Test of the Air Design Rise 3 M part 2

Last modification: 20 January 2018

1. Test conditions
2. Flight
3. Conclusion


- Takeoff weight: 104/105kg. For this second test of the Rise 3, I get rid off all non-necessary stuff like my muffles, one liter water, the backup radio,...Well, at least my food stays in my harness ;).
- Harness: Nova SOMNIUM (pod harness with leg loops, similar to the Kortel Kuik 2) with "factory" chest strap setting (neutral).
- Flying site: Markstein/Treh (1250 m) in the Vosges mountains, still the south take-off.
- Weather conditions: light SW/S wind, the forecasted and real cloud base was a little bit higher than 1700 m, a quite low instability and blue thermals. It is Autumn.


This time, I don't do any groundhandling and start right away. Concerning the start, there is nothing special to say, apart that the glider is carrying quite early during the running phase despite the light wind and low slope. Again, the air is crowded.


In the air, I try this time to slow down a little bit the outer wing while thermalling(this also gives me some margin to give speed to the outer wing when thermalling). I also try to use more weight shifting. Then, I find back the efficient turn and turn radius that I knew from the Téquila 4:


The Rise 3 is very efficient in thermalling: despite my takeoff weight near to the top of the weight range and the light conditions, I find myself fast on top of the gaggle. I am often tempted to turn tighter in the core than the other B+ and C which turn larger, the handling of the Rise 3 makes centring the thermal very easy.

Later, when the thermals were decreasing, all gliders were flying low but 4 and 5 gliders with high aspect ratio and the Rise 3. In this light conditions the Rise 3 show a good climbing rate and continues to climb slowly while other bomb out:


After flying at least 30 minutes with a Sigma 10, a Chili 4 and a Cayenne 5 (the two lasts being known as the Kings of the thermals), I can confirm that the Rise 3 climbs at least as good in light or moderate conditions despite my high loadings.

I have also tested the speed bar for small glides (some minutes).I didn't adjust the length of the speed bar for this flight and about 1/3 of the speed bar length was missing. I could however observe and increase in speed between +6 and +8 km/h.

Finally, after almost 2h flying, I decide to head for the landing place and my friends who ave landed since some time now. Again, the landing is a non-event in this quiet conditions.


After a not so amazing first test, I really had fun with the Rise 3 during this second test. It may be due to the conditions or me adapting to the Rise 3's very good handling, but it went well. Despite the fact that I was at the top (105 kg or above) of the weight range, it was really not difficult to be at the top of the gaggle among many other performant gliders. For the fun factor, I have found back the handling of the Téquila 4 on a glider with higher aspect ratio (5.95 instead of 5.2). The starts and landings were easy in these flying conditions. I couldn't do any glide tests versus other gliders. Concerning the collapses, I got one half-wing collapses and several collapse warning signs when I went in the lee-side on my first flight, but the behaviour of the glider in these conditions was quite safe with an active piloting style. To conclude, I am really convinced by this glider and I may buy it quite fast !

See you under the cumulus clouds !

Test of the Air Design Rise 3 M part 1


Summary