SUPAIR Savage 2 size MS (73-93). “The mood changer”

SUPAIR Savage 2 size MS (73-93). “The mood changer” 

Supair released its new EN-C class glider, replacing the first version of the Savage.  The Savage 2 is a light and hybrid (2.5) line configuration glider that should play at the same level as the NK Artik 7 P.

At the same time, I was delighted to test flying the Skywalk Poison 4 and the X-Alps 6 in the EN-D class, due to the excellent handling they deliver. Now flying the Supair Savage 2 as an EN-C, I think I was blessed to have even a higher step with the ability to dance with the Savage 2, thanks to its impressive, pleasurable handling. How lucky :-)! 

Launching the very light Savage 2 at 91 all up is super easy, as those light gliders deliver an effortless rise.  In the case of the Savage 2, I didn’t feel any dynamic surges, but a docile and easy-to-launch glider. In 30 km/h windy take-offs, it has the dynamics of a C class, but is still very well balanced and easy to control.  

I flew the Savage 2 with the regular Arrow harness. First turn is ( simply...outstanding) 

The brake pressure is on the light side. You need approximately 15 cm to steer the glider, which reacts promptly and swiftly to the pilot's inputs. I liked the Artik 7 P turn, and the Savage 2's turning is just as good, with that butterfly feel under the brakes! So light and responsive!  Getting thermals under the Savage 2 is a total delight! What a beautiful glider to fly in thermals! It's like you don’t want to glide away! You want to squeeze that extra turn, and the Savage 2 does corkscrew, any thermal core, relatively narrow if the pilot wishes. Even in turbulent air, the authority on the brakes is excellent, enabling the pilot to place the Savage 2 wherever he wants inside the air mass. 

One day, after some mind-numbing workdays, I was flying a two-liner, known for its average handling. Still feeling tired, landed, and took the Savage 2 for a spin. After a few minutes in thermals, the Savage 2 feels and handles so beautifully that my mood shifted, and I enjoyed some good XC!  That Savage 2 gave me the pleasure of flying like nothing else. 

The overall movements in pitch and roll are moderately present but still on the dampened side; it doesn’t feel like it bumps into thermals. Instead, it's definitely in the 2.5 line category.  I could feel what the air is doing as the Savage 2 moves on a low movement axis—just the necessary feedback for a sensible pilot to enjoy and feel what’s going on around you. 

Flying for hours won’t make your hands feel tired at all. As I mentioned earlier, the roll movement is there to give you the exact feel in thermals. It's not dampened, nor alive. 

On another day, I was test-flying the new Skywalk X-Alps 6 95+ size, which has good handling, and afterward, I gave it to my friend Milo, who flew it next to me on the Savage 2. Of course, I am not comparing those two gliders, which are intended for different pilot profiles, but it's a good way for me to assess the performance and efficiency of the Savage2. I don't have an Artik 7P available at the moment.

 Gliding in calm air at trim and also at full bar impressed us both! The Savage 2 demonstrated excellent gliding performance for its class. Even at full bar, the glide is phenomenal! We liked it a lot!  The full speed is around 16 km/h over trim! With an excellent glide angle! Hat’s off to Supair for that! 

I also did some glides with other two-liners of higher aspect ratio, and I think the Savage 2, with its hybrid configuration and 6.2 aspect ratio, is not easily left behind. 

What also surprised us was the climb rate. Flying later with different gliders and some of my references for climb, the Savage 2 proved to be a climbing beast! If there’s no heavy air or headwind, it was climbing better than most two liners! Yes…it climbs superbly well… It seems that every weak lift is grabbed by the Savage 2 and converted to climb. It's efficient in weak lift. 

But for sure, when the air is heavy, and in front of a valley breeze, the two liners have the upper hand to surf forward that airmass and climb faster.  As for the 2.5 line Savage2, it actually does more than we asked of it! 

Gliding also, through a headwind, gave the Savage a perfect rating and could easily glide, or possibly outglide, some entry-level two-liners with an aspect ratio of around 6.  

The overall feedback is close to the Artik 7P in pilot demand.  Don’t expect it to be dull and tame.  The Savage 2 will provide educational communication within the airmass. 

There are no excess but fair movements in all axes for a good C pilot. 

Ears can be done with outer A’s. They are stable and reopen without pilot intervention. They could also be done with outer C’s; they are very easy to maintain and reopen quickly once released. Both are efficient to get down.

Conclusion:

Supair didn’t introduce a 2liner yet—instead, a delightful to fly 2.5 line hybrid construction glider. The climb, glide, and speed are excellent. The fun factor it delivers is the optimum gift.  

He who designed and fine-tuned the handling on that Savage two must be a sensible and skilled pilot to deliver that beautiful glider responsiveness! 

If you are the pilot who doesn’t want to get into those two-liners, the Savage 2, with a 3.5 kg payload and a compact packing volume, is a friendly user machine for any expedition, hike, or flight adventure with loads of performance. 

If you are sensitive to handling and brake responsiveness, which makes you feel the glider is an extension of your arms, the Savage 2 is the strongest key. And be sure that whatever flight you take, a big smile is surely guaranteed.  

