New website

Hi,
I was working on a new website that will enable any pilot to get all the data very quickly.
Every glider is linked with videos and pictures and a new interesting very informative option   ;-)
Release period is very imminent. August 2013....

OZONE LM 5 SM

Ozone Light Mantra 5 SM.

To review a glider that has won the X-Alps with three places at the top, is an embarrassing task, but this review will enable pilots all over the world to understand better what they would have to expect.

Today flying the Light Mantra 5 SM, with a X-Rated 6 harness to be at 92 all up.

The LM5 has 3.5 kg with normal risers, as it is built with very light cloth all over except the 25 cm on the leading edge that extend to the extremities, where presumably the pressure is at its max, it has a much more heavier cloths.

Launching this Piece of art needs just a single breeze.It inflates smoothly and rapidly above your head.In gusts, the glider must be controlled by the brakes to avoid rapid take over.

In the air :

Usually in summer the site in Harissa offers sometimes heavy turbulence as it is very humid and always under the inversion.

Flying the gliders there will immediately reveal their character.

Today was no exception.I flew the LM5 in those ‘spaguetti’ conditions with my two other friends on their Delta 2’s as they reported later some disgusting movements of their gliders.

What did i feel under the LM5 ?

Having flown the Peak 3 and the Delta 2 often in those conditions,i can easily comment on the behavior of the LM5 .

 I will try to be more accurate in my description.

The steering controls are short precise (shorter than D2) and the movements of the glider is directly felt mainly by the brakes.

Flying the LM5 SM at 92 in homogeneous but strong conditions,i could place the glider with the brakes very efficiently as the LM5 tendency is to make flat circles .

The LM5 have a relatively dampened pitch movement, back or forth.

Where the P3 would pitch back the LM5 reacts more or less as the D2 and stayed more above the pilots head.

Flying in turbulent shaky air, the LM5 moves much more than a D2 but stays above the pilots head, as if it is locked and it feels like every time it surges into a strong core the LM5 stiffened and feel like a solid whole block, that sometimes it is difficult to steer it immediately into the core, like you can on a D2 because of that strong taught ‘lock feeling’.

Inside those small turbulent cores, i found that it is best to have that funny ± 5 cm pull and release brake pressure from each side that works like a charm to keep the LM5 circulating on its track ! Have to get used to it !

It surely requires much more pilot control than a D2 but less than some new D’s…

The LM5 handling is purely focused on flat turns, but that doesn’t mean it is not fun enough to fly.It just don’t dive in turns, which is a highly appreciated character on a D !

Performance :

Flying next to my friends on their Delta 2 for all the flying hours, gave me a complete idea of its performances.

The LM5 SM @ 92 was gliding next to a Delta 2 M at 102 for several hours, and i felt that the LM5 has the edge in head wind conditions were it surfs the air slightly better at trim speed. At first bar the LM5 began to show its potential, and at the second the Delta 2 is completely out of the game.

Climbing ability :

I can also confirm that the climbing power and the ability to stay inside a thermal is on the LM5 side where i sensed it floats slightly better at my loadings.

The max speed of the LM5 and Delta 2 are identical.

The ears flap a bit, can get you a ± 2.5m/s but they do not destabilize the glider stability and no oscillations as the open part stays totally calm.

Conclusion :

In the D category, the LM5 is a relatively comfortable and solid glider. It surely requires a much higher piloting level than the Delta 2. That glider in the hands of those well trained D pilots will be a wonderfully ‘light’ but solid XC machine.

I am waiting for that M6 as probably many of you are…

Just wishing it to be more maneuverable, much faster and of course ….more gliding poweeeeer… ;-)

ADVANCE Epsilon 7

Advance Epsilon 7 26

Like always, ADVANCE products have a nice unwrapping pleasure.

The quality of construction and finishing touches are present.

I still remember the E 6 when I tested it years ago, and I was keen to find out the new E7 as ADVANCE has changed its designer, and I was curious for that new product.

 

Launching:

Very easy, just straight without any delays. really simple.

In the air:

Taking off with the E7 26 at 93 all up just next to the top weight.

The E 7 inspires confidence immediately after take off. It has a very taut feeling like a very solid piece of concrete.

Saying that, it has still some filtered light roll movements telling its VIP passenger to sit back, relax, have a pillow ;-), and enjoy the ride.

I flew that glider in some difficult and turbulent conditions to conclude that the confidence inspiring feeling is very strong!

Describing the E7 character in the air is like flying inside a Boeing 777 in those front VIP seats!

