Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Thursday, September 12, 2024
FLOW Freedom 2 Light size S (70-95)
FLOW released the light version of their high EN-B the Freedom 2.
Awaiting the website to be updated, please find a picture of the Freedom 2 Light technical details.
In summary, Nitinol rods are used, shark nose, hybrid set up 3/2 line layout.
Launching this high EN-B is straightforward and super easy. The glider rises without any hard point even with no wind. I like the light materials when launching the glider in tight areas.
Talking about efficiency, I think the Freedom 2 light holds again that ‘aboriginal magic’ in its climbing abilities. That glider does climb impressively well.
After a while, flying it the sensations it gives felt like a butterfly in the air. Sooth, light, and climb effortlessly.
Performance:
The trim speed is slightly slower than the Rook 4 that was flying near. The glide seems also on par with the best B’s out there. Applying the first and second bars showed moderate pressure and a very good glide angle. The top speed seems around 12 km/h over trim.
Comfort:
The overall movements in the air felt tamer than the normal cloth Freedom 2. The Light version seems more taught and very comfortable to fly.
The C steering is as efficient as the good B’s in keeping the glider overhead.
Ears are stable and efficient. They reopen without pilot intervention, but smoothly and evenly.
The energy stored while doing wingovers is high.
Flow created a very interesting light construction high B. You can load it at the top to get slightly more forward dynamics, with no worries about the climb rate, which stays on top of the category.
Maybe I would have preferred a more simplified riser construction, but that's just a Tiny detail.
Climb is outstanding, and will surely keep you at cloud base! Glide is also excellent, and you can push the speed bar for faster glides if you wish while getting an efficient glide.
Comfortable, calm, and simple. That’s the Freedom 2 light.
Cheers,
Ziad
Saturday, September 7, 2024
OZONE LYGHT S and MS
Ozone LYGHT MS
After OZONE introduced the PHOTON, here is the light version of that incredible top-end performance EN-C 2 liner.
The first PHOTONS had a very long brake travel, and after a while, the handling got slightly better. BUT…. Afterward, the new PHOTONS delivered had slightly different handling.
How different?
Two months ago, and based on my recommendations, a close friend of mine, purchased a new Photon ML like the one I test flew a year ago. He was reluctant at first as he wanted a glider that has direct brake control, but as he kept listening to my comments after I landed flying one…He made the purchase. The story here began. Every day he flies the glider, he calls me saying that it doesn’t have a long brake travel. It is short and he could immediately place it inside the core!
I cannot explain it...
LYGHT MS and S test flight:
I flew the MS size at 92 all up on an Impress 4 harness, and the S at 82 all up with a Lightness 4 harness.
Launching the LYGHT is superb! Very easy to inflate, as all the light 2 liner C’s. No hanging back at all. Smooth lift and easy take off.
I still have my PHOTON MS kept as a reference, and I flew it also in a 3-hour turbulent flight just to get all the feel and movements, and brake control.
let's get back to the LYGHT.
In the air on the LYGHT MS at 92 all up, I found that the brake travel is shorter, quite direct, and with good agility. No more long brakes like the PHOTON MS I have. It is like a completely different glider in that matter! The brake pressure is moderate, very slightly firmer than the Photon.
For my taste, it is quite good. On the LYGHT, the line that holds the brake pulley is 2 cm longer than the ones on the Photon. That will allow the factory to set the brakes 2 cm shorter and still manage to overlap the pulleys at high speed without affecting the trailing edge of the glider.
The LYGHT S at 82 all up has a very similar brake control. The LIghtness 4 enhances slightly the turning behavior over the Impress 4 and flying the LYGHT S size is quite surprisingly agile, and nice to fly.
Comfort in roll and pitch versus the PHOTON MS.
The LYGHT in MS and S size felt even more comfortable than the PHOTON in turbulent air. Of course, the brakes give more authority for control, but still, the overall movements felt slightly tamer. It is ‘exactly’ like the switch between the Delta 4 and Alpina 4! in terms of glider feedback and feel. But the difference is that the LYGHT has a more connective brake travel and authority.
If you have already felt the difference, then you understand what I mean. Even the pitch is slightly smoother.
Pleasure in flight:
My definition of pleasure in flights is having a glider that gives feedback from the brakes and risers, with every centimeter of brakes having its impact on the trailing edge.
