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Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
PHI Maestro 2 - 21
Maestro 2 21
There Maestro 2 from PHI is their latest high EN-B glider which replaces the first Maestro. In this test, I will try to write the multiple differences in comfort, performance, and handling with the Maestro1, Rush 6, Chili 5, Avid, and some other B’s also, and I will include some Ds and a comparison with a 2 liner D!
Many would ask why should he compare a high B to the latest 2-liner D’s. As the differences could be irrelevant!
My answer is well stated below in this test and I hope you enjoy reading it.
The Maestro 2 has a real aspect ratio of 5.6 and 4.1 projected. That’s quite good for keeping a good passive safety. The glider is made from Porcher/ Skytex 32-27 which is one of the best materials today. The construction and details are very neat. 76 cells on this high B, reminded me of the Nova Phantom design. The Maestro 2 is equipped with very nice and efficient RO7 risers.
The lines however are minimalistic and really thin for a high B.
No loops on the B’s or C’s…PHI most probably has made a wonderful job with those few lines. Time will tell when any change of trim will occur. My test is for a brand new Maestro 2!
Taking off in nil wind is very easy and straightforward without any delay of hard points. In fact, it is one of the easiest high B’s to inflate. In more than 25 km wind, it inflates quite fast without overshooting after an average control.
Flying the Maestro 2:
First turn, and first smile! This is a PHI! The Maestro 1, and the Allegro had a nice and direct feel. The Maestro 2 kept that beautiful feel on the brakes with a direct, agile, and linear response throughout the range!
The brake pressure has a moderate pressure until 30 cm after the 10 cm gap and it becomes slightly hard, which you probably won’t reach, as, in all my flying in strong air, you barely reach that point only in strong surges. The brakes are not tiring in turbulence when your hands are a bit low to control the glider! The pressure is less than the Chili 5 ones, slightly similar to the Rush 6 but much more linear, and similar to the Avid that I’ll review shortly. The turning behavior is really good! I could place the Maestro2 in any core even in turbulent air. The Maestro 2 brakes give the pilot the authority of command which I really appreciate!
The Rush 6 is an agile glider also, but if you pull, it turns. The Maestro 2 has a more linear and progressive pull, as you can feel every centimeter on the brakes! My weak point toward handling has been hit :-)
The agility of the Maestro 2 in coring is close to the Chili 5 but with more authority inside a core and less pressure. Gentle but agile turns can be made without the glider diving in. I could control the turning radius by the outside brakes. A delight!
In fact, I think the Maestro 2 brake feel and handling are the most beautiful found in today’s high B gliders!
It reminded me of the UP Trango Xrace with an excellent brake feel, as there’s a bit of feedback coming from the brakes also for the Maestro 2.
Going on glide under the Maestro 2:
Many pilots have told me to keep it simple…without too many explanations, just because lots of pilots wouldn’t understand the little details. But I can’t…I must be specific when it comes to (usable performance).
The first Maestro impressed me by the way it cuts through the air and moves forward. I still remember every wind glide I made and the feeling of efficiency. The Maestro 2 is even better in that matter!
The nose is always up! As it searches for the thermals in front.
I flew the Maestro 2 in some turbulent, nasty air, sometimes at + 3000 m ASL, and sometimes at 800 ASL with lots of inversions, wind, and turbulence that made me write this test with a clear conscience, that the Maestro 2 internal structure and cohesion is really tough! In those headwind conditions, the Maestro 2 nose always searches forward! That’s really an amazing feature for a high B !! category.
Flying the Maestro 2 -21 at 94 all up gave me a feeling of a fast glider. It is like I’m flying a high-rated glider in the way it moves forward, but of course, with the comfort of the B category.
I think PHI designed gliders to be flown at mid-weight which I did later at 90 all up and that didn’t alter its characteristics by getting through the airmass.
The Maestro 2 is a comfortable glider to fly! In very strong and windy air, I have pushed around quite a lot, without a tip fluttering! It is very solid and still remains above the pilot's head.
