John LeBlanc - Crazy Things We've Learned, 30 Years of Canopy Design & Development

With over 30 years of non-stop experience in canopy design and testing at Performance Designs, you can imagine that there have been some interesting and unexpected surprises along the way. This talk from John LeBlanc from Performance Designs is all about those sometimes crazy things we’ve learned - about parachutes and ourselves - when we design and develop new prototypes and then finally share the final product with the community.

Some of the lessons have not only played a big part in how in our parachutes have evolved over the last three decades, but has also shaped our sport and our community as well.

John’s comments on canopy aerodynamics from the designer’s point of view will often surprise those who have only learned while jumping commercially available canopies. Avoiding an overly technical treatise, the intention is to provide an entertaining peek behind the curtains at Performance Designs’ R&D department—to see what really goes on. You will see video examples of the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly things that are often an exciting part of canopy development.

Watch PD Vice President and Lead Canopy Designer John LeBlanc as he shares stories and offers insights on what we’ve learned – and where it might be going next.