With a vast experience as paraglider manufacturer, SKY keep their line of releasing specific gliders for certain type of pilots in each category and so they have two DHV1-2 models and other two intermediate or equivalent to DHV2. The Antea is their higher performing model in this last class, equipped with good dynamic qualities to also satisfy freestyle lovers. Add to that a good level of security and ease of use and you get a very interesting option for experienced pilots.

The Sky Antea had the peculiar honour of being the first glider certified in the new category EN-C, according to the European Norm (EN) that replaced the Afnor/Acpul, and alternative to the well-known DHV. Now we realize that EN and DHV are not exactly parallel and we need to understand EN's particularities to know where the Antea sits in terms of passive safety.

The Antea, with an aspect ratio of 5.5 and with its EN-C rating, could be compared in theory to a DHV 2 in terms of security (although some EN-C gliders are more comparable to DHV 2-3s...). The Antea is a fast and manoeuvrable wing, yet it is pleasantly little nervous; in turbulences is solid, comfortable to fly and shows no tendency to shoot forward.

I had the chance to try the Antea for this review while I competed in the Final of the 2nd Challenge Island of La Palma. During the week of the comp we flew in a variety of conditions, from very smooth and overcast conditions to days of powerful thermals and wind. I flew tip to tip with a number of high-level pilots with different gliders, which gave me the chance to do some realistic comparison of the Antea's performance to other current paragliders. Maybe I should also say that I had a good time and that I managed to win the 1st prize in the DHV2/EN-C category with it.

Simplicity

The Antea has a system of rings to pull the wingtip when you apply brake. This, together with a rather flat centre of the canopy, helps obtain flat turns whilst keeping good performance.

The Antea has a correct construction and details, and a total weight of only 5.5 kg for the large size. All the set works finely, although it is simple -even austere- with standard risers, and we even saw some loose threads on some finishes.

Maybe the Antea lacks "luxury" but it is well constructed and offers nice handling and attractive general performance, together with a policy of reasonable pricing.

Competitive character

In flight the Antea moves as a whole; there is no pitch tendency, and the ample turns and changes of direction can be done with little loss of height thanks to the flat turn of the glider, which helps to take full advantage of the lift offered by the centre of the wing.

Flying fast

During the Final of the Challenge we had to fly fast and step on the bar almost all the time, when we were not climbing in a thermal. Well loaded, the Antea XL is a fast wing and showed the best rhythm among all the class 2 gliders in the comp, and even equalled the performance of some higher rated wings –at least at certain speeds. My conclusion is that Sky Paragliders managed to build an exceptional paraglider with characteristics that place it on an outstanding position in its category.

Certification and target group
The goal at Sky Paragliders was to obtain first class performance "with reliable and safe aspect ratio". Handling and piloting feel more like those of an advanced DHV1-2 glider or a mild DHV2. We can say that it is an intermediate glider of good performance and accessible handling. Almost any pilot with previous experience with other gliders will be able to understand the Antea and enjoy flying with it from the beginning, with good margins of security.
We should note that in the certification results there are mostly As (that is to say, corresponding to an easy/safe glider) and only Cs in symmetric control travel and asymmetric collapse of 75%.
It is not a glider for beginners or low airtime pilots.

Paramotor & Paratrike

We had already seen this glider flown under power, as some members of the Czech Team use it both footlaunched and with trike, and Spanish Team member Paco Guerra (son) competed with an Antea during the last Paramotor Worlds 2007 in China. In many tasks we could see that it offers enough performance and qualities to be a good alternative for paramotor flying: dynamic handling, stability, and competitive behaviour even at speeds.

Easy inflation and lift: To start with the paramotor, the Antea needs no special preparation other than placing the glider symmetrically with the cell-openings facing the wind. Then, pressure on the risers and 3/4 of throttle. The wing rises up to the vertical and immediately the set is moving forward, the glider offers lift and it does not tend to shoot forward or bank.

In flight it demands speed; control is better done with touches on the brakes and/or weightshift. The Antea moves with agility in the air and although it can respond to sudden changes of direction, the best is to take it softly and draw the trajectories with some anticipation. With a touch of brake we notice a better sink rate that will make cruising easy with low power.

The glider has a lot of pressure and the tips are very firm offering stability to navigate. At trim speed we go around 41k/h. The speedbar allows us to easily exceed 50 k/h and reach a maximum of 55 K/h. The glider keeps a decent sink rate but it does not give the same feeling of solidity when flying in turbulent air as a glider with reflex; for that reason the pilot underneath must have good hands to fly the Antea at top speed.

Pilot level: This is a dynamic glider, particularly if you fly it at the top of the weight range. It is not a glider for inexperienced pilots. Pilots who fly both paramotor and free flight and those who like freestyle or wagas will specially enjoy the Antea: it is a precise and agile glider, that's why it is recommendable to start with smooth movements, discovering little by little the amplitude of its turns and the energy it accumulates.
I think that it is a good all-round glider, valid for short takeoffs, for paramotor raids, adventure flights, thermal flying, or taking pictures....

*The Manual of the Antea includes useful information. You can download it here.

Weight Range
I tested the Antea XL, with a weight range of 105 to 130kg. I free-flew it with between 125 and 129 kg, and then with my Paratrike the total weight in flight went up to about 160 kg. In case of doubt when choosing the size of glider, I would recommend to go on the second half of the range rather than on the first.

Direct control
The Antea does not require special preparations for the inflation, the cells usually inflate first on the centre then the rest of the glider quickly comes into life. With some breeze, only a slight pull on the risers is needed. The wing comes over the head in a progressive way.

On ground control we can feel the pressure on the brakes and the direct response to the inputs. Lift comes quickly and with energy.


Once in the air, with the first half of the brake travel you can easily manage flat turns and make slight off-course corrections when you are looking for the best area of lift. When we want to close the turn we must use weightshift in coordination. The best during the days of flight in La Palma , where thermals were broken and narrow, was to combine soft turns with more aggressive ones when we could find the core. The brakes have good pressure throughout the travel and it gets higher near the stall point, which by the way is found quite deep on the controls.

Tightening the turns
When I analyzed my GPS tracks during the comp I was surprised to see that every day I progressively closed the turns with the Antea, going from 34m of radius during the first task to the 27m obtained on the final days. After I adapted my piloting to its characteristics I could tighten my turns and thus improve the climbs in La Palma's tricky thermals.
This information is very useful to improve your skills and also to take full advantage of your glider's performance, and I highly recommend it. I use the software Compe-GPS, a very good one.

The Antea offers uncomplicated inflation and it is very stable

The Antea comes with a roomy, adjustable and comfortable rucksack.