Nice to see, you're having fun out there with our new 2-liner and thanks for the feedback!
"I am super happy with my TORRE. Compared to TRANGO X the TORRE`s rear riser steering requires significantly less effort. TORRE has the proven agility and safety, but even more speed. Looking forward to the XC-season!" writes UP Team Pilot Reto Born from Switzerland. Additional to his feedback, a flood of high-fives reached us on Social Media from pilots all over the world about the newest development of our Chief Designer Frantisek "Franta" Pavlousek & Co-Designer Jaromir "Jarda" Masek. UP Distributor for France, Franck Smektala & friends even took the time to write the following, detailed report after testing the wing for three days straight.
"On the ground: The first thing you notice when you take it out of the bag is the series of ribs running along the entire profile. The two-liner suspension is easy to untangle.
During launch: although the wing isn’t heavy in itself (4.5 kg), the stiffness of the profile takes some getting used to. It lifts in two stages without any tendency to overshoot. With the wing facing you and no wind, a strong initial pull is needed to inflate it. Positioning the wing in a V-shape makes inflation easier, and in light conditions, it is essential that the stabilizers are completely free to prevent the wing from twisting during takeoff. With a stronger breeze, the wing climbs slowly during the first half of the launch and then accelerates, but even with 20–25 km/h of wind, there’s no tendency to shoot; a moderate input is enough to slow it down above your head. For an EN-C, this is very stable behavior and easy to handle.
In the air: All the pilots who have flown it during our test days share the exact same impression regarding three aspects of the wing.
1) It’s very solid and reassuring. At Saint-Hilaire, we flew in some really strong conditions, and at no point did the wing exhibit any unexpected or violent behavior. On the contrary, it handles turbulence well, and for an EN-C, it's shock absorption and comfort are on par with those of a more relaxed EN-B. But this is not at the expense of the TORRE’s other two characteristics.
2) Precision in turns, whether controlled from the handlebar or the harness (we tested it with lightweight harnesses, board harnesses, hammock harnesses, and sub-marine harnesses): it turns easily and allows you to really tighten your turns. The travel is minimal, allowing for precise wing positioning. Despite this, low-speed flight is stable, with no unwanted roll, and the control feels firm. The TORRE therefore has a good margin for over-steering.
3) It moves really fast, which is a real advantage in challenging conditions because if the speed bar propels it into the wind, the high-speed performance is enough to get out of most situations, which is more than comfortable and reassuring. Bonus: For a two-liner, the ears are easy to use, effective, and stable."
It’s safe to assume that we’ll be getting even more feedback soon, once the season really gets going and the remaining, eagerly awaited TORRE shipments arrive to pilots around the world. So please keep posting and sending feedback! We love seeing your photos and videos and hearing the best stories about your adventures with the TORRE - as well as, of course, with our other models. Mention @upparagliders and tag us on Instagram for a chance to have your post shared by us. Thank you!
Photos: Remy Heliot, Markus Henninger, Reto Born, @shizzletrick, @oficinadeparapente, @upparagliders_brazil