The Maestro 2 is also not dull to fly at all! The informative feedback without being too demanding is excellent. I think it is easier to fly than the Maestro 1, and also easier to fly than a brand new Rush 6. The Chili 5 and the Gin Avid are tamer but both lack that beautiful feel cutting through the airmass!
The B comparison chart is updated for details if needed.
I read on social media and perhaps some of you also did, that Hannes (the designer) told pilots to compare the Maestro 2 glide to a 2-liner! Well, that did awaken my bad habits ;-) of getting the wing tip performance comparison.
But first, I must explain that glides' wing tip to tip in still air is always very different from the same glides in moving air. Just because glider X is able to cut better inside that airmass and move forward. The other bumps into the same airmass and lose its glide.
At first, doing some glides ( similar loads and sizes) with a newly trimmed Rush 6,(reference) showed a faster top speed for the Maestro 2 by 1 km.
The quality of air penetration of the Rush 6 is now well known to many which is excellent! and can in some cases with moderate conditions glide next to higher-rated D’s.
The (Still new) Maestro 2 has even for my personal feelings, and tastes a ‘better’ gliding through the airmass as it cuts forward without slowing down!
On another day, in some booming conditions, I just saw my friend on his Trango X-race SM, with a 6.9 aspect ratio glider in front of me by 100m and at the same level, and I followed him quickly on the bar for a glide on the same line path! But…On my right, 10 meters apart was a Zeno 2 S size :-) that was also going with us on a glide. (Video soon)
After 4 km, while pushing sometimes the full bar, I reached the Tango X-race but with a +50 m for the Maestro 2!
Thanking my friend later for that glide he was very impressed by the Maestro 2 glide angle.
Now, where is the Zeno 2 :-)?
Of course, you are not waiting to see the results. are you? c’mon….
The Zeno 2 S was fully loaded and super…super fast even on the half bar! He took a different line, 30 m to the right, and arrived +300 meters ahead with around 50 meters lower. I think the Zeolite GT could be more reachable than the Zeno as a 2 liner.
Later I followed the Zeno 2 S to see more differences as I’m always curious. Following the Zeno 2, S was very hard as I was at full bar all the time to keep up. Once the conditions turn from moderate to challenging with a windy glide, the Zeno 2 is from another level. Once the air is moderate to calm, with no wind component, the Maestro 2 can keep up for the flight.
Doing some glides * In calm air * ( similar loads and sizes) with a newly trimmed Rush 6, showed a faster top speed for the Maestro 2 by 1 km. The glide is the same.
Doing glides in moving air with both gliders showed me that the Maestro 2 surges forward more to enter the same air mass.
*Your head is spinning…Lots of explanation…* :-)
Of course, the high aspect 2 liners have a much more efficient gliding through a turbulent or a moving air mass. They cut through easily and climb upward more powerfully. But “only in still air” the Maestro 2 could keep up on 60% bar while a Zeno 2 S is at 25 % with a very close glide angle.
This is only to say that the bigger differences between both will be more present in a more moving airmass facing a valley breeze ..etc…
Now doing glides with a Mantra 7 which is an EN-D glider, the Maestro 2 could keep up quite competitively thought the whole flight if the conditions.
In very weak lift and same load (-0.5 m|s) the float ability of the Mantra 7, Trango X-race, and Alpina 4, will prevail over the Maestro 2.
If loaded at the top, the climb rate in very weak conditions is slightly similar to the Rush 6. Flying it at mid-weight enhances it.
I think after 30 hours, the Maestro 2 lines will settle…And I think things could be even better in very weak. Wait and see…
Full bar delivers around +16 km/h over the trim speed, which is more than enough on this machine.
In turbulent conditions, the RO7 risers, and C control are very efficient! I could easily keep the glider overhead while on bar in turbulence. The pressure is moderate and quite satisfying.
