[ppawel]

Hello,

so here's my situation - I weigh 85 kg, will be flying with Mosquito NRG (that's about additional 25-30 kg to the clip in weight I think) and GoPro Hero HD (that's less than 1 kg ).

There is Airborne Sting 2 available but in size 154 - weight recommendation says 60-90 kg so with the Mosquito I will exceed the maximum limit by a hefty margin.

My instructor once said that it is better to be on the upper margin because then you have more control in thermals as opposed to be on the lower margin where the sail area is so great that the weight cannot "cope" and you get thrown around in the air in stronger conditions.

But I'm not sure if this means that it is OK to *exceed* the maximum limit by so much (15-20 kg). The instructor also said that people weighing 75-80 kg have flown this glider with the powered harness without problems so I guess this would be a good sign for me...?

Any advice on whether the Sting is for me would be greatly appreciated.

[relate2]

Having absolutely no experience in a powered harness I will say though that most of them struggle a bit to get into the air unless it is a perfect day. Having that much extra weight over the recommended limit I would say give it a miss.

He is right though that being on the high side of the weight range does give you better handling.

[Bondy]

Hi ppawel, I'm 85 kg atm and fly an Explorer powered harness. I use a Sonic 190 but also have a Sting 154 that I haven't tried flying powered. Just free flying with harness, clothes and gear I hook in at 100 kg that is the max limit that is great in rough strong air but can struggle in light lift to stay up and if I change to the 190 don't have a problem.
I know if I use the Sting with power I won't be able to soar powered off and I'd have a tough time climbing and would need a good head wind to launch so I haven't bothered trying and have heard from a couple of guys the same weight who said it was well undersized. If I could swap it for the Sting 175 I'd do it and been considering the 168.
The Sting 154 is a great glider in strong wind but to small to be an all rounder for me, I'd give it a miss to.
Good hunting, Grant.

[ppawel]

Thanks guys, this is what I was afraid of...

Well, the hunt for a glider must continue then.

PS. Seedwings Space 14 or 16 caught my eye today. Seedwings Spyder is probably too advanced. Would love to read a comparision between SW Space and Aeros Discus.

[Bondy]

I don't know about the Spyder but the Discus is a HP intermediate glider and if you type it in the search box to the left there is some good info on it. I haven't seen one up close but would love to try one as a FLPHG.

[gasdive]

I'm loving the Sting 168. Enormydude has just switched from a 175 to a 168 and is also raving about how good it is.

I'm currently 100 kg in clothes so I'm clipping in about 5 kg above the max for the 168. Take off is ok. Friday last week I launched at a density altitude of 4200 and about 5 knts of headwind. Not a worry but the climb out was slow.

I heard that some people are using the small Malibu and really likeing it, but that would be *way* over the recommended for that glider.

=:)