The ONE by Pilots Right Stuff a "Fly and glide" product
review by Rainer Lodes (from Fly and glide 12/2000)
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 “Pilots Right Stuff” this is a new
brand name, which has been created by Aerosport International to
introduce an own product line. PRS translates into “ the right
things for pilots”. This sounds promising. The first PRS
paraglider with DHV certification is the “One”, a thoroughbred
category 1 glider. Fly and glide test pilot Rainer Lodes flew one of
the first Ones, that have been produced. The serial number was
007.
Aerosport International first of all is known as a
distributor of brands like Paratech, Ozone or Sup’Air. With the new
product line PRS Aerosport International’s boss Hans Bausenwein
intends to expand the range of products Aerosport is offering even
further. Next to paragliders also accessories will be offered – “the
right stuff for pilots” – as the brand name says. Hans Bausenwein
explains, that “Pilots” does not intend to develop and market a
complete range of paragliders. Instead “Pilots” will create certain
gliders and set accents, which are meant to hit or set the actual
trend. So the decision was made for the first product to become a
true category 1 glider, the One, which will be presented here. PRS
did not plan to fully employ a whole research and development team
for these specific projects and therefore the development work on
the One has been done with support from outside. The R & D team
is constituted by international specialists and flight enthusiasts,
Hans Bausenwein says: “ We want to focus on the quality of our
products and not on the names of well known test pilots and
designers.”
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 Design
Already the description of all the different design details
of the One, which hardly can be found in such a number on any other
entry level glider, did wake big expectations in me. Inside the sail
the ONE has diagonal tapes instead of complete diagonal ribs. These
tapes form triangles together with reinforcement tapes on the bottom
surface of the glider. The result is a very clean looking sail with
few line attachment points.
At the rear third, inside the canopy a so called spanwise
“trailing edge tape” goes across the whole span of the glider. This
tape is meant to reduce oscillations of the canopy and consequently
to stiffen the whole glider. Moreover small intermediate ribs along
the trailing edge reinforce the stability. These ribs are about 30 –
40 cm long. These ribs not only increase the stability, but also
help to make the surface of the canopy cleaner.
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 Large line diameters in the centre
of the wing combined with line attachment tapes, that that go all
the way to the top surface as well as reinforced cross ports are
there to prevent the “domino effect” of serial line ruptures. PRS
calls this design detail the “safety cell”. The One has passed the
DHV load test even with “big ears” pulled in! The “safety cell”
should also prevent profiles to tear in case the inflated paraglider
is crashed on the leading edge – this is especially important for
gliders, which are used on the training hill. “Ram air pockets”
counteract any vibrations or flutter of the leading edge of the
bottom surface especially in accelerated flight.
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 The desired effect of this design
detail, which so far was known only from Pro Design paragliders, is
achieved by folding the bottom surface back to the inside of the
wing where it is sewn on. In flight a small airfoil is being formed
by the air pressure that keeps the glider inflated. There are four small loops at
the top surface of the wing not far behind the leading edge. Anchor
ribbons, approximately 35 cm long, can be fixed there. These are
helpful to anchor the glider on a steep slope or in
snow. |
 In my reviews I always like to
criticise the “inflexible” design of brake handles. Many pilots
prefer a larger size loop - like on a ski pole – others instead
prefer to feel the defined pressure of a stiff reinforcement bar.
But there is always only one version being offered. The One has a
removable reinforcement bar and satisfies both groups of pilots. The
One is equipped with two velcros at the centre of the trailing edge
to fix the risers when the glider is folded. Another detail, that
completes the many other design details of this
paraglider. |
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Take off preparation and take off
It is speaking for the One, that I can describe the take off
in just a few words: simple and without any problems, no matter how
the canopy is laid out. The only thing this glider dislikes is to
accelerate too slowly especially with the A-lines taught. With
normal tension or – as I recommend it – with a slight impulse the
whole inflation and take off procedure cannot be criticised at all.
A special remark
deserves the fact, that the three phases of a take off, inflation,
control and acceleration can easily be separated from each
other.
The line layout is clear and the easy take off preparation is
supported by lines with different colours on A, B, C and D. Not only
beginners highly estimate such a feature when sorting the lines
before take off.
 Performance data
The performance data of the One don’t not have to be hided at
all. The speed figures are high for a DHV 1 glider and the glide
performance is good even in accelerated flight. The polar becomes
steeper only at the final km/h’s near the maximum speed. The
position of the best glide speed is exactly at trim speed, so it is
very easy to find it: hands up and off you go!
