ADVANCE Sigma 12 DLS

ADVANCE Sigma 12 DLS  size 24 ( UPDATED) 

The Sigma 12 DLS new 3-liner C class glider for ADVANCE in 2024/25. It is a semi-light glider with around 4.5 kg.

Construction and details are typically ADVANCE. Very neat and well-built. 

Launching the S12 DLS is straightforward, easy, and simple to take off without any hard points. Even in no wind, the take-off is easy.

I flew the Sigma 12 DLS at 92 all up. Next to me, my friends were on one Photon S, One Photon MS, and one ML. There was also a Rush 6 MS and a Rook 3 MS.  

The brake travel is on the moderate side, quite direct, smooth, and linear response. 10 to 15 cm are needed to turn the glider inside a thermal. The Sigma 12 DLS resembles the S11 agility. 

Coring thermals is a pleasure under the Sigma 12 DLS. A fun glider to play in thermals, with good authority. I didn’t feel it had a dynamic turn inside the core rather than an agile, smooth turn. 

Comfort:

I flew in weak air and later in strong air and turbulent conditions. The S12 DLS felt solid and comfortable for the C category in all those conditions. The structure is very homogenous, and the pilot could feel that extra passive safety as if he were on a comfortable high B-class glider!  The Sigma 12 DLS as a C glider, is very accessible for the 3 liner C class pilots, much like the S11, possibly even more comfortable… Close enough to the Alpina 4 in comfort. 

The difference between flying a Sigma 12 DLS and any 2-liner C is very different. The feel inside a moving airmass under a 3-liner like the Sigma 12 DLS, resembles the high B+ category delivering a genuine three-liner feel. Smooth pitch in the air, with high passive safety for the C class compared to a 2-liner C. 

Climb rate:

Thermal flying and efficiency:  

As much as the Sigma 12 DLS is easy and comfortable with high passive safety, the glider doesn’t compete with the 2-liner C gliders in climb efficiency, as the Artik-R, Photon, etc...which is logical, of course as ADVANCE intended to deliver a friendly user glider.  

In weak conditions, the S12 DLS resembles the S11 in weak air. 

The glider is much more tamed.   

In 2 m/s thermals, it climbs quite nicely next to other C’s, even with the two-liners.  

Gliding:

I tried to glide with the two-liners in the sky next to me, and I was surprised that the Sigma 12 DLS gliding capabilities would surpass the S11 and be close enough to the good two-liners!  Even when pushing on the speed bar, which gave me 11..12 km/h max over trim taken at 900 ASL, the glide stays quite interesting for arriving at the next crossing. But it is better to stay 90% on the speed bar with moderate pressure while gliding if you want to stay close to the 2 liners if they only use 25% of their speed bar. 

Of course, I am not comparing the Sigma 12 DLS to the two-liners, as they are aimed at different pilot profiles, but it is just to give you an idea that the glide angle in smooth air is quite competitive only if the moving airmass is not quite challenging, with more headwind…difficult airmass… 

Ears are easy to do, stable, and reopen smoothly without pilot interference. 

Conclusion:

A plain and simple 3-line concept for the conventional C class pilot. The Sigma 12 DLS is very comfortable to fly, agile, and with very good gliding performance. 

After the Iota DLS and other high B’s, the Sigma 12 DLS will welcome you for its high accessibility as a three-liner C glider.  

UPDATE: 

Hi,

I flew the Sigma DLS size 24 at 93 on my Impress 4. The climb in weak felt much better, like the S11 in that matter.  The handling and brake authority is sweet and direct, with good agility with the Impress 4 and moderate pressure.

The overall comfort is very high, and the S 12 DLS feels somehow...like a B glider in the air. The pitch is absent, the roll is very tame, and the energy stored in the glider dissipates quickly after wingovers or induced collapses. The full speed which has moderate to slightly firm pressure on the feet, over trim, is around 11-12 km/h with a very good glide angle. I think ADVANCE wanted to deliver a very easy 3-liner C with very good glide performance at that speed. 

Everything I wrote in my earlier flying the 22 feels the same, with a better climb rate in weak, but flying the glider with a harness like the Lightness 4 enhances the overall feel and maneuverability. 

When I flew the size 22 overweight, the glider kept its easiness and high comfort, which is unusual most of the time and shows that the glider genes are created to deliver high easiness for a C-class glider.  

I think pilots after two seasons and moving from their high B's would not find any difference in glider control over their glider. For instance, some B's are more demanding to fly.

 This explains the high comfort I found on the size 24 at 93 all up. 

