Some amazing footage deep within 7000-8000 metre territory

Two Aspen3s, 2 days, 285 km, 7045 m. Karimabad to K2 and back

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150390822251158&set=vb.51701827326&type=2&theater

Sorry you will need to copy and paste the link

Aspen 4 footage

 Some new Gradient Aspen 4. footage  from thomas de dorlodot.
  We are really excited about the Aspen 4 book your demo now and we will get it to yoa as soon as it is released.

Aspen 4 nears completion

Gradient make public news about the likely release date of the New Aspen 4.

Gradient is now in the  last stage of testing the new Aspen4. Size 28 has already successfully finished its flight tests and is now ready for EN-C certification with the design team very pleased with the finished result. They are now hard at work preparing the other Aspen4 sizes now. We expect sizes 28, 26 and 24 to be available to market around  November- December 2011. We are really excited by this new wing, as it will meet the needs of a large population of pilots and will easily rival the best of rest within the category.

The aim  to continue with the great Aspen line by developing a wing with exceptional performance, yet to not be a difficult EN-C glider or lose the typical Gradient handling and predictable behaviour Gradient owners enjoy. Through the optimisation of the line layout Gradient have managed to reduce the line consumption by more than 35% compared to the same size Aspen 3(28). This in large is due to a  new and unique development which they are calling the 'DDsystem'. An internal load distribution system which makes it possible to use only 48 hanging loops on the canopy. This thoughtful and clever optimisation has significantly reduced line drag without losing any of the feel, which Gradient are renowned for creating in all their wings.
It was rumoured that this may have come at the expense of added weight but Gradient designer Ondej has  used his considerable design 'magic' to balance the added complexity of the internal structure with the reduction of less weight with the reduced line set with the careful use of the nylon wire in the leading edge construction while adding  two more cells for the Aspen 4  to maintain a respectable overall weight of  5.8kg for the size 28.

AvaSport New patented rescue opening system!

After 2 years of development  and testing  AVA Sport have a new patented rescue opening system. They are now developing it so that it can be fiitted for all harnesses and of course they would like to make it with cerification before it finally goes to market.  It will be finished about end of January beginning of February next year.

 

Yet more great camera work from Team Freestyle.
The Freestyle2 has to be one of the most eyecatching gliders out at the moment. And so fun to fly as well!

New products from Gradient

Gradient have been busy while we have been enjoying this record British summer.

They have recently released the fantastically fun  freestyle 2 which aims to offer the expressive pilot, with its sensitive feedback the opportunity to show off your skill level, while providing you with that little extra  security when you want to hone your new moves. 

Training with the Freestyle2 will help take your flying to the next level !

The Gradient  rucksack for the 2012 season features  a new design and materials. Special attention has been given to the design of the main load bearing areas; where the shoulder straps join the base of the bag for example. This improved design and clever use of material geometry gives a far stronger bag without having to use extra reinforcements that add weight. The zips are reassuringly by YKK and they are further protected by 3 compression straps each side and one on the top, that take the strain off the zippers. the compression straps also allow effective compression of the load for the longer walk-ins. The hip belt has a zippered and lined pocket for mobile phone, wallet etc. the belt is well padded but can be removed to facilitate airline transport etc.. The rucksack is very comfortable and carries higher for improved ergonomics and better freedom of movement. The top pocket is a useful size and there is  a clear plastic information pocket next to the haulage strap located between the shoulder strap attachment points. The Rucksack is supplied with all new season models and is available individually in sizes M L XL for £80.00

Gradient have also produced a very functional protective concertina bag . with an extra padded leading edge protection as well as mesh ventilation and a two way YKK zipper. This is a simple yet essential accessory to help you look after your gliders leading edge.

  There are two packing straps within and a compression strap on the outside to secure the folded glider. Each strap is attached to the bag so they can't get lost. The main cover material is lightweight and of superior quality. The Gradient logo is printed on the outside. Available now as an optional  extra £50 or free when you buy your new glider from us.

Gradient Freestyle 2

We know a picture speaks a thousand words so this seems the best way to introduce you to Gradient's new Freesyle 2 glider. Enjoy!

For technical info click on Freestyle 2

X-Alps 2011

Five Pilots in this years Red Bull X-alps  have chosen  to fly  the special X-Alps - Avax XC3, which is equipped with trimmers, has a much lighter canopy and a thinner line set.
We wish them the best of luck  and also all the best to our two British Team pilots Jon Chambers and Steve Nash!

