GIN GTO 3 (ttwienada) (go-seongneung) in Korean ;-)

GIN GTO 3  (ttwienada) (go-seongneung)  in Korean ;-)   

When I was in France at the Coupe Icare, I met Mr. Gin for a meeting to discuss future GIN products. Gin was very excited about the GTO 3, as his goal was to achieve the best performance from an EN-C glider, particularly at high speeds. 

And after seven months, I was able to purchase the GTO 3. 

Wave leading edge on that design with quite a few thin lines. Lying it on the ground showed me an elegant construction. The leading edge is made from Dominico 30DMF 41g², and the rest of the upper surface is made with Myungjin, MJ29MF 29g², as well as the lower surface. Lines are a mix of Edelrid lines. 

Launching the GTO 3 requires a steady pull in nil wind. It comes up slowly, but evenly. In stronger air above 20 km/h, it rises quickly and needs a good dab on the brakes to keep it above your head, as all high-performance gliders do. 

I have flown the GTO 3 size S (80-95) from 91 to 97, to understand that my best feel was near the top at 94,95. 

I took my time with the GTO 3, as I was intrigued by its performance and usability. So, after some time flying it in different areas at 95 all up, here’s my personal opinion about it.

Let's first talk about the handling. The GTO 3 gave me a different feel in various conditions, and that's what I'm sharing.

In the air:

When conditions are moderate, with acceptable or mild turbulence, and no wind, even with 3 m/s thermals, the agility and brake authority are excellent under the GTO 3. The pressure on the brakes is slightly on the moderate side in those conditions, and the reactivity of the brakes allows the pilot to control, feel the pressure, and guide the glider through the air.  

In those specific conditions, the GTO 3 has the upper hand over the Photon and Lyght in terms of handling, thanks to its precise and direct control. 

Now flying it in rough air, in windy days, even at 95 all up, the feel is a bit different. My first feedback changed slightly after some strong days flying it...Sometimes, it was a bit reluctant to turn immediately as it did in mild air. However, the feel of the brakes is still present, and they control the glider flawlessly above the pilot's head, keeping it in line. It just needs a bit more time to settle (in turbulent thermals), and then you can push the brakes to turn it. While doing that self-settlement, the GTO 3 keeps pushing forward and up! I will comment on that behavior later on performance. However, in turbulent and strong air, it needs a skilled, high-C pilot to keep it at bay. Of course, it is not a Bonanza 3. 

Climb rate:

During my time test flying it, I have read comments from fellow pilots and listened to my friends' opinions. My feeling about the GTO 3 is that it has the edge in climb in the C class. But I will surely explain what I mean.

On a day with light 1m/s to 2m/s thermals, when flying the GTO 3 next to my friends on their same-size Photon/Lyght and with an exact load of 94 over 95, I sensed that the GTO 3 gave me the magical power to achieve a floating edge through a difficult airmass. It was always easy to surf upward!. While the actual two-liner C will take some time to dig through in those light conditions, the GTO 3 is a half step up. But that also has its price…later… ( I’m trying to make some suspense :-) 

On stronger air and windy days, the climb rate appears similar to that of the Photon. 

Gliding:

The GTO 3 has the best glide of any EN-C glider to date. Period. I have tried and tried and tried. There’s a slight edge in glide at trim and at half bar. Perhaps at full bar I can say it's very close to the Photon. But at trim, half bar, I had a slight edge. All my friends confirmed my thoughts upon those glides.

For me, gliding under the GTO 3 felt like another step up in moving air. It always goes in (dolphin-mode). It is more like throwing a flat, rounded stone horizontally into a lake. The feel is like that. It jumps upward and forward. At least it's how I felt…

Usability:

Everything in this life has its price. While having the best glide and climb, after flying it in all conditions, the GTO 3 is also a slight step up from the Photon. Not much, but still needs some + 10 % pilot load, especially in strong air. Because the leading edge keeps searching up and forward, and the pilot needs more time to understand the balance between letting it fly and holding it a bit. A matter of trust, I think that comes with time... The homogeneity and solid structure (feel) are similar to an EN-C class. Still, the pilot demand in strong air feels somewhat closer to its older sister, the GTO2, rather than the Camino 2, if I remember correctly. However, the GTO 3 is certified EN-C and will logically behave accordingly within that box. 

The top speed is around 17 km/h on that model I have here. Ears are best done with outer B’s, with acceptable sink for that class. 

While on the bar, the pressure on the B handles is on the firm side. They can control the glider well, and with time, after understanding the glider's behavior, this feature will be highly more efficient. 

Conclusion:

An exceptional glider. I never had any collapse so far, perhaps because I was always controlling it, and waiting for it to settle before making my moves.

 The eye-opening glides, the low saves, and the handling are from a class above. You will ask me if it has the glide of a Zeno 2…I know..you will…So I don’t think that when pushing the speed bar headwind, it will. But somewhere between the Photon and the Zeno 2. Perhaps you will also ask if it needs pilot control like the Zeno 2?  No, less. Again, between the Zeno 2 and the Photon.

So?  How are You? Are you looking for an A-class glider with Boom performance? C’mon…Let's face it. 

The GTO 3 has everything a good C pilot needs to win comps and fly the longest XC without complaint. A flawless dream glider that requires a good pilot to extract those performances. 

It doesn't need too much for a high-C-class glider, but it still demands respect.

If you’re in doubt, there’s the excellent Camino 2, which doesn’t lack anything! 

Otherwise, the GTO 3 awaits you passionately.