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Katana vs Safire 4
Performance Designs Katana · JYRO Safire 4 · Canopy explorer
What differs — read from the data
- Katana is made by Performance Designs; Safire 4 is made by JYRO.
- Planform: Katana is listed as elliptical; Safire 4 as semi-elliptical.
- Both have 9 cells.
- Neither is cross-braced.
- Katana is listed in 83–170 sq ft; Safire 4 in 109–189 sq ft.
- The listed size ranges overlap between 109 and 170 sq ft.
- Published aspect ratio: Katana 2.74, Safire 4 2.55.
- 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
| Katana | Safire 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Performance Designs | JYRO |
| Status | current | current |
| Cells | 9 | 9 |
| Planform | elliptical | semi-elliptical |
| Cross-braced | no | no |
| Aspect ratio | 2.74 | 2.55 |
| Sizes (sq ft) | 83–170 Source: Performance Designs — KATANA product page ↗ | 109–189 · custom sizes available Source: JYRO — Safire 4 product page (page modified 2026-09-02) ↗ |
| Designed for (manufacturer wording) |
|
|
| Characteristics (manufacturer keywords) | 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 ↗ | Smooth, stable, on-heading openings · Quick, clean recovery from dives and turns · Powerful progressive flare · Front risers optional at lighter loadings Source: JYRO — Safire 4 product page (page modified 2026-09-02) ↗ |
| Opening | Soft, smooth openings; long snivel (product page). | Soft, progressive snivel; increased heading reliability; bow-tie bridle balances deployment (JYRO). |
| Recovery arc | Long recovery arc (product page). | Recovery from dives and turns is quick and clean (JYRO). |
| Glide | Very steep glide (product page). | Glide ratio ~2.8; mini ribs boost glide; long straight glide on rears (JYRO). |
| Speed / dive | Wide speed range; steep dive (product page) — no airspeed figures published. | 'Not trying to be a swoop machine' (JYRO) — no airspeed figures published. |
| Flare | Long dynamic flare; powerful flare (product page). | More powerful, progressive flare; more range (JYRO). |
| Front risers | Very light front riser pressure (product page). | Accessible and easy to manage; pressure similar to the Safire 3 (JYRO). |
| Rear risers | not published | Long glide, responds to small deliberate inputs (JYRO). |
| Harness response | not published | Responds to intentional weight shift; not hyper-reactive (JYRO). |
| Toggle response | Long control range (product page). | Responsive without being twitchy (JYRO). |
| Loading system | Maximum exit weight per PD skill category and size (chart below). | Recommended wing-loading range 1.0–1.6 lb/ft² plus a chart with jump-number bands (below). |
| Manufacturer-stated experience requirements | none stated | none stated |
| Evidence level | A — Manufacturer technical documentation | B — Manufacturer product information |
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
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) ↗Safire 4 — JYRO wing-loading chart
Recommended wing-loading range: 1.0–1.6 lb/ft² Source: JYRO — Safire 4 product page (page modified 2026-09-02) ↗
34 chart cells (exit weight × size → wing loading), colour bands = minimum jump numbers: 400+ jumps · 500+ jumps · 700+ jumps · 100+ jumps · 200+ jumps · 300+ jumps · 900+ jumps
Source: JYRO — Safire 4 wing-loading chart (image) (WL_Chart_V4) ↗Sources
- 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 ↗
- B JYRO — Safire 4 product page (page modified 2026-09-02) — open ↗
- B JYRO — Safire 4 wing-loading chart (image) (WL_Chart_V4) — 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
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