NOVA ORYX S (80-100)

Finally after a long wait I received the ORYX at 1:30 noon and rushed for our soaring site for a quick 0 gravity feeling.
The wind was sideways and fairly strong ±30 km/h, but the glider was very easy to inflate and handle. It does not have the tendency to be pushed out of gusts and thermals. It keeps getting forward smoothly. I really like that in a glider regardless of the category they represent.
Speed stall is very far beyond seat position. (I could not reach it with the factory settings)





The ORYX is a light glider .I have weighted the S size at 4.7 kg + compression strap.





The risers are normal and not too skinny, like all NOVA gliders.




Playing on the ground is a child play. Very easy and forgiving .A small tendency if you let completely the brakes the glider could frontal collapse(only when kiting on the ground). That’s normal for a high performance EN-B glider. It is nice to see after a long period of time that this category of gliders is even easier to handle than its predecessors and playful at the same time.

I made a small introduction video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqbSIEvAH1M



Today was weak on thermals. I flew the ORYX and the GOLDEN 3 .

The ORYX loaded at 96 all up.

Launching was very easy and quickly the glider lift me airborne.
In the past NOVA gliders were lacking of handling. from the Argon…to the Tycoon.
The Tattoo was nice to fly but the ability into wind was absent. Even with the Mamboo ,i was always pushed out of thermals. The handling was not to my liking and lost interest…(I did not try the FACTOR yet which NOVA claims to have a nice feel).

Today was something new…I never felt happier flying this ORYX. It is like a NEW NOVA era !! Hope so…To describe the handling of the ORYX ,is a revelation to me. The brake travel at that loading was perfect .Not long anymore and very efficient .I felt (near)flying my best high performance glider in efficiency and in response. The glider turn on a dime!!! Coring perfectly every thermal with ultimate precision. In head wind conditions + thermals the wing is not pushed out of the thermal…Incredible efficiency for that EN-B glider. If you have flown the ARTIC 2 S,then the feeling of the brakes is the same(but a little longer).

That's a glider with a 'soul'

Flying it again in stronger conditions showed a very good behaviour. Still very agile and precise in turns even the air is bumpy.I could place the glider easily wherever i want.

The ORYX inspire confidence in the strong stuff.The feeling of security and happiness is great.


The performances are for sure on top of the EN-B cat.A high trim speed of 39km .It has an outstanding ability upwind matching the EN-C cat.(We did a glide test with the ARTIC 2) The ORYX loaded at max has a higher trim speed of 0.5 km more . Video in process.

Taking from the GOLDEN 3 tests:
+++++++++++++++++ Knowing that , we did return to land on take off and Moni got the ORYX to try at 98.5 all up (Weight of ORYX is 4.5! ) and I took the Artic 2 Small (EN-C) loaded at 95 all up for a test glide also.

Launching and going up, surely the advantage of quick climb is for the Artic 2(EN-C) .This glider is a reference between (EN-C) gliders. Now the good part is the 2 km headwind glide with the ORYX .

We were both surprised as you will be, seeing the video! They were both equal in this glide...(NO more Comment,see the video)with an advantage for the ORYX in trim speed. But when I pressed the bar headwind with the Artic 2 ,the difference is of course in favor of the EN-C glider.++++++++++++++++++++


To conclude my test ,i could describe the ORYX like a butterfly. Light ,performant and beautifull .
Surely the best EN-B glider i have ever tested till 20/3/2010.


Video number 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LdREBD-xFw



A small glide comparaison just for fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P-Y7gqzHfU


Another comparaison with the ARTIC 2 EN-C !


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmbv6UFQJEA



A video bettween Goden 3 and Oryx in weak thermal flying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im8un92L7h4

AIRCROSS USPORT FR 24.5 (90-105)

USPORT 24.5 FR (90-105)



On the ground the Usp FR looks impressive. Besides having a flat aspect ratio of 6.8 and 5.0 projected, it is a true 3 liner. It has those reinforced plastic inserts on every cell RFE, and all lines are unsheathed with risers having 3cm negative and 5 cm positive trimmers.
It really does look impressive!!!




The Usp is rather a heavy glider. It weights around 7.5 kg on the M size. Its weight is around the leading edge .You can feel it by lifting the cells.



I flew it at 98 kg all up with an Impress harness.

Surprisingly, the glider launched very easy and evenly, finding me quickly airborne.

