I already have tested the Queen 2 MS in normal cloth. Here’s the Q-light 2 in size S.
The Q-light is delivered with soft skinny risers and the whole weight of the glider is around 4 kg. The brakes will go only through a rubber loop to ensure their locking position. (no stainless steel or magnet holder)
Launching the Q-light, in light breeze need a slight pull. The light cloth helps a lot in keeping the glider overhead. For a C pilot, even in the strong breeze, the Q-light is relatively easy to launch in tricky areas.
I flew the Q-light Small (65-85) at 85 all up, with a Woody Valley GTO Light.
In this test, I will compare the Q-light Small to the Alpina 3 Small. They both have the same weight range. I also flew the Artik 5 size 24 (75-95) at 95 all up next to the Q-light Small that was given to a friend who also gave me his feedback of that interesting glider.
Each time a new glider is out, it’s weird to read tests that go toward “this is the best glider..” kind of talk…But sometimes they truly are quite exquisite! And test flying them will be a great joy.
The brake pressure of the Q-light S at 85 all up is toward the light side. It resembles the Alpina 3 S ones at the same load. The brakes are precise and the Q-light is very agile! No matter what quality the thermal delivers, the Q-light can be steered inside the core quite efficiently. That’s a really cool feature in a glider that gives a swift, snappy feel through the brakes, and also a pleasurable and smooth one in turns!
The brakes are to be used moderately as sometimes the Q-light S will dive quickly into a turn.
Saying that flat turns are also doable and efficient even on a loaded Q-light S.
What impressed my friend and I on the Q-light S is its ability to cut through the air smoothly and very efficiently for a C!
Doing some glides next to an Artik 5 24 loaded at the top, showed me many times that this small Q-light has an impressive surfing power into the airmass. For pure gliding in moving air, I could easily confirm it’s efficiency for its amazing gliding properties that I could place high up in my C comparison table.
The trim speed of the Q-light S at 85, is faster by 1 km/h than an Artik 5 24 loaded at 95. And also faster than an Alpina 3 S.
The Artik 5, 24 and the Alpina 3 S are both super fine gliders, but they have this very slight pitch when entering thermals and surfing the air as I already mentioned in my tests. This wasn’t felt at all on the Q-Light S, as it was sliding through the airmass and moving forward with that fine quality to climb like stepping up on stairs.
In my queen 2 MS test, I wrote that the Q2 climbs fast. The Q-Light S is also very similar. When catching a steady, well built thermal, the Q-Light S jumps upward like a spring, and it cores beautifully, responding to every pulled centimeter on the brakes.
In very weak thermals, (0.2 m/s…0.5 m/s…) the Q-Light S is also efficient, like the Alpina 3 S. Probably the Artik 5 24 also loaded could have a slight edge probably be because of being a larger size. I didn’t have an Artik 5 22 to compare, but for me, the Q-Light S has already fulfilled beyond my expectations the excellent climb and glide for a C glider.
The working load on the Q-Light S is slightly higher than the one on the Alpina 3 S as it moves slightly more in turbulent air. To place it accurately, the Q-Light is easier than the 6.4 aspect ratio, Skywalk Spice for example. For more details, please see the C comparison already updated. (https://public.tableau.com/profile/ziad.bassil#!/vizhome/CGliderComparison/CGliderComparison)
The speed system is toward the light side, and the glide seems even more efficient after 5 km/h over trim. Controlling the Q-Light S with the C risers is quite efficient for a 3 liner.
Ears are stable, sometimes they shake a bit. Smaller ones are more stable. They reopen quite fast.
Conclusion: When the complete package of overall performance and especially pleasurable feel and handling and strongly present, it’s the heart that influences the writings.
For me it was indeed rewarding, to test fly this Q-Light S! A must test fly if you are looking for a light companion for a hike and fly adventures or XC performance flying. And of course a very strong contender for the sports class competitions.
Happy flights,
Ziad
This is only my opinion. Make your own!
