Excellent towing day at Highland on Sunday, November 16.
Yesterday, I was at Highland Aerosport to test out a Discus C147 hang glider. It was a good day to evaluate the wing and Adam towed me up 4 times, so I could test and play around in the air with the wing. On my last tow, they surprised me with towing me up to 3500 feet.
What a fantastic way to check out a new HG and it was good conditions for towing, which made it a superb day.
There are many excellent HG's out there and it was very difficult for me to make a move in one or another direction, after selling my Sport 2.
Should I buy a U2 or a Discus, or another wing?
I finally ended up with buying the Discus C, after the test and for what I had read and had been told by many.
Though, I was little bit concern for the handling, which some pilots had questioned, prior to trimming the wing, making necessary or desirable changes that suited them and their personal taste and level.
The good news is that the wing did all what I had read it would do and more, in a positive way. The handling characteristics, towing stability, full VG on straight speed glide, landing characteristics and more. All lived up to what I had heard and read.
So, right now I don't think there is any adjustments/trimmings needed on this Discus C.
Again, I did feel that the wing was very stable on tow, fantastic handling, very good glide with VG on and very easy to land.
What's left now early on in this process, is to get to the mountains and check out how it is to launch the wing from Woodstock, Pulpit or other places. Though, I do not think there will be any surprises for this part; but are going to play it safe, in all perspective parts of flying.
Another positive surprise for me yesterday, is that when now having a Highland Aerosport's wing, will qualify me for lower prices at Highland. Like lower towing expenses and lower prices for much of the service they are providing for us, like repacking your parachute and service priority, when it comes to HG service and more.
At last, it is important to know that no one told me to write this up, I just like to share good news with other pilots.
See you soon in the mountains and thank you Highland Aerosport for a great service and a excellent year at the flight park. Also, hope this winter will be a good and warm winter, so we can get some great flights in the mountains the next few months.
Knut
Highland on Sunday, November 16
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John Anderson
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Re: Highland onr Sunday, November 16
Knut -- Just curious about your reasons for first identifying the Discus. Was the break-down length (that is, possibility of short- pack) one of the reasons? Or not? --John
Re: Highland on Sunday, November 16
Hi Knut,
Congrats on your new wing!
You may wish to try it out on a training hill before going to one of the mountain sites.
Matthew
Congrats on your new wing!
You may wish to try it out on a training hill before going to one of the mountain sites.
Matthew
Re: Highland on Sunday, November 16
Yes, a "...training hill before going to one of the mountain sites..." sounds good and would be smart to do first. Would love to get a good day at Taylor farm to test the wing and see how it is to launch the wing.
When it comes to the breakdown option, being able to break down the wing to 13.4 feet is definitely a plus, but not that important for me.
The main reason for identifying the Discus was for it's apparently good handling, landings characteristic, towing stability and good glide when needed. Being able to fly more safe on windy days was also on the table.
Felix always bragged about the Discus and this definitely made me rethink my options. Reading countless hours about many different wings also helped; though flying the wing and confirming all this, was the final reason. Yes, I am fully aware of selecting the "Right Wing", is often very subjective and based on many personal factors. For me, I just found it very comfortable and good right away, in flying this wing and I think I have now, what I have been missing many times, without compromising on handling and more.
Knut
When it comes to the breakdown option, being able to break down the wing to 13.4 feet is definitely a plus, but not that important for me.
The main reason for identifying the Discus was for it's apparently good handling, landings characteristic, towing stability and good glide when needed. Being able to fly more safe on windy days was also on the table.
Felix always bragged about the Discus and this definitely made me rethink my options. Reading countless hours about many different wings also helped; though flying the wing and confirming all this, was the final reason. Yes, I am fully aware of selecting the "Right Wing", is often very subjective and based on many personal factors. For me, I just found it very comfortable and good right away, in flying this wing and I think I have now, what I have been missing many times, without compromising on handling and more.
Knut
Re: Highland on Sunday, November 16
We did look at that on my Discus C and the smaller Discus 14C which I do have, does not have any clearance issue as some older Discus 15C seems to have, when it comes to the clearance between airframe/down tubes and cables. Though, will still pay an extra attention to this case... . As you see, I did also post one comment to this article from Paul in UK.
Knut
Knut
Re: Highland on Sunday, November 16
Update from Aeros:
Reminder: Safety Directive 017 first published on August 5, 2014.
Make sure that your glider is safe to fly!
There was the second case of the bottom rear wire failure on a Discus hang glider falling within the scope of Aeros Safety Directive 017. Luckily, this was also discovered on the ground. The first case, as noted in the SD, was on a 7-year old glider and the second case involved a 4-year old glider.
Actually, the wire condition does not depend on the glider's age or airtime. It depends on the number of riggingderigging cycles and on the pilot's individual style of rigging/derigging.
Aeros insists on immediate replacement of the original bottom rear wire on Discus gliders with the Litestream A-frame (mostly Discus C model) and on Combat gliders with the Litestream A-frame by the modified bottom rear wire. We will not charge for the replacement wire for hang gliders less than 2 years old as of August 5, 2014 (the customer will only have to pay for the delivery). For older gliders the modified rear bottom wire will be supplied at a special discounted price. Please, contact your Aeros dealer about the wire replacement.
For the list of the gliders falling within the scope of the Safety Directive 017,
http://www.aeros.com.ua/news.php?lang=english&id=407
Reminder: Safety Directive 017 first published on August 5, 2014.
Make sure that your glider is safe to fly!
There was the second case of the bottom rear wire failure on a Discus hang glider falling within the scope of Aeros Safety Directive 017. Luckily, this was also discovered on the ground. The first case, as noted in the SD, was on a 7-year old glider and the second case involved a 4-year old glider.
Actually, the wire condition does not depend on the glider's age or airtime. It depends on the number of riggingderigging cycles and on the pilot's individual style of rigging/derigging.
Aeros insists on immediate replacement of the original bottom rear wire on Discus gliders with the Litestream A-frame (mostly Discus C model) and on Combat gliders with the Litestream A-frame by the modified bottom rear wire. We will not charge for the replacement wire for hang gliders less than 2 years old as of August 5, 2014 (the customer will only have to pay for the delivery). For older gliders the modified rear bottom wire will be supplied at a special discounted price. Please, contact your Aeros dealer about the wire replacement.
For the list of the gliders falling within the scope of the Safety Directive 017,
http://www.aeros.com.ua/news.php?lang=english&id=407