Gradient Pilots

- Thomas De Dorlodot BEL

- Jan Skrabalek CZE

- Jouni Makkonen FIN

- Michael Gebert GER

- Pierre Carter RSA

Photo : Red Bull 2011 - Jan Skrabalek (CZE) flying

Gradient makes claim to longest single flight in the Himalaya

Congratulations to Thomas De Dorlodot who onboard his X-Alps XC3 has just completed a fantastic flight which surpassses Brad Sanders epic flight. Thomas completes his flight by a different route.
He writes

"The flight starts well as Hernan Pitocco opens the game followed by Horacio Llorens and I. Somehow it feels funny to fly XC with those 2 great acro pilot. Usually they start tumbling around when they arrive at cloudbase. But today we play a different game and those guys also now how it works. We fly as a team but at some point we take different options. Pitocco is agressive and flys fast but looses some height in a difficult transition. He will make it back easy and raise the rythem. We all have different styles and I like it. We have 8 hours to get to know each other and make the best out of this day together… The spirit is good and I have to say that without them this flight may not have been possible.

I do not have much oxygen in my bottle so I go easy. Anyway, cloudbase is low today. We can  (only) climb to 5500m this morning. After, it is like usual; from one thermal to another, one cloud to another.. east face, south face, west face… I think I reached the state of hypoxia a few time as I usually do not sing in turbulent conditions…

Time is running fast and cloudbase getting higher. We climb together with Horacio in a very turbulent thermal at 6300m. The thermal is in the lee side and that’s when acro skills really help… Just high enough to freeze our hands. We can feel the tension, no one is talking on the radio for the 3 hotest hours of the day… Concentrated guys… The motivations is high. 189 km from Booni means Gilgit and a hot shower… The view is breathtaking. We can see Nanga Parbat, K2 and some huge thunderstorm. I have some Belgian chocolate with me as a secret weapon but no water. I am talking to my Gradient XC3 when it is rough, to the mountain and to the birds when the thermal comes nice and smooth… It will be funny on our film as we are actually filming a documentary with Belgian director Olivier Vanashen. I have a microphone on me and a camera…

We make some distance and we start to believe that Gilgit is a realistic goal. But, as we fly above Gilgit, I start to see the possibility to break this record flight. It is a one time opportunity. I eat some Belgian chocolate and engage the fight… I say  God if you exist let me know now… and the vario starts beeping… I reconsider my point of view about religions and start turning around…

It feels like my dear Belgium flatlands flying. 0.5m/s. I get the last 30 km like that and land with the wind in the back just to make the best out of my glide. I think I am alone in the midle of nowhere and I scream  (thank you to the sky). A minute later, as usual, an army of kids are runing around. I land near a town called Pari… I wish I could be in the french capital and enjoy ( la cuisine française) and a fresh beer. But it is most likely not going to happen.My legs cannot hold me and I am exhausted. I hitch hike and go back to town to meet my friends. I do not know yet if I flew more than Brad or not. It does not matter. What matters here is to have fun and to enjoy."

A great flight on a great glider well done Thomas 
 
http://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:Tomdedor/6.6.2011/05:42

Gradient's new Freestyle2 - No limits!

The successor to the famous Aspen2-Freestyle is now here. After a year of prototyping and development in collaboration with top Austrian acro team(Freestyle) during international competitions and extensive tests, the new FREESTYLE2 is born .

Perfect in form the FREESTYLE2 maintains a very compact shape, it is easy in stall manoeuvres and is said to be much easier to 'backfly' and the entry-point to good smooth 'Heli's' is far easier to find than its predecessor. It is very effective in thermic flight, thus as a mini wing on strong wind days it is both fun and dynamic with its direct handling it will allow pilots to fully express themselves, while they explore the invisible!

The load test at 12G gives the opportunity to participate in the FAI aerobatic competitions. It is produced in sizes 20 and 22, while there is a 24 planned, this will be a more all-round spirit and will arrive soon ...

Montana 2011

The Montana for 2011 is now available. It is Gradient's new light-weight allrounder. Ondrej Dupal has designed the wing to be universally suitable for the target group of Walk & Fly mountain pilots. With the XC-qualities of the Montana 2011 large distances are also possible (Martin Mueller, 180km FAI). Its agility shows, in addition, its qualities in the Freestyle range. Flight figures such as SATs, Helicopters and Loops can be conducted without deformation of the profile. The lightweight construction developed by Gradient provides a good balance between weight and stability, as well as aerodynamic behaviour in extreme situations (e.g. tendency to shoot forwards). For travelling, the Montana 2011 easily fits into hand luggage. The new Montana 2011 has a new color Design and is available in sizes 22, 24, 26, 28, 30. The glider has received the certification EN/CLTA 1-2. Series production began in April. Contact us for a test flight and special offers on this model.

