Selected Articles
GIN Seok SONG, forty years of free flying.
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Forty years of free flying and twenty years of GIN the company, meant that there was plenty to celebrate...
At Porcher Sport: THE FABRIC, the raw material of our FLIGHTS
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Porcher Industries is a big French group with a worldwide presence. They make all types of technical fabric, for airbags amongst other things, but also for commercial aviation. In the sports sector, their fabric is used for balls, spinnakers, parachutes, kites and, of course, for paragliders...
Quick test Ozone Rush 5
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The Ozone Rush 5 is a good example of a modern EN B+, it integrates the most recent technology with aspects of the Enzo 3 and the Zeno. A quick test and a potted version of our first impressions…
XX lite 2 by Ozone
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THE MINIMUM
The XXlite 2 was designed to be pretty much the same weight as the version 1, because ‘if it is heavier, there is no point in having a single skin as we already have the Ultralite 4…,’ the designers explained before it was launched...
SkySports
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This is the oldest paraglider manufacturing factory in Sri Lanka. Wings for Independence, Skyman and MacPara are made here, for example. Interestingly enough, the final control has been pretty ingeniously organised using a typical inflation station before the lines are added, but also using a blower which allows the wing to be checked hanging upside down...
First test APCO HYBRID: amazing
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Apco, one of the pioneers of new technology used in paragliding, brought out their hybrid in the spring of 2018, a single skin with a double leading edge, made from Porcher Skytex 32 and 27...
BACK TO SCHOOL: SIX MONTHS OF INTENSIVE RAST
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Every manufacturer uses their own new acronyms to denote new and innovative technological solutions, or ones that they have adapted from other manufacturers and given their own finishing touches...
Initial test: SWING NYOS RS
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The Nyos RS is an EN B+ wing and part of the range made by the German manufacturer Swing. It is obviously equipped with the RAST system, Swing technology which is now automatically included in all their wings...
TEST NIVIUK ARTIK 5
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We have already given our first impressions. Here, as promised, are the full results of our tests…
Aerial aerology
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Paramotors are still used for aerial photography and reconnaissance, for example, to find archaeological remains.
Da Vinci Xchord
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An unknown make has brought out an EN D two liner which is very similar to the Ozone Zeno and is identical to another wing on the racing machine market. Here’s our test of the new high-performance wing and a partial response to the question: who inspired who?
DUDEK report’air
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Dudek have launched a wing called the Report'air. One of its preferred uses is for aerial photography, with corresponding stability. But at the same time, this wing can in no way be regarded as a bus. It’s playful side shone through too!
PORTFOLIO PARA-PHOTO
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We are often asked ‘how do you take beautiful photos of paragliders?’ This is a difficult question to answer: the best photographers have, in addition to their technique, a feeling for the right moment, the right place and the right lighting...
Flying in Jordan
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Dan Burton obtained special authorisation to fly over some famous protected sites in Jordan. Here he shares with us some photographs of his trip.
Flying in strong thermals…
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Strong thermals require a different flying technique to weak thermals. Here’s a bit of advice from Philippe Lami…
The weather in the summer of 2018: heat, omega and surprises.
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At the end of July and beginning of August there was still an endless heat wave with an anticyclone which should have stifled all the thermals. But no, the ‘roasting’ conditions brought high cloudbases, long distances and turbulence…
Power WOMAN MARIE MATEOS
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Paramotor champion Marie Mateos, photographed by Louis Garnier, talked to us briefly about engines, equipment and what it takes mentally...
Apco NRG XC II
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17.5 m²! That’s all I was allowed to try of this little slalom racing machine. Slalom? And that’s not all it’s good for! The letters ‘XC’ figure in its full name, and we’re going to see why.
SWING ARCUS RS & RS LITE
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Over the last few months, Philippe Lami has flown the Swing Arcus RS regularly, in both the classic and the lightweight version. He has also used it in school. Here’s his initial assessment.
TEST RESTUBE SPORT
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For pilots who are looking for a lighter, more compact solution than a real life jacket: the Restube Sport is a floatation aid, which fits into a little pocket attached to the waist belt.
