I had the opportunity to fly the Swing Astral 6 on 4th November 2009 and can compare it to the Swing Astral 5, Advance Sigma 7 and my usual glider the Aerodyne Shaolin

South African Swing dealer, Wallendair, lent me the Astral 5 last year November/December 2008. I found it very solid and well behaved - even in strong De Aar conditions. Had 2 x 100km flights on it, including one from Pampoenfontein, Porterville, the site for our December www.winelandsparagliding.co.za competition next month.  (December Blog note of the flight-it is the Western Cape Ladies Record)

The dealer did not want me to fly the Astral 6, believing it was too hot for my delicate disposition. Admittedly, I am a sensitive sort

However, Barry from www.birdmen.co.za lent me his personal Astral 6.

First impression when he handed me the glider was that it was incredibly light. Goes well with my Supair-Alti-Rando harness.  As we unwrapped it from the Birdman concertina bag, the second thing I noticed were the very thin lines and risers.

I was taking off from the newly prepared Pampoenfontein competition launch for the first time.  Conditions were light thermic , promising to  get stronger.  FlyGirl first, then guests, then Barry. The glider launched super easily in the light take off conditions, as do all Swing gliders I have flown. I love that characteristic in a glider as I enjoy getting into the air early in order to settle down into my flying.

First few seconds in air - I thought : I have made a mistake - Pete was right - this glider is completely different to the Astral 5 - This feels like a competition wing (not that I have ever flown a competition wing, but it was super active compared to my Aerodyne Shaolin and the Astral 5 - yeah, I know, no resemblance to a comp wing at all, but you get the picture, I am a sensitive sort)

A magic ride aboard the Swing Astral 6 - each moment was isolated to that moment. A new way of flying for me.

Hung around in front of take off waiting for my cross country buddies to launch. After 20 minutes I thought: I don't know how much more I can take of this. The air was rough and the risers were like wild pistons, yanking me up and down. I fly with my harness chest strap wide open which exasperated the sensation of movement.

One hour later and we were flying down the ridge south for 20km. Enjoyed a lowish save whilst two of Barry's international guests  sank out in the same spot.  They are all new to flying and this was their first xc. Once at ridge height I started to notice the scenery and enjoy the view. Relaxing, letting go of mind and emotion. Lots of feedback, but no bad behaviour. No big dives or collapses, but then I was flying actively. Brakes were very sensitive to input which was great. I do find the brake toggles positioned quite high though - arms almost fully extended. Made for poor circulation in my fingers as I found my hands and arms hanging on occasion, the handles cutting off blood flow.

Heading back north, slightly more into wind, I chose to fly off the ridge, over the foothills. Lenticular clouds were forming on the back mountains and there was thick dust haze in the valley. Did not want to get caught in a sudden gust, pinned on the ridge. The thought of going on speedbar on a new wing under pressure was an unpleasant one. Was a bit slower than those on the ridge using dynamic lift, but comfortable that I had room to spiral down quickly if the wind picked up.

40km later, over take off, we hit convergence. I faced away from the mountain, into wind and the flatlands, climbing fast, an Astral escalator to cloud base! Was marginally concerned, but had good forward speed so I settled into the ride. It also helped to hear Barry's woops of excitement as he radioed his one remaining international guest he was guiding, to follow him out and join me. Threaded convergence for 20 kilometres into the flatlands. At one point the south wind pushed the convergence to the north too fast for me to keep up on trim and I had to push 1/4 speed-bar. Felt really nice and solid and almost preferred it to trim. Glider settled down and felt business like. The increase in speed without the usual loss of altitude was noticeable, which I was pleased about. Pressure from the speed-bar was also light on the thigh muscles. Almost never caught up with the convergence though. The others dropped behind. Patrick (the international) decided to land as the convergence was rough and the wind increasing in speed. It was his first XC (50kms!). He just licensed recently in Europe. Landed vertically on big ears, pleased as punch, yelling with excitement after his fantastic flight..

Barry was trying for Eendekuil but the convergence line was shifting back and forth and he ended up turning back to Porterville, electing to spiral down in the face of oncoming wind.

Meantime I was sweating and not wanting to land because I was in the middle of farmlands far away from roads. It was going to be a horrible walk out. Convergence clouds were just there in front, a little bit further, but I was low. Really grateful for the better glide performance of the Astral 6 as I looked around for a 'get-out-of-BIG-walk-out’ card'. Found it next to a little spinning whirly. Not wanting to test the SIV qualities of the Astral 6 just then, I scooped lift on the sides and climbed back up close to cloud base.

I knew it was time to land because of the wind, but I wanted to get to a road where I could flag down a  lift. Convergence shifted back and forth and I did not want to leave it until I knew I could make it to a road. In the end I was 5km short of Piketberg flying 50km on trim towards the town and mountain range, when to my dismay I saw dust streaking out from the PPC factory and town roadworks, flat on the ground, towards me. The south west seabreeze had well and truly pushed in under the mostly north wind that I was now flying in. Dejavu..... Been in this position  twice before and did not like it.

Piketberg was in rotor. Turned and flew towards the R44, the road from Porterville to Piketberg. Got roughed up as I passed through the opposing layers of wind, but no collapses. At 600m I was now travelling 50km in the opposite direction to a few minutes before. Radioed my position to Barry and accepted the inevitable strong wind landing. I normally fly with Charlie Quickouts which made a previous backwards landing in this valley a safe one. Don't have Quick-outs at present (mine are damaged and none in stock in South Africa) so decided to 'C'riser, PLF and roll over backwards favouring my right shoulder (my Leica camera is on my left!) Field I chose (I like to think I had some choice in the matter) was recently ploughed, nice and soft.

The 'C' risers were easy to locate, hold and de-powered the glider beautifully as my feet touched down. Other than a roll from the momentum, I did not get dragged. What a pleasure flying a glider with a much smaller square meterage!

Flight is on Leonardo http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/285672

So, after a 3.5 hour flight in strong Porterville summer conditions I can say that yes, the Astral 6 is far more active than any  LTF 2 glider I have flown, but...... surprise, surprise ..... I really, really like it!!! (My comparison is the Swing Astral 5 and Advance Sigma 7) 

More info about the Swing Astral 6 

Now all I got to do is raise the funds to buy me one for Christmas

My Tudor Photographic sponsors have pledged R4 000 towards it.  R22 000 to go.

Happy Days!

P.S. Pete Salamons (also a Shaolin pilot) hopes to have his Astral 6 in time for the Gradient XC Africa www.flydeaar.co.za competition this month. If it arrives in time, it will be the only Swing Astral 6 competing. Be interesting to see how it performs alongside the Gradient Aspen 3 which is also what I had my eye on.

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All we have is the moment. The Moment is Everything....

 It is in The Now that we have Choices.