Well it finally arrived today, my new Malibu. The Moyes test pilot test flew the glider and said all is well. I knew when I chose the colours that I wanted a glider to stand out in the sky, but man I didn't realise how FLURO, fluro orange was, it is magic.
I must say though I like the combination of the Blue and fluro yellow/green in this video which looks beautiful to my eyes. The only problem is the fluro yellow/green doesn't have enough energy to stand out high in the sky, it gets washed out. The fluro orange on the other hand has the power and energy to stand out with ease.
I will be flying my Malibu on light days amongst a lot of traffic including paragliders and I want them all to see me coming. I mentioned in a previous thread I came close to another hang glider heading towards me which had a green leading edge flying over a patch of green grass.
Well I took a video and some photos of my new baby and have uploaded it to youtube which is processing at the moment. As soon as it finishes I will add it to this post. I zoomed into 10X a couple of times and the wind was very chunky so I found it a bit hard to keep the camera steady.
Well at least the low res version is up, but to see it in its full glory your really need to see the HD version.
There is an art, it says, or rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. … Clearly, it is this second part, the missing, which presents the difficulties. ~~~Douglas Adams
No that was Steve Moyes doing some testing during the development of the Malibu. _________________ Sonic 165
Lightsport 3
Malibu 188
My youtube channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2#p/u
can you post a photo of the wing. (I can't see youtube at work)
I've seen a couple Sport 2's around here with the bright orange LE and man can you spot those wings from far away! I'm interested to see how they hold up after a summer or two. Flouro in known to fade quicker than the other colors. You end up with pale green and orange, though it may still be better than a white or grey LE! _________________ Airborne Climax 14 (C1)
WW U2
H3
AT, FL,ST, RLF, TUR.
There is an art, it says, or rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. … Clearly, it is this second part, the missing, which presents the difficulties. ~~~Douglas Adams
Last edited by CHassan on Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:31 am; edited 1 time in total
Very nice, Richard!
Is that the smaller one, they have been working on? _________________ H-4 (1976) UP Saturn 147 & UP Axis 13
The Cloudbase Foundation
Learn to fly hang gliders (click here}
Torrey Hawks #208
Love the colours mate,got the fluro orange on mine but the blue sets it off that
much more ,might get me one of them malibu's myself when i wear my fun out,hope to see a good few dune goon vids of you soon
can you post a photo of the wing. (I can't see youtube at work)
I've seen a couple Sport 2's around here with the bright orange LE and man can you spot those wings from far away! I'm interested to see how they hold up after a summer or two. Flouro in known to fade quicker than the other colors. You end up with pale green and orange, though it may still be better than a white or grey LE!
I will see if I can post up some photos tonight. Regarding the UV fading the fluro orange and also the blue. I have been experimenting with 303 UV Protectant spray that is specifically made to protect sails and similar materials from fading. I plan to spray the entire wing. I have also checked out a few Funs that have green, red, blue leading edges that have hundreds of hours on them without any protection and they seem to stand up pretty well. So I figure with the 303 I should be OK.
Very nice, Richard!
Is that the smaller one, they have been working on?
Thanks Windlord, no they are still working on the small Malibu. The test pilot who flew mine only weighs 65 kgs and seemed to handle the wing OK. I was going to wait for the smaller wing because I like flying at the upper weight range of my gliders, but then realised that I wanted the Malibu for really light days and doon gooning so I decided to go with the 188. _________________ Sonic 165
Lightsport 3
Malibu 188
My youtube channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2#p/u
Thanks kamikaze, doon gooning is one thing I am really looking forward to trying. I will be like a newbie though and will have to take it slowly. _________________ Sonic 165
Lightsport 3
Malibu 188
My youtube channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2#p/u
I have to agree those colors do stand out. That glider will be hard to miss. _________________ WW 141 Fusion SP
Master rated, First flight - May 1975
FL, PL, PA, AWCL, CL, FSL, RLF, TURB, X-C
Wow ! in the video when you made the turn toward the camera the colors really stand out , that's a good looken glider Relate2 , I am equally impressed with the beautiful site you have to fly
.................Regarding the UV fading the fluro orange and also the blue. I have been experimenting with 303 UV Protectant spray that is specifically made to protect sails and similar materials from fading................
Robert, Gorgeous looking wing. Please hold off on the 303 until you've contacted an HG manufacturer who has used it successfully. I seem to call that a certain US HG manufacturer had some negative things to say about it. I'd certainly contact the manufacturer of the sailcloth on your glider before attempting to use it. I cannot find any reliable, independent information on the web that suggests this product has been tested and found to be safe for use on Dacron sails. You've been cautioning me about my flying and I'm here to warn you that this product can possibly damage the sizing in your sailcloth and adversely affect its dimensional stability, turning your beautifully cut sail into a rag. Unless your sailcloth manufacturer specifically tells you that 303 is both harmless to the sizing resin in the fabric and won't result in uneven UV fading, I'd keep my glider bagged when not in use if I were you.
Wow that is an eye popper! Beautifull! _________________ Airborne Climax 14 (C1)
WW U2
H3
AT, FL,ST, RLF, TUR.
