Supair STEP EN-B size S
The Step is Supair’s new high B glider. The Step with an aspect ratio of 5.7, has a shark nose, and a refined unsheathed set on lines. With this look and construction Supair looks serious about performance gain…Lets see…
The take off is calm, and doesn’t have a tendency to overshoot, unless the pilot don’t use a little brake.
I flew the S size (70-90) from 85 to 90 all up. This test concern this size with the mentioned loadings. Other sizes ‘could’ be different and flying the S size in different loads at the beginning of the range ‘could’ differ. Just to be specific. This test is an idea . Test flying is best !
I also flew the S size with different harnesses, one GTO light M and one Delight 3 M. In strong air at higher altitude sites, the combination of GTO Light and the Step are very different from the Delight 3 /Step combination, in matter of roll movements and pilot correction when encountering strong turbulence. The GTO light allow to feel the sharp movements under the Step, and gave me slightly more workout than a Mentor 5 XS, or the Chili 4 if both flown with the GTO Light.
Flying the Delight 3 M size with the Step was completely different and the Step was very auto-controlled by that harness in sudden lifts and sharp thermals. The Step felt a need to be controlled slightly more than the M5 XS. It feels slightly similar to the Chili4 S (75-95).
The Rush 5, S (70-90) is calmer and tamer than the others.
The Step handling and brake authority are more defined than the M5 XS which is a bit less informative and not as linear as the Step. The Rush 5 S is slightly harder, with less travel, and lesser agility. The Chili 4 S is sharper, shorter in travel than the Step with close agility.
Overall the Step is an agile glider with a linear and pleasurable feel on the brakes.
Supair of course designed that harness with the Step, and i humbly recommend that you try the Step with the Delight 3 in order to feel that difference.
The Step has a moderate to light feel on the brakes without any hard point. After the 10 cm gap away from the pulleys, the Step can be steered lightly with 20 cm of brake travel for swift but mellower turning radius. Lowering the brakes at the carabiner level, will induce a corkscrew turn enabling very tight turns. This feature is not available on the M5, Rush 5, and even the agile Chili4 !
The Step has the genes of the little Leaf in terms of turning radius ! The overall pilot level over the Leaf is a step and a half !
I flew next to a Mentor 5 XS (70-90) that has the same size as the Step, and we were similarly loaded. Best way to compare and comment.
The Step climbs really well…Knowing that the M5 XS is a super climber, i cannot but confirm that the Step felt super competitive with an edge ! The ability for the Step to tighten the turning radius is an efficient way to climb in narrow cores.
The Step has a very slight pitch back, sometimes un noticeable. I felt that i could be more efficient when i flew the Step at max weight ! the climb didn’t suffer at all, and i was still climbing like a spring without any pitch momentum.
Doing some glides with the same mentor 5 XS , lifted my eyebrows over my sunglasses ! :-)
The Step is a serious gliding machine, and we were both inseparable in glide at trim, at half bar, even at top speed. The Step has 13 km/h over trim taken at 1000 ASL.
The handles on the C are efficient on this 3 liner in moderate conditions. Applying half to full bar, in moving conditions, and controlling with the C handles, i was able to prevent most pitch situations.
The leading edge felt very well pressurized. It was hard to pull on the A lines to induce a collapse at trim speed. St full bar the leading edge flutters a bit , but it feels solid.
Big ears are stable. They have a moderate efficiency and they reopen quickly without any input.
Conclusion: IMHO, Supair has made their best glider till date for overall package it has to offer. Climb like a devil, glide like the top high B, handles super well…fast enough for a high B…what can i say more…If you want my opinion….A demo should be considered as your next step ;-)
This is only my opinion. Make your own !
No comments:
Post a Comment