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ALPHA 4 HIKE gets a good word from Skywings
17.11.08 | Bill Morris tests the ALPHA 4 HIKE in the November 2008 British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association magazine.
“I think the Alpha 4 Hike does its job extremely well and goes straight in as a good pick up against benchmarks like the ... The Alpha 4 Hike offers more flying for less backache” summarises the report. Bill starts with a potted history of paraglider growth (in kilos) and the current trend for lighter equipment, and ends by suggesting that ADVANCE may have started a trend – the glider of your choice in a lightweight version, to order. What a nice idea (the Open XC Tour with your trusty 2/3 in a 10Kg bag: this might be possible) – but we’re not quite there yet.
The first thing a manufacturer has to do before setting out on a new product is to be clear about the market for it, and direct his plans accordingly. A traveller/walker/mountain climber’s glider has to be small, light, simple to fly, and have as good performance as the necessary compromises allow, hence the Alpha 4 base. The Alpha 4 is relatively simple in construction (less internal structure = less weight), is well-tried and trusted, and has exemplary takeoff behaviour – vital for the mountain walker who, at the end of a long day, may take off where no man has taken off before. Bill Morris mentions the absence of a fourth (XL) Hike, but also correctly concludes that the centre of gravity of the mountain market prefers the smaller, lighter, faster, and definitely sporty sizes.
The reduced drag of the silky-smooth, thinner (and lighter) Hike lines really pays off in glide ratio at the higher speeds associated with the heavier wing loadings – even more so in accelerated flight. It may be that the lighter fabrics of the wing surfaces reduce braking loads marginally, but the ADVANCE test team are confident that, to all intents and purposes, the Hike has the same handling behaviour and passive safety as the standard Alpha 4 at the same wing loading.
Our thanks to UK ADVANCE importer Gavin Foster for his ‘Importer’s comment’ in the Skywings article.
 Read the report here
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