Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Mac Para EDEN 5 26
Mac Para EDEN 5 ! (The hidden Treasure ! )
The last gliders I flew from Mac Para were the Magus XC2 and the Marvel. Both were on the edge of performance in their category especially the climb rate!
Now Santa Claus brought to my hands this December new Eden 5 size 26(80-95), which I will fly at 91 all up weight and I am just taking some photos preparing myself for a long and amazing flight….
Launching this glider is as simple as it gets. The light materials in the leading edge do contribute to that easy forgiving launching.
In the air I felt immediately at ease and comfortable. The EDEN 5 inspires complete confidence in the air telling you to relax and enjoy your XC flight.
First turn into a thermal showed a light to medium brake travel with a very nice agility for the B category!
The Mac Para team has tuned the brake response and the agility of the glider in a high tech way! Meaning that ‘even’ a low end B pilot will get a forgiving brake travel, and the more experienced B pilot will sing and smile while turning with an efficient, agile, and beautiful turn radius. To combine those qualities in a single glider is something ‘very rare’ until now.
Turning in the air with another new B glider that has already a reputation for excellent climb rate, I found the EDEN 5 to be very close or even better sometimes! The leading edge doesn’t move much …It just enter the thermals and climb, and I could sense that by the beeping of the vario ! Just to tell you how the pitch movement is neutral. NO hanging back or pitching forward. And it is not a dull glider also. Just the necessary information’s.
I can confirm that the climb rate is on the ‘top’ of the category for the moment!
Trim speed at ‘91 all up’ on the 26 showed a 38.5 km/h. The accelerator at full bar will get you at 48.5 km/h at 1000 ASL. Next time I’ll fly it at 95…
This day was exceptional, with nice cloud base and long glides that enabled me to do some wing tip comparison with the best ‘B’ of the moment! That was tested recently on my blog.
Despite being just a bit slow on trim on the EDEN 5, I used the bar, which is light and easy to use, but short, to compensate the fully loaded other ‘B’ glider I am following, and to my surprise and after some several 8 km glides, I can see that the EDEN 5 was always very competitive! The glides were the same!
Pulling the accelerator at full bar in some turbulence showed a tough leading edge, without any nasty surprises.
The day has ended, and I was still flying that amazing and relaxing piece of art!
Big ears are stable and easy to use. A descent rate of -3m/s is showed with the accelerator. They open by themselves.
Conclusion:
With the EDEN 5, Mac Para has created their masterpiece in the B category.
Some B gliders that have a superb climb rate, and the EDEN 5 has the same .
Other B gliders that have excellent glide, and the EDEN 5 also has the same .
But to combine all those features in an easy, agile, and relaxing wing that could be also an entry to the B category is the real hidden force behind the EDEN 5.
The Mac logo ‘fly in peace’ should be printed on the EDEN 5
. Pilots who want to get an upgrade for their low end B’s will be nicely welcomed on board the high end EDEN 5!
Yes I talked too much …That’s because I found a hidden treasure!
Cheers,
Ziad.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
NOVA Ion 2 XS LIGHT 70-90
NOVA Ion 2 Light XS 70-90
Two years ago, I test flew the Ion 1, a low end B glider which was in fact a very tamed glider intended for talented beginner pilots.
I heard that the light version of the new Ion 2 has something special, and I was keen to test fly it to discover that special glider…
The Ion 2 XS light has arrived, and after some long rainy days, I finally flew it for a 3-day free flight…
With the Genie Lite equipped with a light rescue and the 4.5 kg Ion 2 Light, a light breakfast ? and 88 all up .
Launching that glider is super easy...
In the air the Ion 2 XS light has a more ‘spicy’ feeling than the old ion 1. It is not as dampened as the Ion 1 was. The first contact with a thermal is felt by a little pitch back from the glider.
The brakes have a medium pressure like the M2 Small and are also surprisingly very direct ! This glider can be turned with precision and on the spot inside the thermal ! That’s a new characteristic never seen before on a low B glider !
An educated pilot will surely appreciate that superb handling feature !
The climb rate of the Ion 2 XS loaded at top is still good ! Of course it has to be steered gently and carefully to let the glider flat. Other wise the actual wing load of 88 under the XS will let this agile glider dive….But I like that turn feeling !
The biggest surprise is yet to come with the ION 2 (Light) glide angle !
At trim speed and in ‘calm air’ I can confirm that the Ion 2 light has a very close glide angle as the Mentor 2 S ! Unbelievable. But true.
At 40 % of the travel bar which has medium to light pressure, the Ion 2 XS retain its impressive glide angle for a low EN-B . At full travel the speed increases nicely but the glide deteriorates quickly compared to a mentor 2 S. But that’s more than enough for that type of gliders!
In head wind glides the high end EN-B Mentor 2 S has of course much better racing ability upwind.
Having only 2 A lines, the ears on this glider are big, stable and have a nice descent rate.
Conclusion: A talented low EN-B pilot who searches for a light wing will fall in love with the Ion 2 light for its excellent handling, superb performance, enough speed and overall safety margin in the low end EN-B category!
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Tuesday, October 16, 2012
GRADIENT NEVADA
GRADIENT NEVADA
6 months ago I have tested the Aspen 4 .I still remember its
ease of use and comfortable ride for a C glider.
Now came the NEVADA EN-B glider ,size 26 (85-100)
Launching:
With 5 km wind the glider need a steady pull as it doesn’t
get above your head very fast.
In the air:
At first I was on the NEVADA 26 at 95 all up and my friend
Moni flew the Mentor 2 S at 96 all up.
Immediately after take off I could feel the floating ability
of the NEVADA ! The climb rate in thermals is nothing but perfect! This glider
doesn’t pitch forward nor back, it just climbs!
Coring thermals with the NEVADA needs a long pilot input to
begin its turn. I cannot say that it has a direct and precise brake travel,
like the M 2 but its fairly ok.
This glider does compensate in its floating ability and
climb rate in the thermals!
Flying in different conditions and knowing that the NEVADA
is aimed at high-end B pilots, I could say that it is similar to the Blacklight
in comfort.
Trim speed is around 39 km/h and top speed at 98 all up
could match the M2 S at 95 all up + 1 km for the M 2 , with the same glide
angle or very slightly better + 0.1 for the NEVADA !
Flying the NEVADA will give more chances of low saves and
better floating ability on long glides.
Big ears are stable and an efficient descent method.
The speed system is fairly light.
Flying the NEVADA with my friend on the M2 and switching
gliders afterward showed that even when I am used to my M2, I was always trying
hard to catch the NEVADA as it floats easily and quickly upward.
To handle the NEVADA in rough air, I think it is better to
be at top weight, and it won’t loose anything in its ‘brilliant’ climb rate.
Conclusion:
From the recent high-end ‘B’ gliders I flew, I can confirm
that:
The NEVADA has the ‘best’ climb rate until now.
It has also ‘one’ of the best glide angle.
It’s comfortable enough for the high end ‘B’ pilot
I would have liked a shorter and more direct handling, but
the whole performance/comfort /climb package the NEVADA offers is nothing but
outstanding!
If you are one of those high-end ‘B’ pilot wanting to be
near the ‘troposphere’ ;-) don’t
let this glider slip away without having a test flight.
-
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Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Saint Hilaire (Coupe Icare)
Ziad.
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Some pictures :
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/110040226962521480605/albums/5792447562543318481
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Sunday, August 26, 2012
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