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Am I ready to Upgrade my Paraglider?
by Greg Hamerton

Greg has been flying since 1992 and has flown over 100 wings. He prefers responsive handling and agility but rates passive stability highly as he enjoys taking photographs and snoozing whilst gliding. 

I'd like to qualify my comments regarding my recent glider reviews.  I write reviews assuming folks know which class of glider they should be interested in, and don't wish to repeat the same advice in every review I write.

The Nova Phelix, Edel Quantum, and gliders in its class (DHV1) are ideal for instructors to train students on, and for pilots who feel nervous in the air, often fly in turbulent conditions, or are in their first year of flying.  They give limited feedback, dampened response and slow, measured handling.  Their reduced glide and speed do not suite xc flying, though of course it's still possible - the Apco Fiesta took me 45km's on the first test-flight, and I overtook a pilot on an Airwave XXX (but Abraham flew over my head later ;-) ) .

The Firebird Matrix, Swing Arcus and gliders in its class (DHV1/2) are intermediate gliders, and suited to pilots who have recently been licenced, ideally with 50 flights / 10 hours airtime.  If you are a novice to xc flying, or just enjoy mellow soaring, or flying is your hobby (ie you do it on the odd weekend) then this is the class you should be in.  This can take you well into your second year of flying, up to 300 flights probably before you have begun to tap into all the glider has to offer.  You should complete a safety course, go to a couple of social competitions and complete many xc's on this glider before considering an upgrade.  This is the wing that will forgive you all your mistakes, and keep flying.  Remember, if you have other commitments apart from flying, regularly miss weekends, and call paragliding a 'hobby' / 'recreation' , there's no need to leave the class, for the new DHV1/2's will have all the performance you need.

The Octane, the Swing Astral 2, and gliders in its class (DHV2) are sports gliders, and suited to regular, competent pilots with more than 150 flights / 50 hours of thermic airtime.  If flying is your primary sport (as opposed to a hobby), if you are regularly flying (every weekend), do xc often, and have a few years of incident- free fying under your belt, then this could be your class, should you choose it. Incorrect pilot input to extreme situations can dramatically delay recovery on a DHV2, so an SIV course and regular practice (wingovers, spirals, wingtucks, asymmetrics) is recommended.  The DHV2 wing can be deformed badly by turbulence and still be piloted to safety, because the aerofoil generates enough lift at low speeds to keep flying.  Not so with the next class.

Cross this line only if you fly at least 100 hours a year in thermic conditions 

Above DHV2 class the performance gain for a given loss in security becomes marginal.  The next class requires altitude and the correct, precise pilot input to fix problems.   It requires a change in flying style, where you rely more on superior glide to make big transitions, and stay off the ridges and out of trouble.

The Nova Argon, the Ozone Proton, the Swing Cirrus2 and gliders in its class (DHV2/3) are advanced gliders, and suited nowadays to those weathered, dusty-looking people that seem to do nothing else but fly all the time, and competition pilots.  Some 2/3's (Bonanza) are sports gliders, some are serial class racers (XIX Top2), so you've got to scrutinise the DHV tests. If you're considering buying a 2/3 glider, you don't need my advise.

The Swing Stratus, Gin Boomerang, Nova Krypton and gliders in its class (DHV3) are competition gliders, suited to professional competition pilots who compete and fly on an almost permanent basis.  The pilots should be getting at least three full flying days in per week, and have to have exceptional reflexes and natural ability to master these high-performance machines.  You don't buy one of these to win a competition, you buy it when you are already winning the competitions.  There are very few pilots in SA who are competent to fly such wings.  I have over 1200 hours thermic airtime and fly every weekend.  I do not fly enough to master such a wing.  Sure, I can pilot it, but with no margin for safety.  I've been there.  My ankle hurts.

The AFNOR / SHV tests have only three classifications : Standard - Performance - Competition.  The Performance class is far too broad, and can include anything from a hot DHV1-2 to a DHV2-3 (Apco Futura, in my humble opinion).  As a guideline, you can use the following :
Standard Class = DHV1 and DHV1/2.
Performance = DHV2 and DHV2/3
Competition = hot DHV2/3's and DHV3.

Hope that helps clear up the confusion.  Bear in mind that this is just my opinion, and there are big overlaps in my class definitions.  Ask around, get advise from others who (a) aren't trying to sell you something and (b) fly regularly in the same air you're going to be in.  
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