Parapente Mag 4/00

BANDIT test by Phillipe Lami

The Korean company’s package in 1999: a very consistent brand, gliders that were fun to fly. The Boomerang always on top; Bonanza and Bolero producing numerous love stories between glider and pilot….And this new Bandit?

Gourdon. Meeting of the French team. In the middle of the latest competition hot ships, a yellow glider, a little shorter and fatter: the Bandit, new intermediate from Gin Seok. A quick glance at the certification tells us it is Afnor Standard and DHV 2! This contractictory information sets the tone: it is certainly not a “simple” intermediate. The DHV 2 homologation indicates a certain liveliness…let’s see.

Description

The glider consists of groups of cells divided into 3 sub cells, with diagonals supporting each load carrying rib. Straps of material inside the wing bind together each group of suspension lines. Of note, there are mylar reinforcements on the leading edge adjacent to each ‘A’ line for optimal inflation characteristics. The layout of the lines is simple (only 2 cascades) and very evenly distributed over the surface of the wing. The brakes act as a stabilizer on the central cell, pulling down a very neat and clean flap. The finish is very neat and meticulous; there is no braiding to finish the end of each thread but a fold in the material that creates a more solid band. The risers are black, without big ears kit; the accelerator is between A and B. The  front risers are marked with red, the lines are held in place in the maillons by a plastic retainer and the pulleys are remarkably supple and silent (I love that!). The brake handles are large with a magnetic snapper. Quickly, a harness, fasten the buckles, pre-flight check and head for Gourdon chateau and its French gardens.

Easy to handle but lively

The inflation is perfect: comes up straight above the head without effort and no tendency to overshoot. A real pleasure. Later on a steeply sloping take off in strong conditions, I would have nothing to complain about. It comes up by itself and without lifting off. Two or three flat turns in front of take off…if I stay there too long I’ll be brushing the fir trees because of the lack of thermals. I rapidly make a flight plan: straight line at maximum glide to fly over the village petrol station. During this long glide, taking care not to pitch or roll the glider, I have a look at the internal construction of the Bandit…no big creases, everything is solid and no deformities on the leading edge. No vibrations, no noise except the wind and the silence of the vario…..I finally arrive comfortably over the village, sign of a good glide angle. At last the vario gets excited and it’s off on the classic tour of the neighborhood. Cloudbase at Gourdon, view of the hang gliders at Kennedy,  over the 100 year old oak trees at Courmettes and then back. The thermals are well formed but I really work in the light lift, hands quite low. The brake pressure is medium, the glider is easy to handle at all speeds. In my opinion (I bite my tongue!) I climb just as well as the competition hot ships. I make the transitions less quickly, but arrive at the same height. The Bandit flies itself in the turn and I leave it alone in order to better appreciate the exceptional panorama. Hands off trim 36km/h, very stable. The speed bar is easy to push, and I measured a fully usable 47km/h.

For Certified Pilots

Back for another flight, this time at St Andre. Very windy conditions and strong thermals (more than 8m/s at times). No collapses in the strong turbulence: the glider damps out oscillations in pitch. Simple to initiate a turn, easy to counter it. However, an important point is that in any situation the Bandit retains extreme maneuverability. It is not a linear progression. Hands up we can say that it turns normally, but watch out – with heavy braking at high bank angles it really shocks. It turns on a wingtip and gives the impression that it would be capable of an infinite bank angle! Disconcerting if you aren’t used to dynamic flying. Fasten your chest strap as recommended.

          The exit from steep spiral dives is simple, with no tendency towards neutrality or instability. For big ears, pull the outer A line (one of three). The ears come in easily and are not difficult to hold in. It gives a descent rate of –3m/s and good maneuverability with weightshift. It reopens on its own but slowly. A little touch of brake helps it. Returning to the clouds to test collapses…a hard pull on the front riser and more than 50% of the wing collapses. The wing makes a half turn but stabilizes itself quite quickly. We can say it isn’t a glider for the whole range of pilots, even if the handling is easy. Testing the stall…hands to the hips, the brake pressure is very progressive. Passing the parachutal phase, the wing falls gently behind the pilot and surges moderately when the hands are raised. Returning to the ground: the landing is very pleasant. I gave the Bandit to Herve, an excellent Omega 4 pilot, and took his glider. Another hours’ flight, this time in weak conditions. Herve had serious trouble, he couldn’t stop singing praises of the incredible handling of the Bandit and confessed to having been impressed in steep turns.

          It seems to me that the Bandit is aimed at the pilots who love maneuverability and have the skill that goes with it. Straightforward in pitch, it can become very impressive (or amazing) in roll. It’s a choice for the pilot, not for the beginner. But if you can master it, then……

Pluses

Inflation, performance, handling and trim speed.

Minuses

Has to be carefully controlled at high bank angles, the price.

Our verdict

A surprising glider, half angel half friendly devil.