Aspen 4 review By Ziad Bassil

For those that look into the 'Pg forum' site they will be quite familiar with "Zen" objective wings reviews. I have just read his latest review, this time for the Aspen 4 and feel compelled to repost it here for pilots information.

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:

Launching this glider in nil wind requires a gentle but steady pull for the first 80 % .The Launching is a non-event.

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.

1
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.

New EN B wing in development from Gradient

Gradient are busy preparing a new glider within its range. The Nevada is being positioned between the Golden3 and  the new season release Aspen4.  Gradient state that they are already at the stage of final testing. With the local weather getting better every day they are able to complete their final pre certification test flights in the real thermic conditions.  Feedback from these test are very positive  both in   thermic and  dynamic soaring flight, with very easy flying characteristics as expected of an planned EN B wing but also with a good high performance potential  gained through the use of the new Aspen 4 technology and the perfomance increasing DDsystem.

Gradient would like to be ready with sizes 24,26 and 28 in time for the  European spring, with the size 28 being nearly ready for EN B certification now.  We look forward to providing more information soon.

Aspen 4 online review

The new Aspen4 size 28 & 26 has arrrived at the Uk importers and the 24 will follow by mid feb.
The final testing was done in the South African Karoo and the test team reports that Gradient have exceeded their targets for this new Aspen. The innovative DD (double diagonal) system massively reduces line drag bringing a big gain in performance.  Test pilots comment that it is easier to fly than the Aspen3 and that the glider can make very nice flat turns in weaker conditions while still being easy to handle in the strong thermals. We can't wait to have a go!
  
And will review it here once we get a reasonable  spell of weather.


In the mean time here is some pilot feedback about the wing I don't know the pilot but have a link to direct you to his review this from the Pg forum thread
http://www.paraglidingforum.com/search.php?search_id=bestposts&return_chars=-1&topic=37410&quality=3

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.