Dust Of The Universe

I asked Mr Valery Chapuis of ADVANCE a few questions. He was so kind to reply. Ziad: Any new releases for 2019 ? Valery: A new EPSILON 9 coming early next year, in 5 sizes, all B certified ; a new X-Alps 3 coming in the middle of the year ; a new ALPHA 7 coming in the end of the year, in 5 sizes, all A certified. Ziad: What month could we order the Lightness 3 ? Valery: From October, the first deliveries are expected before the end of the year (Rolf will be in our factory soon to check the latest details). Ziad: Any new D class project? Valery: No new D project, only our research prototypes. But in case we think we have the best wing in this category, we’ll think about a serial model. Ziad: Why the Lightness 3 is without rear fairing? Valery: Because the weight and volume are priorities with the Lightness 3, even if we can make a light fairing, it will be heavier than without. It will come with the Impress 4. Ziad: Any Impress 4 with rear fairing soon? Valery: Yes, coming next year, ma...

UP Meru SM After the beautiful Trango X-care, here’s the new 2 liner from UP. The Meru smallest size to date is the SM with a weight range of 85-105.   For me it’s a big glider, and i have to add lots of ballast with my X-rated 6. At 100 all up the Meru inflates quite nice in 15 km/h wind.   The inner A’s are enough to pull the Meru in a steady and moderate launch without any shooting forward in moderate wind.   First turn, and i could feel the nice brake authority on the brakes with a very nice handling for a 2 liner. Much shorter than a Zeno in response, and slightly more agile.   The Meru cuts nicely into wind, and it showed me a very efficient glider in that matter. In fact the trim speed of the Meru is slightly higher than the Zeno one, if both are similarly loaded.   The Meru brake authority is quite nice, but surely doesn’t match the Trango X-race one. Overall it has a linear and precise brake input in order to place the Meru inside cores. The Meru feels ...

The Artik 5 in the test was one of the first released ones. After a few weeks ,Niviuk sent some lines to change this first batch !  There was 2 cm less in some C lines, and some brake adjustments. I had the chance to re-test fly this last version.  The trim speed is slightly slower on this re-trim configuration and the Artik 5 pitches slightly back upon entering thermals. It's still very efficient in climb and glide on top of the C category ! The handling is slightly better and smoother ! Everything else is still the same. Still hard on the second bar.  I have liked the first version for it's biting and jumping into thermals, and it's fast trim speed !  When it's windy the first version was perfect ! in getting through the airmass. The modified and final released version is still on top of the C category. The Artik is very well pressurized, very solid, very taught which leads to a comfortable glider in the air. But the management is strong air needs a good high end C...

Supair STEP EN-B   size S The Step is Supair’s new high B glider.   The Step with an aspect ratio of 5.7, has a shark nose, and a refined unsheathed set on lines.   With this look and construction Supair looks serious about performance gain…Lets see… The take off is calm, and doesn’t have a tendency to overshoot, unless the pilot don’t use a little brake.   I flew the S size (70-90) from 85 to 90 all up. This test concern this size with the mentioned loadings. Other sizes ‘could’ be different and flying the S size in different loads at the beginning of the range ‘could’ differ. Just to be specific. This test is an idea . Test flying is best ! I also flew the S size with different harnesses, one GTO light M and one Delight 3 M. In strong air at higher altitude sites, the combination of GTO Light and the Step are very different from the Delight 3 /Step combination, in matter of roll movements and pilot correction when encountering strong turbulence. The GTO light allow...