ADVANCE Sigma 12 DLS

ADVANCE Sigma 12 DLS  85-100 

The Sigma 12 DLS new 3-liner C class glider for ADVANCE in 2024/25. It is a semi-light glider with around 4.5 kg.

Construction and details are typically ADVANCE. Very neat and well-built. 

Launching the S12 DLS is straightforward, easy, and simple to take off without any hard points. Even in no wind, the take-off is easy.

I flew the Sigma 12 DLS at 92 all up. In the air next to me, my friends were on one Photon S, One Photon MS, and one ML. There was also a Rush 6 MS and a Rook 3 MS.  

The brake travel is on the moderate side, quite direct, smooth, and linear response. 10 to 15 cm are needed to turn the glider inside a thermal. The Sigma 12 DLS resembles the S11 agility. 

Coring thermals is a pleasure under the Sigma 12 DLS. A fun glider to play in thermals, with good authority. I didn’t feel it had a dynamic turn inside the core rather than an agile, smooth turn. 

Comfort:

I flew in weak air and later in strong air and turbulent conditions. The S12 DLS felt solid and comfortable for the C category in all those conditions. The structure is very homogenous, and the pilot could feel that extra passive safety as if he were on a comfortable high B-class glider!  The Sigma 12 DLS as a C glider, is very accessible for the 3 liner C class pilots, much like the S11, possibly even more comfortable… Close enough to the Alpina 4 in comfort. 

The difference between flying a Sigma 12 DLS and any 2-liner C is very different. The feel inside a moving airmass under a 3-liner like the Sigma 12 DLS, resembles the high B+ category delivering a genuine three-liner feel. Smooth pitch in the air, with high passive safety for the C class compared to a 2-liner C. 

Climb rate:

Thermal flying and efficiency:  

As much as the Sigma 12 DLS is easy and comfortable with high passive safety, the glider doesn’t compete with the 2-liner C gliders in climb efficiency, as the Artik-R, Photon, etc...which is logical, of course as ADVANCE intended to deliver a friendly user glider.  

In weak conditions, less than 0.5 m/s thermals, the old Sigma 10 was very efficient. The S12 DLS hovers in very weak air, and stays in that core, waiting for a slightly stronger thermal to join the (thermal sniffer ones) high up.     

In 2 m/s thermals, it climbs quite nicely next to other C’s, even with the two-liners.  

Gliding:

I tried to glide with the two-liners in the sky next to me, and I was surprised that the Sigma 12 DLS gliding capabilities would surpass the S11 and be close enough to the good two-liners!  Even when pushing on the speed bar, which gave me 11..12 km/h max over trim taken at 900 ASL, the glide stays quite interesting for arriving at the next crossing. But it is better to stay 90% on the speed bar with moderate pressure while gliding if you want to stay close to the 2 liners if they only use 25% of their speed bar. 

Of course, I am not comparing the Sigma 12 DLS to the two-liners, as they are aimed at different pilot profiles, but it is just to give you an idea that the glide angle in smooth air is quite competitive only if the moving airmass is not quite challenging, with more headwind…difficult airmass… 

Ears are easy to do, stable, and reopen smoothly without pilot interference. 

Conclusion:

A plain and simple 3-line concept for the conventional C class pilot. The Sigma 12 DLS is very comfortable to fly, agile, and with very good gliding performance. 

After the Iota DLS and other high B’s, the Sigma 12 DLS will welcome you for its high accessibility as a three-liner C glider.  

Axis Vega 6 M

AXIS Vega 6  size M (85-102)

Radek Simonik founded Axis Paragliders in 1990 as a hang-gliding school. Radek Simonik was developing the gliders together with Ing. Frantisek Pavlousek until 2010 when Franta left for UP.

Construction: The Vega 6 uses a mix of Skytex cloth with unsheathed 0.5 to 2.5 mm from Liros Dyneema and Cousin Vectralines.

The finish details of the glider are good. The risers used hold the same materials and construction as the Venus SC. 

https://axispara.cz/products/paragliders/vega-6/

Launching the  Vega 6 is straightforward, even in nil wind. In stronger wind, I found it also easy to control and launch. 

I flew the M size at 98 and later gave it to my friend who usually flies a Photon M at 102. 

Handling and turning abilities:

At 98, the brake pressure is on the moderate side, short, and precise to turn in a core for a two-liner. Pilots who like a direct-handling glider will like the Vega 6 authority and good agility.  Turns can be made quite narrow and pleasurable to fly. I enjoyed that handling.

At 102 my friend was also delighted to fly it and said later that he enjoyed it much more than his Photon (handling-wise). 

Comfort:

The Vega 6 flown at 102 can be considered as comfortable to fly for the 6.3 aspect ratio EN-C 2liner glider. 

The pitch movements in moderate conditions are neutral. The roll movement is quite dampened also for a 2-liner. 

Quite a balanced feel. It felt easy to fly, maybe just slightly above the Codex and Bonanza 3 and less than Artik-R, Mint. 

Climb rate:

At 98, the climb rate in weak air is good for the 2-liner C category.  

Glide:

We made lots of glide with the Vega 6. It is not a Photon, but still has some nice gliding performances. I will update my 2 liner C comparison for all the criteria.

Conclusion: 

Axis created the Vega 6 to give the pilots a good all-rounder 2-liner C with very good agility and pleasure to fly the glider. I think it is nicer to fly it above 100 to get a nicer agility, speed, and homogeneity in strong air