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Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Triple Seven Rook 2 SM




As seen on my videos, my tests are not only to show, talk, or to praise a glider. They are a ‘different’ way to insert the tested ones in the category they are meant for, and also to explain the differences and expectations in words.


Triple Seven Rook 2 SM

Aggressive back position intakes on the leading edge, Upper line cascades with unsheathed lines ,lower line cascades with thin ,very optimized covered Liros lines. Very sporty looking risers, excellent finish…That’s the Rook 2 in SM size ready for take off !

I flew the Rook 2 SM (80-100) from 94 to 98 all up in different conditions ,from weak to strong and turbulent in the company of other 2015 high-end B reference gliders and that gave me a complete idea about the Rook 2.

Launching this high EN-B overall is nice and even in +25 km/h wind is quite easy for the category .Just a dab on the brakes to keep it overhead, with a swift airborne mode.

I always alternate several new B gliders in the same day with the same conditions and of course switching gliders with my friends in respecting the loads.

Rewinding a bit…Considering that the Iota 26 moves comfortably as a block with a good, and firm authority on the brakes letting it be efficient enough in turning ability. Looking back also at the Mentor 4 S which has a slight dynamic feel over the Iota but also with relatively similar comfort and a swifter brake response over the Iota and a slightly less thermal climb capability in the weak .Both gliders moves as a block, with no parasite movements. (All in S sizes with same loadings)

Fast-forwarding now …The Rook 2 feels slightly more subtle in turbulent conditions with a very slight insignificant yaw movement before initiating a turn, like the one seen on the Queen, but surely with much more comfort . (More comfortable than a Blacklight,or Chili 3 for example to give you an idea ! )

The brakes authority on the Rook 2 SM are more linear than the Iota and the Mentor 4, enabling the pilot under, to feel the air and the movements of the glider placing it exactly where he wants and optimizing the turning radius with a flat turn ( Or a performance oriented turn ) .
The pressure on the brakes are less than the ones on a Mentor 4 S , and slightly close to the Rush 4 , which is moderate .

So the Rook 2 SM doesn’t have the agility and the dynamics in turns of the Mentor 4S.
It is similar to the Iota 26 agility, “but” with a super efficient climb rate in the weak ,putting it as efficient as the Chili 3 !
( The Rook 2 SM is a serious contender in climb rate! )

In turbulent conditions and head wind, I found that it’s preferable to load the Rook 2 SM a bit . May be (98 kg) is good for a better into wind efficiency “in racing mode”. Flying it also at 94 is also fine…Just slightly slower to dig in when facing a strong head wind.
The Rook 2 SM trim speed is slightly less (-0.5 km/h) than the Mentor 4S and Iota 26 similarly loaded. And slightly faster at trim than the Rush 4 by +0.5 km/h.

Did some long glides with some good B’s and C’s .

Rewinding a bit again…Doing glides into wind on little Xc’s with the Mentor 4S comparing it to the Delta 2 SM and Elan light 26 showed a better raw glide for the M4 S.
But in tricky conditions with weak choppy thermals, and low saves, both the Delta 2 SM and the Elan 26 always managed to out-climbed me and were well ahead.

Flying the Rook 2 SM with the same Delta 2 SM, and the new Elan light 26, showed a “close” glide performance to the C gliders (in windy conditions) for the Rook 2 SM especially when applying the bar a bit, (@ 45 km/h)
The good part is when each time we happen to get low trying to catch the small thermals bits …the Rook 2 SM was the first one out of the hole! and gliding away…

It was clear, when using the first part of the speed bar,
that a quick difference is felt and seen in turbulent glides. 



The action on the first bar did in fact smoothed the glider movements ! and i believe that the glide angle has improved over the trim speed glide ! That’s impressive !

Big ears are stable with a -3m/s with bar. They reopen quickly on release.
Wing overs and 360’s are also fun to use .
The speed over trim at 98 all up is + 14 km/h with the pulleys overlapping (Taken at 800 ASL)
The speed bar pressure is moderate on my Woody Valley X-rated.

Conclusion:
Triple Seven gliders seems to inherit the know-how and fine tuning capabilities of the Valic brothers competition background, by producing fine gliders with optimum line width and layout, and a big attention to the glide at speed !

