I'm flying the obsession since july 2007.
Have more than 100 hours , mostly soaring at seaside (north of
France), but also some thermal flights. I'm still amazed by the
possibilities of this wing. I'm very pleased by it's 'lift'. It
never put me in great difficulties. Although I agree you have
to take this wing in active hands when it becomes turbulent.
It's a pleasure to take off with such convenience, where other
wings fail to take off by short of wind (soaring).
I'm intending to continue with 'my' obsession .
Tom
Got my first flights on the wing Saturday.
I was pleasantly surprised! Only three flights in light to very
light conditions where folks had trouble launching and we had
to scratch for lift, I found this a pleasure. My comparison is
to the Gin Zulu Explorer I have been flying.
On launch with 3-5 mph gusts, it came up
quickly and easily with light pressure, It was very controlled
and took far less effort to bring up gently than my Zulu. I found
controls familiar but far more responsive. The feedback was more
meaningful to me - with the Zulu feedback is comfortable but muted;
the Obsession has more clarity with what the feedback means and
was easier for me to read and understand. I was able to take advantage
of the weak lift far easier than I usually do.
Speedbar with full flight generated far
more speed than is possible with the Zulu, and it felt just as
stable. Turns were very tight without digging in and losing altitude.
(compared to flying my Zulu)
My landings in all cases were easy, the
feedback on flare is excellent. The glide is clearly flatter,
which I will happily need to get used to, and I have not yet experimented
with more vertical approaches so I don't know how it will respond
at this end of the envelope. Also looking forward to understanding
how it does in rowdy conditions.
Therefore first impressions very positive,
we will see how it develops over the next few weeks.
Andrew
My new small Obsession II is super! I put
in 25 hours in 11 days of flying on it since I got it!
Two days of really scenic flying at Revelstoke
(a couple out and returns to nearby Mt. Cartier). After each flight
I got in some crazy SIV action over the water: many stalls and
spins, SATs, spirals, wingovers, got and cleared a cravat, and
managed a lucky but not reproducible two turn heli.
Then off to Golden, somewhat ready for
the big air and parties at the Willi XC. Over the course of the
week there I had a couple 70+ km XC flights (one was even an out
and return), a 55 km flight, and several shorter ones. I spent
a lot of time trying to hitch-hike back: my only complaint is
the glider doesn't make much of a conversation partner. Some days
the air was the most challenging I have ever been in, but the
glider gives enough information to enable good handling and avoid
collapse.
It turns on a wingtip and performs well
on up to half bar. I felt I could match the glide of any other
new high end 1-2 wing and even some older 2s with un-pod-ed people,
though newer DHV2+ wings left me in the dust on glide. It's agile
enough to thermal in the smallest bubbles, and has a low enough
sink and turn loss to keep me around ridge-soaring in zero lift
waiting for the sun to come back out.
I got a fancy 1st place glass trophy in
the novice XC class!
Harold Sartorius
Just a quick note. I flew twice on Saturday.
The first flight for 20 minutes and the second for 30. I was surprised
at how easily it launched. It came up with very little effort,
I kited for a few seconds, then turned and flew away. The second
launch was similar, I went to bring the wing up a little to build
a wall and play with it a bit first, but it wanted to fly and
came up beautifully, hovered as if to say, are we going now or
what, so I turned and launched.
The flight was brief, but I was able to try big ears, which were
amazingly easy to induce, and then pumped them out. I tried a
few wing overs and again amazed my self with how quick the wing
responded and how easily this could get out of hand so I quit
as I getting low and about to set up to land.
It seems to want to glide forever, yet I was able to get pretty
close to where I planned to touch down.
It responds quickly, yet it isn't difficult or scary to fly.
I have three flights on her now, and I just got back from flying
after work, and I look forward to a great season of flying.
I just up loaded the video of my first landing on Youtube so you
can have a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDioACWtWqU
Lots more to say, but in a couple of words
I would have to say, its amazing.
Michael
I flew the new Obsession yesterday and was
very impressed. Conditions were stronger than I had anticipated
and became even stronger while I was airborne, but the glider
behaved well and the good speed may have prevented me from getting
blown over the back of the ridge. It definitely requires more
active piloting than my previous gliders, but I will get used
to it with time. At this point I am very pleased with my purchase.
Brad
I can't believe you sent me an Obsession
L, I flew it today with strong winds on the Southside POM, 20-27mph
smooth wind due to high cloud cover. Here is my official response.
WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW
DID I say WOW.
Winds died down to 15mph at sunset, and
I had to land, even heavy loaded I couldn't believe the energy
the wing had on my side hill landing, I flared a bit to much and
gained good altitude, then let it settle down and the wing landed
me soft like a baby.
Very responsive, solid like a rock, and
should get some bumpy air tomorrow to test it in. Wing drew a
crowd, and many should fly it
tomorrow. I can't wait to compare to the XL, and your right, with
2 wings, it would cover a broad range of wind speeds.
The Obsession leaves my Blade in the dust,
they are about the same size.
WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW
Thanks Tom, I need to send you an audio
file about how I feel aboutthis wing, it would take me hours of
typing.
More to come, I'll get some pictures, and
a written testimonial. DID I say WOW
Good day, Brad
ps I won't be able to sleep a wink tonight,
I
can't wait to see if we
get some solid strong wind tomorrow, no one's
going to get a turn till
I have the first 5 hours on this wing, it's that
WOW
Unbelievable WOW
Shane
The launch was very easy and the wing settles
overhead quickly with out much fuss. This wing wants to fly! I
was air born a lot sooner than my old wing. I found the obsession
to be quite nimble: my first few turns, I was told, looked like
wing-overs. At Whidbey Island (a soaring site) it did not take
long before the speed and agility if this wing became apparent:
I had to hold the Obsession back to keep it in the queue. I will
have to re-learn to spot land -I over shot all three landings
so far - this wing is lofty. I can’t wait to thermal at
an inland site!
Pato
Hello to everyone, this weekend i´m
just recive my new obsession "M" and I can fly and try
to see by myself if all the thing that I been heard about this
wing are true......and the wing it´s fantastic, climb really
fast when you launch ("delayed" it´s a nonsense...)
you need to be ready to take control and run, otherwise you have
a frontal collapse. I must say when I fly the obsession,yesterday
I remember the vulcan handling but improved, the wing feels solid,
fast, turns quickly, but with control, the lines are very thin:
brakes 1.9mm, then 1.42mm , 1.4mm, 1,5mm, 0,95mm.. and the last
are.. ...0,6mm Shocked (dental lines)
To end my comments: an amazing performance,
with an high security.
Best regards form Chile.
Christian
So I went for a flight today after kiting
the wing for 3 hours.
The winds were gusting and coming over the hanger buildings in
the evening it settled to around 5 km/h and I could do a crosswind
forward inflation. Inflation aren't a problem it wants to overfly
a bit on reverse on forwards the wing inflates well even with
lots of A line input I notice once overhead it accelerates very
quick. The wing feels solid when flying the breaks are very light
I find.
I had a D line looped around the A lines as I was flying so I
did a 360 and landed again, the glide of that wing is incredible
usually I only get half as far with my other wings. Usually when
I shut the motor off I drop like a rock with this wing I almost
thought I never get back down. I see myself taking advantage of
light thermals in Summer in the early evenings. Landing are easy
as just a gentle flare and step back to Earth.
Ciprian
Ok, so I made some flights with this awsome
wing...The speed and the turns are absolutly fantastic...The take
off is more than easy, but FAST...all you need to do its give
a pull to the A risers and let the wing do the rest..it comes
up almost instantly..you have to give it some break imput `couse
it has the tendency to overshoot a little bit ...Once in the air
it turns VERY fast, it takes speed fast..A very very dynamic wing...and
yes..very safe....Never the last its acting in thermals like a
natural bird Wink . If you want dynamics and speed but lot of
safety I believe this one is a very good choice...At least try
it
Tom C
The launch, for me in no wind was quick
a clean – easier than the Infinity-II I thought. I then
started with wings overs: on the second pass the wing was quite
banked and eager for more. Next, big ears, asymmetrical, front
tuck, and B-stall were all the same as Infinity II – no
problems, quick recovery. I did search for stall: my hands were
80% down for ten seconds and the wing kept going (most DHV2 wings
would have fell back into stall, but the Obsession just keeps
going). The big difference between the Infinity and Obsession
is the Obsession turns very quick and has a huge spiral dive (when
initiated) – all pilots must add a little counter brake
to exit.
As Thomas (of U-Turn) says – it’s perfect!
Quote:
"watch
the sky, heaven is near!"
Ernst
Strobl
Deimos Paragliding Inc.
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