GIN GTO 2 S

GIN GTO 2 S

The GTO 2 is the replacement of the old EN-D GTO first version.
I flew both the S and M size of the GTO 1 and commented at the time about the difference of behavior in the air, as if it was completely another glider.
I wasn’t really happy of the S size at the time, and the M size was much better in homogeneity and feel. It was indeed a floater with an impressive climb rate .

Here’s the second version :
Launching the GTO 2 S in nil wind require a very light pull as the glider inflates quickly and getting airborne is immediate ! In more windy conditions some slower pulls are required .

The factory settings of the brake travel is a bit long for my 94 all up weight on the S (80-95) size.
Half a wrap on the brakes and I’m set to attack the first thermal.
10 cm of brake travel is needed to initiate a turn ! You don’t need more.

In homogenous thermals the GTO 2 S turns like a lady ! Not too agile but also not too dull. The right amount for the outstanding 7.0 AR glider.
The pilot under the GTO 2 S doesn’t feel any yaw movements, but the glider does look a bit busy .
The pitch behavior is dampened for that class of gliders. The roll also is very well coordinated.
On the second day i found myself in a thermal on the lee side .It was a bit turbulent to let me know that the GTO 2 S is indeed a high performance glider that should be treated with the understanding of the level it was designed for. Nothing much for the ken pilot it is designed for !
The ability to turn when the conditions are difficult and punchy will affect a bit the turning behavior of the GTO 2 S. The glider needs a little time to react at my commands. But eventually will follow . It just needs a bit more time to settle it’s energy…
For an aspect ratio of 7:0 i liked the handling.

The climb rate at max weight is good but i found the best is to fly this glider 3 kg from top weight. At 92 ,the S size climb like no other could…Especially in those bullet thermals, the ability to shoot high up is amazing !
I was flying next to an IP 6 as loaded as mine (92 for me ),( 99 for him on the 23 ) and the climb did in fact surprised us both !

Now the best part is yet to come …

Gliding the S size next to the IP 6 at trim with those loadings showed a slight positive trim speed for the GTO 2 and also a 0.1 better glide . That’s on the S size ! The M size will be tested shortly

The speed at full bar for both (pulleys overlapped) are identical !
With a similar glide angle slightly favoring the GTO 2 S…

The structure feels very solid and coherent at all times, like it is not going to collapse…At least that’s the feeling under it !

In full accelerated mode, the second bar is a bit hard to push .
The GTO 2 S felt more pressurized to the point that i didn’t feel the wing anymore. Just the sound of the wind, and some wave roll movements. May be i must adapt a bit to hear and understand it better at that speed.
The C risers becomes a bit loose. A gentle pressure will enable the pilot to feel it more .

Big ears are doable and fairly stable with most important a (stable structure) .
They are very efficient with the bar ! They reopen gently by themselves.

Conclusion:
With the arrival of the GTO 2 ,IMHO, GIN has created a well sorted D glider that has everything to be on the top category leaders !
It is of course a high performance glider ,not a low D glider like the Mantra 4, Omega 8, Peak 2, …
Just “slightly” a step further.
Flying it in strong conditions will need the experience of an advanced pilot to extract those amazing performances safely…
Among the latest high end D’s i have tested (M6, IP6 ) the GTO 2 S is a very competitive glider in every way if carefully loaded !

NIVIUK Artik 4 25

 











 NK delayed all my ordered gliders . Artik 4 probably in + 8 months … !! or never...
It was an obvious and clear message. Thank you … :-)
Got many supporting emails… Two pilots even offered to send me their gliders (Really grateful) …
Or an immediate purchase from anywhere in the planet, thanks to all the superb friends in the social media network !
One option taken :
The ARTIK 4 25 is here  :-)
OLivier Nef designs with the Artik 1/2/3 was very good .
First impressions on the Artik 4 seems interesting ...  ;-) 
NIVIUK Artik 4 25

I had received many emails concerning this glider, and i got one against all odds…for a test flight.

I spent time comparing it with one of the best C glider of the moment in terms of climbing and gliding.

The Artik 4 25 launches very easy .It doesn’t shoot forward and stays gently above the pilots head.

Once in the air, the Artik 4 gave me this immediate confidence inspiring feel, ( pillow feel ) , which is becoming more and more difficult to find in today’s C category.

First thermal and the Artik 4 quickly follow the pilots commands in a smooth and obedient circle…The feeling underneath is surprisingly comfortable !

The brakes are relatively medium to short on the size 25 , flying it 90 all up with moderate to light pressure, linear ,precise ,and the Artik 4 can be described as quite agile !
I could place the Artik 4 in the tightest thermal !
Suits perfectly my taste in turning ability and brake feel .

Despite having only 2 lines on the A, and B, risers, the Artik 4 is very coherent and move as a whole structure, without any weaknesses to the airfoil. The energy retention when going for wing overs is very good ! The structure seems very solid !


Gliding performance:
Despite it’s easiness in flight and the superb handling, the Artik 4 gave me the surprise of the year in gliding power !

Going head to head with another high C glider (A 5) at trim speed for about 12 km, showed an equal trim speed and glide with a slight favor to the Artik 4 ! ! (Video soon )
…At second bar the Artik 4 has a speed around 54 km/h at 1000 ASL.

The glide and speed at full bar matches exactly the Alpina 2 SM i have here. (same loadings)

As for the climbing ability the Artik 4 showed me a potential only found on the high C’s . It climbs in the weak thermals (- 0.2 m/s ) as the A5 does… Low saves are indeed saved with the A4 …
I sensed that the key is let this glider fly at trim even in the weakest thermals especially when facing the valley breeze. It seems to be more efficient hands up.



