PRODUCTS NEWS 2003 (Archive:January 2003)
Go to current NEW PARAGLIDERS

REPORTED: ProDesign Jazz, Apco Keara, UP Summit2, SKY Atis, Gradient Aspen, Airwave Wave & Magic3, Aerodyne Shaman & Dune, Nova Artax, MacPara Pasha2, Skywalk Cayenne, Ozone Vulcan, Independence Dragon2, Wings of Change Twister.

PRO-DESIGN JAZZ
This Austrian company starts the year with a new basic-intermediate glider, to be certified in DHV 1-2 class: JAZZ. They plan to release it by the end of this month, in 4 sizes. One of its characteristics will be its lightweight, about 5 kg. only, in the smaller sizes. Something our shoulders will surely appreciate!
In the construction of the Jazz, Pro Design has used some features introduced with their perfo (DHV 2) model last year, the Titan, like reinforcement tape along the wingspan, or the TETS brake-line attachments, supposed to offer a more efficient braking and perfect tension on the trailing edge.
The leading edge of the Jazz features the so-called 'Ram-Air Pockets' on the bottom sail, "to reduce performance-diminishing vibrations", according to the manufacturers.
The company is also working on a new Tandem model, which should be ready by the beginning of this spring.

 

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APCO KEARA
Although released during the 2nd half of 2002, the KEARA is Apco's new star for this year. Introduced as Simba's daughter (a character from Disney's story of the Lion King), it is said to be inheriting all Simba's virtues and more: faster, more powerful and better performing.
One interesting detail about Keara's design is APCO's HIT (High speed InTake) valve system (pat. pending). The HIT is a sequence of meshed valves above the leading edge opening, which are closed during flight on trim speed (average angle of attack), but open once the angle of attack is reduced and speed is increased. Apco claims that this "ensures a rock-solid wing at highest possible speed".
KEARA also introduces a semi rigid leading edge that helps keep the profile definition. Apco calls it FLEXON batten technology, and it reminds us of Gin's Rigi-foil system introduced for the first time with the Boomerang, in 2001, which inspired other manufacturers to work on semi-rigid leading edges (e.g. Windtech's Syncro also features a version on this subject). The Flexon battens support the top and bottom surface leading-edge fabric between the ribs, keeping the profile clean and the intakes open. This feature is supposed to improve the performance of the wing, especially at high speeds, and also improve inflation of the wing both during launch and re-inflation in flight, according to the manufacturer. Apco has also certified a competition version of KEARA with unsheathed thin lines.

 

 

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UP Summit 2 *Size M just certified DHV 2*
New in DHV 2 category is the Summit 2 (a long awaited replacement for the Blues) featuring the “Honeycomb-V-Tape System“ introduced by the company with last year’s perfo model, Trango. The system uses additional tapes that runs parallel to the top and bottom surface in combination with the V-tape system, “forming a stable construction similar to the honeycomb buildings of bees”, and was modified especially for the UP Summit 2 to be used in connection with a new line geometry. UP specifies: It has line attachment points on every third cell to lower drag (only 152 lines); 63 cells taper off in size towards the tip and create a homogeneous geometry with an aspect ratio of 5.3; the risers are taken directly from the proven UP competition risers and provide a high speed range.
The UP Summit 2 is aimed at experienced pilots "who above all want to appreciate a perfect handling", says the company.
This year's UP range will also include a new DHV 1-2 model, the UP Kantega, "a performing intermediate in the 1-2 range", in between the Makalu and the Summit 2; and the Competition glider UP Targa, a replacement for the Gambit C, which will be flown by top pilots like Alex Hofer, Oliver Rössel or Jean Marc Caron. It is claimed to reach more than 60 k/h, with a leading edge closed an additional 30%.

 

 

 

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Sky Paragliders – Atis Acro
This new model intended for Acro pilots is based in Sky's intermediate glider, the Atis, released in 2002 in 3 sizes and about to have certification for the 4th, an XS (DHV 1-2). The Atis Acro had a good debut in the hands of pilot Tomas Lednik, who took the 3rd place at the past Oludeniz Air Games in Turkey with it. It is a small glider (XS size) and favoured with more speed and dynamic response than the serial model, thanks to a different plan layout.
We hope to hear more about it soon.

 

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Gradient Aspen *Sizes 26-28 just certified DHV 2*
The new XC / perfo glider from this Czech company is the Aspen, offered as "the next step for pilots moving up to a performance glider from Onyx and other gliders of this category". In the design, Gradient used a new shape and position for the cell openings. They say: "Maximum attention was given to the relationship between the tension in the leading edge and trailing edge. When the tension in the leading edge and trailing edge of the canopy is well balanced, the glider feels compact, has very good performance and gives perfect feedback to the pilot". The Aspen is also said to have a unique sink ratio, a "perfect manoeuvrability" and really good recovery from accelerated asymmetric tuck.

