ADVANCE Lightness 2

ADVANCE Lightness 2

The 2015 Lightness 2 is ADVANCE new light harness and the replacement of the old Lightness 1.

As usual, ADVANCE products are a pleasure to un-box, for their superb quality and the excellent workmanship.
The materials, the sewing, and the design of the Lightness 2 couldn’t be compared to any recent light harness. It is a class of it’s own by the purity of a high-end, very well engineered piece of equipment.

Comfort in the air :
Having flown many pod harnesses, ADVANCE seat-less board Lightness 1 and, Impress 3 were the most comfortable ones for the flying position as they deliver un-matched body support in the air.
The Lightness 2 with it’s 3 kg, inherited this incredible comfort of a superb back support !

The roll movements of the Lightness 2 are slightly more than the ones on a WV GTO or a Genie light but less than the lightness 1 , as there’s an option of adjusting the chest strap.
It is also slightly more roll stable than an Impress 3 who had some un-necessary 2 cm ‘roll slack’ on each side.
The lightness 2 pilot will feel a more compact roll movement as if he is a part of the harness.

On the lightness 2, i could just let my feet rest on the front part of the pod without a single effort to keep my feet leveled ! With all the harnesses i flew, except the Impress 3, i had to sustain a slight effort to keep my feet horizontally inside the pod.
Inside the Lightness 2, the feet are supported in some ingenious way, that they just rest straight as if you were on a bed ! Very relaxing on long flights.

The weight shift on the seat-less Lightness 2 are more efficient than on the Impress 3 .
A seat-less harness doesn’t have a pressure point on your thighs ,like the edge of a seat board does provide for an efficient feeling in turns, but the lightness 2 new geometry is close to this efficient and precise turning feel !

The light materials used for a warm pod are excellent. I was flying for an hour in +3 C to +5 C inside this pod and i was perfectly warm and feeling great !

One small detail: The storage under the seat should bear a strap in order to support a +3 kg water ballast. Without this strap a small ball shape of the ballast is shown from the outside under the pilot. It’s very easy for anyone to sew or add one if needed…

I’m waiting curiously for the Impress 4 as a regular XC and comp harness with a more heavy duty use. Especially at this level of comfort !
But would also wish for even an adjustable roll movement control…

Conclusion:
From all the harnesses i flew especially among the light ones, the Lightness 2 stands as the most comfortable, for a superb back and hip support.
With a light glider, and the ADVANCE compact rucksack, All equipment will be under 10 kg.
The simplicity and magic of flying will keep you even more enchanted.

Cheers,
Ziad.

GIN GTO 2 S

GIN GTO 2 S

The GTO 2 is the replacement of the old EN-D GTO first version.
I flew both the S and M size of the GTO 1 and commented at the time about the difference of behavior in the air, as if it was completely another glider.
I wasn’t really happy of the S size at the time, and the M size was much better in homogeneity and feel. It was indeed a floater with an impressive climb rate .

Here’s the second version :
Launching the GTO 2 S in nil wind require a very light pull as the glider inflates quickly and getting airborne is immediate ! In more windy conditions some slower pulls are required .

The factory settings of the brake travel is a bit long for my 94 all up weight on the S (80-95) size.
Half a wrap on the brakes and I’m set to attack the first thermal.
10 cm of brake travel is needed to initiate a turn ! You don’t need more.

In homogenous thermals the GTO 2 S turns like a lady ! Not too agile but also not too dull. The right amount for the outstanding 7.0 AR glider.
The pilot under the GTO 2 S doesn’t feel any yaw movements, but the glider does look a bit busy .
The pitch behavior is dampened for that class of gliders. The roll also is very well coordinated.
On the second day i found myself in a thermal on the lee side .It was a bit turbulent to let me know that the GTO 2 S is indeed a high performance glider that should be treated with the understanding of the level it was designed for. Nothing much for the ken pilot it is designed for !
The ability to turn when the conditions are difficult and punchy will affect a bit the turning behavior of the GTO 2 S. The glider needs a little time to react at my commands. But eventually will follow . It just needs a bit more time to settle it’s energy…
For an aspect ratio of 7:0 i liked the handling.

The climb rate at max weight is good but i found the best is to fly this glider 3 kg from top weight. At 92 ,the S size climb like no other could…Especially in those bullet thermals, the ability to shoot high up is amazing !
I was flying next to an IP 6 as loaded as mine (92 for me ),( 99 for him on the 23 ) and the climb did in fact surprised us both !