Big ears are stable, and a great way to get down if coupled with bar. Wing overs are a delight.The pilot can get over the glider on the second wing ! 360’s gets you down real quick. The Artik 4 will put it’s pilot or the new comer from a B glider in his comfort zone but don’t forget the strong energy retention .


My earlier mishaps with NIVIUK about refusing to sell me the A4, did in fact put lots of suspicions in my mind …It was easy to purchase one…even from the Esquimo people …
Honestly…I never thought it will have this complete package !
I don’t know why NIVIUK was trying to hide that glider !
The administration must trust more their R&D creations …

Conclusion: I’m writing this last paragraph , and i’m still thinking of this well sorted glider…
NIVIUK has built an easy C with a high “fun” factor !
It has a moderate aspect ratio, cool handling, crazy performance in this (medium) C segment.


UPDATE:
Pushing the bar at max speed looses a bit in glide, and the flying in strong conditions needs active piloting as the structure snakes around.

SOL Lotus one

SOL Lotus one M

The last DHV 2-3 glider I had from SOL was the Torck. Its climb rate and nice handling impressed me. It was a bit slow.

Here’s the Lotus one M for a test flight.

The beauty of this glider shape in the air is a sight for the eyes!

The Lotus one has all unsheathed lines .It is a bit heavy comparing it to other C gliders.

The take off need a progressive pull on the A’s but ok for the high C category.

In the air the glider gives a comfort feel. This test was made after flying the Triton 2, and surely the Lotus one is more comfortable in the air. The Lotus needs more ‘finesse’ and piloting level as a Delta 2 and slightly less than a Mantra 6.

The brakes pressure is considered a bit heavier and shorter than a D2. The handling is smooth and nicely coordinated.

The climb rate in weak and broken thermals even loaded at 100 all up is ‘exceptional’!

This glider knows how to hug a thermal like a passionate woman who doesn’t let go…

Gliding in zero wind doesn’t really show the Lotus potential unless the valley breeze settles in…then the Lotus cuts trough and climb efficiently. Some C gliders will move, bump and surges, but the Lotus one will climb and move forward. This is the most important feature in a glider and the Lotus has it !

Loaded at 100 the Lotus one M has a relatively faster trim speed than many C gliders with the same size and load. It has a slightly similar trim speed as the Triton 2 S.

Flying it in different conditions gave me an idea of its character.

It is slightly more demanding to fly than a Delta 2 M , and for sure it’s a high end C glider.

Ears are stable and they open smoothly.

The top speed is around 54 km/h taken at 1500 ASL.

Conclusion: The Lotus may not be the most agile C glider or the easiest one, but SOL introduced to the market an efficient and very competitive high-end C with a relatively comfortable ride and coherent structure.

Harness update ( Exocet/Race 3)

Harness comparisons:
Genie Race 3- Exocet - Impress 3 M – Genie Race 2- Genie Light – WV GTO- WV X-rated 6
/ With Impress 2 + , as reference.

Most comfortable seated harness. As 1 being most comfortable.
1-Impress 3
2-Genie Race 2 / Exocet
3-WV X-rated 6
4-Genie Light / Impress 2 + / Genie Race 3 /
5-WV GTO (being fairly comfortable also)

Most comfortable in roll (In moving conditions). As 1 being most comfortable.
1-Exocet - Genie Race 3
2-WV X-rated 6
3-Genie Light - WV GTO
4-Impress 2 +
5-Genie Race 2
6-Impress 3

Most easiest accelerator system (1 being more efficient travel)
1-Genie light / Genie Race 2 / Impress 3 / Genie Race 3
2-Impress 2+ - WV GTO- Exocet

Best combination:
Exocet and Race 3 are harnesses that could erase a bit the yaw effect on high aspect ratio gliders. They are also roll stable .

Which size ?
(test were made by a pilot measuring 1.82 and 75 kg)

Genie Race 3 M (Fits perfectly and could support a 1.83 / 80+ kg pilot )
WV X-rated 6 L ( Fits at the extreme margins )
Genie Light M ( Fits perfectly and could support a 1.83 / 80 kg pilot )
WV GTO L ( Fits at the extreme margins )
Genie Race 2 ( Fits perfectly and could support a 1.83 / 80 kg pilot)
Impress 3 M ( Fits perfectly and could support 'max' a 1.83 / 80 kg pilot )
Exocet M ( Fits nice...Felt that I’m pampered. Surrounds me completely .Could easily support an 1.85 / 80+ pilot )


Conclusion:
The WV GTO and the Genie Light are intended for the recreational pilot that wants a light pod.They are easy and a pleasure to fly .
The Impress 3 is the most comfortable seated harness, but has a bit more roll than the others and would need some time to adapt under it …
The Genie Race 1 is a harness oriented for competitions or for pilots looking for refined sensations. It has more roll than the Impress 2 + but its roll is limited to a certain angle and then it stops allowing its pilot to re-adjust under the glider. The pilot will not feel disoriented, but some flights are required to adapt to this excellent harness. The only bad side is its high weight. Beside that it is an excellent harness with every detail a pilot would think of…A full professionally made, complete harness. I liked it very much.
The Race 3 has everything a competition pilot will look for… The back comfort is slightly less than the Race 2 and it is more roll stable. The seating is a bit stiff but ok.
The Exocet is a comfortable harness that envelops and surrounds completely the pilot .


Cheers,
Ziad.