Gradient's SAPHIR2000
reviewed Dec 2000

Gradient was created in 1998 by the world-class Czech competition pilot Ondrej Dupal. Two years of producing good gliders and they're still going strong. All manufacture is done within Czech republic, allowing Gradient complete control over their product.

The Saphir2000 is an AFNOR Performance glider, intended for the regular pilot who wants both security and performance. Construction is similar to the ONYX - lines get thinner toward the tips on all line-sets. Simple rigging is used, reinforcing tape spans the unloaded cells on A, B and C-cascades, and spanwise across the entire D-cascade. Porcher marine fabric gives the Saphir that lovely crinkly feel, and a small, light pack.

The glider comes with a small, sturdy backpack, stuffbag and strap, manual and a repair kit containing rubber O-rings, repair tape (white + coloured) and some spare line.

LAUNCH : It's simple, with only three risers, to find the A's and pull them. The glider comes up gently and steadily. It flies.

IN THE SKY : A very calm wing, reassuring.

Thermalling, the Saphir doesn't respond much to weight-shift, so good use of the brakes is essential. I found the handling average - the Saphir turns, but does not 'whip around'. A fair amount of outside brake is required to be efficient in the turn, otherwise she seems to bank and drop a bit. The turn radius is average for a Performance glider, and the brake pressure is pleasant to high. You get the feeling of 'pulling' the glider through the turns.

The stall point is reached with the brakes applied to just above the seat-board, at a steady 21km/h. The brake pressure is high here. The Saphir slips into the beginnings of a stall with reluctance, and instant recovery can be effected by releasing the brakes. The full stall came out cleanly and without any fuss. Negative spins did not go wild. The front tuck has a delayed reinflation - the nose forms a rosette as the wingtips reinflate before the centre, but the wing fills on its own without a change in direction. All in all, very forgiving.

Big (more than 50%) asymmetric collapses behaved well. The glider turns a little, then dives to build up speed, and begins to spiral. Just when you think the wing is going to need some piloting, the Saphir swing out of the spiral turn, and reinflates fully before 180 degrees of turn. Great! With countersteering, the Saphir holds its course, and can be filled out with one big pump on the brake.

Wingovers can be built up to a certain point, but the lack of bite in the turn prevents really big maneouvres. The Saphir has a calm nature, and even severe pitches are moderated.

Pulling in the outer A line brings in a big section of the wing for 'Big ears', resulting in a high sink rate and solid glider with no tendancy to stall. The ears do not reinflate on their own, and need a solid pump. Even then, the reinflation is delayed by the brake lines catching loose fabric, so give yourself a bit of extra time to 'clear the ears'.

SPEED : 38km/h trim speed is very good, and the Saphir holds its own against the serial class gliders like the Airwave Magic. At full speed bar things were still looking solid, with little deformation of the leading edge and a healthy 49km/h at low altitude.

LANDING : Small amount of conversion didn't give me the deceleration I am used to, but the low stall speed and simple handling mean the landing setup is very easy.

SUMMARY : I would equate the Saphir's AFNOR Performance rating to a DHV2. I recommend the Saphir to pilots who want security, simplicity and reassurance. The Saphir lacks sensitivity and energy, but for many pilots flying in thermic conditions that is ideal, for it results in a comforting ride. During a recent competition in SA (Dec 2000), the Saphir displayed very good performance relative to the top Serial Class gliders, and is in the lead group of the DHV2 charge. In my opinion, the Saphir is one of the nicest all-round wing designs of the year 2000, ideal for pilots in the class between 100 - 300 flights.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS : Gradient http://www.gradient.cx

Many thanks to the Gradient importer for the wing :
James Braid - 082 956 5391 or email j.braid@ee.wits.ac.za

* Note : Apply the correction factor if you would like to scale my raw data to a standardised condition of 1000m altitude, 1013.2 hPa Qnh pressure, and 15 deg.C. air.

* I use a 15 second average to provide 'highest sustainable speed'.