The LYGHT is a high-performance 2-liner C with direct handling. That’s it. You initiate a turn, and it responds.
In turbulent and strong air, when you encounter surges, the brake authority is strongly present not to compare with the Photon.
The overall feel you get from the brakes is like eating a good, but diet cake. You will get all the healthy benefits, without that sugar taste... That’s the best way I can describe it to you.
That brake control and feel is a matter of taste, and could be heaven for many pilots!
Seeing that on the positive side, I can say that to acheive that unreachable high level of performance with that homogenous, calm character, could be perhaps considered in the Middle Ages as Sorcery! :-)
Climb rate and glide performance:
In weak thermals, the LYGHT can efficiently catch the very weak ones, if the pilots listen to his vario. The gliding performance seems on par with the PHOTON, which is incredibly good.
However, one feature surpasses PHOTON's and could give many pilots an extra feel for performance.
When gliding through turbulent air, the LYGHT overall movements felt slightly tamer than the PHOTON, and keeping your foot on the speed bar which has moderate pressure felt easier.
The B steering pressure also felt slightly higher than the Photon, but still on the moderate side and super efficient to control the glider while on bar in turbulence!
Ears with outer A’s and outer B’s are doable and easy to use.
The LYGHT MS can easily flown at 90 all up, and the LYGHT S at 80.
If you need more speed in comps 94 would be great on the MS.
Conclusion:
For the C-class 2-liner pilots, The LYGHT has an outstanding package of performance/easy-to-fly gliders.
Very usable high-end C class performance is exactly what describes the LYGHT.
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
GIN Calypso 2. S. (75-95)
GIN Calypso 2 75-95
The new Calypso 2 is GIN's new light low B glider with an aspect ratio of 5.05! Only and weighs around 3.65 KG.
Here’s the link to the GIN website for any further details.
https://www.gingliders.com/en/paragliders/calypso-2/
The construction is really nice. Very well made. All the lines are sheathed which makes it great for adventure flying.
Nitinol rods are used for packing longevity and go well with light materials.
Launching:
This Calypso launch is special. A small pressure on the A risers and the Calypso 2 rises smoothly. In a more consistent wind, it goes up gently as if a loved one is watching you, saying:
I’m here, no worries. Do you want to launch now? I’m still here...take your time. I think this is one of the easiest to launch B glider and still with a taught structure waiting for your command to take off.
In the air:
I flew the Calypso 2 S at 91 all up. There is no need to go more; you can fly it also a bit less. The brake travel has a moderate pressure in the first 10 cm and firm on the other 10 cm, and that’s all you need to fly it! You can also dig the brakes + 30 cm longer if needed, and the glider watches over you calmly, with total passive safety. But you can fly the Calypso 2 with 20 cm in all conditions with excellent agility for that class. Thermals can be cored really tight if the pilot wishes. The leading edge doesn’t seem to bump into the airmass, rather than get through smoothly and slowly moving forward. For the low B category, the Calypso 2 flies really well into a moving air mass. The pitch is very stable and the roll is quite balanced and accessible for all levels.
In turbulence, the pilot feels like having a safety net as the Caypso 2 stays homogenous and has a taught structure.
The brakes give a good authority of control to the pilot in strong conditions, and that will keep you the master in flight.
Climbing in weak is good for the category, and the climbing performance in strong thermals. When a glider is that easy to place inside the lift, then you have to expect a really nice climb.
Gliding performance seems also nice, as I was all the time flying at top speed which is 8-10 km/h over trim, but very…very accessible, with a glider that stays one whole homogenous piece at full speed in turbulence. The pressure on the foot bar is moderate. 
Induced assymetrics and frontals seem like level-A gliders. No change in direction, and reopens in less than 2 sec smoothly. Big ears can be large, and efficient to get down. They reopen without pilot intervention gradually.
The stall speed is very late as the Caypso 2 resists the stall. It can also be slowed well in tight places.
Conclusion: This test holds nothing but good for that light-friendly user Calypso 2. I think the Calypso 2 is intended for talented beginners if your instructor says so. It is also a glider for any B pilot wishing to fly in peace.
For XC, step on the speed bar often as the glide stays really good!
It is a very balanced glider also for newcomers to the sport and it will take care of you giving a smile after landing.
Sometimes we all are longing only for that smile, and that’s what keeps us flying and moving forward.
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