NEW PARAGLIDERS  2003 
(Archive: May 2003)

Go to current NEW PARAGLIDERS

REPORTED: MACPARA Magus 3; GIN Bolero Plus; WINDTECH Pulsar & Kinetic: EDEL Ace; SOL Eclipse; XIX Sens C3; WINDTECH Quarx 2.

MAC PARA Magus 3

Already seen in international competitions, the Magus 3 is the new race machine from the Czech company Mac Para, to replace the Magus. Female world Champion 2002 Petra Krausova won the first PWC event of this year, in Japan, with her new Magus 3 -which makes the team at Mac Para very happy. They say it is a fast and stable glider, even in turbulences, and has a wide speed range that goes from 23 to 42 k/h with the brakes only (35 cm), and up to 62-63 with full speed bar. The Magus 3 has an aspect ratio of 6.2, and the manufacturer highlights its "easy" take off, a "top glide ratio" (+9 points) until 50 k/h, a flat polar and "precise handling and fast control". They also claim it has "a sharp curve in all gradients, an amazing brake's running and a faultless penetration". In the construction they used Porcher Marine nylon 6,6 Skytex ME for the upper and lower surfaces. The Magus 3 is available in 3 sizes, covering a weight range from 75 to 120 kg (pilot full equipped).

GIN Bolero Plus

Recently certified DHV 1, the Bolero Plus will replace the Bolero in the beginners category. The design work took Gin Seok more than a year to achieve the glider he wanted: "a glider which is easy to fly, comfortable and of course, extremely safe". According to Gin, the new Bolero+ has improved from the first one in an even easier take off and lighter inflation, a flatter turn with better sink rate and a finer shape of the canopy. It is said to be more precise in turns and to give a more 'compact' feeling of the wing. In the construction the company introduced a new fabric finish, E85A for the Porcher New Skytex fabric, which they say "offers greater performance and durability, and also reduces fabric weight, improving launch, security and re-inflation". The glider is also one of the lightest available now, with a weight of around 5 kgs. The Bolero Plus will be available in 5 sizes, from XS to XL (for pilots from 60 to 125 kg) as soon as they are all certified. Up to now, only sizes M and L have passed the DHV, but the rest will follow very soon.

WINDTECH Pulsar y Kinetic

The replacement for the Serak, the Pulsar, quietly passed the DHV certification to appear with 3 of its 4 sizes approved in DHV 1-2 category, even before the Windtech dealers knew about its release! The Spanish factory wanted to have the new glider completely ready for the public -DHV included- before starting a promotion campaign. The Pulsar has kept many of the characteristics that made the Serak popular; it actually is a "renewed" Serak, in which the designers have given special care to improve the handling and the trim speed (around 38 k/h) whilst keeping the passive security level of the old Serak. Planform and line set are the same, but Windtech have changed the profile and the tension on the canopy. Maximum speed is around 50 k/h and, according to the review published by the Spanish magazine "Parapente Vuelo Libre", the Pulsar is an 'intermediate-intermediate' glider, as performance goes up to 8 points in glide, and it also has a "lively turn" and "direct handling". The designers at Windtech say they wanted to make a glider with "good agility, manoeuvrability and a quick and precise response", and a high security level. The Pulsar is available in 4 sizes, covering from 60 kg (total weight) to 125 kg. The XS size is pending certification.

From the Pulsar, the company developed a special model for paramotoring, the Kinetic. This glider features special reinforcements in all the hanging points and also in the seams between the ribs and the inner surface. The risers have been shortened to 42 cms., to reduce the effect of the chassis, and are made of strong materials with reinforced sewing in the hang points. One interesting feature is a special riser to pull the ears down, equipped with a fastener to keep the big ears in so the pilot can continue flying with no need to hold them. The fastener can be pulled effortless with one hand and release is "extremely easy" according to the factory. The Kinetic features cells of different width, with internal diagonals and lines of variable diameter. It also has trims with a special system to prevent accidental release. It is certified for paramotor use by CEN / ACPUL.

