UP SUMMIT XC 2 M

My ever first school glider 20 year ago was a UP Flash. I still remember the red cloth with multicolor design on the edge, that feeling and that smell of the tissue with this arrow logo going UP in the sky. Uli Weismeyer legend pilot ,Richard Gallon were on UP gliders at the time and the brand was very strong in the competition scene with their Katana ‘s and later on with the Gambit, escape with Oli Russell, Steiglar ,Brinkeby...

I flew quite all the UP range, from Stellar, Vision, vison classic, Soul. All the Summit range ,nearly all the Kantega range,and trango’s and targa’s and all the tandems…

The firm feeling under an UP is very familiar to my mind.
Now here’s the Summit XC2 ,and I’m just waiting to pull on the A risers.
Ballasted up to 100 ±102 on the M size with an Impress 2 harness, the launching is natural and easy, the glider comes up as a whole piece.
At first the factory settings on the brakes was long, I landed and shortened them a bit.

From the moment I was airborne, a sensation of confidence inspiring is clearly showed. I was impressed by the easiness in flight of the XC2. Very tamed with neat behavior, well-tensioned and balanced glider. Just the necessary feedback to show the thermal direction.

First turn showed a medium brake pressure, with fair agility, but doesn’t dive in turns.
Opening the chest strap a bit will make this glider very nimble and more agile. Turns are flat and the climb is its strong point. This glider is a killer in weak conditions. It can core every bubble without loosing the center of the thermal.
In strong conditions, the glider remains as a whole, and climb without any strange movements or oscillations. It is difficult to miss any thermal with this glider, unless you have some convincing excuse ;-) .

I gave the XC 2 to my friend Moni, and when he landed he told me that the XC2 is “much more” mellower and easier to fly than the Mentor 2 EN-B glider. I agree.

Big ears are easy to hold, stable and reopen by themselves. The glide ratio of the XC2 is well enough among the EN-C category.

The accelerator has medium pressure, much like the Trango 3, and the speed really increases by more than 5 km at first bar! Very usable and efficient.

Actually the overall feeling under it reminded me strongly of the UP range designs I have flown before…

Conclusion: This glider is aimed for all EN-B pilots who want to step into the EN-C category, but still having a large amount of safety and I think it could be also much easier to fly than some!!
EN-D pilots stepping down will find in the XC2 a quiet sanctuary to fly long xc’s wondering if they are on a sofa or in the air. :-)


https://picasaweb.google.com/Ziad.bassil/UPSUMMITXC2M#

VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddCbYnZWamI



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OZONE RUSH 3 M

OZONE RUSH 3

After flying the Mantra 4 and the Delta before I realized that OZONE has found a very comfortable profile with excellent performance. Now after the NOVA Mentor 2 has raised the bar for the new EN-B’s, I was intrigued to see what the Rush 3 would be like.
Standing on take-off with 96 all up weight on the M (85-105) size. Launching is easy and the glider lifted me quickly into the air.
The brakes travel is the same as on the Delta (Typical OZONE) Long brakes, soft very easy to steer with an average to good turn radius.

No matter what the conditions will throw at you, nothing will bother the calm attitude of the Rush 3.
I could describe it as “being on rails (stable) with rubber wheels (Soft) ”.

The same day I flew the Mentor 2 and the Sprint Evo, then again the Rush 3.The most dampened glider was the “Zen” Rush 3.
I am now more than convinced that OZONE has found something really special in those stable profiles.

The climb rate of the Rush 3 is really good at my weight load. Very close to the Mentor 2 .All you need to do is lower the brakes into the thermal…. No complications and corrections!
If the Rush 3 is loaded near the top, then the Mentor 2 with same loadings has the edge on climb, and this is because of the more lively profile of the Mentor 2.

Big ears are easy to make and are stable. The accelerator is also smooth and light. A real delight to use!

The moment of performance into wind and turbulence has come. Later, I gave the Rush 3 to my friend @ 102 all up, and I flew the Mentor 2 S @ 94 all up.

