|
Gleitschirm magazine
glider review Eden 3
From the Eden 3 MAC PARA promise
Eden on Earth. Gleitschirm magazine has put this Eden
bird under the magnifying glass.
It’s only the name which MAC
retains throughout the development of their intermediate
glider the Eden 3.Uniformity and detail are very
important for these Czechs and they have taken time for
development. Only one year after the restructure of the
DHV 1-2 category and four years after the introduction
of the Eden 2 to the market [2700 were sold according to
company information] its successor was introduced.
Sixteen prototypes were made and tested with the goals
of longer brake range and refined response of the canopy
to brake input compared to the Eden 2. A further very
interesting construction goal was set by Peter Recek,
“the glider must be excellent for paramotoring”.
Consequently the designer tested each prototype with a
paramotor.
It was difficult to achieve ideal
damping of the roll axis without a detrimental influence
on the handling for free flying. A courageous goal,
which was perfectly achieved after 18th months of
development and testing. The Eden 3 flies equally well
whether free flying or paramotoring.
Construction and workmanship
The Eden 3 wasn’t designed as one
might expect, using the same shape as its predecessor.
A greater influence on its design was the Intox. The
aspect ratio was reduced and the number of cells was
increased to 52, which progressively narrow towards the
wing tips. The concept departs from easy construction
with every second rib attached and diagonal segments on
the A’s,B’s and C’s.
During fine tuning of the final
prototypes priority was given to the different panel
tensions. It has lead to very easy take-off
characteristics and perfect performance. The combination
of different materials, also used on other MAC PARA
models, is a precious compromise between: quality
workmanship; long life materials and achievement of low
weight. 5.85 kg is genuinely the maximum weight of the
glider. Together with a minimum volume we can say that
the Eden 3 is useable as a mountain paraglider. It is
really strange, because paramotoring implies stronger
due to the heavier load. Construction was load tested to
8G at the maximum weight of 197 kg [nearly1.600 kg].
Nevertheless paramotoring versions are equipped with
even stronger Edelrid 6843/340 mainlines.
Take off
The Eden 3 retains its
predecessor’s charms with its easy behaviour during
takeoff, which we can describe as suitable for
beginners. This MAC intermediate doesn’t need special
tricks to lay-out the canopy on the ground and
organising the lines can be described as average. Simply
by pulling on the centre A`s the canopy climbs reliably,
it is easy to control and to correct. It has no
tendencies to overshoot. Although the behaviour of
canopy remains somewhat damped whilst maintaining a
straight course, reaction of the canopy is precise and
speedy to brake input and allows corrections during take
off.
Flight
The first time a pilot takes to the
air with the Eden 3, he will initially notice the
consistent flight behaviour and specially the very easy
and precise handling. In our comparison of DHV 1-2
gliders the new Eden 3 was promptly awarded the position
of all-rounder, among others thanks to easily achieved
descent manoeuvres. The Eden 3 maintains its course and
flies fluently through the air, while very precisely
steerable. It gains advantage from its more or less flat
turns. In turbulence you occasionally feel lift on the
inside but turning is not affected by it at all. The
Eden 3 continues to turn fluently and the outside does
not show any loss of internal pressure of the wing.
Although the canopy, thanks to its
good damping, gave a flexible and resilient impression,
it seems in the long axis a bit stiffer, weight-shift is
somewhat less effective, but at the same time it
benefits from a high damping of roll movement. When
thermaling the feedback from the brakes is excellent.
Thanks to its flat turn the Eden 3 is naturally in its
element in light conditions, but it also feels good in
strong thermals. Once the Eden 3 flies into a strong
thermal, it can be steeply banked, it leaves behind its
tendency to turn flat; and turning with high angle gives
a good impression. Pressure in the brakes remains light.
Entry to and exit from thermals are well balanced. The
canopy doesn’t sit back and doesn’t surge forward and
stabilizes by it-self over the pilot. The speed system
can be used for extended periods without pain, saving
power and energy during XC flights. The effective use of
the speed system over long distances was demonstrated by
Bernhard Plasser at the end of May 2005. He “catapulted”
his Eden 3 from Pizgau in Austria for a flight of 170
km.
Reaction of this glider to
asymmetric collapse is without any surprise. Normally
the Eden 3 is almost unaffected by any surge and
immediately and spontaneously recovers from an
asymmetric collapse with a turn of less than 90 degrees.
