Today, we had some nice steady wind out in the flatlands behind the train station. I knew there was a front moving in, actually very dangerous conditions to play with a wing. But seeing that I hadnt really had the chance to test this wing before trading it in for something a bit more in my class...I did some research.
These are the specs.
When I bought the wing, I was under the impression that it was a 1-2 class wing. I was wrong, after studing the specs page, I found the wing to be closer to a "b-c" or 2/2-3 wing.
Definition of a class 2 wing :
"Paragliders with demanding flying characteristics and potentially dynamic reactions to turbulence and pilot errors. Recommended for regularly flying pilots."
The Shape Large is classified as a 2 however its also classed as a cross wing.
Here is a nice class comparison.
I figured, "I should wear a helmet for this test".
I found the wing to be quite agile in comparison to the DHV tests, which described the wing, in particular scenarios as average. It apperantly has a tendancy to over-shoot its position above me. Maybe this was just because I am used to a slower wing (bodygaurd), that reacted better to a low pull impulse. I also fully appreciated the way this wing, unlike other 1/a wings I have flown, responded to wight distrobution on the seatboard, allowing for very nice controll using weight translation. My harness (advance success) is pretty beginner, with a high connection point, to dampen any over zealous weight distrobution by noobs such as myself.
I found the experiance on a whole, to be nice, something that I would actually think about taking skywards, sometime in my future flights. I would compare this wings groundhandling action to something similar to a paratech p12, one size too small or a tad over the weight spec (with ultimate area loadage).
Anyway, before anyone starts to think Im an expert...which I am most definitly not...I have to show you a reason why I decided to call it a day. Remeber, I am crazy. This is not the first time I have done something as crazy as this...and its deffinitly not the crazyest thing I have done to date.
Originaly, I thought that the front would pass me by heading over the Rhein and on towards Karlsruhe. effectivly leaving a nice somewhat usable path of stable wind to wing on....I had my eye on the front moving in. Someone stoped in their car and actually got out and asked me if everything was okay. It was at this point in time that I actually figured that I should call it a day. None too soon, I pulled all the lines together and shot this picture.
I managed to grab my gear just as the wind started to really pick up. I assume that there were windspeeds of up 50 or so kmh, and that, just as I started to head towards a nearby underpass to foldup the wing.
What I learned today is I really really really need better schooling in meteorology. I thought I had correctly assesed the situation, I guess not, and nature is not to be underestimated.
Im lucky to have gotten away with my life.... again..... this is seriously the last time I do something this crazy....I hope. ;)
Cheers and good flight.
These are the specs.
When I bought the wing, I was under the impression that it was a 1-2 class wing. I was wrong, after studing the specs page, I found the wing to be closer to a "b-c" or 2/2-3 wing.
Definition of a class 2 wing :
"Paragliders with demanding flying characteristics and potentially dynamic reactions to turbulence and pilot errors. Recommended for regularly flying pilots."
The Shape Large is classified as a 2 however its also classed as a cross wing.
Here is a nice class comparison.
I figured, "I should wear a helmet for this test".
I found the wing to be quite agile in comparison to the DHV tests, which described the wing, in particular scenarios as average. It apperantly has a tendancy to over-shoot its position above me. Maybe this was just because I am used to a slower wing (bodygaurd), that reacted better to a low pull impulse. I also fully appreciated the way this wing, unlike other 1/a wings I have flown, responded to wight distrobution on the seatboard, allowing for very nice controll using weight translation. My harness (advance success) is pretty beginner, with a high connection point, to dampen any over zealous weight distrobution by noobs such as myself.
I found the experiance on a whole, to be nice, something that I would actually think about taking skywards, sometime in my future flights. I would compare this wings groundhandling action to something similar to a paratech p12, one size too small or a tad over the weight spec (with ultimate area loadage).
Anyway, before anyone starts to think Im an expert...which I am most definitly not...I have to show you a reason why I decided to call it a day. Remeber, I am crazy. This is not the first time I have done something as crazy as this...and its deffinitly not the crazyest thing I have done to date.
Originaly, I thought that the front would pass me by heading over the Rhein and on towards Karlsruhe. effectivly leaving a nice somewhat usable path of stable wind to wing on....I had my eye on the front moving in. Someone stoped in their car and actually got out and asked me if everything was okay. It was at this point in time that I actually figured that I should call it a day. None too soon, I pulled all the lines together and shot this picture.
I managed to grab my gear just as the wind started to really pick up. I assume that there were windspeeds of up 50 or so kmh, and that, just as I started to head towards a nearby underpass to foldup the wing.
What I learned today is I really really really need better schooling in meteorology. I thought I had correctly assesed the situation, I guess not, and nature is not to be underestimated.
Im lucky to have gotten away with my life.... again..... this is seriously the last time I do something this crazy....I hope. ;)
Cheers and good flight.
So you didn't actually take off?
ReplyDeleteNo, I wanted to groundhandle the wing to see how it responed before taking it skywards, also this wing has no current check/schakken...I cant fly it in germany, so I took it to france instead, where there are no regulations on non-fixed wings. ;)
ReplyDelete