What i have felt and seen, is a well designed, high-end B glider “with character”, up-to-date performance and a well tuned brake fan for maximizing the turning radius.
The Rook 2 isn’t a boring stiff B glider nor a lively one for sure !
The pitch movements are nearly absent. And the roll is moderate for the B class.
The tips are solid and powerful. They move sideways a bit, with the center pitch still very stable in movements.
They give a certain fragrance to the flight, which sensitive pilots might appreciate over a stiffer one.

The Rook 2 with it’s efficient climb rate, enabling low saves, and an impressive glide around ± 45 km/h will share the top places in the best efficient ones.






19 comments:

Jorge said...

That's a pretty nice Shark Nose leading edge!

Unknown said...

wonderfully. i live in Slovenija. 30 km from hills, where Valiฤ br fly. i fly it yet in lov air, and i need more information. i will buy some. please write it today

Attorney Gregory Bryl said...

I think the main reason it's so stable is the shark nose, creating a higher internal pressure.

Unknown said...

Hi Ziad, what would be your suggestion, i am 103 to 105 kg all up, which size should i fly MS or ML. Thank you in advance.

Ziad Bassil said...

97 is very good for the SM.
100 is also fine.
I didn't flew it at 105...

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Hi Ziad,
I'm one of your fan and I read with pleasure your intersting tests.
There is something I would like understand:
The Rook 2 is a glider your found very performant in the B class, on the paper it seems even maybe more than the Iota, and I was expecting that you will keep it for a while to compare with other new gliders. But not, you sold it. If I don't make any mistake, you have still the Iota with you. I would like to know why you did the choice to keep the Iota and not the Rook 2.
Thanks.

Ziad Bassil said...

Hi Marc,
The M4,Iota and Rook 2 are very close.i still have the M4 and Iota .My all up weight is around 90.so I prefer flying the M4 mainly because it flies good at 93,94 with 4 kg of ballast. I don't want to put more ballast to reach 96,97 which is the optimum weight for the R2.

Unknown said...

It's a very interesting information because my weight (90kg all up) and problem are exactly the same (I have to replace my beloved Rush 4 who has already too many hours).
Then, from your answer I understand that M4 AND Iota give their best at 93/94kg but unfortunately for us R2 need really 3 kg more.
Thanks again.

Unknown said...

Hi Ziad,
many thanks for your incredible tests!! Do you plan to test the Rook2 light?

Ziad Bassil said...

Thank you !
Unfortunately not at the moment. ...
Happy flights, Ziad

Baptiste said...

Hi Ziad,
Many thanks for your test. I'm 85kg all up. What would be your suggestion on the size? Should I prefer Mentor 4 XS with this weight ? Baptiste

Ziad Bassil said...

Hi,
Yes, I think the M4 will let do fine at hat weight.
Cheers
Ziad

Unknown said...

Hi Ziad,
I decide just between Rook2 and the Apollo. I am both flown and feel under two very well. Which Glider you wรผrdes for xc experience prefer. I weigh 85kg all up.

Greetings Ben

Ziad Bassil said...

Hi Ben,
The Rook 2 is very efficient in XC conditions. Your all up weight of 85 will put you on the S...which is at the limit.On the Appolo you will also be at the middle of the weight ...better to be at 82 83 on the Rook 2...or you can order the light version of the Zook 2 S.
Cheers Ziad

bigbayoak said...

Hi Ziad and thanks for your great work!
I got a doubt so maybe you can give me your advice.. I am going to change glider choosing between Rook 2 and Ikuma, but some opinion of fellow pilots around me says that rook2 is much more demanding in term of skills needed to fly it than Ikuma and also in term of confort, and I f it's the right way to say it, of "security". But reading your rank in Full EN B comparison charts they seem pretty equal in terms told above, with a slightly better performance for Rook 2. Can you tell me your personal opinion about it? Are they so different?
Many thanx in advance, Marco

Ziad Bassil said...

Hi Marko,
These are high interlediate B's with same level of security. Niviuk Hook 4 is the low B. If you have doubts go for the Hook 4 or wait for the new 777 knight...
Cheers
Ziad

bigbayoak said...

Thank you! I had doubt, based on what I had been told, on rook 2.. cause I have already flown Ikuma feeling completely at easy under it :)

Unknown said...

Hi Ziad, you have a chart with some rankings of B wings and how they are to fly in rough air. from 1-10 10 being the most difficult, how would you rate this wing for rough air and your idea of collapse recovery. Many thanks, Rob