NOVA Codex S 80-100 / 105

NOVA Codex S size 80-100/105 

After the amazing, very comfortable, performant Mentor 7, NOVA designed a 2 liner C glider with a moderate aspect ratio of 6.1. 

It is a true 2 liner with nitinol rods and as usual a very clean construction. 

Launching the Codex S t 96 all up requires a gentle pull without any hard points. The glider settles above your head easily and the take off is immediate. 

First turn inside a thermal and my memory goes back to the Mentor 7 test! It is as if I am flying the Mentor 7! The pressure on the brakes is very slightly harder, the length is the same as the agility. The overall comfort is surprisingly 'very close' to the regular Mentor 7 S size! 

The Codex feels like a big glider as the Mentor 7 S does feel to me, when flying them at 96..97.   The agility of the Codex is present but with smooth turns rather than dynamic ones. The overall flying experience even in strong and turbulent air requires less fast inputs than when you fly the Artik-R/Trango-X. The Codex is much tamer in overall movement. I think the difference in feel for a pilot flying the Mentor 7 is not really very far! Of course, the Codex is a C-class glider with 2 lines for the targeted group of pilots.  In difficult and heavy conditions, when low under an inversion, for example, the reaction in entering the airmass is slower and smoother than the other 2 liners. 

Climbing in weak thermals is very good under that glider if flown at 96 all up! Having compared it to the best ones in climb, the Codex is a nice floater much like the Mentor 7 S size at 96.  The pitch-back is slightly present but with a climbing mode. There’s no pitch forward in moderate conditions. In stronger thermals, the Codex stays more above the pilot's head than all the other 2 liners. It doesn’t require a lot of pilot control for a 2 liner C-class glider. Perhaps slightly calmer than the Bonanza 3! 

Doing some glides in calm air at trim and also using the speed bar, showed me an impressive glide angle for the 2-line C category putting it near the best ones!  

When facing a sea breeze or a valley breeze, the Codex slows a bit, as the glider profile and capacity to dig through is a bit restrained and needs more time to enter the heavy airmass. A high loading could be more beneficial. 

The high-aspect Photon will have the upper hand in those conditions, but for sure it needs also 50 % more active pilot control in strong air!   Everything has its price. But if you are flying high up in the mountains, with smooth transitions there aren't any differences in glide. It is only in tricky conditions, that the high aspect 2 liner will dig through the airmass faster.

Pushing the speed bar has moderate pressure on the first part but is heavy on the second part. The top speed is around 13...stable speed, or 15 km/h over trim.  On my Codex riser, the speed system seems a bit long, pushing the last 2 cm will push the B riser also, which makes an unstable roll. Perhaps the next delivered Codex gliders will have the right risers that will deliver a stable roll throughout the whole speed bar. 

Ears with outer B’s are a good way to lose altitude. 

Conclusion: The Codex can surely be your first 2 liner C or even your first C-class glider after any high B! The passive safety under the Codex will allow the new pilots to progress gradually without getting thrown away in turbulence. So cool to fly for newcomers! 

When flying the Codex, I was thinking that 30 years ago, it was difficult to keep an ACPUL 10 A / 2 B  glider with a glide of 5 overhead in heavy turbulence! 

For a pilot who hasn’t flown for a very long time flying the NOVA Codex will be quite a miracle for him! :-)

Lucky newcomers! :-) 

Cheers,

Ziad