Canopy database › Performance Designs
Performance Designs Sabre3
Sizes
89, 97, 107, 120, 135, 150, 170, 190, 210, 230 sq ft (8.3, 9.0, 9.9, 11.1, 12.5, 13.9, 15.8, 17.7, 19.5, 21.4 m²)
Source: Performance Designs — Sabre3 Flight Characteristics and FAQ (FC-0005 Rev. 0) ↗Designed for (manufacturer wording)
- Novice to Intermediate skydivers at moderate wing loads
- Advanced to Expert skydivers at moderate to heavier wing loads
- Learning or perfecting high performance canopy piloting (under appropriate supervision)
Keywords: Long recovery arc · Progressive & manageable front risers · Steep glide · Spectacular rear riser performance · Powerful bottom-end flare · Redesigned and refined openings
Your wing loading on each size
| Size | Wing loading | PD chart category |
|---|---|---|
| 89 ft² | — | — |
| 97 ft² | — | — |
| 107 ft² | — | — |
| 120 ft² | — | — |
| 135 ft² | — | — |
| 150 ft² | — | — |
| 170 ft² | — | — |
| 190 ft² | — | — |
| 210 ft² | — | — |
| 230 ft² | — | — |
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.
Performance Designs chart — maximum exit weight per category
| Size | Student | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Expert | Maximum (never exceed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | N/S | N/S | N/S | N/S | 160 lb · 72.6 kg | 178 lb · 80.7 kg |
| 97 | N/S | N/S | N/S | 136 lb · 61.7 kg | 175 lb · 79.4 kg | 194 lb · 88 kg |
| 107 | N/S | N/S | N/S | 150 lb · 68 kg | 193 lb · 87.5 kg | 214 lb · 97.1 kg |
| 120 | N/S | N/S | 120 lb · 54.4 kg | 168 lb · 76.2 kg | 216 lb · 98 kg | 240 lb · 108.9 kg |
| 135 | N/S | 108 lb · 49 kg | 149 lb · 67.6 kg | 203 lb · 92.1 kg | 236 lb · 107 kg | 250 lb · 113.4 kg |
| 150 | N/S | 127 lb · 57.6 kg | 173 lb · 78.5 kg | 225 lb · 102.1 kg | 240 lb · 108.9 kg | 260 lb · 117.9 kg |
| 170 | 127 lb · 57.6 kg | 152 lb · 68.9 kg | 196 lb · 88.9 kg | 238 lb · 108 kg | 255 lb · 115.7 kg | 281 lb · 127.5 kg |
| 190 | 152 lb · 68.9 kg | 180 lb · 81.6 kg | 209 lb · 94.8 kg | 247 lb · 112 kg | 266 lb · 120.7 kg | 285 lb · 129.3 kg |
| 210 | 168 lb · 76.2 kg | 210 lb · 95.3 kg | 221 lb · 100.2 kg | 252 lb · 114.3 kg | 273 lb · 123.8 kg | 294 lb · 133.4 kg |
| 230 | 184 lb · 83.5 kg | 230 lb · 104.3 kg | 242 lb · 109.8 kg | 253 lb · 114.8 kg | 276 lb · 125.2 kg | 299 lb · 135.6 kg |
N/S = not suggested by the manufacturer for that category. Weights are maximums, not recommendations. Confirm on performancedesigns.com.
Flight characteristics — in Performance Designs's words
| Opening | Comfortable snivel that doesn't eat up a lot of altitude; smooth, well-staged, on-heading openings across a wide range of wing loadings (FC-0005). |
|---|---|
| Recovery arc | Long recovery arc (product page); natural recovery comparable to the Sabre2, and a higher wing loading generally makes it longer (FC-0005). |
| Glide | Steep glide (product page); 'it glides longer, it swoops farther' than the Sabre2 (FC-0005). |
| Speed / dive | Carries more speed than the Sabre2; builds speed with less input (qualitative — no airspeed figures published). |
| Flare | Powerful bottom-end flare; longer control range; stall point fairly deep for most jumpers (FC-0005). |
| Front risers | 'A little goes a long way'; pressure similar to the Sabre2 but more uniform (FC-0005). |
| Rear risers | PD: more power and wider range on rears than its other 9-cells, incl. the Sabre2 (FC-0005). |
| Harness response | A bit more responsive in the harness than its predecessor without being too sensitive during deployment (FC-0005). |
| Toggle response | Longer control range, more linear feel, crisp response (FC-0005). |
Frequently asked
Performance Designs lists the Sabre3 in 89, 97, 107, 120, 135, 150, 170, 190, 210, 230 square feet.
In Performance Designs's words: Novice to Intermediate skydivers at moderate wing loads; Advanced to Expert skydivers at moderate to heavier wing loads; Learning or perfecting high performance canopy piloting (under appropriate supervision).
Wing loading = exit weight in pounds (you plus all your gear) divided by the canopy size in square feet. The manufacturer's chart then shows which category that loading falls in. It is information, not approval to fly a size — decide with your canopy coach.
See it in your own data
Fly the Sabre3 with a FlySight? Upload your jumps to see your landing pattern, turn height per 90°, consistency and how you fly this canopy compared with others you own.
Analyse my FlySight jumps — free Compare with another canopy
More from Performance Designs: Katana · Stiletto · Silhouette · Pulse · Spectre · Storm · Comp Velocity · Valkyrie