Comparitive musing

I have watched the ever growing M4 Thread on PG forum ( like many others probably) with avid interest. And have flown along side the first few M4's in the Uk. My immediate impression was ozone have created a nice wing which is certainly an improvement upon its predecessor (which of course is how it should be).
It is my observation the obvious benefit to the M4 pilot is its into wind performance - As said somewhere amongst the many reams within that thread, it is like climbing stairs- forward and up. However this benefit in my view, is only realised when wing loading is fully optimised. This is certainly becoming more critical across this particular class as designers are developing their designs and apply more refinement to their models so is the need to find that precise sweet-spot in the weight range to fully maximise the benefit, and is now something I am taking a more critical eye, so that I match my weight to my intended flight plan for the day and anticipated conditions.
I have been flying the XC3 since it first came out and I certainly felt I had the edge on the M3 though not always in weak thermic conditions (I don't think size was the advantage as this pilot was on a 28 but he was also very current have just completed a PWC season).

Since then the M4 has been released where I am flying at 115kg on my size 30 ( very lightly weighted) I have lost out a bit on the into wind performance to a mid weight loaded M4, but am still better than a comparatively similarly loaded M4.
The trim speed of the XC3 is slightly faster and it seems to turn tighter but that maybe because the M4 pilot I generally do a lot of my flying with is very proficient at thermaling flat and wide.
Is the M4 a class beater? In my view it is not on the same parallel as the R10 was in the open class. But volume of sales will muddy this picture a bit.

Interestingly in 'lumpy' pre-frontal air where the air can feel a bit like a holey Swiss cheese ( generally solid but with occasional bits missing). I felt at home, reassured by the solidity and feedback, without the need to overly control or contain the wing. This has been the immediate impression I got from the very first flight, where I was keen to see what the wing was like in what others felt were not ideal conditions to fly let alone go xc on. The wing behaved impeccably and I realised after years of flying open and prototype gliders how now unnecessarily busy my flying style had become. Now I could fully enjoy hands free flying (not that I do much with my free hands) but I am able to free up my concentration efforts which were given over to wing control to more strategic decisions of say route choice. I cannot say this is the same for the the M4 as I have not flown one, but I have had other well respected pilots comment to me saying that they seem to be going OK when conditions become more demanding. Back to the lumpy pre-frontal day neither wing collapsed but only one of us decided to stay in the air. This is not to say I am a pilot with more balls or that I was being more reckless (in fact I believe we have a very similarly matched outlook to our flying, albeit he is often more strategic to my intuitive nature ).

So what am I getting at - well there are a number of good wings on the market just be sure you are choosing the right wing for your needs and style of flying - it is all too easy to simply follow the herd, and if there is one piece of ozone advice I would take, it is... sometimes being the Black sheep can reap its rewards. Follow the herd and you will remain just another number.

Gradient's Golden3 has now passed the paramotor homologation in size 24 and 26. The wing passed all certification testflights without problems. The paramotor version of the Golden3 is equipped with special multi purpose risers. These risers offer trimmers as well as different points of attachements for the karabiners, with this multi purpose system the Golden3 can be used for both free flying and paramotoring. So, the Golden3 is an ideal choice for free flight and paramotor pilots who'd like to keep their minds open for new horizons.

Tanto Light

We have just received the new launch photos for the Tanto light and Ava have released this new harness for production. Although, this has not yet been certified we are confident that this will be completed by the end of March then will be ready for the UK market.
We have been informed that Tanto light L is about 3,9 kg with XL and M are approx. 500 gr. More/less.

For those that are less weight concious we also have the Standard Tanto in stock now.

New developments from Gradient

The Gradient team are now working on two further releases which follow on from the recently certified Bright 4 which was launched last Month .

The "Aspen 4" (Not sure whether it will be called this but it will supersede the Aspen 3 in performance and innovation). I believe this is targeted to be on the market in November/December 2011. Will post more news when we hear about it.

There is also news that the team is in the final stages of development of their new acro wing which will replace the highly acclaimed Seven. More new to follow regarding planned release dates.

Bright 4 is released

Gradient have announced the release of the Bright 4 The Bright 4. It is the 4th glider of the Bright generation. It has passed the EN A certification in size 24, 26, 28 and 30. All sizes are available. The Bright4 22 will follow in February-March 2011.

The focus for The Gradient team was to create a wing for a wider range of beginners. Pilot safety is always the main priority for Gradient director and developer Ondrej Dupal, so time was invested in field testing the prototypes in the rough conditions of world record spot "De Aar", South Africa. The aim to create a new glider which has the right characteristics to achieve an effective and fast learning progress among the pilots. With easy launch and stable flight fit for beginners this is a glider that will provide the developing pilot with a relaxed paragliding experience.

The Bright 4 comes complete with a new design image and in a brand new colour design: The classic Gradient under-surface has been replaced by the big G logo .which matches with the upper sails colour combinations. Test reports will be available soon on DHV and main Gradient website during next few days.