After many glides at trim and at first bar, we are both convinced that in calm air they could be “equal”…BUT, in head wind and turbulent conditions, a slight advantage was on the RUSH 3 !!!.

Let me explain: The Mentor 2 is an excellent glider but moves more in the air, and that’s a good thing for the educated pilot. The Rush 3 is more stable, so when on long glides into the thermals, wind, turbulence…the profile of the Rush 3 is keeping the wing on rails. It didn’t loose the glides.
The Mentor 2 move more and, those movements which are small but do react to the profile (roll and pitch) and make it loose a bit in long (air moving) glides. Actually in down wind glides they are practically the same.

Conclusion: Among the new EN-B’s, I have tested, the Rush 3 stand alone in comfort in flight and its performance and easiness in the air is extraordinary.
After 3 hours of xc flight in turbulent air, I landed on take off to take another glider and my mind was still fixed on the Rush 3.
If you want an EN_B glider, but stressed by work, daily duties and tired but willing to go flying without the extra stress, then the Rush 3 “is” the choice.

First video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IssYMI5LULE


https://picasaweb.google.com/Ziad.bassil/OZONERUSH3M#

OZONE MANTRA 4 ML

https://picasaweb.google.com/Ziad.bassil/OZONEMANTRA4ML#


After the success of the Ozone R-10 series, a big majority of pilots were waiting impatiently for the birth of the M 4. Knowing also that OZONE has a very efficient marketing team, the M4 was keeping almost every interested pilot wondering what the M 4 would be like.
After I tested the Delta, l knew it was on top of its class, but I lately realized that it was the easiest one to handle, and has that comfortable feeling that could be mellower than some new EN-B’s.
I was impatiently waiting for the M4, to see if that feeling of comfort is still on the OZONE menu. And it came….
Plastic inserts on the leading edge, much like the Delta construction, which look a very simple and nice finish.
Heavy rain and high winds kept the Mantra 4 in a bag for a week.
Some kiting in strong wind and soaring gave me an idea of a very homogenous and balanced glider.

Today was promised to be good so I am standing on take off ballasted up to 100 kg on the ML size, with my usual flying friends.
Conditions of the day were a bit windy and turbulent at the beginning and smooth at the end with nice thermals up to 5m/s and high ceilings.

Take off is easy, and needs a bit of brakes to stop the smooth forward surge.

The brakes are a bit long and the feedback is felt by the brakes and sometimes by the harness in a “smooth” way.
Inside the thermals the glider have very different behavior. With the Impress 2 at ± 50 cm open chest, I could find that:

-In the strong “smooth” ones, the glider enters them quickly and climb like a devil, but “peacefully” .The turns in those conditions are very nice and you feel like the glider is leaning toward the thermal .A touch of brake is needed at the opposite side and the glider can turn on a dime. I felt that is better not to break much the other side, so when I let it fly, I felt that it cores best, unlike the Delta that needs a bit of brakes to climb best.
- In the strong but turbulent thermals, the glider needs to settle a bit before I could turn it. It is not that precise to my wing loading. But in this configuration the glider is the most comfortable glider in the EN-D category I did test to this day. It is like you are driving a “Limousine” and it shows to my eyes a real genius behind those very performing and comfortable gliders.
-In moderate broken thermals, I felt that the glider is waiting for me to react .It is like watching over me and not going anywhere. It remains inside the bubble waiting to be smoothly steered into it. And this is very efficient because it won’t go away and dive beyond the thermal.
-In weak thermals, at my weight it could be very efficient also. But I am satisfied and more of that will come soon…

NOW are you all waiting for the performance comparisons? ;-)
We did many glides into wind with the Boom GTO M loaded at 105 (Video in process soooon !) and F I N A L Y, I found a better gliding ability for the Mantra 4 that is visible to the eye!!
I felt that it was the first time I am flying a glider who felt ridiculously easy to fly for an EN-D, but has a comfortable advantage in performance.

The trim speed of the M4 ML loaded at 100 kg is faster than the GTO M loaded at 105 !