Ears are stable. They reopen smoothly without pilot intervention after 3-4 seconds. Wingovers are nice to make, but you feel the energy inside the glider is very well controlled and dissipates fast.

Induced collapses are very easy to maintain. 

Stall speed is forgiving. 

UPDATE on the Sigma 12 DLS size 22 :

Sigma DLS size 22 
Yesterday, I flew the Sigma DLS size 22 with my Lightness 4 harness at 83, all up in moderate air.
The handling and turning abilities at 83, in combination with the Lightness 4, deliver a very agile and playful glider. I could easily core any thermal in super tight turns. The climb rate is now more than acceptable at that load!
More to come soon for both sizes.

Axis Vega 6 M

AXIS Vega 6  size M (85-102)

Radek Simonik founded Axis Paragliders in 1990 as a hang-gliding school. Radek Simonik was developing the gliders together with Ing. Frantisek Pavlousek until 2010 when Franta left for UP.

Construction: The Vega 6 uses a mix of Skytex cloth with unsheathed 0.5 to 2.5 mm from Liros Dyneema and Cousin Vectralines.

The finish details of the glider are good. The risers used hold the same materials and construction as the Venus SC. 

https://axispara.cz/products/paragliders/vega-6/

Launching the  Vega 6 is straightforward, even in nil wind. In stronger wind, I found it also easy to control and launch. 

I flew the M size at 98 and later gave it to my friend who usually flies a Photon M at 102. 

Handling and turning abilities:

At 98, the brake pressure is on the moderate side, short, and precise to turn in a core for a two-liner. Pilots who like a direct-handling glider will like the Vega 6 authority and good agility.  Turns can be made quite narrow and pleasurable to fly. I enjoyed that handling.

At 102 my friend was also delighted to fly it and said later that he enjoyed it much more than his Photon (handling-wise). 

Comfort:

The Vega 6 flown at 102 can be considered as comfortable to fly for the 6.3 aspect ratio EN-C 2liner glider. 

The pitch movements in moderate conditions are neutral. The roll movement is quite dampened also for a 2-liner. 

Quite a balanced feel. It felt easy to fly, maybe just slightly above the Codex and Bonanza 3 and less than Artik-R, Mint. 

Climb rate:

At 98, the climb rate in weak air is good for the 2-liner C category.  

Glide:

We made lots of glide with the Vega 6. It is not a Photon, but still has some nice gliding performances. I will update my 2 liner C comparison for all the criteria.

Conclusion: 

Axis created the Vega 6 to give the pilots a good all-rounder 2-liner C with very good agility and pleasure to fly the glider. I think it is nicer to fly it above 100 to get a nicer agility, speed, and homogeneity in strong air

COUPE ICARE Interview 2024

 

FLOW Freedom 2 Light size S (70-95)

FLOW Freedom 2 Light size S (70-95) 

FLOW released the light version of their high EN-B the Freedom 2. 

Awaiting the website to be updated, please find a picture of the Freedom 2 Light technical details. 

In summary, Nitinol rods are used, shark nose, hybrid set up 3/2 line layout.

Launching this high EN-B is straightforward and super easy. The glider rises without any hard point even with no wind. I like the light materials when launching the glider in tight areas. 

I flew the Freedom 2 light at 92 all up on my Impress 4 harness.  The brake travel is short and the pressure is on the medium side. The authority of the brakes given to the pilot is excellent! Turning the Freedom2 light in thermals is a pleasure. So smooth in turns, direct, precise, without the dynamics. As soft as it gets for a high-B glider.  You can narrow your radius or widen it, and the glider doesn’t dive into turns rather very efficient.

Talking about efficiency, I think the Freedom 2 light holds again that ‘aboriginal magic’ in its climbing abilities. That glider does climb impressively well. 

After a while, flying it the sensations it gives felt like a butterfly in the air. Sooth, light, and climb effortlessly. 

Performance:

The trim speed is slightly slower than the Rook 4 that was flying near.  The glide seems also on par with the best B’s out there. Applying the first and second bars showed moderate pressure and a very good glide angle.  The top speed seems around 12 km/h over trim. 

Comfort:

The overall movements in the air felt tamer than the normal cloth Freedom 2. The Light version seems more taught and very comfortable to fly.  

The C steering is as efficient as the good B’s in keeping the glider overhead. 

Ears are stable and efficient. They reopen without pilot intervention, but smoothly and evenly. 

The energy stored while doing wingovers is high. 

Conclusion:

Flow created a very interesting light construction high B. You can load it at the top to get slightly more forward dynamics, with no worries about the climb rate, which stays on top of the category.

