"Tor-Erik @ www.selvikonline.com" <tor-erik@selvikonline.com> wrote in
message news:DJys8.228$HB3.16278@juliett.dax.net...
> Hello everyone!!
>
> I have just started my training to be an HG-pilot! I am thinking about
> buying me an HG to use and to be known with during my training, but I
don't
> know what HG to choose....
>
> I've been suggested several gliders, Tecma, Lamouette, Zafir and Calypso.
> Does anyone have a suggestion for an beginner? A HG I can have for some
> years?


Go dag ! har du bra?
Tor-Erik,
I had a Calypso for about 2 years just after I started flying about 13 years
ago (probably about the time the Calypso came out)
I found it to be a great glider to learn to thermal on,
A great glider to turn,
And very easy for a reletaively inexperienced pilot to fly.
The Calypso can and will look after itself in a huge variety of conditions.
I flew it in wave and associated rotor here in sunny Scotland to off the
clock thermals in France to over 10,000'.
It is stable in pitch and limits it's speed well(great when you are
learning,)
is light to turn but only up to a sensible limit at which point it will
start to self correct (it will come out of wingovers all by itself)
a nice, well tested, proven, sensible glider to start out with and should
last you a few seasons.

I have no experience of the other gliders you mention and can't comment on
those.

When it's time to move on from your first glider,
I have to disagree slightly with Mark on his easy to fly index.
Here is the scale from easiest to fly to hardest: (Roy's version)

1. Beginner kingposted flex-wing
2. Intermediate kingposted flex-wing (up to 60% undersurface)
3. (arguably) Rigid-wing hangglider (100% undersurface)
4. Performance kingposted flex-wing (up to 90% undersurface)
5. Topless flex-wing (up to 98% undersurface)

(2-3 are pretty much interchangeable, with the rider that you _should_ have
a few lessons in a sailplane on spin recovery before you fly a rigid.)

my ?0.02 worth :-)
regards
Roy
http://www.footlaunched.com

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