The Explorer is GIn’s light high B glider. In 2017, I have flown the first version of the Explorer http://ziadbassil.blogspot.com/search?q=explorer That version was easy to use, and the overall performance was fairly good for the category, while the Carrera and Carrera plus were unreachable in overall performance for the Explorer. Now with the second version, everything has changed!
The take-off at 93 all up is super easy, with just a light pull. The Explorer doesn’t overshoot, and the take-off is immediate.
In the air flying with my X-rated 6, and some ballast to reach 93, the brakes have a moderate length for turning in thermals. They are not as short as the Artik 6, Delta 4, Rook 3, R-Light. It is slightly 1-2 cm longer than a Rush 5, for example, and approx 2 cm slightly less than the Swift 5. Now I hope I gave you a good idea…
The turn inside the core is excellent. The Explorer is agile without being (at all) too dynamic. It is a soft glider in overall air despite the 6 aspect ratio. I found it easier to fly than the Rook 3 for example. It feels similar to the Swift 5 in terms of overall feedback. I could turn very tight inside the core.
The pressure on the brakes is lighter than the Rook 3 ones and probably similar to the Swift 5. Overall it is not tiring at all for longer flights.
Now to talk a bit about the climb rate. The Explorer flies well also at 90 all up, which a tried in one flight. It seems slow to enter the breeze, but it doesn’t bump into the thermals, and will still get inside slowly but efficiently. I found out later that at 93, or even at 95 it would be a great weapon to compete with every higher rated glider in terms of getting the best lift! The Explorer 2 even loaded can be considered as a very good floater! It climbs really well, and I don’t think it misses any thermal.
Gliding next to some higher-rated gliders, showed me also that the Explorer 2 with its superb float ability can easily match the glide of higher-rated gliders, at trim and also on bar. The Explorer 2 full speed isn’t very high 12 km’h over trim, but still very good for the category. Loading it at max will give the pilot that extra kick to enter some difficult airmass without losing anything on its climb even in the weak thermals. That glider looks big but also behaves really nice -4 kg from the top.
Flying at bar, which has moderate pressure and not heavy to push, I could easily control the glider with the C’s. That new C to B tool is becoming very easy to use and giving the pilots control in turbulence. But the Explorer 2 doesn’t seem to care about turbulence much …
Ears are stable, efficient very easy to induce. They will stay folded and needs a little encouragement to reopen by the brakes.
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