Skywalk Poison 4 (My personal avatar)

Skywalk Poison 4  (My personal avatar) 

The Poison 4 is SKYWALK's new two liner EN-D glider for 2026 and beyond. It has a 6.9 aspect ratio, and it is created as their ultimate weapon for cross-country. 

https://skywalk.info/project/poison4/

The glider has, in my view, impeccable construction features!  It is built with Skytex Porcher 27 and 40 hrs. Well-placed rods in the structure don’t feel their weight or shape on the ground. Some gliders look so stiff that you ask yourself how to pack them…The Poison 4 appears easier and lighter in that regard, weighing around 5.6 kg! 

Launching the Poison 4 as a regular XC glider in nil wind requires a steady pull to fill those tiny openings, but it still inflates slowly and evenly. In 10 km/h wind, it is very easy to launch with a solid, undeformed structure that already tells you “cool down, mate, I’m here for you!

It resembles the Zeno 2 launch, but with a slightly better rising time. 

I flew the Poison 4 with two harnesses. The Flow VisstaXC and the Arrow. Both harnesses deliver practically the same feedback… I flew that glider during some intense and turbulent days in our Cedars range, as well as on some cool days later. I have been flying it for over +20 hours now, and I can easily describe its behavior.

At 94 all up, and on my first turn, I was already smiling! The Poison 4 features short, responsive, and direct brake control, offering precise and intuitive control.  For the D class category, and with a seven aspect ratio glider, the Poison has the best handling I have experienced in that D class.  It's between a Zeolite 2 GT and a Klimber 3P in terms of brake authority. 

The overall movements inside a thermal resemble vaguely the Zeno 2. Still, I could sense a slight more homogeneity in turns, probably because I had a higher authority on the brakes, with also a more coherent structure. 

The Roll is delivered less than the Zeno 2, and the pitch is neutral.  In a more turbulent and strong air, there’s a logical workout intended for D-level pilots, which is rational for that category. However, the brake authority still gives the pilot confidence in control.  It moves in a whole structure and in a heavy air mass; it surges forward, but again, the brake authority for a seven aspect ratio glider is flawless. 

Gliding through a difficult air mass is the Poison 4 playground. It has a fast trim speed and enters the airmass efficiently (dolphin style), moves forward, and searches for better thermals!  Like flying a Zeno 2, Peak 6, the Poison 4 has the edge over the Zeolite 2 GT, XAlps 6, and other light high aspect ratio gliders. It is from the higher category and resembles the Zeno 2 in that matter.

I did some glides alongside a brand new Peak 6, same size, and I think both are very close in glide. 

 

Climb rate in weak lift is efficient, as I could get the most out of the weak day. As efficient as the Peak 6, also in that matter, if both are loaded at the top.  Again, regardless of the thermal shape, I could easily re-adjust the glider turn with the brakes precisely inside the lift. In stronger air, it moves upward like the top EN-Ds out there.  In good thermals, there’s always that pull through the turns, as if the Poison 4 wants to find the best core. It also feels that when I ease up a bit on the brakes, the Poison 4 leading edge stays pitch neutral with that very nice pull through the air. ( Like that famous stepping up a ladder) feel.  

I personally liked the behaviour of that glider in thermals, turbulence, glides, but mainly, turns. 

Applying the Speed system in a moving headwind air mass gives much efficiency over the top Cs. The pressure on the feet is moderate, allowing me to easily maintain 90% of the travel with good stability on both the Arrow and the Viista XC. I also think it goes well with Forza 2.

B steering, while on a half bar, has moderate pressure and can control most movements efficiently. Flying the D-class Poison 4 at half bar is quite rewarding in XC in terms of glide efficiency. 

Ears can be made with outer B’s. They are stable, efficient with the speed bar, of course, and they reopen quickly.

Conclusion: The Poison 4 has enough gliding performance to stay along with the Peak 6, and other top D's of the moment. The climb is also similar and very good. The handling and brake authority are superb. The overall homogeneity, compactness, and the feel you get under it are the highest successes that Skywalk has achieved for the Pioson 4. Easier and more compact to fly than the Zeno 2, similar to the Peak 6 in flying demands without the pitch back upon thermal entry..  It remains a D-class glider to respect, but also to cherish for its complete package. 

Every person has their personal preferences when it comes to activities like flying gliders, driving cars, etc.  In my personal opinion, Skywalk has released my preferred EN-D glider to date. 

'Coup de coeur’ like the French say ;-) 

GIN Elise 75-95 High EN-A

Yep….This is an exception—and probably my first EN-A review—but things are getting interesting, it seems.

Gin has introduced a light construction on the Elise and programmed it for a larger group of pilots. From talented beginners to low B glider pilots. 

So, let's take a look at the outcome…

Launching the new Elise with hands in your pockets is doable. Just run, and the Elise follows calmly and evenly. But of course not recommended :-). 

It launches flawlessly, and I don’t think any beginner will have a problem handling it. 