The wide speed range in between the minimum sink speed and
the minimum speed of the One is a special safety bonus. The window
for these speeds is in between 31 km/h for minimum sink speed to 22
km/h for minimum flying speed.
Over all it can be said, that this first paraglider by PRS
provides performance data, which puts it at the top of the actual
DHV 1 gliders.
Flying characteristics
Pilots Right Stuff advertises the One with the slogan “max
fun @ min risk”. I can only agree to this after my test flights.
This glider, which has just entered the paragliding market, has
achieved an optimum synthesis of a nice, co-ordinated handling with
a high level of passive safety at the same time. The well balanced
handling should satisfy even very demanding pilots: Even small
movements on the controls are directly converted by the One without
any delay. If you want to turn flat or tight, this glider does not
leave any desires unsatisfied. The control forces are progressively
rising and can be described as average high.
What I especially like on the direction the development of
modern DHV 1 gliders has taken at the moment is, that the
manoeuvrability and the response to control inputs has reached a
level, that can easily be compared with some of the 1-2 gliders.
This is the case for the One, who combines these features with
maximum safety. This canopy shows a convincing safety even when the
pilot makes major mistakes like the too fast release of a spiral
dive or high wing overs without counter-breaking or even when doing
a provoked 50 percent asymmetric deflation and holding the A-risers
down without counter-breaking.
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 Fast descend
Spiral dives are totally uncomplicated to initiate and also
to release. One cannot complain about insufficient sink-rates:
Already during my first attempts my variometer recorded sink-rates
of more than 16 m/sec.
The B-line stall is functioning not quite as clean. It is
possible to pull the B-risers that far, that the canopy folds-in in
the middle and forms a V-shape. Before one observes this the
sink-rate is almost nine meters per second. Doing this manoeuvre
(B-line stall) the glider is not totally smooth in the air. The
canopy is moving in itself and when you release the B-risers the One
takes a moment before it starts to fly again (note by PRS: the
manoeuvre has been improved). The behaviour during the B-line stall
is by no means critical, but an entry level glider has to be
measured against especially high expectations.
Pulling “big ears” instead is easy and
effective. Probably no other paraglider can be folded-in to such a
degree by using only one A-line per side. It is easily possible to
control the glider by weightshift when flying with “big ears”. The
glider opens by itself and only has minimum delay. The sink-rate can
be significantly increased when the accelerator is used
additionally, but in this case the glider reopens after releasing
the “big ears” not totally by itself and the pilot must brake a
little bit.
What is included in the package / Internet
A real highlight is the PRS-rucksack, which has been designed
in co-operation with Tatonka. Mountaineers and hikers will know this
outdoor specialist brand very well. This elaborated product is not
only nice to look at, but also comfortable to carry. Every time I
carried this rucksack I had problems to get away from the “can I
have a look at it” questions of my friends and to bring it home
again. By the way: the rucksack can be bought from Aerosport also
without a One in it.
The rest of the things, that come with the One are standard,
worthwhile to be mentioned is the speed- bar with quick-links
(brummel hooks) and a reinforced ladder (second
step).
Info’s and news around Pilots Right Stuff and the One can be
found in the internet at www.aerosport.de email: info@aerosport.de - or directly on the Pilots Right
Stuff website www.p-rs.com email: info@p-rs.com. The website is clear, informative
and regularly updated. Emails are answered fast and
detailed.
“...the 1-2 class gliders get a real
opposition from the actual development in the category 1. The One
can without a doubt be called a trend
setter.” Rainer
Lodes |
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 Conclusion
“Only” to produce an extremely safe paraglider is not
sufficient anymore for a category 1 glider. The One demonstrates
this clearly with sophisticated design details. Here in my opinion
already a new trend is visible: slowly but certainly the much liked
1-2 class gliders get a real opposition from the actual development
in the category 1. The performance data are not far from cross
country gliders anymore – combined with excellent handling
characteristics and really maximum safety. The One can without a
doubt be called a trend setter.
The
numerous details have to be paid for, but Euro 2.690 including sales
tax for a One S, M or L, respectively Euro 2.790 for the One XL is a
good investment. The One should appeal to the needs of different
target groups and also satisfy them. This could be students, who are
in the process of learning to fly, or pilots who just fly for the
fun of it, as well as experienced pilots.
The slogan for the One “max
fun @ min risk” is certainly in any case
justified.
Rainer
Lodes | |
