Better weather than expected, app-based organization, and many familiar and new faces made the event a success.
This time, visitor registrations were limited per day and coordinated via app. A commendable approach to improving safety and information flow - suggestions for further improving the process can be sent to the organizers at the Kössen Flight School. It was noticeable that this resulted in slightly fewer people. Since this meant fewer pilots landing simultaneously, it certainly made the situation less hectic. There was, of course, still plenty to see for spectators at the landing field and launch.
UP was on site with a large selection of test gliders and three staff members. Also visiting were the developers Frantisek “Franta” Pavlousek and Jaromir “Jarda” Masek, as well as UP team pilots from the surrounding area and dealers, some from far away. We would like to thank, among others, Jan from Cloudbase Paragliding in South Africa for visiting! Particularly in demand were the TORRE (EN/LTF C), the new 2-liner, and our lightweight High-B KANGRI X, a 2.5-liner. The other models, such as the MAKALU 5, KIBO X, LHOTSE X, SUMMIT X, TRANGO X, and KAILASH, also took to the air. Since tandem flights are restricted during the festival, our new K2 5 tandem glider unfortunately had to stay on the ground.
In a direct comparison between the TRANGO X (EN/LTF C) as a 2.5-liner and the TORRE (EN/LTF C) as a 2-liner, personal preferences could be explored. Both gliders rightly have their fan base and enormous XC potential. Ultimately, the deciding factor is how much you rely on rear-riser steering when flying in strong XC conditions. That’s when you notice how the 2-liner jumps a few meters upward with almost every single air bubble you fly through. That’s why the TORRE offers slightly better performance, allowing pilots to squeeze a few extra kilometers out of the day.
The general feedback on our five 2.5-liners was also exciting. The chance to speak personally with the developers convinced some hesitant pilots to test a hybrid. By the way, all 2.5-liners at UP have the “X” for “Cross” in their names, so they’re easy to spot. Especially with our Mid-B KIBO X, there were several pilots who got a taste of it for the very first time. The major advantages are noticeable: better performance due to less line drag and easier control via the rear risers.
All in all, a visit to Kössen, Austria is always worthwhile. You rarely find so many exhibitors from the paragliding scene in one place; the mountain lift is within walking distance, and the landing field is large and right next to the festival grounds. The excellent food and drinks also deserve a special mention. The Fliegerbar Kössen offered a grill station, vegetarian dishes, coffee & cake, and cold drinks. The hotels and campgrounds in the area have been familiar with the event for years and warmly welcome the arriving pilots.
We thank all visitors for the interesting conversations and look forward to seeing you again! Did you unfortunately miss this Testival? Then be sure to mark your calendar for early June next year and stop by one of our other events in the meantime. You can find an overview of all dates here: UP Paragliders Events