Now the best part is yet to come …

Gliding the S size next to the IP 6 at trim with those loadings showed a slight positive trim speed for the GTO 2 and also a 0.1 better glide . That’s on the S size ! The M size will be tested shortly

The speed at full bar for both (pulleys overlapped) are identical !
With a similar glide angle slightly favoring the GTO 2 S…

The structure feels very solid and coherent at all times, like it is not going to collapse…At least that’s the feeling under it !

In full accelerated mode, the second bar is a bit hard to push .
The GTO 2 S felt more pressurized to the point that i didn’t feel the wing anymore. Just the sound of the wind, and some wave roll movements. May be i must adapt a bit to hear and understand it better at that speed.
The C risers becomes a bit loose. A gentle pressure will enable the pilot to feel it more .

Big ears are doable and fairly stable with most important a (stable structure) .
They are very efficient with the bar ! They reopen gently by themselves.

Conclusion:
With the arrival of the GTO 2 ,IMHO, GIN has created a well sorted D glider that has everything to be on the top category leaders !
It is of course a high performance glider ,not a low D glider like the Mantra 4, Omega 8, Peak 2, …
Just “slightly” a step further.
Flying it in strong conditions will need the experience of an advanced pilot to extract those amazing performances safely…
Among the latest high end D’s i have tested (M6, IP6 ) the GTO 2 S is a very competitive glider in every way if carefully loaded !

NIVIUK Artik 4 25

 











 NK delayed all my ordered gliders . Artik 4 probably in + 8 months … !! or never...
It was an obvious and clear message. Thank you … :-)
Got many supporting emails… Two pilots even offered to send me their gliders (Really grateful) …
Or an immediate purchase from anywhere in the planet, thanks to all the superb friends in the social media network !
One option taken :
The ARTIK 4 25 is here  :-)
OLivier Nef designs with the Artik 1/2/3 was very good .
First impressions on the Artik 4 seems interesting ...  ;-) 
NIVIUK Artik 4 25

I had received many emails concerning this glider, and i got one against all odds…for a test flight.

I spent time comparing it with one of the best C glider of the moment in terms of climbing and gliding.

The Artik 4 25 launches very easy .It doesn’t shoot forward and stays gently above the pilots head.

Once in the air, the Artik 4 gave me this immediate confidence inspiring feel, ( pillow feel ) , which is becoming more and more difficult to find in today’s C category.

First thermal and the Artik 4 quickly follow the pilots commands in a smooth and obedient circle…The feeling underneath is surprisingly comfortable !

The brakes are relatively medium to short on the size 25 , flying it 90 all up with moderate to light pressure, linear ,precise ,and the Artik 4 can be described as quite agile !
I could place the Artik 4 in the tightest thermal !
Suits perfectly my taste in turning ability and brake feel .

Despite having only 2 lines on the A, and B, risers, the Artik 4 is very coherent and move as a whole structure, without any weaknesses to the airfoil. The energy retention when going for wing overs is very good ! The structure seems very solid !


Gliding performance:
Despite it’s easiness in flight and the superb handling, the Artik 4 gave me the surprise of the year in gliding power !

Going head to head with another high C glider (A 5) at trim speed for about 12 km, showed an equal trim speed and glide with a slight favor to the Artik 4 ! ! (Video soon )
…At second bar the Artik 4 has a speed around 54 km/h at 1000 ASL.

The glide and speed at full bar matches exactly the Alpina 2 SM i have here. (same loadings)

As for the climbing ability the Artik 4 showed me a potential only found on the high C’s . It climbs in the weak thermals (- 0.2 m/s ) as the A5 does… Low saves are indeed saved with the A4 …
I sensed that the key is let this glider fly at trim even in the weakest thermals especially when facing the valley breeze. It seems to be more efficient hands up.



Big ears are stable, and a great way to get down if coupled with bar. Wing overs are a delight.The pilot can get over the glider on the second wing ! 360’s gets you down real quick. The Artik 4 will put it’s pilot or the new comer from a B glider in his comfort zone but don’t forget the strong energy retention .