The M 4 is a glider that floats better into wind .The accelerator is smooth and efficient at first and second bar, pulley to pulley fully usable!
Big ears are stable and easy to induce. They reopen by themselves.
I have landed and felt like I was awake after a yoga class. “Serene”

More tests will be soon made with lots of videos. But I can confirm that OZONE has done a sublime job with the M4.

Conclusion: OZONE has done it! Comfortable, top performer, easy to manage, well-balanced glider!
My only wish is that the brake travel could be made shorter, more precise like the R10 to be able to core every mosquito thermal promptly. But i am very happy to have flown and tasted this beautiful powerful and yet humble glider.

VIDEOS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEzKKAo-Qqg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNo_WBiyeyI

Waiting to get the MS size for a test flight soon.

Cheers,
Ziad.


:-)

GIN Sprint EVO S (80-100)

GIN SPRINT EVO
After leaving EDEL in 1997,Gin founded his own factory GINGLIDERS and with the success of the Boomerang 1, he has made lots of head turning toward the brand. Hans Bollinger world champion at the time (Ex-ADVANCE ) has left to join GINGLIDERS.
Some years back, we could see 9 boomerangs on the top 10 .
Over the years, too many futuristic designs have emerged, from some legend designers who are pilots and passionate for the sport and one of those is Gin himself.

Unpacking the Sprint Evo, will surely lift your eyebrows. For an EN-B glider, it has plastic inserts on the leading edge and also on the trailing edge !
Big cells are clearly seen. It has four risers, and has five attachment points a,b,c,d,e
on the canopy !.
Knowing that all other designers has gone to the three-line concept, I was curious to see what this glider would be like in performance versus the best EN-B of the moment.

The test:
Launching couldn’t be easier. Hands in the pocket style ;-)

Quickly airborne, and first turn………My smile has even passed the ear to ear comment!
What a turn! With a moderate to light pressure, crispy, prompt, linear response, it is the most beautiful feeling of turn in the EN-B category I have flown for a long time.
The glider cores incredibly the thermals like working with a screwdriver.
For my personal taste, the handling is the most important quality in a glider, and the Sprint EVO fulfilled my expectations for superb handling.

To add to this feeling an excellent climb rate is putting the EVO on top of the stack!
The climb rate is more than efficient and I have still to believe it….I think it has the edge for the EN-B category I have just tested. May be because a good pilot can place it in a surgical way whenever, wherever he wants, with the ability to brake and slow the glider in the air.

The Sprint moves in roll a bit less than the Mentor 2 and a bit more than the Rush 3.
The accelerator is soft and when pushing it, the glider is more taught stable and fast.

The performances seem very interesting especially on bar !, but I need more time to evaluate it, and videos will come soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odz-Vf74BLM

https://picasaweb.google.com/Ziad.bassil/GINSprintEVO#

Evaluating a glider

It is really a hard time for me when evaluating a new glider and having a live conscious make the job even harder.

I fully understand that in a glider development there is lots of pressure, money to be spent on R&D, worker, expenses, prototypes, tests before certification, the certification and its cost, the construction, the sales & marketing…. All that is with the passion involved to create a new glider better than the old one, with the ingredients to make a safe, but competitive design in today’s hard fight for existence.

The company investments are huge, and any flaws will lead sometimes to disaster consequences.

Today's trend is to bring a certified glider more friendly user,even thought the aspect ratio is sometimes increased, with the ability to use frequently the first bar.
Raw efficiency is for open class paragliders.The certified ones (EN-D's)of the same year, will always be two steps behind in performance because of safety issues.

When a new glider appears on the market, many pilots start to dream, for what it will bring them to glide endlessly or float effortlessly, and safely into the atmosphere.

Before I begin any test I always think for whom the glider has been designed for. Just a reminder that the majority of pilots are very demanding, we like to be the higher ones, or the fastest and therefore if any glider is a lesser climber, or have a less glide lead us to make wrong conclusions. I think that every glider could have flaws and virtues .The best doesn't exist in life, but in our heads.
We strive for performance but forget who we are. Some would prefer handling to performance, or security over speed, or even speed over certification.