Maybe I would have preferred a more simplified riser construction, but that's just a Tiny detail. 

Climb is outstanding, and will surely keep you at cloud base! Glide is also excellent, and you can push the speed bar for faster glides if you wish while getting an efficient glide. 

Comfortable, calm, and simple. That’s the Freedom 2 light.  

Cheers,

Ziad

OZONE LYGHT S and MS

Ozone LYGHT MS 

After OZONE introduced the PHOTON, here is the light version of that incredible top-end performance EN-C 2 liner. 

The first PHOTONS had a very long brake travel, and after a while, the handling got slightly better. BUT…. Afterward, the new PHOTONS delivered had slightly different handling.

How different? 

Two months ago, and based on my recommendations, a close friend of mine, purchased a new Photon ML  like the one I test flew a year ago.  He was reluctant at first as he wanted a glider that has direct brake control, but as he kept listening to my comments after I landed flying one…He made the purchase. The story here began. Every day he flies the glider, he calls me saying that it doesn’t have a long brake travel. It is short and he could immediately place it inside the core! 

I cannot explain it...

LYGHT MS and S test flight:  

I flew the MS size at 92 all up on an Impress 4 harness, and the S at 82 all up with a Lightness 4 harness.

Launching the LYGHT is superb! Very easy to inflate, as all the light 2 liner C’s. No hanging back at all. Smooth lift and easy take off. 

I still have my PHOTON MS kept as a reference, and I flew it also in a 3-hour turbulent flight just to get all the feel and movements, and brake control.

let's get back to the LYGHT.

In the air on the LYGHT MS at 92 all up, I found that the brake travel is shorter, quite direct, and with good agility.  No more long brakes like the PHOTON MS I have. It is like a completely different glider in that matter!  The brake pressure is moderate, very slightly firmer than the Photon. 

For my taste, it is quite good. On the LYGHT, the line that holds the brake pulley is 2 cm longer than the ones on the Photon. That will allow the factory to set the brakes 2 cm shorter and still manage to overlap the pulleys at high speed without affecting the trailing edge of the glider. 

The LYGHT S at 82 all up has a very similar brake control. The LIghtness 4 enhances slightly the turning behavior over the Impress 4 and flying the LYGHT S size is quite surprisingly agile, and nice to fly.    

Comfort in roll and pitch versus the PHOTON MS. 

The LYGHT in MS and S size felt even more comfortable than the PHOTON in turbulent air. Of course, the brakes give more authority for control, but still, the overall movements felt slightly tamer. It is ‘exactly’ like the switch between the Delta 4 and Alpina 4! in terms of glider feedback and feel.  But the difference is that the LYGHT has a more connective brake travel and authority. 

If you have already felt the difference, then you understand what I mean. Even the pitch is slightly smoother. 

Pleasure in flight:

My definition of pleasure in flights is having a glider that gives feedback from the brakes and risers, with every centimeter of brakes having its impact on the trailing edge. 

The LYGHT is a high-performance 2-liner C with direct handling. That’s it. You initiate a turn, and it responds. 

In turbulent and strong air, when you encounter surges, the brake authority is strongly present not to compare with the Photon.

The overall feel you get from the brakes is like eating a good, but diet cake. You will get all the healthy benefits, without that sugar taste... That’s the best way I can describe it to you. 

That brake control and feel is a matter of taste, and could be heaven for many pilots!  

Seeing that on the positive side, I can say that to acheive that unreachable high level of performance with that homogenous, calm character, could be perhaps considered in the Middle Ages as Sorcery!  :-) 

 

Climb rate and glide performance: 

In weak thermals, the LYGHT can efficiently catch the very weak ones, if the pilots listen to his vario. The gliding performance seems on par with the PHOTON, which is incredibly good. 

However, one feature surpasses PHOTON's and could give many pilots an extra feel for performance. 

When gliding through turbulent air, the LYGHT overall movements felt slightly tamer than the PHOTON, and keeping your foot on the speed bar which has moderate pressure felt easier. 

The B steering pressure also felt slightly higher than the Photon, but still on the moderate side and super efficient to control the glider while on bar in turbulence! 

Ears with outer A’s and outer B’s are doable and easy to use. 

The LYGHT MS can easily flown at 90 all up, and the LYGHT S at 80. 

If you need more speed in comps 94 would be great on the MS.  

Conclusion: 

For the C-class 2-liner pilots, The LYGHT has an outstanding package of performance/easy-to-fly gliders.  

Very usable high-end C class performance is exactly what describes the LYGHT.