My earlier mishaps with NIVIUK about refusing to sell me the A4, did in fact put lots of suspicions in my mind …It was easy to purchase one…even from the Esquimo people …
Honestly…I never thought it will have this complete package !
I don’t know why NIVIUK was trying to hide that glider !
The administration must trust more their R&D creations …

Conclusion: I’m writing this last paragraph , and i’m still thinking of this well sorted glider…
NIVIUK has built an easy C with a high “fun” factor !
It has a moderate aspect ratio, cool handling, crazy performance in this (medium) C segment.


UPDATE:
Pushing the bar at max speed looses a bit in glide, and the flying in strong conditions needs active piloting as the structure snakes around.

SOL Lotus one

SOL Lotus one M

The last DHV 2-3 glider I had from SOL was the Torck. Its climb rate and nice handling impressed me. It was a bit slow.

Here’s the Lotus one M for a test flight.

The beauty of this glider shape in the air is a sight for the eyes!

The Lotus one has all unsheathed lines .It is a bit heavy comparing it to other C gliders.

The take off need a progressive pull on the A’s but ok for the high C category.

In the air the glider gives a comfort feel. This test was made after flying the Triton 2, and surely the Lotus one is more comfortable in the air. The Lotus needs more ‘finesse’ and piloting level as a Delta 2 and slightly less than a Mantra 6.

The brakes pressure is considered a bit heavier and shorter than a D2. The handling is smooth and nicely coordinated.

The climb rate in weak and broken thermals even loaded at 100 all up is ‘exceptional’!

This glider knows how to hug a thermal like a passionate woman who doesn’t let go…

Gliding in zero wind doesn’t really show the Lotus potential unless the valley breeze settles in…then the Lotus cuts trough and climb efficiently. Some C gliders will move, bump and surges, but the Lotus one will climb and move forward. This is the most important feature in a glider and the Lotus has it !

Loaded at 100 the Lotus one M has a relatively faster trim speed than many C gliders with the same size and load. It has a slightly similar trim speed as the Triton 2 S.

Flying it in different conditions gave me an idea of its character.

It is slightly more demanding to fly than a Delta 2 M , and for sure it’s a high end C glider.

Ears are stable and they open smoothly.

The top speed is around 54 km/h taken at 1500 ASL.

Conclusion: The Lotus may not be the most agile C glider or the easiest one, but SOL introduced to the market an efficient and very competitive high-end C with a relatively comfortable ride and coherent structure.

Harness update ( Exocet/Race 3)

Harness comparisons:
Genie Race 3- Exocet - Impress 3 M – Genie Race 2- Genie Light – WV GTO- WV X-rated 6
/ With Impress 2 + , as reference.

Most comfortable seated harness. As 1 being most comfortable.
1-Impress 3
2-Genie Race 2 / Exocet
3-WV X-rated 6
4-Genie Light / Impress 2 + / Genie Race 3 /
5-WV GTO (being fairly comfortable also)

Most comfortable in roll (In moving conditions). As 1 being most comfortable.
1-Exocet - Genie Race 3
2-WV X-rated 6
3-Genie Light - WV GTO
4-Impress 2 +
5-Genie Race 2
6-Impress 3

Most easiest accelerator system (1 being more efficient travel)
1-Genie light / Genie Race 2 / Impress 3 / Genie Race 3
2-Impress 2+ - WV GTO- Exocet

Best combination:
Exocet and Race 3 are harnesses that could erase a bit the yaw effect on high aspect ratio gliders. They are also roll stable .

Which size ?
(test were made by a pilot measuring 1.82 and 75 kg)

Genie Race 3 M (Fits perfectly and could support a 1.83 / 80+ kg pilot )
WV X-rated 6 L ( Fits at the extreme margins )
Genie Light M ( Fits perfectly and could support a 1.83 / 80 kg pilot )
WV GTO L ( Fits at the extreme margins )
Genie Race 2 ( Fits perfectly and could support a 1.83 / 80 kg pilot)
Impress 3 M ( Fits perfectly and could support 'max' a 1.83 / 80 kg pilot )
Exocet M ( Fits nice...Felt that I’m pampered. Surrounds me completely .Could easily support an 1.85 / 80+ pilot )


Conclusion:
The WV GTO and the Genie Light are intended for the recreational pilot that wants a light pod.They are easy and a pleasure to fly .
The Impress 3 is the most comfortable seated harness, but has a bit more roll than the others and would need some time to adapt under it …
The Genie Race 1 is a harness oriented for competitions or for pilots looking for refined sensations. It has more roll than the Impress 2 + but its roll is limited to a certain angle and then it stops allowing its pilot to re-adjust under the glider. The pilot will not feel disoriented, but some flights are required to adapt to this excellent harness. The only bad side is its high weight. Beside that it is an excellent harness with every detail a pilot would think of…A full professionally made, complete harness. I liked it very much.
The Race 3 has everything a competition pilot will look for… The back comfort is slightly less than the Race 2 and it is more roll stable. The seating is a bit stiff but ok.
The Exocet is a comfortable harness that envelops and surrounds completely the pilot .


