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OZONE ZENO MS 80-100 The Zeno is the new 2 liner from OZONE. OZONE wanted to introduce to the market a 2 liner design , which they claim it’s easier to fly than their Enzo 2 and close enough to their superb Mantra 6. In fact i still have an LM6 in MS size. It suits my all up weight without ballast. I have also a Peak 4 in size 23 (85-105) for my future comparisons which proved to be a very nice and gentle D glider for Xc and competition use. The Zeno has 6 lines per side, and it’s a pure 2 liner. Of course all lines are unsheathed and have different width. It looks very optimized for performance. Such a wing deserves a more detailed description when testing it. Lets see… Launching the Zeno is super easy for a 2 liner. Slightly easier to inflate than the Peak 4. In strong wind, it needs a dab on the brakes to control it overhead. The take off is immediate. I did some 360’s and wing overs ,just to get it well tensioned in order to settle down to its designed configuration. To my surprise...

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 eas...

Gradient Nevada 2 S  (70-90)  The Nevada 2 is the new high end B glider from Gradient.  2 lines per side on the A’s and three row of lines with similar configuration as the Aspen 4. I flew the S size from 85 to 90 in different conditions from weak to strong. Launching the Nevada 2 is easy for a high B glider.  After some flights i found the best weight under it in overall conditions is around 88 all up. The roll movements are present on the Nevada 2 S in turbulent conditions, slightly more than the Rush 4.  In strong turbulent cores, a keen high B pilot could easily manage it.The improvement in brake travel is now enhanced over its predecessor the Nevada 1 with a relatively moderate to short brake travel, a soft pressure (like the Rush4) and a nice agility in turns.  Before entering thermals, with no brakes applied, the Nevada 2 S at 90 all up slows a bit ,pitch slightly back and then climb away.   The climb in weak is still very good even loaded compa...

ADVANCE Interview ( Valery Chapuis)  1-Ziad: Can you tell us please about ADVANCE new products for 2017 ?  - Valery Chapuis: BIBETA 6, SUCCESS 4, SIGMA 10, Companion SQR 220. Other products are not decided yet.  Please have a look at our homepage.  http://www.advance.ch/en/home/news-pages/success-4-safe-and-comfortable-no-compromise/  , we’ll publish soon a complete information.  2- What can you tell the pilots about the new Sigma? What do they have to expect?  - Valery Chapuis: middle C wing with a very high level of performance (more than our OMEGA 9 photos from the beginning of this year) with a vey predictable behavior. With all the existing technology.  Any D glider for the future ? …  - Valery Chapuis : Maybe a OMEGA 9 end of next year. We are making new 3 and 2 liners photos.  3-Ziad: The Iota is a high B with a very high ratio of : top performance / comfortable behavior with a moderate aspect ratio ! Now it seems the Sigma 9 foll...

SKYWALK Poison X-Alps XS (65-90) The Poison X-Alps is SKYWALK light EN-D wing. This glider is the fruit of the wing used in the last X-alps race, trimmed and tuned to meet the requirements of the D pilots. The Poison X-alps is a 7 aspect ratio glider with three risers and a shark nose. A small piece of wood attached on the C riser, is connected to act also on the B riser for a possibility to control the glider pitch when accelerated. All lines are unsheathed. Launching the 7 aspect ratio Poison is an easy task with the light cloth. Quickly overhead, a slight damp on the brakes to keep it overhead and the take off is immediate. I must state that different sizes behaves very differently. For instance when the Ozone LM6 size S has a slight pitch forward, The LM6 size SM has a neutral pitch, The normal M6 size SM has a slight pitch back ! I was flying the Poison X-Alps size XS from 84 to 90 all up. The M size could have other feel under it ... i just have the XS size. I found after some ho...

U-Turn Blacklight 2 S 4 years ago, i test flew the Blacklight 1. The strong point was the excellent climb rate even in super weak conditions. Glide was very good, into wind glide was moderate, and the Blacklight 1 kept its pilot quite busy in very strong conditions having an aspect ratio of 5.8 flat at the time ! U-turn offers the Blacklight 2 in late 2016, with a moderate aspect ratio of 5.6 flat. The 11 lines per side are a bit thick and sheathed . The upper ones directly to the canopy are unsheathed . 3 lines per side with 3 thin up to date risers and 3.5 line configuration. A nice shark nose construction with semi circular openings. A very nicely and tough looking construction on that glider ! I flew the S from 87 to 90 all up. The launch behavior is easy without any surges or hang back. The take off is immediate. The brake travel and pressure are moderate to slightly firm resembling the Eden 6 one. The maneuverability in coring thermals is really nice.The Blacklight 2 can be turne...