GRADIENT Aspen 4 (link for Flight test report - size 26)
When GRADIENT first released the Aspen 4 ,with minimum line configuration ,my eyes opened wide, and I was concerned about the stability and how they could manage that. The first Aspen 1 was fast, quite alive but it had a very nice crispy handling. Now I have in my hands the Aspen 4 to fly. Here’s what I found:
Immediately after take off the feeling of security and comfort is present .It is like you are riding exactly in a big smooth American car.
The Aspen 4 flown at 100 all up in turbulent conditions showed a very homogenous character. Strangely, I could see the risers moving, but I was not feeling strongly the roll movements. It is indeed a new sensation for me! It is like the carabineers are working like shock absorbers, but actually it is the internal structure of the wing that is doing all the hard work. Gradient's DD system 1
What struck me also is that when conditions were shaky and turbulent inside an inversion and when I was finding it a bit hard to turn some agile gliders inside 'spaghetti thermal's ☺, the Aspen 4 was still very maneuverable and could be placed whenever I wanted regardless of the conditions.
It is one of the strongest points of the Aspen 4!
After some glides with some new “C’s”, I can confirm that the Aspen 4 is among the top performers. To talk about pure performance is always hard, but the Aspen 4 has a very usable one. The accelerator is soft and very easy to pull. Second bar has an impressive glide among the best, with a high stability and is user friendly.
I flew the glider in some weak and strong thermals, next to some “C’s” to conclude that the glider is not reluctant to any thermal. In fact it slides comfortably in, and climbs without delay.
Big ears are “BIG” because of only two lines on the “A’s” Using the second bar with big ears is very efficient with decent rates over -5m/s, depending on how much lines you pull.
Conclusion:
GRADIENT have now a new hidden weapon inside those Aspens, with this efficient 'DD' internal structure.
Pilots moving from high-end “B’s” to the “C” category will immediately feel at home under the Aspen 4.
My opinion about that glider is very positive because it has everything without the lacking anything. As I stated before, performance alone cannot make a good glider. On board of the Aspen 4 a pilot can have a very good glide, a very competitive climb, superb handling, a comfortable ride, and with big ears as a very efficient descent method.
It has everything to make a pilot smile after a long XC flight.
Cheers,
Ziad.
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Gradient's Double Diagonal System (DDsystem) was developed especially for the Aspen4 and is the heart of this model. (with equililent systems now being added to the Nevada our new EN B Wing). It provides a stable profile and the best possible tension in the upper sail, the lower sail and the leading edge. A carefully chosen combination of different materials has been carefully selected to work with the DD system. The result is wingswith exceptional balance. Reinforcement is used where needed, including the leading edge which is strengthened with nylon rods. Uniquely shaped rib reinforcements further optimise the wingloading across the canopy: a big advantage in case of collapses.