Cheers,
Ziad.

GIN Genie Race 3

I'll post a comparison shortly with WV X-rated 6 / WV GTO / Genie Race 3 / Exocet .
Cheers,
Ziad.

Ozone Swift 4 SM

Ozone Swift 4  SM

After test flying the Rush 4 here’s is the light version the Swift ready to take off…

Launching is even smoother and very easy.

First turn and i was immediately smiling :-)   The brake travel is medium to short with excellent precision and linear feel through the pull.  After testing the D2,A2,Buzz Z4, Rush 4, M6, Ozone really never missed a good handling. The Swift have nothing less is turning ability .

This superb handling is coupled by a very pitch neutral behavior ! After many flights i can confirm that the Swift is smoother than the Rush 4 in thermals. It doesn’t move around as much as the Rush 4 !  It feels like the same difference between Delta 2 and Alpina 2. The Swift 4 is more comfortable to fly and even more efficient in climb rate in weak conditions than the Rush 4 !

The accelerator pull is smooth and has a medium to low pressure .In full accelerated mode which is fully usable, the Swift 4 is very stable and has an impressive glide !

Totally usable and confidence inspiring, the Swift is a glider for adventure flights in some remote areas where the pilot should expect a comforting feel under his glider.

Ears are stable, and landing is very easy with good low speed capability.

Conclusion: The only thing i wished for is a faster trim and top speed. The Swift has the same trim speed as the Rush 4 which is less a bit from the concurrence . But the glide angle fully accelerated is on top of the category for the same speed at least.

No IP7, IP 8, Artik 4 .... etc....   :-)

The truth, the plain truth, and nothing but the truth … ?

After my personal and honest Niviuk Peak 3 test in May 2013, i was received in Saint Hilaire festival on the Niviuk stand by an angry and hysterical Niviuk owner…
All i could say angrily, is that i am still convinced by what i wrote and everything went smoothly afterward.

In June 2013 i ordered an IP 7 and followed it up ,but never received to this day…!
In early September i ordered an Artik 4 25 but didn’t get a answer. In Saint Hilaire 2014, i confirmed again with the export manager at the time that didn’t show me the Artik 4 25 …Two minutes later, It was claimed by a pilot who got it while i was still on the stand !!!  ;-)   

Later after many exchanged emails. I understood that Niviuk won’t send me any glider to test fly …May be after one year of sales …  ;-) 
Olivier Nef is the coolest, kindest and among the most “gentleman designers” you will ever meet !  I respect him, and he has nothing to do with this whole mess.
Companies has structures…
I fully understand Niviuk policy as an act of respect and recognition, which reminded me of this funny ,true story.  :-)

My aunt Rose is a natural born cookie baker. She can bake different kinds of delicious cookies.
On special occasions, the whole family gather around to taste her cookies.

Some cookies are really good, some are a bit less. She’s rushes sometimes a bit to be ready for the event… ! and forget an ingredient, but they are still nice to most.

When gathered around she always ask about the taste…We don’t want to make aunt Rose angry if she rarely forgot the sugar or else …so we always say  “Delicious as always !  thanks” !  ;-)
But my other ‘always smiling’ aunt Mary who’s seven years younger than aunt Rose is very picky and direct and she always like to tease her.
All the family awaits silently aunt Mary’s comments…Some people gets angry of her criticism and always question her intentions by saying :
“Why do she always wants to say anything? lets eat, celebrate, try to digest ;-) and go on…after all this is just an event ! ”  ;-)
But she always keep telling her personal, true taste …We all laugh afterward…  :-)

Despite some direct criticism, Ant Rose respect and love her sister immensely as she said :
‘She keeps me on my toes when i’m cooking’,
But I noticed that she always gave her the first cookies only when she’s sure that they are flawless…  ;-)   Of course family cookies are free …  And that’s a different story…

NOVA Triton 2 S

Triton 2 S  

Finally and after a loooog wait the TRITON 2 S has arrived … 
As usual the quality of construction of NOVA wings is beyond a doubt a class of its own. Excellent workmanship and robust feel … 

This test concern ONLY the S size ! It will not reflect any other sizes as the M and L size could be slightly different in some ways… 

My first flight with the Triton 2 S at 98 all up was made in turbulent, punchy conditions… enabling me to open my senses, understand, and feel the glider . 


