Author: Ziad Bassil

I missed to understand the last question, and responded hastily. I think it’s an important one about what should i do if i want to rewind my flying career and also an advise to new comers to the sport. Since i was pretty alone and new to the sport at that time, it was difficult to act differently. The best thing i did is that i kited my glider and played on the sea cliffs several hours every day, even when there was no wind to lift the glider. Paragliding is an easy sport to learn. Its quite easy for…

Taking off is quite easy, and i didn’t find any particular problem in inflation in nil wind. In strong windy take off, the Agera RS also inflates quite nice and stays easily above the pilots head. The brakes have medium to light pressure and the Agera turns with very little action on the brakes. The turning radius inside weak and strong thermals are fairly agile. It turns inside a core but stops in the middle and needs to re-power it by releasing the inside brake in order to give it more energy, then lower it again smoothly inside a small…

Wishes for a safe, long XC’s and happy flights ! 🙂

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…

The XI is ADVANCE light high B glider for 2018. The pressure on the brakes are average to light. With a half wrap on the brakes the XI turns quite fast and it’s quite an agile glider to core very narrow thermals. The M5 XS reaction is direct and prompt. On the XI it’s also direct with more feel thought every pulled centimeter. Compared to a Rush 5 S, the brake pressure is slightly less, a little longer brake travel, but a more agile glider for the XI in thermals. Climb rate seems very nice even in weak stuff,…

I received the Bonanza 2 S at noon and called Elie to meet me at the take off with an Alpina 3 SM (75-95) This test concerns ‘only’ the Bonanza 2 size S with that loading. Other loadings as i will mention later, or other sizes that i didn’t try could have other feedback or feel. Example: ( many pilots reported different behavior and brake feel on a Sigma 10 size 27 than the Sigma 25 i have tested which i consider to have a very good agility when flown at 97 all up) First thermal, and first turn showed…

Ziad: Any new releases for 2019 ? Ziad: What month could we order the Lightness 3 ? 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). 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. 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…

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. 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…

There was 2 cm less in some C lines, and some brake adjustments. 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 ! Everything else is still the same. Still hard on the second bar. When it’s windy the first version was perfect ! in getting through the airmass. But the management is strong air needs a good high end C pilot. Cheers, This is only my opinion. Make your own !

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… 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 ! Flying the Delight 3…