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S5/Sport

From: Dan
Activity_Date: 11-17-01
Remote Name: 24.8.188.224

Comments

Two gliders today fresh out of the bag. I had been waiting for about a week plus for the experience of flying the S5. I am in the same weight range on the S5 as I was on my Epsilon 3. I need to temper my first impressions as my flight was way too short to give a concise evaluation of the wing's handling characteristics but here it goes. It was easy to pull up in light winds. Turning requires a lot less brake travel than my E3 and the energy the wing retains is much more noticeable. I never hit any lift other than the house thermal and the S5 seemed more nimble than the E3.

As I flew to the TF my glide was good, but could that be the conditions? Not much there so I played it safe and pointed towards the AF. By that time R Faoro was to my left and more towards the canyon but on track to the AF. As we came in over the lift my turn had to be to the left to stay in the lift and Ron's to the right. After yesterday's wing walking experience I gave Ron the reins and let him have the thermal. By the time I was able to position myself I was too low to take advantage of the lift. I scratched at the AF but there was nothing.... out to the rock, nothing.

I was lower than I would have liked to be taking a line on Parma but as it turned out the glide was so much better, (conditions??? /glider performance????) I made it with 200'+ agl to Parma. Landing had more energy than the E3 and I should have flared sooner to make a softer landing in "light wind" conditions.

I did not ck my vario but I would be hard pressed to say I flew more than 18 min. Enough to get an initial feel. Very much like the E3 with its secure feeling but a better gliding and more precise turning wing. More to come….

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