ADVANCE Epsilon 8
As always, opening an ADVANCE wing is a nice experience since the quality of construction and materials are really nice .
The Epsilon 8 is ADVANCE low B glider. All lines are sheathed with strong line construction !
I’ve seen many gliders and that low B seems having an indestructible construction. It is obvious that ADVANCE wanted a glider that will last for a long time without even thinking going out of trim ! It’s a surely well built glider !
Launching the Epsilon 8 is super easy and a non event …No shooting forward for sure, no hang back…It just wait above the pilots head.
I flew the Epsilon 8 from 90 to 95. This handling on this glider is fine tuned for a wide variety of tastes ! You can turn it pulling 5 cm and it turns smoothly and you can turn it with 30 cm pull with the same smooth dynamism ! Excellent !
The pressure on the brakes are moderate, much like the Ion 4 ones. The overall agility for a low B is nice and well balanced !
Low B pilots can easily fly it, and a more advanced pilot can place it with little input in thermals. It has a surprisingly precise brake response.
The overall movements in roll and pitch in strong turbulent cores (+7m/s) are super smooth and easy to understand with a glider that is smiling at you like a nice polite butler ! The Epsilon 8 doesn’t have a pitch back or forward before entering thermals .It has a very well balanced behavior. Newbies will adore !
The climb rate in weak conditions is efficient. The information is very smoothly given by the brakes and slightly by the risers.
Going on a glide on the Epsilon 8 at trim and at full bar puts it among the top 5 of the low B gliders. Very easy to keep the bar fully accelerated.
Ears are super stable, easy, and reopen quickly. Landing the Epsilon 8 is a non event with a good flair.
Conclusion: The Epsilon 8 has everything a low B pilot wishes. From a nice handling to a comfortable ride in turbulence and a good glide angle to begin cross country safely. It’s strong construction will ensure a long use.
