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Founded in 1994, Windtech today belong to the Greats of the paragliding trade. Although the Spanish manufacturer is relatively new to the German speaking areas (of Europe), that is surely set to change: German importer Skyline has received (for the basic intermediate Ambar) the DHV quality seal; and further Windtech-canopies with DHV approval are expected to follow (2001 range: 'Coral' DHV 1, 'Ambar' DHV 1-2, 'Serak' DHV 1-2, 'Quarx' DHV 2, and 'Tucan' tandem DHV 1-2).
So, how does the elegant Spaniard fare in the war of the 1/2 market?
With 1300 canopies sold in 1998, Windtech doesn’t need to hide now from being one of the “Trade Leaders”. The business, led by co-owner Gabriel Cañada, manufactures its canopies in-house at the Nordtech factory, which lies i mmediately beside the Windtech main offices. Therefore Windtech belongs to the select few European manufacturers who make their canopies not in the Far East, but in Europe. The Factory is based in the town of Gijon, in the Asturias region of north west Spain, right by the Atlantic coast. Prototypes can therefore be tested and finely tuned right on their doorstep at the coast in the dynamic sea breeze and also in the nearby mountains, the 'Picos de Europa', in the Asturias region, and the Pyrenees.
Working together with the importer Skyline (Based in Chiemsee, Bavaria) Windtech has now for the first time brought out a canopy with a DHV-quality seal onto the German-speaking market. For a Basic-Intermediate the Ambar 29 and 32 received the DHV grade 1/2 GH at the first attempt. The Windtech range is complemented by the school / beginner 'Coral' (DHV 1), performance Intermediate 'Serak' (DHV 1-2), advanced intermediate 'Quarx' (DHV 2), the top performing 'Silex' (Afnor Competition), and the 'Tucan' (DHV 1-2) tandem/bi.
Construction & Design
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The cells of the V-ribs are recognisable through the under-sail.
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The Ambar 29 distributes its 28.8 square metres surface area over a span of 11.6 metres. The resulting aspect ratio of 4.67 is moderate within the wing's DHV 1-2 class. All top surface and under surface seams are inside and therefore present a neat surface. All of the general workmanship makes a very good impression.
The basic shape of the wing is elliptical; the wing-ends close off with a straight-lined cut stabilo (wing tip). The attractive colour design with a single coloured top surface and a white under-surface, with on the underside a coloured 'two crossed wings' logo, lend a distinctive, elegant touch to the canopy.
Of the AMBAR’s 35 cells, the three on the outer edges of each side are closed and ventilated from inside. In mid-wing the aperture measures 30 x 13 cm. Going towards the wing-ends, the openings become continuously more shallow and broader. The outermost measures 34 x 9 cm.
On the leading edge the cell walls have been reinforced with Mylar, in order to give the wing-nose a neater profile. The Stabilo has a three-way guiding system, its colour-coded lower lines lead to the B - riser.
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The 4 riser system & Aramid lines are by Cousin-Frères, the riser quick links have plastic insets.
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High quality materials, neat workmanship: The quality of Windtech is convincing. |
Windtech canopies are manufactured from 44gram per square metre durable Nylon cloth from “Porcher Marine”. The suspension lines are fastened through small webbing “loops” on the outside. On the underside of the canopy are bridge-like V-ribs in various positions, which transmit the force through trapeze shaped strengthening tapes, a well known construction principle used by other manufacturers. The advantage lies in the saving of extra weight compared to continuous linear V-cells.
The risers are connected via Cousin Freres Aramid suspension lines with a thickness of 2.1, 1.7, and 1.1 mm. The three "A", four "B", three "C" and two "D" stem lines lead via Maillon Rapide screw links, with plastic insets to the quadruple risers. The accelerator works through two pulleys and shortens the A-riser, when fully employed, by 14cm, the B-riser by 12cm and the C-riser by 6cm.
Launching
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Launching is pure enjoyment. The Ambar requires only a slight effort and little guidance.
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The colour-coded risers of the Ambar 29 are swiftly and easily sorted. It makes no difference to the inflation whether you spread the canopy out in a half-round formation or slightly pointed. The inflation and launch qualities of this basic-intermediate are altogether excellent. To bring the glider up to fly, you only have to give a very slight pull. During the launch a very slight manipulation is required so that the canopy rises continuously until it arrives over your head. The minimal tendency to overshoot and low (minimum) take-off speed makes launching the Ambar a pure pleasure.
Flying Attributes
During my initial flights I noticed a high degree of basic stability. The Ambar stabilises very well around its axes, and especially around the longitudinal axis. The Ambar swallows up even strong turbulence very well indeed.
Now and then a slight rustling noise could be heard from the wing, and usually this was the only perceivable sign of turbulences. Even when flying into a strong thermal, the wing behaved with similarly stability. It drops only slightly backwards and then pulls cleanly upwind. In the beginning I had counted on being “pushed out” with such a stable wing. In order to take a tight turn in the thermal, the Ambar needs definite braking and assisting with weight shift.