Ears are stable. They stick even on the bar! Cool...Efficient getting down with the accelerator. They reopen quickly with pilot assistance.
The pressure on the first bar is moderate, the second is slightly hard on my X-rated6.
On full bar with pulleys overlapping, the leading edge seems still solid!
Conclusion:
Now comes Shakespeare ;-)…
One of my favorite movies is (Avatar). If you have seen it, you know what’s a * toruk makto*
With its high-performance capability, and very pleasurable (performance handling) IMHO, I consider the Maestro 2 my *toruk makto* for the B category.
And….
I think there would be some reported cases of high sensible handling pilots running away with the demo glider after landing! :-)
Cheers,
Ziad
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
ADVANCE Iota DLS
The Iota DLS ( Durable lightweight structure ) is an ADVANCE new high B glider with a moderate aspect ratio of 5.6.
ADVANCE used multiple mixes of Skytex in 27-32–33- 38 and 40 g | m2. The IOTA DLS is equipped with the latest Pro Dry Lines from Edelrid.
As usual, the construction is very neat all the way.
Having flown all the Iotas, the DLS felt like the most complete and well-mannered Iota to date. But that’s not all…
Launching the Iota in nil wind is very straightforward. No hard points. A slight pull and it goes evenly above your head. In strong air, the launching is also well mannered, but for sure a dab on the brakes to keep it overhead is a must for any high B glider pilot.
While test flying the Iota DLS, I had the Freedom 2 from Flow and the Rush 6 from Ozone. I spent ten full flying days, in different spots from the Cedars' strong air to the other summer spots where it was sometimes very strong, to very hot and weird… In those days I swapped between those three gliders 3 times sometimes in one day !! It was indeed a nice 10 days flying…
I will describe the differences between those 3 gliders and some more and will update my B comparison in that matter. I’m flying the 3 gliders which have the same weight range 75-95, at 93 all up with my X-rated 6 harness.
So the launching is similar to the Freedom 2 but the glider seems more taught when it rises. The R6 is much slower to inflate.
I think it resembles the Chili5 in that matter.
Once airborne, The brake travel is moderate to short that enabling a very nice turning ability. The pressure on the brakes is moderate to slightly heavy when controlling it in strong air.
They have slightly more pressure than the Freedom2, or the Rush 6 but not tiring at all. I just have to mention an exact comparison.
The brake authority on the Iota DLS is amazing! I could turn really tight with that glider. I think the Freedom 2 and the Iota DLS shares the same agility in turns with a difference in turbulent and strong air, which gives the Iota DLS better control in those tricky cores, while the Freedom 2 needs just slightly more input and resilience sometimes to stay inside that small turbulent one. It seems that the Iota DLS inner structure is very solid but also very homogenous as I could steer it quite well inside any core and which is a delight to fly!
The feel on the brakes on normal conditions favors the DLS over the R6 as they are slightly more linear. The Freedom 2 brake feel is more linear than both.
To speak about comfort, I must be precise to mention that with 30 hours on the Rush 6 it became slower and more comfortable. Some would like that! But I did re-trimmed the R6 to feel exactly like a new one.
Now the most comfortable to fly among those three is the Freedom2 followed closely by the Iota DLS which is also very comfortable to fly and last the R6 which needs slightly more input.
Now you will ask me what about the Chili5 comfort? It is still more comfortable than the three above…But will it match the performance efficiency in real XC of the DLS? let's see…
Performance:
Does it bump? does it move forward and up? does it cut through with efficient climbing like that famous ladder effect on some hot gliders? All that talk will make some pilots say> what .. is he saying? But I am sure that most of you understand very well what I’m talking about.
Doing some glides with the Iota DLS, I was really surprised! That ADVANCE glider matches my reference B glider at trim and especially at the full bar! It rocks !!
The thing is that the leading edge behavior is amazing through the air. The pitch is nearly absent but the jump upward is surely present. The Iota DLS has the most stable pitch behavior than the R6 and F2. It resembles in that matter the Chili5 but with a much better digging through the airmass as the R6 does.
