PHi Maestro 3 size 21 and Maestro 3 LIGHT size 19.

PHi Maestro 3 size 21 and Maestro 3 LIGHT size 19.

I received two gliders from PHI: the Maestro 3 21 and the Maestro 3 light 19. Those gliders are aimed at intermediate pilots for the high B category.

Let's begin with the Maestro 3 21.

After a few flights, I realized that it's better to fly the glider a bit loaded, more than the Maestro 2, which could be flown in overall conditions at 70 % of the normal weight range. Maestro 2 size 21 75-95/ extended to 100, could be flown at 93. 

But on the Maestro 3 size 21, I felt that this size is better flown at 97…98. As well as the Maestro 3 light size 19, which goes from 70-85 / extended to 90. I also felt that at 86..87 could be a good choice in overall conditions.

Why?

My personal feeling is that when hitting turbulent, strong thermals, the Maestro 3, with its perfect homogeneity, also has good energy, giving you the feel that you need to load it to keep it—overhead swifter. 

Climb:

Loading the M3-21 at 98 gives a more connected feel and still allows a queen in climb. That glider will surely get you on top of any gaggle. But to climb, you first need to enter the rising airmass… Therefore, loading the glider is a better way to get quickly into the thermal, knowing that the load won’t affect the climb at all. 

So, in climb mode, whether thermals are weak or strong, the Maestro 3 climbs flawlessly and really efficiently. Again, when I flew the M3-21 at 90 all up, I couldn’t be efficient on some challenging climbs because it was slow to enter that airmass, when other well-loaded reference gliders are higher. Saying that, loading it at 98, I felt I had the edge over many high B's.  

Handling: 

At 98 all up, on the Maestro 3 21, the brake pressure is on the moderate side, and the authority on the brakes is very present, giving the pilot high pleasure when turning it into cores. I enjoyed coring the tiniest of thermals in very narrow cores.

Gliding:

As always, some glides were made in headwind, difficult air, moving air, etc. Afterward, we all concluded that the Maestro 3 has what it takes to be near the best ones in that category. 

Ears are efficient. They do not open on their own and require pilot intervention. 

Overall, easier to fly than Maestro 2, nice handling, excellent climb, and glide. It must be loaded to give you the results you expect.

Maestro 3 Light size 19.

The Light version of the Maestro 3 has impeccable launching characteristics. Super easy, smooth, very fast to take off.

The Maestro 3 light size 19 is more alive than the Maestro 3 normal 21. But both are easier to fly than the earlier Maestro 2 regular and light versions.

The Light version, being also a size smaller, felt more alive than the standard version. Even the handling and turning abilities were ‘amazing’! If you only turn your eyes, the M3 Light would turn! What a pleasure to fly high, B! 

Again, when I loaded it up to 86-87, everything was more perfect. Even the climb! This small glider has the edge in climb over some good C class 2 liners! We were all amazed by that climb. Weak, strong…turbulent, the M3 light will get you to the top of the gaggle flawlessly. 

Gliding with a Delta 5 showed us that the glide is very close, to say the least. The D5, being a 2 liner, is trimmed a bit faster, and could be more efficient in XC, but the M3 light is super close. I am not comparing it to a C class 2 line concept, but it's just an idea to tell you that the overall performance is close enough, with an edge for the 2 liner, of course. 

Conclusion M3/ M3 light:

I personally enjoyed both Maestro 3s, with a preference for the Light version, as it is more alive and even more pleasurable to fly. Usually, the smaller versions feel like sparrows compared to the larger sizes.  The overall performance of both gliders is perfect in climb and glide, and for the high category, it's more than enough. To extract those performances, try loading the gliders to the max in order to get the edge in cutting through the airmass and climbing away.