Having flown many high performance gliders, this one is unique.
Pitch movement were nearly absent or should I say soft. The glider cuts and climbs smoothly into the thermals. Roll movement were like all EN-D gliders .May be like the VENUS 2 .
At trim speed the Usp flies around 40 km/h .


I felt somehow, that this glider has a different character .
In the thermals the glider imposes that unique and strong character into the pilot. It does not like to be pinched much ;-) (By the brakes) .







It likes to be left flying,weight shifting with the harness with a little touch on the brakes from time to time.
It does have some movements in the air but it is a glider who will solve all the turbulence and move forward and up, as quickly as possible .

If the pilot will try to brake the glider or enforce his flying style, then the Usp with its strong energy retention will be like a wild horse by forward or back movements .It is simply trying to fly …


Depending on the thermals strengths, I felt that on weak cores I let completely the outside brake and using only the inside brake ,the glider turns on a dime. Very agile glider, with a climb rate to match the best EN-D gliders.


The brakes are soft to medium more like the Aspen 3 feeling .I would loved to have them more direct and precise.


In turbulent conditions, and different thermal cores, it is difficult to place the glider precisely with the soft brakes. It felt like flying the PEAK 25 (loaded)but with a shorter brake travel and faster response from the glider in settling inside the thermal.
To turn efficiently the glider must settle inside the thermals before I could turn it .
In strong "well built" thermals ,it is a pleasure to turn and climb. You feel having a knife and cutting your way .

Stepping on the bar is very easy with the most soft accelerator I have tried .Even mellower than the Aspen 3. The efficiency on bar is the strongest point of the Usp.
It is the most performing racer machine I have test (till 01-2010), especially in head wind glides and when using the bar!!!


In our earlier tests, I found when flying the VENUS 2 RX beside the USPORT, that the more we have head wind + strong cores and strong conditions; the USPORT was moving forward better and climbing like a loaded spring.


I felt that flying the USPORT at 98 was very efficient in the weak.
If loaded at +103, the glider will loose that efficiency especially when the conditions are tricky and very small.

However I think that in the strong conditions I would much more be efficient in gliding into wind and racing at +103 all up.



Activating the trimmers negatively reduces the glider speed and is good when you are loaded at 103+. Flying at 98 I did not feel the need to use them in negative position because the glider was climbing easily the weakest thermals .


Big ears are instable, but reopen fast .The tension on the ears lines is like a well tensioned string .You can play a song…Pommmm…pommmm… ;-)
The whole span looks well tensioned ,very stiff and like concrete.



Conclusion: High performances are on the menu . I wished the handling would be more linear and precise. I felt this glider is not intended for flying in a small restricted spot .It needs open spaces and long glides . This is for sure an XC machine with top end performances for the experienced regularly flying pilot.

ADVANCE BI-BETA 4 38

I could be one of many who likes quality and superb details in a glider, and always when I unfold an ADVANCE glider ,my eyes are wide open for the excellent finish and details .




Of course they will all fly, but it is nice and funny "sometimes" to feel that you are flying in style :-) .
Even the attachment points are fitted correctly and properly, (see pic)




The launching of the BiBeta is really easy in weak or even in strong wind. The take off also at 175 all up was quick with a weak head wind of 5 km/h .

The first thermal ,and I looked up to see really if I was flying the BiBeta 4 and not my solo glider ;-) !! The brakes were very moderate for a tandem and the agility surprised me. The aluminum bars on the handles allow a good pressure point for easy and nice thermal precision.




The BiBeta 4 38 loaded at 175 climbs moderately in weak thermals. The size 42 should be much better in climb. In the strong stuff the 38 moves with roll movement (Not dampened).It has lots of energy and you feel like you have a toy glider (for a tandem) .

Opening the trim is a pure joy. The BiBeta accelerates really well and you feel that acceleration. May be going up to 47 km/h or more…(not sure)

Always respecting my passenger for a calm and nice tandem flight to enable him to feel the magic…But The passenger that day was looking annoyed and asked me if I could make the ride for him more interesting…That's all what I wanted to hear ;-)
Wing over's were high and very energetic, and the 360's were really nice and centrifugal, with a loud and long voice in my ears!! Mammaaaaaaa !!

It was my passenger who really was having "now" a cheerful ride.
Big ears on this tandem are easy to induce and the recovery is fast.
The BiBeta 4 38 lands nicely with a good energy and long brake travel.

Conclusion: I really liked the 38 for the overall feeling in the air .Easy and great handling.