NOVA XRAY - in the blink of an eye

This is a short review based on my brief flying time on the wing.

Nova's previous DHV2 glider was the functional Axon, a glider with easy, measured launching and forgiving handling. She tended to lose height on turns in light conditions, though she was a secure and confidence-building ride with no surprises. The Xray replaces the Axon. Does it improve on the old design, or is it merely another wing to titillate the desire for something new?

NOVA describes the Xray as a trusty, safe glider, aimed at the most popular class of pilots. I didn't have time to do a full review, but managed to get a good feel for the wing. The Xray is an improvement on her predecessor, and is certainly safe and fun.

Construction : The glider fabric is very light and cripy. Adequate insertion of tape along the leading edge ensures smooth cell openings. The riser webbing seems a little cheap, without the finish on the sewing and speedbar attachments which I had expected. The backpack was functional, with a waist-strap that fitted comfortably, and all the standa rd straps and buckles. Two tie-straps inside the bag to secure and tighten the wing in place are a nice addition. The bag lacks rigidity however, and tended to sag a bit at the hips, making long walk-outs uncomfortable.

In flight stability : It's in the air that the wing comes into her own.
Pitch - a very good tendency in the wing to damp out dives means that the Xray is unlikely to continue a pendulum after one surge.
Speedbar - marked acceleration from trim speed of 37 to 47. The nose felt a little 'light', and wingtips were tucked easily, though they re-inflated on their own accord while on full speedbar, indicating a safe angle of attack.
Wing-overs - took a while to build up, due to the roll-stability of the Xray. Weight shift by itself does not have much effect, and healthy doses of brake were needed to push the wing below the horizon.
Front tuck - in and out, like any modern wing.
Big ears - reinflate on their own accord
Asymmetric collapse - small tucks reinflate on their own with a small turn to the collapsed side. 40% collapses reinflated automatically, though the glider spiralled gently without input, completing a mild 360 turn before returning to level flight.

For technical specifications details, visit NOVA Paragliders - www.nova-wings.com