Flying my usual harness the X-rated 6 with some ballast to reach 98 all up, i launched the Triton 2 S. The launching is easy for that glider and immediate.  

First turn in a small bullet thermal , the Triton 2 S has a moderate to pronounced roll movement .The pitch behavior is average to dynamic especially in those sharp edges where the Triton 2 S would like to cut and surge ahead in the strong thermal. Catching it quickly with the brakes is no problem for a good pilot.  
In turbulent and strong conditions the Triton 2 S is indeed a lively glider.  
It moves in the air with sharp surges and quick responses to the airmass and the pilot could feel it’s energy, but luckily the brake fan is optimized to dominate this overall energy with an active pilot underneath. 

A good pilot and after some hours to acclimatize, has the power and the advantage to control every movement of the glider which at the end gives surprisingly a certain feeling of passive safety for the high C class as the whole structure seems coherent and supple sometimes . 

Describing the handling and maneuverability of the TRITON 2 S is like driving a Ferrari in turns. 
Cornering is sharp and easy with precise and direct input . 
This very good handling is the key to control the TRITON 2 S movements in order to keep it in this particular box of the targeted group of pilots it is designed for ! 

Doing some long glides with one of the best C’s of the moment, the Triton 2 S showed first a slightly higher speed than most C’s equally loaded, and a slight better glide at trim putting it in the higher top performance by a very small edge. This performance is increased when the conditions are more difficult and especially in the presence of a head wind or strong valley or sea breeze. In those conditions the TRITON 2 S has a clear advantage over the current C’s . 

Reference glide : 
Doing some long glides with an Aspen 5 26 loaded at 99 all up showed that the Triton 2 S has a faster trim speed of +0.5 km/h and a better glide angle. 
Pushing the bar for both with pulleys touching showed exactly same top end speed over a run of 5 km 

The climb rate of the Triton 2 S loaded at 96 is average to good in very weak lift . 
In more steady thermals over 1.5 m/s and choppy conditions, the Triton 2 S has the advantage to dig and climb much quicker and more efficient than C gliders .Like it’s another class … 

The top speed for the Triton 2 S with the pulleys touching, loaded at 98 and at 1000 ASL showed a ± 13 km/h over trim. I have tried it many times and i couldn’t read more on my GPS. May be i have to change it    
I felt that the Triton 2 S into wind glides are it’s strongest point where i could feel it’s ability to surf the air and move higher and forward like no other C could do… 

I am convinced now that it has the performance that could easily tickle the D class.   

Big ears are stable without pushing the bar. The pilot must pump them to open. Ears with bar are unstable.  

Then, i flew the Triton 2 S alone in another spot and then landed and flew another new C glider…and so on…all day… Alternating gliders help me to see the differences in the air.  

Flying the Elan 26, Delta 2, SM  Alpina 2 SM , Sigma 9, Queen M ,Aspen 5, etc..  in the past year gave me an idea about their behavior in turbulent conditions. The Triton 2 S stands more demanding in terms of piloting . 

Conclusion: 
For sure the Triton 2 S is (Two step) higher than a Mentor 3 in terms of piloting ! It stands strangely between a high C and a D !  
The Triton 2 S IMHO is aimed for experienced pilots with multiple hours in different conditions in order to feel at home and surely needs some respect and understanding in order to extract every bit of the outstanding performance it delivers. 
NOVA has built a C with today’s D performance, but the TRITON 2 in S size IMHO could be welcomed and cherished for a D pilot profile. 



Cheers, 
Ziad. 

Air Design RISE 2

Air Design RISE 2 M ( The surprise ! )

My last AD gliders VOLT as a C and the Rise 1 as a B. The RISE 2 is the new replacement for the B pilots.

The AD RISE 2 has a very beautiful and clean construction . The sewings on the glider and the way it is built is very neat.