Climb rate:
I have flown it in weak air also next to the F2, and I can say it has the same climb rate capabilities. Both gliders are inseparable in weak to moderate climbs in homogenous conditions.
Steering with the rear risers is also very similar to the F2 which shares the same hand position. Using the speed bar, I could easily steer with the rear risers without any issues.
Ears are stable, they reopen without pilot intervention, but could be sped up with a dab on the brakes.
The top speed is around +1 km/h over the F2 with overlapping pulleys for both and the same flying weight.
Conclusion:
After those hours flying the Iota DLS and comparing it with my friends, then sometimes alone in those high remotes areas in our Cedars range, where any A glider feels sometimes as a leaf in those harsh conditions, I liked that version very much. It kept me in control when I needed to be, and well pressurized.
It is a well-sorted machine with top-end, B performance and efficiency in real air, that matches the top-end ones in that category to date!
The Iota DLS is IMHO, the most successful high B glider ADVANCE has yet produced.
But for sure, a demo will give you a larger idea if only you can fly it at +70 % of the weight range for a mutual understanding of my humble test.
Happy and safe flights!
Thursday, June 9, 2022
FLOW Freedom 2, S (70-95)
FLOW Freedom 2, S (70-95)
G’day, mate! What’s cracking? Get your eskys and let's see that beauty! :-)
I’m still in my deadset ;-) …but Aussie slang training… :-)
First, I must tell you that I already test flew the older version (Freedom1) and this new high B is nothing close to the old version as if sewn in another dimension!
The Freedom 2 is built with Porcher Skytex 38g and 32g which gives it a semi-light construction. Liros and Edelrid lines are installed like a hybrid 3-2 liner technology and they are quite a few.
A shark nose with a 4 ways attachment point on the A’s, reminded me of a 2 liner construction.
Launching the Freedom 2 at 92 all up on my X-rated 6 harness, with a steady pull, in nil wind it is easy without any hard points. In the stronger breeze, the launching is also nice without any shooting forward.
The brake travel was 4 cm shorter than my ‘personal preference’, as I fly with a half wrap…So I just length it to 8 cm of gap after the pulley before trailing edge activation. The factory settings would suit a lot of pilots especially if they choose to fly it at the lower range…
In this test, I will compare the Freedom 2 with the Chili5 and with the Rush 6 of the same size, that I still have, as I was alternating for three consecutive days and repeatedly flying the R6 and the F2 to feel and see the differences in the same air to describe more accurately.
Now I must write as I did before, that ‘every’ glider in all categories and of course including the high B category will change in feel after the first 20, or 30 hours! There’s no exception from any manufacturer nowadays as they all use the same type and line width. Some will trim it slightly faster, and it will settle down afterward. Some will do some knots in order to release them later as they feel would be differently related to each glider's stress points. Most importantly, if you want to retain the same feel as a brand new glider, re0trim it after the first 30 hours.
My R6 has also changed after 20 hours, so the feel is more tamed. No more spices in surging forward in thermals, and it became slightly reluctant to go into the airmass and calmer than before. That is the case with all the gliders in the B, C, D, and CCC categories…
So I re-trimmed the Rush 6 in my basement, and the next morning after the first flight, the R6 regained all its nice characteristics with the correct spices I felt the first day flying it! …
and the test comparison began…
In the air, the Freedom 2 has a very slightly longer brake travel and is lighter than the Chili5 if similarly loaded.
Similar to the R6 by maybe 2 cm longer …Very close. The brake travel on the Freedom 2, is very linear and responsive as the Chili 5. There’s a more pleasurable feel through the brakes for the F2 than for the R6! More linear-pull through the brake range.
The Chili 5 has shorter brakes and is slightly harder. The agility of the brand new Freedom 2 S is excellent! It can be turned even narrower than the R6, and probably similar to the Chili5 (if all are loaded the same! )
Now for the boring stuff… The Freedom 2 turns as narrow as the Chili 5 but gets slightly better into the rising air mass! ( Some pilots would say I’m getting deeeeeep :-) , but that’s the way it felt!
