Zephyr Review
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Zephyr Review
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 WINDTECH ZEPHYR - Test by Philippe Lami Windtech announces a revolution: A recreational glider EN B and LTF 1/2 that does replace the Kali with a glide angle above 9! Has this spanish manufacturer found a magic formula? Well, I've been flying the Zephyr over and over for the last month. It is designed in 4 homothetics sizes (aspect ratio 5,4) and the look and the color design is quite shocking. Now, in the center of the bottom surface there is the flyman logo which is the brand icon. It has a complex assembling: 54 cells, side cross webbing and interconnected diagonal triangular ribs. The leading edge is formed by 3 cell groups (except in the wing-tips where there are 6 cells closed). The sail loft work is sophisticated and complex in each piece. All panels are numbered and marked with small holes for classification purposes, a bit too apparent. All the wing perimeter is closed with ribbon.
The design adds a simple baby ear riser, and a velcro socket for cleaning in the trailing edge. Big handles without swivels connected to the C riser by magnets, a speed system with 2 Austrialpin pulleys and braided Dynema cord. The lines are blocked in the maillons by a simple termo-plastic cover. The glider span is 11.96m flat in the ground in the size S (all up weight 75-95 k) and has a max. root of 2.75m. During the Zephyr inflation it is impossible to make a mistake. Even in no wind condition the Zephyr inflates easily and quickly. You just need to slow it with the brakes (easy) to stop the wing to overpass you. In strong conditions this wing is very simple to handle. It shows no power which normally means a high trim speed. Once inflated the wing shows its special character: a high vault and a small tendency for the trailing edge to go upwards. You are airborne with few steps with a progressive wing loading.
The dutch roll control is well balanced and according to the certification. The thick profile makes a good job here by itself but you still have to pilot the wing. The certification results shows no surprise and the wind surges forward very little. On my side after many hours of flying in all kind of conditions I have never been surprised by a true collapse. This wind piloting is direct and precise and not very physical even in the strongest condition. In thermals you can handle it with lot of efficiency by a combination of weight shift and brake input. The minimum sink rate is 1.1m/s around 30 or 32km/h with a brake pressure of 2.1 for my wing load. IN THERMALS About thermals with the Zephyr I can talk for hours... without saying much. It is simple; it has not a single problem! Good sink rate, good performance, good pressure and good and precise communication with the pilot, without excesses. The extra speed gives the glider a great potential to attack into the thermal.
I personally did find that the Zephyr is a fun wing to discover the great angles of acro maneuvers and other inversions without problems. It is an homogenous piece. You will be surprised by you wing overs quality. The speed bar is soft in your feet and you can reach a speed above 51km/h. The glide angle only starts degrading when 50% of the accelerator is used. Big ears? Easy, thanks to the baby A. They tuck inside the bottom and you need a brake pump to get a quick reopening or a left/right inversion. Piloting with the harness (when doing big ears) is easy. You can do 360Ί tuns really quick. The exit for the normal 360 banking angles is spontaneous with a nice energy recovery. Finally the landing is accomplished by a progressive flare and a well marked stop. Make attention the first times not to transform this extra of energy on a fire. CONCLUSION Well I confirm it.The Windtech Zephyr flies really great. Almost as good as the hot gliders. It gives you a lot. Its speed hands up is a real alternative for the pilot that don't use the speed system, simple and basic. But it wasn't this the definition of paragliding during its beginning? As a plus there is a ligth version in 27g fabric. Oil, pure oil, the best of oils Meanwhile I took my decision I take this Zephyr for myself! 
Manufacturer Windtech (Gijσn, Spain) Designers Αlvaro Valdιs and Gabriel Caρada Production Gijσn (Spain) and Sri Lanka | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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