GIN Atlas S
On the 23rd I was on our flying site ‘Mezyara’
flying a Mentor 3 with superb XC conditions…
Our driver and friend came directly from the airport to the
take off and I knew that I have to turn back to the take off after some nice XC
flying because the Atlas S is waiting!
I landed switched glider and harness to be at 91 all up at
the Atlas S and here I am airborne.
Launching is a piece of cake, and immediately generous
conditions and first thermal made my smile wide enough to reach my ears !
I have test flew 2 years ago the Sprint Evo,and the Atlas
was something very different in a much more positive way…
I am a ‘handling’ freak! and turning this jewel is an
experience of a life time!
It has been ages since I found that crispy, direct ,linear handling
on a B glider!
I think the two recent tested gliders were a blessing, a
EN-C just before and now the Atlas S for its ‘unlimited pleasure feel’
overwhelmed me.
I was flying next to my friend on the Chili 3 S at 98 all
up, and we did some long XC flights next to each other, and that was a much
more realistic test.
I have to write more about handling…The Atlas can make turns
inside any new B glider I have already tested! It can turn on itself J
Really impressive!
In the air the feeling under the Atlas is joyful. It does
give its pilot the exact amount of feedback without too many parasitic
movements. It has some pitch and roll movements but still in a very small
angles letting the pilot feels that he is on a very precise glider without
being pushed around. A inspire confidence feeling .I can describe it as very
well balanced, and surely it rests in the middle of the B category.
The Atlas has the tendency to slide into the thermals
without being pushed away. It feels like pulling you ‘gently’ inside those cores
with a positive vario.
The climb rate versus the best in the B category puts the
Atlas really close in efficiency and I could confirm its excellent climb!
Gliding next to a ‘Top’ B glider in Xc conditions, with head
wind, and down wind, the Atlas is never left behind as if they are stuck! At
first bar the Atlas glide is also in par with the best. My friend and I were
inseparable the whole flight.
The accelerator is soft and smooth, and can be pushed all
along. The rear risers offer an efficient control in turbulent conditions and
by pulling them gently the pilot can keep the Atlas on track.
Big ears are stable and effective. With the bar, a
-
4m/s can be achieved.
Conclusion:
After the appearance of the impressive Boomerang 9, I was
curious to see if that will affect the lower rated gliders.
There is surely a leap in technology somewhere and the Atlas
has surely inherited it!
The pleasure and performance ratio is very high!
With its high-end performance, its sublime climb rate, its
dream handling and its easiness of flight, the Atlas S sits on the middle of
the B category, a complete B glider that will mark its path and will be often
talked about!