WARNING TRAPS IN THE WATER
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Water, especially the sea, is great to fly over but can also be a trap. Some reminders and solutions…
Readability
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Anin-flight necessity:being able to see at a glance all the importanti nformation displayed...
The XC-Tracer family is getting bigger.
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The XC-Tracer instruments are pioneers in integrating sensors such as the accelerometer and gyrometer so that they can detect the slightest thermal.
SKYTRAXX FANET
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For several months Skytraxx has integrated, as an option, a FANET receiver/transmitter in their instruments. The first trials show that the ‘collaborative flying’ function is very effective.
FLYING WITH AND WITHOUT COLLABORATIVE HITECH INSTRUMENTS
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Fly by feeling, by sound, with a screen, collaboratively or in a network. Paragliders are one of the few aircrafts where all of these are possible…
Seven Virgin Summits, Antarctica
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At the end of last year Juraj “Ďurifuk” Koreň and Michal Sabovík started the first part of a unique seven-part project – seven unclimbed summits on seven continents, which they wanted to climb and fly down from on a paraglider. Linking together earth and air, and a third one, water, by using a sailboat, kayak or raft.
FIRST TEST NIVIUK ARTIK 5
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The Artik 5 is now available. Philippe Lami has flown it a few times and gives us his first impressions…
Flying norms
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The EN norms govern numerous aspects of paragliding, but where do they come from and who draws them up?
NEO STAY UP
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The StayUp is an ultra-light hammock style harness for hike&fly without a seat board. Instead, underneath, there is a 9 cm Neo Koroyd 2 protector: it’s an ensemble of foam and, above all, little tubes in copolymer, which is a special form of polymer...
SUPAIR STRIKE
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The Strike came from the development of the X-Alps 2015 Supair harness. It’s a harness which is ‘purpose made for hike and fly competitions,’ but, in reality, it is actually a lot more flexible, as Supair have also pointed out.
Phi Symphonia
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The Symphonia is an ambitious leisure wing, which has all the characteristics of a good EN B, as far as performance and flying are concerned, except that it is certified as an EN A!
Weather
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In May, typical summer time temperatures were recorded in numerous regions. So why was it hardly ever flyable?
WE ARE THE ROVERS, NORWAY
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After Korea and Scotland, the Rovers went to the Norwegian fords to make another film. The film will come out at the end of the summer. In the meantime, here are some amazing pictures by Louis Garnier who accompanied the team…
Apco NRG XC 2
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17.5 m²! That’s all I was allowed to try of this little slalom racing machine. Slalom? And that’s not all it’s good for! The letters ‘XC’ figure in its full name, and we’re going to see why...
Skytrex 3.0 FANET/FLARM
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For several months Skytraxx has integrated, as an option, a FANET receiver/transmitter in their instruments. Our review: a Skytraxx 3.0 equipped with a FANET/FLARM antenna to enable it to communicate with other FANET instruments and with stations on the ground, as well as aircraft equipped with FLARM. The first trials show that the ‘collaborative flying’ function is very effective.
First impressions Niviuk Artik 5
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The Artik 5 is now available. Philippe Lami has flown it a few times and gives us his first impressions…
Swing Arcus RS & RS Lite
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Our test pilot Philippe Lami has flown the Swing Paragliders Arcus RS over several months, in both the classic and the lightweight version. He has also used it in school.
The German manufacturer Swing now equips its whole range with their inhouse #RAST technology, developed by their R&D team, led by Michael Nesler. It first appeared at the Coupe Icare in 2016 on the school wing, the Mito.
One effect of the RAST: we noticed, during the course of multiple test flights, that the wing never overflew! In fact, the scoop was done in 2 steps, without any heaviness.
The Arcus RS / RS Lite was also really calm in deliberately induced collapses! In fact, only the front part of the leading edge crumpled. The rear part remained inflated and prevented the collapse from biting deeply into the chord. Less depth equals less rotation, indeed none.
Read the whole review here.