Edel Ace

Edel is back in the competition scene with the Ace, the model that came to replace the Millenium, which was an unsuccessful competition glider that turned out to be quite good for aerobatics. So, the Ace has kept some of the agility characteristics of its predecessor but it has some important improvements regarding speed and glide. The most interesting fact about the Ace is that it is available in 8 sizes! The smallest one, XXS, has an area of 21,48 m2 (real) and it is aimed at Acro pilots. The XS is for a weight range of 60-80 kg (take-off weight), XSS for 65-85 kg, S for 75-95, SM for 80-100, M for 90-110, ML for 100-115 and L, 105-125 kg. All sizes have an aspect ratio of 6,1 real and 4,9 projected, and maximum speed is said to be 61 k/h. The color scheme has been improved as well, with new combinations of colors, visually more attractive. According to the Ace pilot from Spain, Miguel Angel Ventaja (who moved from an Avax) its best quality is "an extraordinary turning ability", probably because it was though as an Acro glider. "If you're on top of the weight range, and even a little over the max, you get the best of the Ace, the wingtips have a lot of pressure and the glide is amazing!". In his opinion, the brakes are a bit hard and the travel is short, "you feel the pressure of the glider". The speed system is also hard but "effective". In the first championship of the Spanish League, Miki compared himself with a friend's Boomerang and was satisfied with the results, he even thinks that he could climb slightly better -but this is all subjective, of course. At Edel they have kept some mystery about the designer's identity. After a long collaboration from Michael Nesler, they have not confirmed if they have a new designer, well known, and from Germany (according to the rumours…). The English version of Edel's website has not been updated with the Ace yet.

SOL Eclipse

The new perfo glider from the Brazilian factory SOL was designed for experienced pilots who desire maximum performance "yet want to fly a glider that is not nervous or stressful". The Eclipse took some characteristics from the Dynamic (competition glider with which Marcelo Pietro covered 400 km in Texas, USA, last year) and the Synergy, their intermediate model. It has an aspect ratio of 5,78 and, compared to the Cyclone, its predecessor, it has "not only a better glide ratio and improved sink rate, but a new relationship between the pilot and glider; the glider seems more rigid, and answers every pilot command" according to the factory. The Eclipse features 64 cells, 10 of them closed; trailing edge reinforced with Kevlar; profile reinforcement in Carbon/Mylar composite; internal sewing; optimised line layout to reduce 15% of lines and drag; and direct connection brake lines-canopy. According to Sol's designers, the Eclipse offers very good take-off characteristics, high internal pressure, high stability at full speed, a flat polar curve, light reactions in extreme conditions, and good passive safety. It is available in 3 sizes, covering a weight range from 70 to 120 kg.

Sol's website offers detailed information about their models, including all the technical data and type of pilot appropriate for each glider, and it's worth a visit: www.solsports.com.br

XIX Sens C3

At the recent PWC in Ibaraki, Japan, the new competition machine from the Swiss company XIX gave a good impression winning the 2nd task, in the hands of Simon Morgenthaler. The Sens C3 has an aspect ratio of 6,2, a maximum speed of 62 k/h (according to the factory), and has been checked by the DHV. It is said to have an enormous climb and glide potential, with predictable and homogeneous handling. So good, that Simon asked the factory: "what did you give me here? A DHV 1-2 wing?!! This wing feels great!". About its design, XIX say that the glider has been developed "using state-of-the-art high-reality simulation programs coupled with extensive test-flight feedback".

The Sens C3 is available in 3 sizes (75-120 kg), and interested competition pilots can contact the company through their website www.xix.ch

XIX is also starting the production of a new DHV 1 "with a high aspect ratio", the Smile, which will be certified very soon.

WINDTECH Quarx 2

The new intermediate glider from the Spanish factory that is replacing the popular Quarx, has been certified Afnor Standard and DHV 2 (size 29, the rest still pending). Compared to the original Quarx, the Quarx 2 features some improvements in the profile, more aerodynamic, for a better sink rate and glide. It also has new leading edge cell opening design, which is supposed to provide better inflation characteristics "and leading edge solidity". The stabilos present a new shape and line layout system, "for all round better handling, efficiency, and recovery characteristics" according to Windtech. The Quarx 2 also has a wider speed range, as the minimum speed has been lowered to 22 k/h while the max goes up to 52 k/h. The glider is aimed at a wide variety of pilots since it has a good compromise between safety and performance, at least very satisfactory for the designers -who claim that "this is one of the most difficult projects we have ever developed, as improving on the Quarx seemed an impossible task… finally we have done it!!".

The company has just certified its new DHV 1-2 model, Pulsar, and a Tandem called Bantoo but they have not offered details of them yet (not even to their own dealers!). We expect to receive fresh data very soon…

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