 

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AIRWAVE WAVE & MAGIC 3 *Magic3 M certified DHV 2-3* Airwave has just certified its 2 new models for this year. The Wave is Airwave's newest glider, designed for new pilots leaving school or "just any pilot searching for a wing that inspires confidence, but at the same time delivers the handling and performance to fly high and far". The Wave has a trim speed of about 35k/h and +-46k/h accelerated.
On the perfo category, the Magic 3 is the replacement for the successful Magic (Magic 2 disappeared as an unsatisfactory prototype). Airwave remarks that the glider received DHV 2 for the trim speed tests and DHV 2/3 for the accelerated tests, which is "even better than the DHV grades for the original Magic, and considering that the performance and speed of the Magic 3 are considerably better than the original Magic this is pretty impressive".
Airwave has started the production of these models so they should be available these days.

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Aerodyne Shaman & Dune
While part of Aerodyne Team is enjoying warm flights in Chile with all their models, making pictures and videos, the company has announced that a new intermediate glider is under development and should be ready by the end of March: the Dune, intended as DHV 2.
The other new model for this year is the Shaman, a new performance glider created for experienced pilots, which retains many of the Blaster's characteristics, such as its profile that “allows it to retain remarkable stability at high speed”, says the French company.
The SHAMAN is available in two versions: the standard version and the full race version, with trimmers and thin lines on the top portion of the suspension system

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NOVA ARTAX *Size M just certified DHV 1-2*

The Radon family has given origin to the 2 newest models of Nova, the Aeron (DHV 2) and the Artax (DHV 1-2). The Artax should be completing DHV certification for all its sizes these days, and it is introduced as "a glider that behaves very safely in every situation but still has the performance of a high performance machine".

Some features shared by "brothers" Aeron and Artax are the diagonal ribs with short line forks construction, new wingtips and planform, new trailing edge shape and a new airfoil.

Info: http://www.nova-wings.com/

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MAC PARA - PASHA II
A biplace glider is the newest model from MacPara, the Pasha II, certified DHV 1-2. Development of this replacement for Pasha took more than a year, and the final result is a classic construction, with every second rib attached to lines, and diagonal tapes. The handling and performance were kept similar to the first one; with some improvements like its new airfoil shape specially developed for easy take-offs, stable glider and light brakes -according to the Team at Mac Para, who are very proud of this new model. The weight range goes from 140 to 220 kg., glide is around 8,3 and the size is about 42 m2. The model is about to complete certification, so it will be available very soon

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SKYWALK - CAYENNE

The new DHV 2 model from this German company has caused a good impression in the last Bregenzerwald Cup (that has replaced the Stubai Cup) in Austria. The Cayenne was developed after an interesting research process at the Daimler Chrysler aerodynamic Test Centre, which included video studies with micro-cameras attached to the flying canopy, in the wind tunnels. The profile MP12 used was directly refined from these studies, and it is claimed to offer "high performance and exceptional safety". Other features include partially closed cells; reinforcements along the leading edge; diagonal reinforcement connectors and Fingerrib-Construction throughout the canopy (for stability); an original fabric for the sail (water repellent, light-weight, high UV-resistance, according to Skywalk); and a velcro outlet with air-tube for easy emptying of debris. "Manoeuvrability and performance are the ingredients of this high-end intermediate", say the creators of this spicy glider, who also remark its "exceptional" handling and "an uninhibited max fun at max safety". It will be available in 4 sizes, from XS to L, when certification of the XS and L sizes is finished.

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OZONE- VULCAN

The replacement for the popular Octane has just passed DHV2 certification in sizes S and M. The Vulcan is announced as a wing for the true sport pilot, which outperforms its predecesor whilst keeping "the feeling". The glider has a higher aspect ratio of 5,4, a smaller tip area, and also more cells (56) to improve the performance. It will be available in 5 sizes, from XS to XL, and 3 colors schemes (quite original). Ozone claims that the Vulcan offers more performance throughout the speed range, "but interestingly it also offers more pitch stability than before". It also features the brand's B2 tabs (introduced with the Vibe) which are supossed to offer more stability in flight "and reduce the pitching effect even further making the wing very comfortable to fly even when it's rough and turbulent", according to the designers. The Vulcan made an interesting debut in the acro scene at the last Bregenzerwald Cup (Austria) in the hands of Mike Kung.

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INDEPENDENCE Dragon 2

After 2 years, Independence (the brand created by designer Michael Nesler) has a replacement for its intermediate model Dragon. The Dragon 2 comes with a higher aspect ratio and increased number of cells (46). The glider features a black stripe that goes from tip to tip, on the centre of the canopy -and aesthetic appeal that is becoming quite popular among the new paragliders designs (since UP introduced it with the Trango last year) and used in all the 2003 models of this brand. In the development of Dragon2, Independence worked with the new design software FD, with which they obtained "a really clean upper and lower surface", according to the brand. Special attention was paid to the tension between the leading and the trailing edge, which adds up for better performance at the same security level DHV 1-2, say the designers. Dragon 2 will be available in 4 sizes (S in certification process; L and XL available by early February).

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WINGS OF CHANGE - Twister

Also made its debut in Austria the new DHV 2 from Wings of Change, the brand of acrobat Marcus Grundhammer (Mike Kung's partner in various competitions and shows), also known as Akrominator. The Twister also features a black stripe on the canopy (the new fashion in color design) and it is available in 3 sizes. This glider has 57 cell, aspect ratio of 5,7 and a published maximum speed of 52 k/h. Details in their website available only in German.

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