Paramotoring: Flight of the Swans
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Sacha Dench has been awarded the Britannia Trophy for Flight of the Swans.
She flew thousands of kilometres by paramotor to help birds. Read again the interesting account of her adventure, published in Free Aero Magazine 8_2016.
Sharing with Children
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Sharing your passion with children: obviously it is ideal to fly with them on a tandem adapted to their weight. But with a passenger weighing 20-30 kg, you can easily find yourself too low in the weight range, which is often a minimum of 130 kg. Flying at the bottom end of the weight range has some disadvantages.
Another topic in this article: special spreaders and harnesses for lightweight passengers.
Foot launched paramotors & new Rollbar
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In good conditions, foot launched paramotors let you easily take passengers of all sizes.
You can count on requiring a minimum of 0.16 HP/kg of all up weight, to be comfortable. Thus a pilot and passenger each weighing 80 kg would need 160 x 0.16 = 26 HP to be comfortable.
Review: The new roll bar from Kangook attaches directly onto the swan necks. It is thus very easy to convert a solo paramotor into a tandem…
Independence Air Taxi
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Independence’s specifications for this tandem: a manoeuvrable wing, ‘close to a solo wing’. Yes, that's true...
Niviuk Takoo 4
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The launch of the Takoo 4 tandem was eagerly anticipated, as the bar had been set very high with the version 3, which already largely satisfied the needs of lots of pilots and not just the professionals.
In fact, it’s a total remake, with a complete review of the shapes and profile. Niviuk have clearly taken into account the feedback from the professional pilots...
Apco Game 42
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The Apco Game 42 (pronounced ‘four two’, almost identical to ‘for two’) is the current tandem from the Israeli manufacturer. A promising modern wing.
BGD Dual Lite
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The Dual Lite, the lightweight version of the Dual, is still current: a very successful tandem and, in addition, very light…
Phi Symphonia: First impressions
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We are currently testing a Symphonia. Whilst waiting for our final verdict, here are our first impressions…
Air Cross Double U
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We’ve already noted that the Double U is a tandem which keeps its promises and offers a wide range of possible uses…
Advance Iota 2, the final verdict
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In December we gave our first impressions of the Advance Iota 2. Here’s the final verdict after having tested it thoroughly in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in the South of France and in Andalusia…
Aircross Double U
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We’ve already noted that the Double U is a tandem which keeps its promises and offers a wide range of possible uses…
Test Apco BI-game 42
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The Apco Game 42 (pronounced ‘four two’, almost identical to ‘for two’) is the current tandem from the Israeli manufacturer. A promising modern wing. Remarkably, the manufacturer APCO has accepted, in a concern about the quality of the test, to leave one of their tandem wings with our tester, Cédric Nieddu, for a relatively long time. Over the course of three months he was able to carry out about 50 flights in different conditions, with passengers of varying, shapes, sizes and weights. Here’s his verdict…
Test Niviuk Takoo 4
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The launch of the Takoo 4 tandem was eagerly anticipated, as the bar had been set very high with the version 3, which already largely satisfied the needs of lots of pilots and not just the professionals.
BGD Dual Lite
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The Dual Lite, the lightweight version of the Dual, is still current: a very successful tandem and, in addition, very light…
Independence Air-Taxi
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When it comes out of the bag, you spread out a lightweight wing with a wide open leading edge. Untangling it goes smoothly, the risers and the brake handles fall into your hands: simple and efficient...
FOOT LAUNCHED TANDEM PARAMOTOR
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In good conditions, foot launched paramotors let you easily take passengers of all sizes.
Light for SHARING
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The appearance of lightweight tandems has made flying tandems for pleasure a lot easier, even for the professionals…
Test Advance Iota 2 : the verdict
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In December we gave our first impressions of the Advance Iota 2. Here’s the final verdict after having tested it thoroughly in the
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in the South of France and in Andalusia…
Test Air Design HERO
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Known for the flying qualities of the Pure 2, as well as their single surface UFOs, the Austrian firm Air Design, based in Innsbruck, offered to let us try their ultra-light EN D Hero which they started to test in 2017.
