ADVANCE EPSILON 8

ADVANCE Epsilon 8

As always, opening an ADVANCE wing is a nice experience since the quality of construction and materials are really nice .

The Epsilon 8 is ADVANCE low B glider. All lines are sheathed with strong line construction ! 

I’ve seen many gliders and that low B seems having an indestructible construction. It is obvious that ADVANCE wanted a glider that will last for a long time without even thinking going out of trim ! It’s a surely well built glider !

Launching the Epsilon 8 is super easy and a non event …No shooting forward for sure, no hang back…It just wait above the pilots head.

I flew the Epsilon 8 from 90 to 95. This handling on this glider is fine tuned for a wide variety of tastes ! You can turn it pulling 5 cm and it turns smoothly and you can turn it with 30 cm pull with the same smooth dynamism ! Excellent ! 

The pressure on the brakes are moderate, much like the Ion 4 ones. The overall agility for a low B is nice and well balanced !

Low B pilots can easily fly it, and a more advanced pilot can place it with little input in thermals. It has a surprisingly precise brake response. 

The overall movements in roll and pitch in strong turbulent cores (+7m/s) are super smooth and easy to understand with a glider that is smiling at you like a nice polite butler ! The Epsilon 8 doesn’t have a pitch back or forward before entering thermals .It has a very well balanced behavior. Newbies will adore !

The climb rate in weak conditions is efficient. The information is very smoothly given by the brakes and slightly by the risers. 

Going on a glide on the Epsilon 8 at trim and at full bar puts it among the top 5 of the low B gliders. Very easy to keep the bar fully accelerated.

Ears are super stable, easy, and reopen quickly. Landing the Epsilon 8 is a non event with a good flair. 

Conclusion: The Epsilon 8 has everything a low B pilot wishes. From a nice handling to a comfortable ride in turbulence and a good glide angle to begin cross country safely. It’s strong construction will ensure a long use.

GRADIENT NEVADA 2 S

Gradient Nevada 2 S  (70-90) 

The Nevada 2 is the new high end B glider from Gradient. 

2 lines per side on the A’s and three row of lines with similar configuration as the Aspen 4.

I flew the S size from 85 to 90 in different conditions from weak to strong.

Launching the Nevada 2 is easy for a high B glider. 

After some flights i found the best weight under it in overall conditions is around 88 all up.

The roll movements are present on the Nevada 2 S in turbulent conditions, slightly more than the Rush 4. 

In strong turbulent cores, a keen high B pilot could easily manage it.The improvement in brake travel is now enhanced over its predecessor the Nevada 1 with a relatively moderate to short brake travel, a soft pressure (like the Rush4) and a nice agility in turns. 

Before entering thermals, with no brakes applied, the Nevada 2 S at 90 all up slows a bit ,pitch slightly back and then climb away.  

The climb in weak is still very good even loaded comparable with the BGD Base. 

The glide at trim and accelerated is good for the high B category ! It could be placed among the top five in terms of glide efficiency !

Big ears are stable and a good way to get down. 

Conclusion: The Nevada 2 S has everything to be quite competitive and pleasant to fly for a high B glider. It needs active piloting in turbulent conditions. The glide especially accelerated is very nice for the category.