Launching the RISE 2 is no more demanding as a school glider. The glider inflates and wait for the pilot to act.

In the air and first thermal the RISE 2 brake pressure is medium to heavy if you pull more than 40 cm . But the glider is steered with only 15 cm as an efficient brake travel ! It is a relatively moderate to agile glider.
The brake fan is designed to give you complete accuracy in order to carve it into thermals. I have flown this glider from weak to strong conditions, and i can easily recommend that glider as first entry to the high B class for its easiness and coolness in flight. For sure the RISE 2 is designed for big air ! The comfort is amazing …

To talk about the climb rate, i had to fly next to a Mentor 3 at the same loadings . After many weak and strong thermals, i can confirm that the climb is excellent and very similar in all kind of thermals including the difficult ones when stuck in the sea breeze !

Doing several glides more than 7 km each ! next to a Mentor 3 S (videos soon) ,showed also a similar glide angle for both , which is impressive for the RISE 2 !

Big ears are difficult to hold, especially at bar. The speed system is fairly medium to light and can get the RISE 2 M at 100 all up and 1000 ASL at 10 km/h over trim speed.

Conclusion :
The AD RISE 2 M is truly a remarkable glider for the overall performances it delivers and the huge amount of comfort it carries ! This is an impressive successful package ! For sure the top speed is a bit low and the brakes are slightly heavy…But no pilot on the RISE 2 will ever blame the wing on its into wind performance efficiency for the B class and especially on it's comfort caracteristic . Hat’s off to Air Design for that particular creation. 

 

 :-)

41th Coupe Icare Interviews

Excellent Coupe Icare this year, I met lots of nice people and i was impressed with the humility of big designers, with their very positive approach.

Lots of pilots and professionals looked very puzzled by my free tests, and asked me if I'm going to keep on doing them ...And why i am still doing this free service...

I never thought about it.

It is true that passion can outcome the hard reality and i can only reply: Because it happens that i am here, at this moment  :-)

Axis Comet 2 S

Axis Comet 2 S Opening the Axis bag and the glider showed a very good quality construction .The Comet 2 has a shark nose, thin lines on the upper layers, very sporty risers look. Performance is written just by looking on the Comet 2 . Launching the glider is uneventful for the B class. I am flying the S size 70-90 at 88 all up. First turn showed a moderate and light feel on the brakes with precise response enabling an agile turn. The Comet 2 S can be very nicely placed inside the thermals by applying the exact amount on the brakes. It has some moderate roll movements found in the B class. The pitching behavior is nearly absent ,enabling the pilot to concentrate on the flight. Loading the S size at max didn’t really affect the glider capability to climb in weak cores. In fact with it’s linear and precise handling , the weakest thermals can be easily exploited. The strongest point of the Comet 2 is it’s glide angle at trim speed . After many glides with top B gliders, the Comet 2 is outstanding ! It stands right by side and not far from the best in this category . At second bar there's more to work on as the glide deteriorate a bit. The speed system is moderate to light and easy to use ,with a top speed around 54 km/h . Big ears are very stable and a superb way to descend quickly. Wing overs are fun, and the S size is playful. Conclusion: Each glider gives a certain feeling after landing. Some are special, some are exquisite, others are less… The Comet 2 gave me the feeling of getting it airborne again ,like after a successful first date…  I think the Comet 2 is a balanced and fun glider to fly. It has everything to get it’s pilot on the longest XC’s with the pleasure of flying it. If this glider meets your budget, i recommend a test flight as soon as possible with the satisfaction that will come along !

Gradient Aspen 5

Soon,

Gradient Aspen 5 26

The size 26 is ready for take off at 99 all up. It looks like a big glider on the ground. The construction details are superb !  The rods on the leading edge of the Aspen 5 are not very long.  The A attachment points on the glider are slightly back . 

Risers are skinny and sporty, and the Aspen 5 has all unsheathed lines.

Launching the Aspen 5 in nil wind is easy just a steady pull … In stronger wind above 25 km/h be ready to control it as other C gliders…

Flying the Aspen 5 26 at 99 all up, in some turbulent cores showed a moderate roll response ,slightly more than Aspen 4 with some movements on the yaw axis.   However at that load, entering some thermals the Aspen 5 pitch back a bit then stabilize above the pilots head. It is very different in behavior from the Aspen 4 .