Turning ability in thermals is very nice as the brakes are relatively short, precise and I found the E 7 to be a pleasure to steer for a demanding pilot as I am… J

It is not a dull glider at all when it comes to steering the E7! It is a relatively satisfying experience even for experienced pilots.

Pitch movements are nearly absent .The roll movements are present but with a very limited angle.

The climb rate is very good for the category even loaded and I think that the handling and stability of the E7 will allow its pilot to place it among the top B’s in the gaggle.

Inducing some frontals and asymmetric collapses,

does in fact show a very gentle and calm behavior of the E7 .

Performance:

The trim speed of the E7 at 93 seems near 38.5 km/h less than some high end B’s .At full bar which is light and very easy to reach showed me a max speed near the 50’s. Applying first and second bar doesn’t seems to deteriorate the E7 glide angle, which surprised me!

In calm air the E7 could be easily competitive with the high end B cat.

It is in head wind and difficult conditions or low in a valley breeze that the E7 will struggle a bit. It needs more time to cut through.

Ears are stable and reopen quickly.

Pushing the accelerator in turbulence showed me a strong leading edge and a very solid structure.

Conclusion:

If you are a pilot moving into the B category, here you will find a welcoming glider that will enable you to have immense pleasure quite safely.

The E7 can take you comfortably in strong days very high above peaks. This glider is made to make you smile. I only hoped for a higher trim speed…

On my interview with Mr Chapuis, in Saint Hilaire, and after asking him what will happen after the designers has been replaced, he replied:

There is no glider with a designer name there is an ADVANCE glider.

It is very true. They have changed the designer but their team made by top pilots is very strong and consolidated, that the Epsilon 7 inherited the knowhow and the character of a solid ADVANCE team.

 

 

Niviuk Peak 3 23

Niviuk Peak 3
Being in Saint Hilaire festival in 2012 I passed by the NIVIUK stand. There was a Peak 3 picture on the wall and after asking when it will be released there was no answer …
Mysterious hidden design for the moment.
I moved on, thinking it must worth the wait, as NIVIUK seems developing a nice D glider.
And months pass…In June 2013, I received two Peak 3 23 and from that day I flew both of them (to be sure of my writings) in multiple conditions, from weak to rough and nasty conditions enabling me to be as precise and detailed as possible. I took my time, as I was a bit far from the spreading hype, and just to be sure of what I am going to publish.
Here is what I found flying the size 23 at different loadings from 90 to 95 all up:

Launching:
In nil wind the Peak 3 needs a steady pull. It is a bit slow to reach overhead .In strong wind it launches perfectly without any tendency to shoot forward.

Handling and maneuverability:
Once in the air I was very pleased by the brake authority of the Peak 3. I think it is one of its strong points. I could quickly place the glider anywhere in the thermal. If the conditions get rough, turbulent, below an inversion, the Peak 3 at my loads won’t really react as promptly as it reacts in homogenous conditions.
It just needs to settle for a sec.
In strong cores and homogenous conditions and when the glider is already inside the core the Peak 3 has a very nice handling among the best in that category.

 In those well-built conditions, the turning ability inside the thermal for a D is superb!

Flying in turbulence:
The Peak 3 as a 2.5 liner with D certification is somehow comfortable in the air, but when heavy turbulence is encountered the glider shakes as a whole, but I felt it has a very solid structure.
I never lost control of the glider in any of the conditions I flew in, just some hovering moments.
This structure seems successful.
The Peak 3 moves generally in 'strong air' more than a Peak 2, and only a ‘little’ less than the IP6 and its authority on the brake will enable the pilot to keep it better overhead.
In entering some thermals the Peak 3 has a slight pitch back before entering, loosing a bit of it’s positive biting energy and making it a bit more demanding...
Roll movements are generally smooth for that kind of D glider.
Piloting with the B’s:
In long glides with some moderate turbulence the B handles helps a lot as they guide the pilot to keep efficiently the Peak 3 overhead.
In heavy turbulence, they need a higher level of piloting that needs acclimatization coupled with foot control on the bar. (If applied)
Climb rate:
Flying in very weak thermals (± 0.3 m/s) on my lowest loadings, I found the Peak 3 to hover a bit .It just waits for that little stronger thermal (+1.5m/s) to climb faster.
The Peak 3 is not a floater like the Peak 1.
It resembles the Peak 2 in weak climbs.
Flying the Peak 3 in stronger thermals showed that it has spring reactions to stronger cores where it does in fact climb quickly better than its predecessor if equally loaded.