That’s why our taste and our abilities to fly a certain glider will differ a lot.

In those past years of flying and testing, I sense glider “efficiency” in the air. This glide efficiency cannot be measured in moving air, but the
difference is clearly seen to the eye, and that’s why I make the videos.

Happy landings,

Ziad.

AXIS VENUS 3 M (85-110)

Pictures@
https://picasaweb.google.com/Ziad.bassil/Mar32011#

Laying the glider on the ground looks like having a high AR. The leading edge is without Mylar reinforcements. It has small nylon rods to keep the nose in shape. Lines are very few, and the risers are now better looking and thinner than the Venus 2 ones.
The glider is far away from the pilot (longer lines than Venus 2).


Launching the glider is a non-event. The trim speed is high for that glider. A little higher than the Peak 2.
Brake pressure is medium and the glider beautifully turns toward the core easily. When you are inside the thermal the glider “spins” positively inside the core! Its handling is better than the Venus 2 M at 104 or even at 100 all up.
I flew the glider at 100 all up also and it retains the same characteristics being fast at trim ,but with small ears flapping sometimes and a good climb rate in the weak.
Big ears are stable but won’t reopen easily by themselves. May be more load on the glider is needed.
May be i am mistaken,but after some long glides in calm air,and later in real air, I didn’t find a leap in the "glide angle" than the Peak 2 or the GTO M at trim or even accelerated, but will surely be the fastest one at both.
In strong conditions and in a race to goal mode,it will surely arrive among the first gliders .
In Weak conditions ,below 0.5 m/s and at 104 all up it needs a little time to climb. Meeting strong cores the glider jumps quickly into them and could match the other EN-D gliders.
It communicates in the air a bit more than the Venus 2 ,Peak 2 or the GTO M.
The Venus 3 doesn't have the tendency to go quickly on a stall if you lower the brakes and doesn't have also a spin tendency if a turn is induced quickly.The stabilo flutters a bit in active air.

Landing the glider is easy .
The pluses:Speed at trim and accelerated,handling ,Climb in the strong.
The minuses:Glide and climb in the weak if loaded ,vs the best in the EN-D cat .

Conclusion: Before i begin any test i always think what's the glider has been designed for.Just a reminder that we pilots are very demanding,we like to be the higher ones or the fastest and therefore if any glider is a lesser climber or have a less glide lead us to make wrong conclusions.I think that every glider could have flaws and virtues .The best doesn't exist in life but in our heads.
We strive for performance but forget who we are .Some would prefer handling over performance or security over speed or even speed over certification.
Over the years my preferred glider and still is "the Venus 2". "Efficient and cool".

The Venus 3 is very different. Faster ,has better handling ,climbs better in the strong ,climbs less in the weak, glide is close ,easy to use for an aspect of nearly 7,needs a little more actions from the pilot than its predecessor.
It is better to get a demo flight and decide if it meets your requirements .
Cheers,
Ziad.

Videos :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8lJWR5Q04E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Te4o4IE1c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlfjlLgFGYY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bQVgFkpT4Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h8HL20UR_I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcpaazfZI2U
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SKYWALK POISON 3 S (80-100)

SKYWALK POISON 3 S (80-100)
Last week I had the privilege to drive the NEW Porsche 911 turbo !! Amazing experience. Speechless in front of perfection.
Opening the SKYWALK POISON 3 reminded me of that feeling standing with my eyes opened, starring at the super light aluminum cloth, the jet flaps, a new system on the lower brake lines! The risers with separate lines…All this with a quality that is truly beautiful.
It is true that’s my first SKYWALK glider for a test, and maybe I am always a bit sensitive in front of a new glider ,but the impeccable details and finish are first class.

The white attachment points are thicker and robust than most gliders and have a perfect line loop.But because the glider is still new ,without any pressure yet to stay in shape ,they need a little adjustment as you will see on the pics .

