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RA
Main characteristics:
The RA is an intermediate DHV2 wing for experienced pilots. It offers a very dynamic handling, extraordinary thermalling performance and top level glide ratio and speed.
Through it's soft brake pressure, the direct reaction on pilots input and the very balanced safety behaviour, it enables long and relaxed distance flights as well as impressive flights in even difficult conditions.
The RA convinced our test team most with it's dynamic flying in thermals and it's straightforward safety.
Technical Changes:
The following characteristics have been changed, compared to the TATTOO, its predecessor:
- Less lines: We managed to realize a line reduction of more than 100 m (RA "M", compared to the TATTOO "M"). The RA has only 2 main lines per row and only 3 risers. This reduction leads to a big gain in performance.
- Thinner unsheathed upper cascade-lines: The thin 0.6 mm upper cascade lines amount to about 40% of the total line length. This causes an even bigger drag reduction.
- Higher flat aspect ratio: The RA has less induced drag.
- More cells: Higher form stability
- New airfoils: We followed a new path and could realize a well balanced combination of performance, safety and handling.
- Higher surface tension: We achieved a cleaner surface and a higher structural stability.
- Higher arch: This leads to greater agility and to a higher wing spanwise tension.
- Less projected surface: This increases the performance of the RA when flying accelerated. But due to the big performance gain, the RA easily outperforms the TATTOO also at low speed or in thermalling in weak conditions.
- New fabric: The whole upper sail is made out of the new 45g Skytex Evolution 2.0 (NCV 9092 E85A)
What stayed the same:
- The projected aspect ratio
- The position and the size of the cell openings
- The NOVA logo on the bottom surface :-)
Development Story:
Since the development of the TATTOO we were able to set the pace with several gliders their classes, and we could also noticeably improve upon our own predecessors. So the goals for our new DHV 2 wing were quite ambitious:
We wanted the performance of the TYCOON, combined with a more dynamic handling and of course with much more security. It is clear, that it was not enough to do some slight modifications on the TATTOO to achieve such goals. That's why we decided to build a completely new design, instead of trying to "update" the TATTOO.
The key features of this new design are the high flat aspect ratio and the extremely reduced line geometry. Based on these two characteristics, we built many prototypes, to experiment with different airfoils, arching and surface tensions to realize the big potential, the computer simulations predicted for this design. The first prototypes were so good, that we had to substitute the TATTOO as a reference wing for performance comparisons with a TYCOON.
In addition to the performance improvement, we also didn't want to accept a step backwards in the handling aspect, which was an important factor for the success of the TATTOO. So we put a lot of effort in achieving enjoyable handling for the RA. Our test pilots flew a lot of prototypes in different conditions and tried different airfoils, different trim settings and various brake geometries to find a precise and well balanced handling. Of course the judgment of a wing's handling is subjective to a certain level: However, we believe to have made progress also in handling compared to the TATTOO.
The RA can be flown even more precisely than the TATTOO and reacts immediately on small brake input: Very sensitive without being nervous. We also were able to avoid too much feedback through the risers in strong thermal conditions, to avoid the feeling of being "pushed out" of a thermal.
The RA was originally intended for the upper end of the DHV 2 class. However, during the end of the development process we achieved significant progress in the wing's reaction to collapses and other extreme maneuvers: The RA collapses late, but still softly. The reopening occurs quickly, but without impulsiveness. Overall the RA became even safer, than the TATTOO!
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