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Review of Windtech Serak
by Philippe Lami (Aerogliss, France)
(Translation from French by Carlo Borsattino)
Despite it's name, the Serak is not just a mountain glider. A performance - Intermediate, it takes the place, at Windtech, between the Ambar and Quarx.
Long live globalisation! The package arrives directly from Spain by courier: The glider weighs 6.5kg without glider bag and handbuch (English and Spanish only). The Serak has been the object of a great labour of ribbing and cell work: wide cells in the centre with straight forward diagonals in between the cells walls (ribs) then, working towards the wing tips, a series of cells with three ribs with bridged (straight-diagonal-straight) diagonals. One has also done a great deal in the hunt for reduced drag: only two floors of lines except at the very edge wing tip of the wing, no external stitching on the upper surface, and 22 anchor points per side. The workmanship of the sail is well finished , the stitching regular and fine, and there are no unsightly creases in flight. The risers have even been conceived in such a way as to effect a total shift in incidence of the profile when accelerated.
An ABS harness, waist strap at 38cm (as the handbuch recommends) and I'm off to play on the school slopes. The Serak handles easily in the breeze with a gentle elevation, no difficult point, and a slight tendency to drop back if the pull is insufficient. Therefore don't let go of the A's too early for nil wind launches. The Serak responds quickly to the co mmands and slows i mmediately, and sensibly. A few practice take-offs, photos and landings further (thanks to the windward facing training slope), and off we go for the first real flights.
Manoeuvrable and light on the brakes
September in St Andre still holds some smoking flying conditions. It is 7 O'clock in the evening, and the still strong breeze is somewhat late in calming itself down. Take-off i mmediate-action style, in 30km/h of wind, for a 'flight of relaxation': I move back 2 metres on inflation, and have to i mmediately seize the speed bar to go forwards and push out into the valley and escape a flight in reverse gear! The speed system? It's like butter, but you need two steps on the bar to make full use of it: 12km/h of speed gain! Speed hands-high (trim speed): 36km/h (I've thinned, I am now only 88kg all up weight), fully accelerated 48km/h. Trilam reinforcements on the risers improve the sliding of the webbing though the buckles.
Now for a long series of turns at all inclinations: the Serak is very manoeuvrable and light on the brakes in the very first part of the travel (around 70cm to the point of stall). She responds on demand, without being too lively, or unstable in roll. Inclinations are obtained very quickly. A little familiarization is necessary to turn really flat, with sensitivity. With the waist strap at 38cm, the Serak comes out of tight 360's on it's own, with a firm exit but without even a closure of the wing tip. I take a mischievous pleasure at letting it all go: Nothing to report! Returning to level flight, and off again to play with the accelerator 'Azimuth' style ('Azimuth': all out, total, wide ranging , everywhere, extensive, all over the place). The glider does not tuck even accelerated on entry into a strong thermal: very solid and very usable accelerated!
In thermals, after more than 5 hours of flight, the Serak handles from the tips ofone's fingers, with lightness and with pleasure. Very homogenous (even; consistent; uniform; balanced; harmonious), with neither excessive pitch nor roll, climbing quickly up to base becomes a very gratifying exercise in style! I even abuse the accelerator in the lift, it's such a regal delight. Here's a glider that knows how to live: you demand, she executes, without inertia, with precision. In pure performance, I was neither surprised nor disappointed. The Serak rests in the most excellent standards, style Onyx (which is very good!). For the figures, you have only to look at the statistics: it's for you to interpret the decimals.
When finally, the conditions really kick some (but she filters a lot), the Serak did not permit me even a real tip tuck. Simple handling, and without pitfall.
A nice glide…
Let's try some rapid descent techniques to see: the big ears are done with a special split riser, are easily pulled in, and re-open on their own, lazily. Fully accelerated, they stay in under the wing. The manoeuvrability remains correct through the harness. The B's? Nothing to say. Tight 360's fall from the sky, but pay attention to the adjustment of the waist strap: one is quick to find a neutral spiral phase if it is too loose!
I fly, and fly again under the Serak. Small morning flights, longer more agitated (thermic) flights. Only superb gliding, without surprises, with a clear wish to be always in a turn and on the attack. The 3 sizes are homothetic (equal), with an aspect ratio of 5.05.
In conclusion, the Serak is fine, efficient, easy and tranquil. She's very fun to fly. I hope that the large and the small present the same qualities as the medium. I'm going to miss her!
Who is the Serak for
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| Beginner |
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| Low airtime |
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| 1st Cross Countries |
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| Cross Country Regulars |
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| Competition |
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Parapente Ratings
• bad • • medium • • • good • • • • excellent • • • • • perfect
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| Build quality |
• • • • |
| Flight handbuch (English & Spanish only) |
• • • not French as yet! |
| Ease of untangling of the lines |
• • • • |
| Ease of inflation |
• • • • |
| Launch in nil wind |
• • • • |
| Launch with wind |
• • • • |
| Precision of controls / brakes |
• • • • • |
| Lightness of controls / brakes |
• • • • |
| Manoeuvrability |
• • • • • |
| Dampening in pitch |
• • • • |
| Resistance to turbulence / tucks |
• • • • • |
| Re-Opening (of tucks) |
• • • • • |
| Solidity at max speed |
• • • • • |
| Slow flight |
• • • • |
| Performances |
• • • • |
| B-Stall (not tested, I don't think - Ed) |
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| Big Ears |
• • • • • |
| Tight 360's |
• • • • |
| Landing |
• • • • • |
| Value for money (In France) |
• • • • |
The Pluses
- Manoeuvrability
- The fun side! |
The Minuses
-- (None!) |
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Our Opinion (Overall)
"An excellent compromise!
Ideal for tackling cross country flying" |
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Measurements in "Parapente Mag" tests
| Wing loading during test |
3.15k g/m2 (for 27.55m2 and 87-8kg) |
| Max speed hands high (trim speed) |
36km/h |
| Max speed accelerated |
48km/h stabilised |
| Max glide |
7.9 (Sink rate 1.19m/s at 34.3km/h) |
| Min Sink rate |
1.1m/s (glide angle 7.3 at 29km/h) |
| Stall Point |
23km/h |
Measurements taken at 1000m ASL, with Skywatch Pro and Flytec 4030 GPS.
Access. Logiciel (Logisky) Flychart Pro 4.0 |
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 überblick
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