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Safe slow-flight. The Ambar has a wide braking range. Stalls are announced clearly.
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The Ambar has excellent qualities for slow flying, which also makes very tight turns possible. The brake pressure is moderately high and increases progressively. An approaching collapse is clearly noticeable from the softening and gentle simultaneous bending of that wing-side. After the first signs of a loss of pressure, there is still sufficient time through use of the brakes to regain pressure and avoid a collapse.
The Ambar copes well with asy mmetric collapses without pilot reaction. It only turns slightly off course, nods faintly in front and opens independently and quickly. If the pilot acts quickly after collapse, then the Ambar is easily held in its flight direction; the remaining steering ability on the inflated side is still sufficiently large to do so. Even with a dynamically induced (oscillated) or accelerated collapse without pilot action, the Ambar still does well. The wing turns 90 to 180 degrees off track, nods only moderately forward and recovers speedily. Even after severe collapses the wing opens again quickly all by itself.
With these qualities the Ambar presents itself as one of the most stable Basic Intermediates that I have flown up to now. Quite clearly a pure pleasure wing, which is also well suited for training.
Performance
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Small weight, big effect. Bridge-like V-ribbing.
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As this was the first Windtech canopy that I had opportunity to test fly, I allowed plenty of time to try out and compare. Consequently I have flown the Ambar 29 directly in comparison with a good number of other paragliders in the 1/2 class. With my wing loading of 3.3kg per square metre I attained a trim-speed of 34 to 35 km per hour. Therefore the Ambar is not the fastest 1/2's, however it is clearly within the speed range of its class. Using the speed bar to accelerate the wing, which demands a medium-high amount of pressure, it attains a maximum speed of 43km/h. Even though that is only a guiding value it does not overstretch that shown by the polar curve. The minimum sink of 1.2m per second I found at 28km/h. What is striking is the low minimal speed of 22km/h at which the Ambar remains still flying. Taking everything into account, this Spanish product’s performance can be placed, in comparison to its fellow candidates, clearly in the mid-field of the DHV 1-2.
Fast Descent techniques
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B-stall: More pulling range on the B-harness lines would improve the maximum possible descent-rate.
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Big Ears: For 'big ears', one must pull down the outermost of the three “A” stem (main lower) lines on each side. The wing-ends fold neatly under and can easily be held in that position. During this manoeuvre the Ambar can be steered well with weight shifting. The sink rate with 'big ears' registered three metres per second and increased combined with full speed-bar to four metres per second. The 'big-ears' come out independently and promptly after letting go of the of the two outer stem A-lines.
B-Stall: To effect this fast descent manoeuvre, you need to use plenty of strength. After overcoming the first 12cm pull, the Ambar folds into the B-stall. If one wants to pull the B-riser further down in this particular flying configuration, the very short connection between the A, B and C risers proves troublesome. I tried several times but did not manage to produce a really effective B-stall. The sink values are on average 5 - 6.5 metres per second. I would have liked a range of at least another 5 cm. In turbulent air it was relatively difficult to hold the canopy in B-stall. After a quick letting go from the stall, the Ambar did, however, open promptly and without problems.
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Stress-free back on the ground. Between launch and landing one is convinced of its good nature.
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Spiral Dive: The best way is bring the wing into the spiral via one or two rolling movements. The sink rate was then a useful 12 to 13 metres per second, and the outside wing stayed stable even without pilot input. Coming out of the spiral was just as simple and unproblematic.
Landing: As already mentioned, this basic intermediate allows a very low minimum speed. This will be advantageous especially for slower runners, or with nil wind or with light back-wind conditions. Furthermore, it is naturally much less stress for a pilot coming in to land with a slow-flying more stable wing, than faster racier machinery.
Purchase package
Besides a compression band, inner sack, rucksack and repair-set, the buyer receives a 51 page leinenpläne. The leinenpläne contains everything you need to know about the canopy. Line plans, quality certificates, service pages and attractive photos complete this.
(For comprehensive information on the full Windtech Paragliding and Kite Surf range see the Windtech UK web-site at www.windtech.co.uk )
Summary
| The Ambar fulfils all the class specific points mentioned excellently. Uncomplicated, nearly playfully, easy launch behaviour & ground handling combined with a, in all situations, uncritical & forgiving flight-behaviour, makes it a rival of the 1/2 class to be taken seriously. The strength of the Ambar lie in its well balanced behaviour. Marked weaknesses; there are none (small exception: B-stall). With this canopy it was no so much it's good performances which really stood out, but mainly the uncomplicated flying enjoyment, which even under somewhat 'ambitious' conditions did not get lost. The materials used to make this wing are of high quality, and so is the craftsmanship of the manufacture. All this, the Windtech pilot can get for an attractive price which is great value for money: A successful entrant in the German-speaking market. |
by: Andy Pfister "…(The Ambar) fulfils the requirements of a beginner wing excellently: Effortless and easy launching and ground handling combined with forgiving flying características in all situations." |
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