ADVANCE SIGMA 7 26 (70-95)

I was testing the SIGMA 7 26 loaded at 95 kg all up the last summer. Here is what I found.

One cannot deny the excellent finish and details.
When you open the glider bag you find yourself looking at an ASTON MARTIN car.
Very neat and classy details.

The risers are thin and look like a piece of art. RATE 9.8/10

























Launching is a child job and getting airborne is easy and quick. RATE 9.8/10



















In the thermals the SIGMA 7 is a pleasure to fly .Very crisp and moderate pressure, with outstanding precision puts the glider in a mosquito path !
RATE 9.5/10

Flying the SIGMA 7 26 at 95 kg loaded at top , in moderate to weak thermals, was
pure joy and happiness with comfort. RATE 9.5/10

When landing, the glider forward speed could be reduced to none, even heavily loaded, and enabled me to land in narrow places without any funny behavior. RATE 9.8/10 !

In transitions the SIGMA 7 could match any EN-C glider without any trouble. The glide is close to 9.3

the trim speed is around 39km/h much like the ARTIC 2 or exactly! and the glide also is same.

But what i really like about the SIGMA 7 is the accelerator!!The bar is really light, but when you activate it, you find yourself sitting in the TGV.

Very fast and on "RAILS" Wahooooo!!with the impressive feeling of total security and superb "efficient" glide at first bar !RATE for bar efficiency 9.7/10

Pressing the bar is like you have in the kitchen a delicious piece of chocolate cake, whenever you enter you should taste it ;-)

Having said that, it also differs from other newly gliders is that when pressing the bar ,the roll feeling stops.

Now for the very strong summer thermals in our 3000m spot. Well the glider behaved very well in the strong stuff (+9 m/s) ,but it does really need quick and precise imput to stop the surges as the glider needs very active flying in the "houla houla" stuff !! You surely cannot sleep below any glider but this one needs attention!.

Conclusion: The SIGMA 7 is a superb EN-C glider with great "usable" performance. It needs an educated active pilot to fly safely far away.

SOL TORCK (80-98) KG

SOL TORCK
After flying the TORCK for a while at 96 all up , here what I found.

The SOL TORCK is made from Gelvenor, which make the glider as little heavy. The front part of the wing is made from light gelvenor, so you can feel quickly the difference in weight between the front and the heavy back of the glider.

The lines are made of Kevlar lines unsheathed on the top, and main treated vectran lines.

Launching the glider in nil wind would need much energy, to get the glider overhead. In moderate wind it is a pleasure to launch, and in strong wind it is an advantage to have that characteristic.

Once in the air the glider inspire confidence .Comfortable ride is on the menu, only if you have your total weight near upper limit. Then you will enjoy a very smooth and really cool ride .The glider has the tendency to eliminate parasite movement of the air without being too dampened.

First thermal and brake applied opened my eyes to a new dimension of turning behavior! The glider is exquisite! It cores the thermals with such easiness and coring power like no other. This glider is built to thermal. Very easy to stay in the core and what a pleasure….!

At trim speed the TORCK is not that fast, less than the VENUS 2 by 1.5~2 km/h .It could reach 38.5 km/h. The glide at that angle is really good (In calm air) .When using first bar, I could nearly match the glide of the VENUS 2.It is really close.
In head wind glides and turbulent condition, the VENUS 2 is unreachable and it cuts better and goes much further.

I felt when hitting a thermal that the glider would stop or even get behind a little bit than move forward. That fraction of sec is the one that let the TORCK little behind. But this is something a pilot can adjust by pulling the accelerator all the time. And pushing the accelerator is fun. The glider keeps on rail and very controllable in this situation.

In the weak stuff without any turbulence or headwind, the TORCK is a thermal beast. You cannot miss any thermal. It is very efficient and climb really well.
Spirals and wingovers and fun and easy to make.

The glider can be slowed down to an accurate landing.

Conclusion: The TORCK dhv 2-3 gets a very clean dhv, as you would thought it is near a dhv 2 glider .The induce asymmetric collapses and frontals are benign and very easy to handle.

Excellent job on performance and great "teddy bear" glider if you are on the upper limit.