The brake travel is similar to the 4 with light pressure , and the turning radius is flatter. It is surely more efficient in climb than the Aspen 4 ,but with less agility for the same loadings.

The Aspen 5 gives this feeling of performance efficiency where the Aspen 4 was more oriented for fun. Surely Gradient wanted to get maximum performance out of a C.

Talking about performance lets begin with the climbing ability. After many flights and comparison with my reference glider in the C category, and with the same loadings,i can see that the Aspen 5 is very competitive with the top ones. 

The efficiency in the weak coupled with a flat turn is very good !   In punchier thermals the Aspen 5 will surely climb very well also, but will need just a second to settle after the back pitch.

In gliding power, at trim speed the Aspen 5 also showed similar performance as the top ones, but at top speed which is ±15 km/h over trim at 800 ASL, the Aspen 5 has a very interesting glide angle that could place it on top.

Big ears flap a bit, and it is better to sit in the middle or use the speed system symmetrically with this maneuver to avoid turning left or right.

It is clear that the Aspen 5 was built for efficient flying rather than a freestyle wing to throw around. But still flying it heavy can improve that feeling. 

Conclusion: With the Aspen 5 ,Gradient has successfully built an efficient XC machine to compete with this category.  

Choosing a glider comes always to a personal choice of multiple feelings and sensations that comes after a test flight .     

U-Turn Infinity 4 S (70-90)

U-Turn Infinity 4 The lightning little sister for the B entry level. Launching is super easy, with just a slight pull on the A’s. The Infinity 4 feels relatively very light. Once airborne, the Infinity 4 react with the environment with moderate roll movement and a nice neutral pitch behavior. Much less than the one on the Lightning. The trim speed is a bit slow . It could be around 37 km/h. The handling inside thermals is excellent. The brake pressure is light and the wing reacts quickly and precisely on input ! I could say easily that it has one of the finest handling among the low rated B’s. Climb rate inside the thermals showed a similar efficiency as the Blacklight which is excellent in this category. The Infinity 4 could be slowed down inside a small bubble and it can efficiently core it to base. Doing some glides puts the Infinity 4 in the middle to high of the category . With the low trim speed, doing some long glides with bar is efficient. The Infinity 4 doesn’t loose much at full bar ! It stays well on a good glide angle. Big ears are stable and reopen by themselves. Conclusion: The Infinity 4 S at 90 all up move a bit in turbulence but stays surely in the low B category and can be described as a sweet glider…Light on the brakes ,light on the bar, efficient on glide and especially on the climb . I wish it had a faster trim speed…

SKYWALK Tequila 4 S (YODA ! The Jedi master :-) )

History:
At first i was afraid of getting a Tequila 4 for testing as i thought it could have the same long brake travel as the Chili 3, especially being a low B, then some pilots reported that it was completely different....i was curious...i ordered it...waited ... a ... lot ... Skywalk delay...then it came.
The test:
The last Skywalk glider i have flown was a Chili 3.  That glider amazed me by its overall performance especially the climb rate. The only negative point for my personal taste was its long brake travel.

Now its smaller sister the Tequila 4 in size S (70-95) is smiling at me at the take off....
Quality is now a competitive race between manufacturers, and a Skywalk wing has its place on the higher steps among the best ones available. Talking about quality can be sometimes like poor literature on paper .
The eye is the key that unveils the perfection of the work that has been done on a paraglider .The Skywalk Tequila 4 much like the Chili 3 has a neat finish coupled with refine construction details.

Launching the S size at 92 all up, i found the first pull on the A's to be relatively calm ,smooth and the lift from the first steps was quick.  

In the air: 
I still remember perfectly my last test flights on low B gliders .
 Ion 3, Atlas, Buzz Z4, etc...
Flying the Tequila 4 in thermals surprised me ! The maneuverability in this low B category is unique by a "short" quicker brake response and immediate turning behavior which puts a large smile and even more happy humor the whole flight...(In the past low B gliders were dull and some pilots will be bored)  Not on the Tequila 4 ! I was enjoying my test flight  :-) Farewell to the long brake travel on the Chili 3. The Tequila is ssssspicy :-)
Small bullet thermals can be out-cored !!!      Is that english ??   :-) 

The Tequila 4 doesn't dive in the thermal. It just turn quickly as we use to say "on a dime" !