Glide performance:
I did several long glides (15 km) tip to tip with the Peak 3 against some top 2013 ‘C’ gliders.
(Only available for now…)
Some in back wind and calm conditions and some in head wind and turbulent conditions. I only found that the Peak 3 has the edge in head wind conditions were it surfs the air slightly better.
The glide at first bar is acceptable for the category but at second bar unfortunately I didn’t feel it was…

The speed:
At trim speed the Peak 3 loaded at 93 has a trim speed of +39 km/h, which was similar to a Delta 2 ML at 102 all up.
 I flew the Peak 3 23 with an X-rated 6 harness.
At 93 all up, I pushed the bar pulley to pulley many times, I could only see an increase of 17 km/h max over trim speed…I have tried and tried again but that’s the only result that I have found.
The bar pressure is medium to soft and the glider leading edge show some wrinkles at full bar but the Peak 3 23 is still solid!
Using the bar in turbulence:
After some flights, I acclimatized myself to the Peak 3,and tried for several occasions to apply bar in some very turbulent and unstable air.
On the last day of testing I was on the lee side with some very turbulent air. And I shouldn’t be there… It was just some spicy idea to explore the Peak 3 possibilities.
First I sat well on the harness as it was shaking and snaking all the way, but applying first bar does in fact make the glider slightly more stable but the energy is even more present and feel able…
I mean the tips will warn you at first, informing you before any possibility of bigger collapses that may occur, with a fast dynamic flip-flop!
Overall it is a bit demanding in those conditions, but I was sure that if I was flying a lower rated glider I would also experience some heavy shakes…
Ears:
Actually pulling the B external lines .It stalls the outside B lines. To do that, I accelerate a bit first, hold the external B lines high and pull them down.

The glider slows down ‘noticeably’ at first with the glider going slightly back a little, and then dives forward to show a sink rate of 4 m/s for 2 seconds, finally it stabilizes at -2m/s.
 Pushing the bar will only add -1m/s. They are a bit hard to hold for a time and the opening is very energetic and quick, shaking the whole structure so I found it is better to release them slowly with the bar out.
360’s are a fast descent method. The Peak 3 will keep a stable spiral at least for my settings.
Wing over’s are a delight and very dynamic, much like the feeling of an acro glider. I never had a D glider that can build massive wing over’s very quickly and very high with the pressure still very strong inside the canopy.

Feeling under a 2.5 liner:
Many will ask, why do 2 or 2.5 liners need another understanding approach?
IMHO, 2 or 2.5 liners react differently in the air than 3 liners at least for the current ones.
They have less attachment points and I presume that they must retain a high pressure inside to keep the structure solid. That’s why they must be flown like a Jockey does on a racehorse. Just giving him the exact pressure on the reins in order to be fast and still controllable without pulling too much and slowing down.
IP6 overview and differences:
The IP6 had also lots of energy, allowing it to dig in thermal very quickly.
Applying brakes in strong surges didn’t really affect its pitch behavior much, as it is already inside the core and climbing, or even with the weak ones…with endless float ability…
Gliding between thermals, IP6 pro pilots trusted the solid glider and use B handles to be most efficient in lift lines…
Conclusion:
With the Peak 3 targeted for a larger number of D pilots, the pitch movements has been slightly ‘restrained’ and it does in fact pitch back a little…especially in sudden surges before entering the thermals.
But NIVIUK has released for the pilots a 2.5 liner in the ‘D’ category with nice handling characteristics coupled with lots of energy, solid structure, and good brake authority.

Its also a very beautiful looking taught glider in the air.

I would have preferred a more floating ability as its bigger brother the IP6 and a little neutral or slight positive pitch behavior that maybe could have led to some close performance in real air…
I found that the Peak 3 is very different in flying
feeling and less in efficiency, but many pilots will like to fly a lower aspect ratio with more fun handling with the Peak 3.

I loved the Hook 2,3 for their comfortable performances, the Artik 2, 3 for their handling /perf ratio, the Peak 1 for its excellent climb, the peak 2 for its comfortable speed…The IP 6 for that outstanding package!
 As for the Peak 3,and after taking my time with it, i cannot say that i was totally impressed...may be i was expecting a lot more but this is a with total honesty my humble ‘personal’ opinion, and I think the best way is to forget the hype if good or bad and get one for a test flight hopefully in multiple conditions.
You will love it or you don’t. You, the pilot, only can decide!
Please remember that my tests are 'personal' comments and they are just an idea.