Now it is time to fly the glider ! Hopefully soon.....

Some pics at:
https://picasaweb.google.com/Ziad.bassil/SKYWALKPOISON3S80100#

Launching is very easy even in nil wind.In strong wind a little brake is needed to stop the surge.Overall very easy.
In the air the Poison 3 doesn't feel like an EN-D glider. Very dampened and comfortable when flown in the weight range.My friend who flies a GTO M @ 104 commented that the glider was keeping him busier than his GTO M.When he tried the Omega 8 he commented the same thing.
I did find it homogenous to my taste.
Big ears are stable .Turns are smooth and precise but not fast.The handling of the Peak 2 is similar or a "bit" better .Accelerator is a bit hard but the wing in this mode is very stable .
As for the climb: The climb of the POISON 3 @ 80 % of the wing loading is very good. To define the climb :
A-Climb with a head wind
B-Climb without head wind
C-Climb in weak thermals
D-Climb in strong cores

Answers:(Pls watch the loadings !)
A- 1- The GTO M is better even loaded, 2- then the PEAK 2 24@ 60 % of the load range 3- then the POISON 3 S, 4- then the Venus 2 M @ 103 and last 4-the VENUS 3 M @ 104 .

B- 1- GTO M - 2- PEAK 2 24 & POISON 3 S 3-Venus 2 M 4- Venus 3 M

C- 1-GTO M 2- Venus 2 M =Poison 3 S 3- Peak 2 24 4-Venus 3 M

D- 1-GTO M = Peak 2 24 2- POISON 3 S = Venus 3 M 3- Venus 2 M

GLIDE at trim:
1- GTO M
2- Peak 2
3- Poison 3 S
4- Venus 3 M

Glide at first bar:

1-GTO M
2-Peak 2
3-Poison 3
4-Venus 3

The Poison 3 has a long brake travel before stall,but is affected from the first 10 cm.In head wind thermals,releasing the brakes completely will let the glider enter better the lifting mass.That's a trap of not climbing if you don't let the glider fly.The GTO M and the Peak 2 will enter faster even if your have a little brake.


Conclusion: SKYWALK has made a glider with all the features to make it easy to fly.Its performances are with the top ones,but not on the very top.It has a good climb rate and the overall feeling is great.It has a low speed,and can be landed in tight places. It feels like an Omega 8 with a little lesser handling,but i found the climb rate to be a little better.


http://www.youtube.com/user/ziadbassil?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/OJqnVC6Ualw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Te4o4IE1c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlfjlLgFGYY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bQVgFkpT4Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h8HL20UR_I

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Some questions ,answered by SKYWALK.
Dustoftheuniverse:What will a Poison 2 pilot feel when upgrading to the Poison 3 in terms of: safety-agility?

SKYWALK:The main difference is that the POISON3 has a higher pitch damping, above all when flying accelerated. This means that there is less roll and the flying is more calm.
Additionally, the POISON3 is more stable, thanks to the new risers, also especially when flying accelerated, which means that the wing is less likely to collapse.
Still, you must remember that the POISON3 is classified as an EN-D wing, while the POISON2 is classified as an EN-C wing, so you need to react 100% correctly when flying extreme maneuvers.

DOTU:The Poison 3 has unsheathed lines. Do they have to be changed, checked? , If so when?

SKYWALK: POISON3 must be checked, after 150 flights or 2 years.

DOTU:What should the optimum weight be, to fly efficiently the Poison 3? 75 % - 90 % of the weight range?

SKYWALK: All skywalk gliders must be flown on the end of the weight range XS: around 90, S around 100, M around 110, L around XL.

DOTU:I noticed that the lower brake lines are sewed with a thinner one. Is it for reducing the drag?

SKYWALK:The brake lines over the riser are sewed with an extra line to give a better feeling regarding the pressure, when the pilots make turns…

DOTU:Can you please describe the efficiency behind putting each line separate on a riser?

SKYWALK:This makes the glider more stable when flown with speed and this makes it easier for the pilot to fly faster, mainly in difficult conditions.

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