
| JFX 2 | Katana | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | JYRO | Performance Designs |
| Status | current | current |
| Cells | 9 | 9 |
| Planform | elliptical | elliptical |
| Cross-braced | yes | no |
| Aspect ratio | not published | 2.74 |
| Sizes (sq ft) | 69–119 · custom sizes available Source: JYRO — JFX 2 product page (page modified 2026-09-02) ↗ | 83–170 Source: Performance Designs — KATANA product page ↗ |
| Designed for (manufacturer wording) |
|
|
| Characteristics (manufacturer keywords) | Predictable, soft crossbraced openings · Light, instinctive harness inputs · Dive longer than the original JFX but not as long as Leia · Slow, predictable, adjustable recovery arc · Immense bottom-end flare Source: JYRO — JFX 2 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 | Predictable, soft crossbraced openings — 'the ace card of this canopy' (JYRO). | Soft, smooth openings; long snivel (product page). |
| Recovery arc | Slow, predictable, easily adjustable recovery arc (JYRO). | Long recovery arc (product page). |
| Glide | not published | Very steep glide (product page). |
| Speed / dive | Dive longer than the original JFX, not as long as Leia (JYRO) — no airspeed figures published. | Wide speed range; steep dive (product page) — no airspeed figures published. |
| Flare | Immense bottom-end flare; stalls later (JYRO). | Long dynamic flare; powerful flare (product page). |
| Front risers | Effective; slow the canopy a little before the turn to reduce pressure (JYRO). | Very light front riser pressure (product page). |
| Rear risers | Light, instinctive, trustworthy (JYRO). | not published |
| Harness response | Light, instinctive, very responsive — can be flown largely on harness (JYRO). | not published |
| Toggle response | Powerful and responsive at the bottom end (JYRO). | Long control range (product page). |
| Loading system | Recommended wing-loading range 1.6–2.2 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 | none stated | 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
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
JFX 2 — JYRO wing-loading chart
Recommended wing-loading range: 1.6–2.2 lb/ft² Source: JYRO — JFX 2 product page (page modified 2026-09-02) ↗
24 chart cells (exit weight × size → wing loading), colour bands = minimum jump numbers: 800+ jumps · 1000+ jumps · 1200+ jumps · 1400+ jumps · 1600+ jumps · 900+ jumps · 1900+ jumps
Source: JYRO — JFX 2 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 — JFX 2 product page (page modified 2026-09-02) — open ↗
- B JYRO — JFX 2 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 · JFX 2 vs Leia · JFX 2 vs Petra · Katana vs Pulse · Katana vs Sabre3 · Comp Velocity vs Katana · JFX 2 vs Safire 4