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.