Only during BIG asymmetric collapses does the pilot
notice a marked surge of the canopy, nevertheless turn
during recovery is not more than 90 degrees. If the
pilot reacts with counter-steer then it is easy to keep
the canopy in straight flight and without problem and
easy to maintain course. A normal (small) collapse is
followed by smooth reopening of the canopy without
input. Occasionally it is beneficial to speed the
process with adequate counter-steering.
Descent options
Big Ears
Thanks to split A risers big ears
are easy. If the pilot pulls the outer A`s down, the
ears fold-in cleanly and remain in this position without
pilot input. The closed part is relatively large and
thanks to this sink rate is really effective. Combining
Big Ears with the use of the speed bar the sink rate can
be improved. It is possible to control the glider using
weight shift but you can reach turns with a high radius.
For this reason is better to support this manoeuvre with
use of the speed system, because the Eden 3 is then more
manageable and dynamic. Reopening of big ears must be
made with clean and progressive application of the
brakes.
B-Stall
B-Stall on the Eden 3 can be
described as a brave (parade) manoeuvre, because rarely
can another paraglider achieve the level of this DHV 1-2
glider with its simple performance, behaviour and
effectiveness. As the pilot pulls the B risers down and
the airflow on the canopy brakes away with lowering
resistance in traction the canopy cleanly "breaks”. The
canopy falls minimally backwards. During the B-stall the
canopy remains extremely stable, it does not show any
twist or turn to the side and descends with a sink rate
more than 8m/s. As soon as the B risers are released the
glider returns to flight reliably with a soft surge,
without demands for pilot input.
Spiral dive
Spiral dive with this new MAC
glider a simple and practicable manoeuvre. Using a
moderate input the Eden 3 enters spiral dive and
responds to the pilot’s commands without tendency to any
spontaneous acceleration or deceleration with rapid
exit. The amount of sink rate can be changed by
progressive application or release of the brake. A sink
rate of more then 18 m/s can be easily achieved by the
use of higher brake pressures. Behaviour during exit
from the spiral dive is also exemplary. It does not
surge unexpectedly from this manoeuvre and can be easily
piloted out of the spiral dive. Even if the pilot ends
the spiral dive too abruptly, the danger of flying in
your own turbulence is very small.
Summary
The MAC team have succeeded in
creating a genial "all-rounder" with a wide spectrum of
use.
On one hand the Eden 3 offers, due
to its wide-ranging control clear dynamic and
straightforward manoeuvres needed for descent options
and good behaviour during extreme manoeuvres, which will
be appreciated by talented beginners and especially by
paramotor pilots. On the other hand it provides
performance oriented pilots enough potential for XC
flights. Primarily the Eden 3 will inspire thermal
specialists. Well balanced behaviour with excellent
feedback in thermals combined with a magnificent climb
rate offer everything a pilot could wish for. At the
same time the Eden 3 belongs in the narrow selection of
gliders for para-alpinists thanks to its low weight and
volume.
Short
summary - features
Workmanship/materials.
Correct sewing and fabrication.
Light construction! (Rating 4)
Take off
Suitable for beginners! Easy take
off handling by strong wind. (Rating 5)
Flight
Wide spectrum of use! Handling and
performance potential! Especially suitable for XC
flights. (Rating 5)
Big ears
Easy and effective! Sense of speed
system using. (Rating 5)
B-Stall
Excellent manoeuvre! Easy to do,
reliable exit. (Rating 5)
Spiral dive
Not demanding. Ideal for beginners.
Exit not demanding! (Rating 5)
Ratings
1 insufficient
2 medium 3 good 4 very good
5 excellent
Increase of pressure with brake application
10 cm – 0.6 kg
20 cm - 2.5 kg
30 cm - 3.8 kg
40 cm - 6.0 kg
50 cm - 8.0 kg
Glide: 8.3 (at trim speed)
Glide is measured by the
Gleitschirm team in a very exacting way. In the same way
as for sail-planes, measurements are made in absolutely
calm air (before sunrise) using a few flights in company
with a reference calibrated glider. At the same time
pilots exchange between tested and reference gliders.
Both harnesses used and pilot’s
weights are identical. After each flight, height
differences between the gliders are measured with very
accurate instruments. Finally using data from all
flights the average glide angle of the tested glider is
calculated. Using this method an accuracy of +/- 0.1 is
achieved (when compared with results from the reference
glider). Measuring instruments: 2x Aircotec XC-Trainer
|
