SKY-COUNTRY EVO-X 24

Unfolding the glider shows a very neat job. Amazed by this excellent and surely durable construction which is a classic one with A lines attached near the leading edge, and not far as the R-10.3.There is no plastic inserts, only Mylar on the side panels. I was really wondering what would it feel in the air! Here it is…

Launching is very easy for a 7.3 ar. Even kiting the glider feels that it has homogeneous movements .In the air the glider moves more than most EN-D I have tested, but much less than the R10.3.The glider feel well tensioned and all together. The brake has medium to short travel. The “pressure” reminds me of the Mantra R-10.3, but with a shorter brake travel.

When the thermals are disorganized the handling and the way to put the glider wherever you want is average, considering that a am a fan of very agile gliders, but when you are inside the thermals, the glider can be described as agile, and it can help you also center the thermal!! . It is the second SKY-COUNTRY glider I have tested to have this extraordinary behavior. The R-10 .3 has a better handling in calm air, but the EVO-X has better handling inside the thermal with a much more homogenous feel. And as a reminder this glider is intended for experienced pilots, and getting out of a thermal suddenly will let you feel that you must be awake. Most EN-D wings will have a mellower pitch feeling in exiting the thermals.

When encountering thermals, you feel that you are under a high aspect ratio glider but it does not feel like a comp glider and to my surprise without any excess movements. The glider does transmit with the risers that vibrate in turbulent conditions. The R-10.3 moves much more with a sharper handling.

The stall point of the EVO-X comes quickly a little below the hips. Big ears with one line are stable .If you pull more lines, the ears will flap a little but without oscillations and are quite usable if the conditions are not too turbulent .

At 93 all up the glider spiral ability can be entered quickly. Landing is a non-event. Just have to bear in mind the glide ability.

The accelerator on the comp trims is hard to pull ,just like the Venus 2 S .When pulling it the glider feel a little roll unstable .At first bar the C's slide upward (the labeled version have the "C" locked and only iy pulls the A's and B's .The comp version is fast ! It is less usable and stable or friendly user ,like on the Omega 8,Peak 2 or the GTO M .

I will try the labeled version and post the results.

As for performance,this glider will compete easily with the new EN-D generation .
The R-10.3 is a step higher in performance and climb .

Conclusion: The EVO-X amazed me being a docile glider  for an aspect ratio of 7.3 !
This glider can be turned tightly inside the thermals and is relatively easy to manage for a comp glider.
I have installed the certified risers to see the difference.At trim it is practically the same, but at bar the certified risers are more usable and the glider is more stable .May be this is due to the sliding C’s upward on the comp version. The C’s on the certified version doesn't move,it is the A’s and B’s that goes down.But it is still hard.

The minuses:
*Accelerator is hard
*Performance is ok for an EN-D glider ,may be I was expecting more for a 7.3 AR glider especially accelerated.

The pluses:
*Incredibly homogenous glider for an AR of 7.3 !
*Stable on ears
*Quite a fun factor !
*Easy to manage


More pictures@
http://picasaweb.google.com/Ziad.bassil/SKYCOUNTRYEVOX24#

The differences are: (1-5) with 1 being excellent

Comfort in moving the air:

1-Peak 2

2-GTO “M”

3-Omega 8 25

4-EVO-X 24

5-Mantra R-10.3 S

Handling and maneuverability in average conditions "with thermals":

1- Omega 8 25

2-Mantra R-10.3 S

3-EVO-X 24/ Peak 2 24

4-GTO M

Handling in still air:

1-Omega 8 25

2- EVO-X 24

3-Mantra R-10 S

4-GTO M

Easiness in flight:

1-Peak 2 24

2-GTO M

3-Omega 8 25

4-EVO-X 24

5-Mantra R-10.3

Stable ears:

1-Omega 8 25 (Stable)

2- EVO-X 24 (Stable )

3-GTO M (a little unstable)

4-Peak 2 24 (Not stable)

5- Mantra R-10.3 (Not stable)

A little video of the EVO-X in the air:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CtYU6QSG8Y

Video on performance vs GTO M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8TDYCkD3io



Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

SKY-COUNTRY EVO-X 24 (EN-D)

 

Here are some questions to the designer of SKY-COUNTRY , Alexey Rakov.

1- (Dust of the universe) The Evo X 24 is a comp glider. Why did you certify it?

(Alexey Rakov) Because we felt, that it's possible after making our own tests(in Turkey in Oludeniz) and after first competitions. And we found that it is very interesting to try to certify such glider

2- (DOTU)Now it is the first 7.3 aspect ratio with certification, with even one EN-D on frontal accelerated. How did you manage that?

(AR)We didn't make anything special for this, we just wanted to make not very complex for the pilot competition glider. EvoX is built on the same design principles, as Mystic-2, and, as you know, Mystic-2 is very safe wing for it's class too. Mystic-2-26 is EN C with a/r 6.5.But we've made special risers with reduced accelerator speed for certification, because with it's own risers EvoX flies almost 70 km/h and collapses on that speed are very dynamic.

3-(DOTU) Is the Evo X recommended to fly at the top or at medium weight? What ‘s the optimum flying weight?

(AR)Medium weight is better, on the top it's sometimes difficult to climb in weak conditions. For EvoX-24 optimum is 90 kg.

4-(DOTU)Do you think that all the sizes could pass easily the certification like the 24?

(AR)I think, they could, but I'm not sure about how easy..

5- (DOTU)How many hours /year a pilot must have to fly it safely? and what sort of pilots the EVO-X is designed for ?

(AR)100-150 hours/year, 400 hours of total flight time

6- (DOTU)What are the differences that a Mystic 2 pilot would feel when he flies the EVO-X?

(AR)More movements of the wing, more info about the air, and more movements with both hands

7- (DOTU)Is the Evo X to be considered as a first comp glider?

(AR)Yes, it was designed as first competition glider, even before we decided to certify it

8- (DOTU)What about the lines? Do they need to be replaced after 100 hours? Or checked?

(AR)Main level lines have to be replaced after 100 hours, other levels after 200 hours.

9- (DOTU)It is known that gliders with aspect ratio above 7 tend to cravat after a collapse. What’s the EVO-X like?

(AR)Of course, cravats are possible, but the possibility is not so big - there are no rigid elements inside the wing.

And statistics is good

10- (DOTU)What’s your philosophy on true performance?

(AR)Philosophy - we like, to let the pilot feel safe even on competition glider. We do not want to produce a wing, that has too short brake travel, dive seriously after stall and is very easy to collapse on full speed. Even if that one will fly very good

We have now in production a new competition glider "Space" . It is 2-liner with a/r 7.7, and plastic inserts on the leading edge.

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Hope that this will give a small idea. Still waiting for Santa...Hope that he won't be late .;-)

I'll try to always ask the manufacturers questions about the tested gliders in question ,that pilots usually will ask.

Awaiting the glider impatiently for a full test with video comparisons VS GTO, and I'll write my own impressions ... Merry Christmas everyone :-) .

Ziad.