After several occasions  flying next to my usual friends .I can confirm an excellent climb rate for that tiny Grey/green dot ! ;-) ...In fact i think Skywalk has managed to inherit the Tequila 4 'some' of the fine climbing qualities of its bigger sister the Chili 3 .

Doing long glides against some gliders in the same category did in fact surprised me even more ...The Tequila 4 stand on the higher shelf of the performance scale for a low B glider and could even match the best one up there touching the heart of the high-end B category supremacy... The trim speed at my total weight was very good for a low B. May be 39.5 km/h at 800 asl. 
Some difficult glides were made against the sea breeze and showed some impressive behavior for the Tequila 4 enabling it to always search forward and float rather than to bump against the airmass. And that is totally brilliant for a low B glider.

Who's the glider for?
The 'Spaghetti salad mixture' dilemma of the higher categories,D,C and finally touching the high-end B's with the appearance of the high aspect ratio ones has already made heads spinning faster than ever...to say the least... 
This race for better performance or should i say better numbers ?  ;-) as some pilots are still looking for those !! Yes and they are many still...unfortunately...
This big salad mixture seems to be tasty ...and i 'm afraid it will hit the lower categories soon.

 Back to my green Yoda friend, I found that it has the ability to please pilots in the category above who will appreciate its relatively dynamic but reassuring attitude. The Tequila 4 is not a tamed or dull low B glider. It is a glider for talented pilots searching for their second wing and will find real fun without loosing the 0.2 figure... in L/D on the higher B's.

In fact wing overs on the Tequila 4 are awesome ! In the second weight shift i found myself above the wing...Looking at the small aspect ratio glider ,i wouldn't have thought i will have fun like that! 
It could possibly be and i don't encourage it...but ....a good baby learning acro wing :-) for the basic maneuvers of course.

Big ears are stable and a good way to get down,if coupled with bar.
Speed over trim is 11 km/h with a medium to soft pressure push.
The glide is still good at ± 44 km/h ,then the Chili 3 will prevail.
Low speed characteristics are present with a forgiving 75 % brake pull ,but the glider will keep a certain float-ability before top landing...It's polar seems good .


Conclusion: 
Low aspect ratio B glider , true 3 liner design , top gliding and climbing performance , handles like a toy, a blissful machine , That's the Tequila 4 in size S .

Hi, 

UPDATE :
Hi,

I am been flying the Tequila 4 S those past weeks, and more feedback are available to share.

In my flying years ,there were some special gliders. Flying them gave me an impression that they stand near perfection in their respective categories.

After each flight on the Tequila 4 S , those impressions  began more and more to settle in.

When laying this glider for folding it after each flight , my head always ask the same question: 

How come that a low aspect ratio glider that looks relatively small over my head round and compact ,having all over regular covered lines ! can in fact fly beautifully each time i took it for an air challenge.

In 85 % of difficult conditions , the T4 always kept it’s magical powers saving me again and again to regain some heights, and float away, where some other gliders next to me seems to reject the conditions of the day by their excessive bumping, surging, diving , jumping around and loosing heights.

Indeed there are some special gliders, and the T4 S is one of them. 

It is in fact the whole package that is successful . Where the brake response of the Chili 3 and Cayenne 4 were long and in stronger ,punchier conditions, the brakes weren’t that efficient to control the strong surges, the Tequila 4 is the golden boy! The brake travel is short, and very precise. Yes it moves a bit more than an average low B ,but the precision of the brakes will tame immediately the sudden movements of the glider. 

In weak thermals it is a bliss to steer it.  No B or C pilot would be indifferent toward this precision and pleasure to fly it, and they won’t loose that joyful feeling under it that is not usually available on  some low aspect B’s...

For me the Tequila 4 S is a special glider and the main cause is (  low aspect ratio -  Normal lines-B glider  - High trim speed !  - Pleasure handling - Outstanding performance ‘efficiency' for a regular B !  )

Many did asked me if the glide matches the Chili 3 S.  May be the manufacturer won’t say it…But i will…Yes it has the same glide angle until 44 km/h and the glide in moving conditions is ….b.t….impressive   ;-) 

Designing gliders sometimes don’t bear the fruits that manufacturer are aiming for. A glider replacement is not always better…Too many things involved for success...

But the Tequila 4 S design for the easy B category is indeed a success.  Too many things involved for success...

  IMHO unless there’s a competition for speed , a good pilot can fly the T4 where his imagination leads him .

Cheers,

Ziad.