Quick brief on Combat 13.5 GT

Since I got so many questions from all around the world around new Combat 13.5 GT I tough I should write an article solely about the feelings I got on this new gun.

Now I have like 6 flights on it so my judgement is far from real thing for now. I am still adjusting it with proper weight and sprog adjustments, but I am slowly coming back to a toy that I had last year. All the flights where made in already strong conditions of up to 7 m/s thermals.

Hardware:

Glider is made from a 14 size frame from last year. They changed the sail cut to a 8.5. aspect ratio which makes glider look really interesting.

The last batten tip is adjustable now so you can adjust the whole sail from middle to the end. Sail tension is much bigger as you have smaller path from the leading edge to the end of the wing. This makes the sail stiffer due to the smaller size in this tension.

The upper sail is made from one clean cut of smoky, no stitches just one big piece of smoke which makes the glider look really slick. The lower battens are made different on this Combat as they can be bend in the middle for a better handling.

Difference between new WillsWing T2c and a new Combat 13.5 GT

Software:

Taking off:

Having the glider on the shoulders it is very nice balanced. First surprise you get with your first take off. The wing generates lift at a really low speed so you are flying after just a step or two. The stall speed is slower then with other models. This is going to be interesting to see it at work on Cucco.

Flying it:

The biggest question, the handling? I heard that question million times past days :D
When I saw it for the first time in pictures I said: "I just hope it will have at least good handling as 13,7"
I got it...

First I flew with out ballast on it so I was driven around a bit with it. A step on weight scale showed I was good during winter time as my belly went down quite a lot. With the harness I was a bit bellow 88 kg which was too low for the 13.5 square meters. A bit of lead and was strong on 93 kg with all the gear. The glider suddenly felt much better then before. Last year I made a mistake flying on 13,7 with out lead, now I know...

Flying it in thermals is poetry, yet you can feel that extra span when you hit a thermal from a side. When you get inside it is a rocket up. As it has a slower stall speed you can actually fly lot slower with it. I was very surprised to fly so slow with it already on first flights. I flew with Slovenian master Franc who was on a brand new Willswing and we where thermaling together quite the same. It is hard to say about the glide as it was a day that 20 m difference in path made 50 m difference in eight but I was surely flying with him and this was before I lowered the sprogs. Yes, they are still above the DHV measurments.

The glider is however different from my previous one, so I know that some extra hours on it will make me work it it like one.

I won`t be talking too much about the CG sistem as I have not figure it out enough. Sure is nice to get back in the thermal and have a relaxed circles and sure it is nice on glides when you pull in and have a reasonable bar pressure for the glide.

Bar pressure?
I can say you can feel it is more nervous in pitch, then 13,7 was, but lets not forget, the 13,7 was a glider made to fly with out the tail, this one is not. Still you fell very confident when you hit the turbulence as you can feel the tail at work all the time.

Landing

Remember the school gliders? Well, this one is easier...
Due to it slow stall speed you come to the push point with such a slow speed that you actually step down from the sky. The tail makes a glider very forgivable, when you push too late it does not jump on the nose so you can catch it with a short run. If you are too early, the glider will not pull up and go down on the tail but will float down more horizontal. I guess it is the tail that is doing this, I felt this one 13,7 and am felling now as well. The flare moment is big enough to catch it, with this glider you make the flare really slow, opening the glider to the very end and just step down.


Overall judgement:

I am sure that Bassano will show us a good picture about the glider. I feel confident with its handling and am feeling very safe on it in the air. Can`t wait to cross this white line in the goal field :)