In the air, I flew the Elise from 85 to 92 all up. It handles weight very well. At 85, 88, or 90, it stays homogeneous and well-balanced in most conditions. I also flew it on the east side of our Cedars range, at midday, known for its harsh and dry conditions, and I was having one of the most relaxing times. Perhaps psychologically, as considering flying and an A class, but also the overall movements and especially handling that we will talk about later was superb.

The overall comfort in roll and pitch in strong air is at a very low angle of movement. The glider is always above the pilot's head with minimal brake inputs. 

The feel under it is not dull, but rather very calmly sensitive.  I could sense the roll with softness. I was afraid of not feeling the movements and getting bored, but on the contrary, it delivers smooth and passive feedback. Jus the necessary to continue the test and enjoy the view. 

Actually, what kept me satisfied is the handling and the brake authority! I never thought that one day an A-class glider could give me the satisfaction of steering abilities! Elise did it! The brake travel when turning is around 25 cm in all conditions, but you can lower your brakes a bit more without any issues. It's forgiving, yet playful. The brakes have moderate pressure and are pretty responsive, enabling quick and tight turns. 

The climb rate felt excellent under it as well. I could feel the weak lift, enter, and core the thermals in efficiency. Overall, it was pretty satisfying and could easily compete with the low- to mid-B class in terms of climb rate.

Gliding for the A class category is good, and the Elise could easily fly alongside the good low B gliders and make the same XCs. In my tests, I questioned myself about the A certification regarding its performance. 

Ears are easy and stable. They reopen with no intervention. The Elise is straightforward to hit a small spot on landing due to the late stall point. 

Conclusion:

The Elise, as a light EN-A, fills a wide gap. From the school to the edge of an intermediate level. But all that with a pleasurable flying glider. Small to pack, easy to launch, pleasurable to handle, and fly. A glider for your cool adventure flying. Easy life, nice vibes, that’s the Elise :-).  

Skywalk X-Alps 6 / 95 +

Skywalk X-Alps 6 / 95 +

The X-Alps 6 is SKYWALK's new 2026 model and beyond for the lightweight two-liner EN-D glider category. That X-Alps glider was used in the Red Bull X-Alps competition, with a beautiful podium for Simon Oberrauner.

You can see the details of the glider here: https://skywalk.info/project/x-alps6/.

The construction is simple yet beautiful and neat—thin risers, coupled with Edelrid lines.

Launching the XAlps 6 at 94 all up is straightforward, even without wind. With a steady breeze, it inflates rapidly, yet it still feels very compact and doesn’t require many skills to keep it overhead. It feels easy to ground and handle it.

IN the air, the brakes have a moderate pressure. Not tired even after long flights. Just the usual moderate pressure, resembling that of the Zeolite 2 GT. A bit less pressure than the Cure 3, and just a pinch more pressure than the Savage 2 from Supair. Overall, very convenient for my taste.

After the first 10 cm of travel, the X-Alps 6 responds very well, and I can confirm that it has nice agility inside a thermal. The brake authority is smooth, responsive, yet polite. It turns to every command without being too dynamic or too slow. It's perfect for the 6.6 Aspect ratio light D-class glider. 

During my multiple-day testing period under various conditions, I was consistently able to place the glider inside any core at will. So overall, it's pretty responsive and obedient in turbulence and strong air. The authority is high and is given in a balanced manner to the pilot. 

Climbing in weak and strong is quite efficient on the XAlps 6. In weak conditions (less than 1 m/s), I could feel the light thermals and also slow my turn to stay in the weak lift.  The pitch movement is significantly dampened, and the ability to surf the air and move forward is present under the XAlps 6. The Poison 4, or the Zeno 2, for example, has more efficiency in getting through the airmass and moving quickly upfront. The XAlps is, of course, from a different category, but it still moves pretty well, but slightly slower to enter. 

In stronger cores, I felt that the XAlps 6 climbs very quickly, similar to upper-category gliders. Overall, I am personally delighted with its climb rate. 

Performing some glides with the class above, such as the Poison 4, revealed that the XAlps 6 is one step back, and it shares similar gliding performance with the Zeolite 2 GT and Klimber 3P, particularly at trim and at the speed bar. The differences are insignificant for either one. 

Holding the speed bar when gliding through turbulence felt very easy, as the overall movements are dampened, and the B riser, with its moderate pressure, gave me a high ability to control the glider efficiently. 

Overall comfort under the XAlps 6 is high. The pitch is nearly absent. The roll is smooth and balanced. 

Ears can be made with the outer B’s. They are efficient and reopen rapidly. 

Conclusion:

I have flown many light Ds. I liked the Zeolite 2 GT's handling and performance; I cherished the Klimber 3 P's exquisite handling. I also appreciated the Hero 3 and Hero X-ped's brake authority, turn, and feel.

What made the XAlps 6 special for me is that complete package of high usability/ performance/ good accessibility, allowing the C-class pilots to move up a category without having lots of surprises on a D class. 

Adding that pleasurable flying handling is the cherry on the cake! Try it if you are searching for a light but balanced D-class glider! You will be surprised :-)