There is an art, it says, or rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. … Clearly, it is this second part, the missing, which presents the difficulties. ~~~Douglas Adams
Thanks everyone for you your comments and yes CHassan it really is an eyepopper.
Thanks Jonathan for the warning I appreciate you taking the time. I did spend a fair bit of time investigating the use of 303 on hang gliders. I have been using 303 on my wings for the last 18 months. On my Sonic for the last 50-60 hours before I sold it and now my Dacron Lightsport for the last 50 hours with no adverse affects.
I made enquiries with my instructor who has been flying for 30 years and he said they used to use it a fair bit years ago but stopped using it because it attracted too much dirt at the sites they were flying. Inquiries I have made since reveal that that may have been spraying on too much and also not wiping the sail completely dry and drying it in full sun to evaporate the excess fluid. Also at Stanwell I set up on grass and break down on grass so there is no dust being blown around.
Here is the information from the 303 website specifically talking about 303 and Dacron. I know it is not really independent but I have not noticed any problems so far. They do mention that it can slightly soften the material which some sail boat owners reported being able to sail faster.
With the extreme Australian sun, for me what is worse UV damage or a softening sail, especially on a floater which doesn't really have a tight sail. I am willing to keep the colours bright over the sail getting a little soft.
............I did spend a fair bit of time investigating the use of 303 on hang gliders. I have been using 303 on my wings for the last 18 months. On my Sonic for the last 50-60 hours before I sold it and now my Dacron Lightsport for the last 50 hours with no adverse affects.........at Stanwell I set up on grass and break down on grass so there is no dust being blown around............
Thanks for the link, Robert. For your purposes, it sounds fine to me. I find their claims to be unsubstantiated and even ludicrous. The current Brainbridge catalog makes no mention of the product: http://www.sail-making.com/dbimgs/us/Complete_US_v3.1.pdf contrary to their statement.......
Quote:
Dacron: Bainbridge, headquarted in Canton, MA U.S.A, is the acknowledged world leading authority on sailcloth and one of the largest manufacturers. Bainbridge conducted UV screening tests on dacron sailcloth in the early 80's and have been selling it in their catalog for that purpose since 1986.
1). That with treated sails you can point several degrees higher into the wind and
2). That the reduced drag co-efficient of treated sailcloth adds measurable speed.
3). That sails are much easier to bring in and store at the end of the day.
As a former sailor I can state that there's no way in hell that a properly cut sail is going to point higher when the resin has gone soft. That's puffery and nonsense as well as the claim about reduced drag co-efficient. The last point about flaking a sail I have no issue with.
Regardless of all that, your new glider is simply gorgeous and I hope it stays that way for years to come!
............I did spend a fair bit of time investigating the use of 303 on hang gliders. I have been using 303 on my wings for the last 18 months. On my Sonic for the last 50-60 hours before I sold it and now my Dacron Lightsport for the last 50 hours with no adverse affects.........at Stanwell I set up on grass and break down on grass so there is no dust being blown around............
Thanks for the link, Robert. For your purposes, it sounds fine to me. I find their claims to be unsubstantiated and even ludicrous. The current Brainbridge catalog makes no mention of the product: http://www.sail-making.com/dbimgs/us/Complete_US_v3.1.pdf contrary to their statement.......
Quote:
Dacron: Bainbridge, headquarted in Canton, MA U.S.A, is the acknowledged world leading authority on sailcloth and one of the largest manufacturers. Bainbridge conducted UV screening tests on dacron sailcloth in the early 80's and have been selling it in their catalog for that purpose since 1986.
1). That with treated sails you can point several degrees higher into the wind and
2). That the reduced drag co-efficient of treated sailcloth adds measurable speed.
3). That sails are much easier to bring in and store at the end of the day.
As a former sailor I can state that there's no way in hell that a properly cut sail is going to point higher when the resin has gone soft. That's puffery and nonsense as well as the claim about reduced drag co-efficient. The last point about flaking a sail I have no issue with.
Regardless of all that, your new glider is simply gorgeous and I hope it stays that way for years to come!
Jonathan they do in fact mention 303 protectant on page 151 of their catalogue as well as other 303 products. Whether or not their claims are correct all I can go on is my experience which has been good.
I will certainly let you know as the hours build up on my glider down the track as to the fading or less fading I see on the blue and fluro orange. I will have a perfect control as I had asked for a blue nose cone for my glider which they didn't do. They are going to make me a blue nose cone which will let me keep the orange one as a control down the track to compare it to the leading edge. _________________ Sonic 165
Lightsport 3
Malibu 188
My youtube channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2#p/u
Last edited by relate2 on Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:37 pm; edited 1 time in total
Thanks Dan, yes that is a classic experience of what I am looking forward to. The pilot is Bruce a long time doon gooner and very good pilot. _________________ Sonic 165
Lightsport 3
Malibu 188
My youtube channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2#p/u
Unanswered
Highest rated...
Topics
The Moyes test 
I mentioned in a previous thread I came close to another hang 