Talking about thermal efficiency is the strong point of Freedom 2. The leading edge has a slight pitch forward in thermals as a new glider! but…I felt that it embraces the thermal…
With that nice brake authority, I was able ‘easily” to stay in every core! Why do I say easily…Because it moves forward, climbs well and it stays inside the thermals a bit longer than the others without slipping through with an incredible ability to steer it inside a turbulent thermal wherever I wanted!
Among those three gliders, I personally enjoyed that efficient glider with its nice brake authority and linear response throughout the range.
Now if I wanted to go a bit deeper… some will get more bored… :-) I will say that in very calm conditions and moderate thermals, the Chili 5 will probably have the edge in climbing over the two. But when you have a more complex air hitting you, then the glider that will have an edge would be shared by the Rush 6 and the Freedom 2 as they both move forward and climb. They are good swimmers in the turbulent airmass!
OK, That’s it! No more Tinny or Stubby today…And I’m not Pissed :-)
My friend and I also did some long glides with the R6 and the F2. On the trim speed which is the same, if both are similarly loaded, the Chili5 and the Freedom 2 share the same glide which is very close to the R6. A full bar, the Freedom 2 has around 9 km's over trim, and at that speed, both the R6 and the F2 have a very close glide. My B comparison is updated for the small details if needed.
As for overall comfort, I flew the Freedom 2 in some nasty turbulent air and I have now a large idea about it. In strong turbulent air, the Rush6 moves as a block. It has dynamic movements in pitch or roll, for a high B pilot of course, but you feel that complete taught glider above your head even if your chest strap is open to 48..50 cm.
The Freedom 2 in the same air, works a bit more in itself, with some slight yaw movements roll and pitch. I found that to remove the slight yaw movement a chest strap of 45 cm will erase a lot of them. Now in a positive way, If you don’t look above your head the feedback coming from the glider is very useful and rewarding! For my personal feel, that’s the glider I choose to fly for high B just because the educational feedback is awesome! I am not saying that the Freedom 2 is a difficult glider to fly! NO, it is not, but it will deliver very nice feedback that is needed to communicate with the airmass. (for a high B of course! )
To give you an idea: the 777 Queen 2, or the Supair Savage as a C glider needs 30 % more workload for a pilot to control than the Freedom 2. And 20 % less than the Fusion … Feel ok now? :-)
Now the part of controlling it with the rear risers. I felt that in most cases I was easily able to control the Freedom 2 with the rear risers, especially at bar. Among the 3 gliders, I would say that they are very close in that issue with the R6 being slightly more direct probably due to the C handles placement. The Freedom 2 and the Chili5 are similar in that matter.
The difference in handling between the Fusion and the Freedom 2 is huge! No comparison…The Freedom 2 has a nimble feel and is more linear through the brakes with direct control.
Now…IMHO, these new well-sorted hybrid 3-2 construction, high B’s are a direct competitor for their C’s !! The Chili5, R6, and now the Freedom 2!
The Freedom 2 would (probably) out-perform the Fusion…hummmm…. or similar… Don’t shoot the messager! ;-)
That’s why a completely new era of C’s will emerge…I think.
Ears are stable, easy to induce, and efficient, they reopen without pilot intervention.
Wing-overs are easy to get and quite impressive. You can feel the energy on that EN’B when doing them! The stall point is below the hips, near the seating position and it is feelable with a slight stable stall before entry.
Conclusion: Flying the Freedom 2 as a high B is quite rewarding by the excellent feedback, nice authority on the brakes coupled with a linear pull, and good overall pleasurable handling.
With the Freedom 2, Flow has delivered a nimble high performance B glider, set to achieve long-distance flights. All that while having immense pleasure, plus overriding going to a 2021, C glider.
Good on ya! :-)
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