 |
I have flown both the 26 and 28 at various weights.
26 - flown at 101kg. It is extremely solid as per Omega 7(O7). It is trimmed VERY fast 40kmh+. The handling is better than O6 with short brake travel and when flown as heavy as this is like a sports bike!! Very compact.
28 - flown at 108kg
has a bigger 'floatier' feel than the 26. Longer and softer brake travel and a feeling of better sink rate.
28 - flown at 101kg
felt too big!
Where the O6 gets to an angle of bank then stops and requires more brake to increase the turn the O7 just carries on increasing bank - I pull the brake, the glider gets to the angle of bank I want then I ease off the pressure to keep the bank angle constant (or the bank continually increases). The glider definately pulls strongly towards close thermals when loaded! Very handy! The speedbar action is very light and there are some 'trick' bits to the risers - SPI and stepped action (see Advance website for details on them)
The main diferences in flying the O7 to the O6 are the better handling and the phenomenal amount of feedback through the risers. You feel everything on this glider and you are never a damped passenger!
I tried asymetric and symetric collapses on both sizes and weights with very similar reactions.
Symetric collapses require both hands up and WAIT FOR THE DIVE. As with most new canopies the glider pauses as it trys to stop overhead before regaining full airspeed - they all do it these days- and needs time to regain flight. No drama, just leave alone till its flying before applying any brake.
Asymetric collapses - the glider has additional comments on the DHV stating that there is a reactionary collapse on the opposite side. I asked Adrian Thomas about this. He explained that as wings collapse and turn they also yaw. As the O7has a high arc when it yawes it offers its wingtip to the airflow causing it to 'roll' under at the tip.
In practice this resulted in every collapse turning, diving and then recovering as nornal with the collapsed side sometimes needing a quick pump to clear and occasionally both sides needing a small pump (like small 'big ears').
I induced many collapses and with just weightshifting away from the collapse (unlike DHV tests where the pilot does nothing) I had no collapses turning more than 90 degrees!!
Throwing full weightshift into the collapse then weightshifting back to the open side resulted in 180 degree turn.
to sum up, better handling and performance than the O6, loads of feedback through the risers as well as the brakes, firm brake pressure, good ground handling, stunning speedbar.
I love this glider and I'm buying one!
Rating:  [5 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
