Designed for pilots and mountaineers. Easy to transport the Velvia combines the powerful features of a performance-intermediate glider with a low weight. The market is full of "simply designed" mountaineering gliders and we guess some of them are really boring and slow to launch. MAC PARA decided to combine a higher performance wing with light weight materials. Why to buy two paragliders if one can be enough? Those pilots looking for the lightest performance intermediate can save a lot of money this way.
Thanks to the excellent reports from Eden 3 pilots MAC PARA decided to use the same canopy design and a similar line construction to the Eden 3. The Velvia has 52 cells, which get thinner closer to the wing tip. The slim elliptical form of the canopy has an aspect ratio of 5.26. Diagonal V-tapes and a system of load-bearing lines give the canopy stability and influence easy behaviour during extreme manoeuvres. The Velvia is equipped with light Dynema risers. New-The Dynema tapes are now protected by a sheath. The lines are connected to the risers by loops to save weight. Just one small circular maillon is used on the “C” riser and Brummel-hooks on the accelerator system.
The Velvia has very easy ground handling. Everything feels very predictable in all launch conditions. The canopy is very resistant to collapse. It features excellent stability throughout the full weight and speed range. In an induced collapse the glider does not rotate quickly and will usually reopen within 50 degrees. The opening is smooth and predictable. Easy launch and landing characteristics are a must for a mountain glider and the Velvia has these in abundance. Despite high performance potential and agile handling the Velvia has good dampening in all axes. The canopy does not over shoot and does not hang back when flying in or out of thermals. The light brake pressure allows pleasant turns during long thermal flights, but increases progressively toward the end of its travel to offer safety reserves.
We use the proven materials Skytex 36 Classic and Skytex 40 just for the upper leading edge. We refused to use the lightest Skytex 27 for durability and performance reasons. In our opinion, this material has very high elongation values. The tested prototype, built from this material soon lost its performance and easy take off behaviour. Lines are made from proven series A-6843 from Edelrid.
The use of high-quality materials and constant quality control during manufacturing process together with consistent development work on our computer programme “PG” produces high quality products. We are proud of them.
Testival lightweight paragliders from magazine Thermik
MAC PARA - VELVIA
The head of the company and designer Peter Recek is not a man of extremes. With the exception of their impeccable competition gliders he doesn’t take their structure to extreme limits. The safety and durability of MacPara products are paramount to him. We found this to be the philosophy behind the Velvia. The use of an extremely light material with a weight of 27 g/m2 was not chosen as the route to an extreme reduction of the weight of load-bearing structural elements, which stabilize the interior of the canopy.
"Our internal tests have shown that gliders with such extreme modification of the structure, after 50 to 60 flight hours loose their performance and handling characteristics on take off. The life and stretch of Skytex 27 fabric in diagonal tension are not acceptable for me.”
For these reasons Mac Para use Skytex 36 fabric from Porcher Sport on the Velvia. The Velvia 28 tips the scales at 4.85 kilograms. Weight reduction in comparison with the more familiar Eden from which the Velvia is derived is achieved by using lighter materials and reducing unnecessary features of the internal structure of the canopy and some interesting structural details.
The designer renounces the use of internal load-bearing tapes and instead uses “depower lines” between the attachment points of the bottom lines. Peter Recek has used this construction detail even on normal paragliders (the current tandem the Pasha 3 and the sports class glider the Intox). In addition to weight reduction, Peter Recek also says that there is a better power distribution between the lines, and the precise length adjustment is part of this principle. Also striking is the disappearance of the maillons from the ultra-slim, 10 and 8 mm wide risers. Smart: The main lines are simply looped directly into the risers! Disadvantage: If you need to change a broken main line, it is necessary that the line is adjusted and sewn directly to the strap. But how often did you have to change main line?
During the preparation for a launch you realise that even here Peter Recek has not gone to extremes: If you are looking for ultra thin unsheathed lines like those used in most extremely light gliders, on the Velvia you will look in vain. All the lines are sheathed and this gives confidence. A little more attention to take off technique is needed to avoid the possibility of the very narrow risers tangling with D-strap and brake handles.
During the launch the Velvia’s behaviour is very simple and beyond reproach, both on forward and rear take launch. In the air, Mac Para’s lightweight wing quickly demonstrates its soft, supple thermal flight behaviour, inherited from the intermediate Eden 3. The canopy characteristics of the Velvia is gentle, only in highly turbulent thermals, will the canopy tend to move a little.
On the glider we tested, the steering lines were adjusted too long. After correction of this setting the Velvia became inspired, with agile and precise turns despite very good damping. Giving medium dynamics in the "normal" work area, the freestylers among the Testival pilots were enthusiastic about its Acro behaviour during Wing-Overs and SATs.
The most favoured descent method was the B-line Stall, which can be induced with minimal effort. On recovery the canopy returns confidently to flight with relatively large surge. Big-Ears are nice thanks their high efficiency and good handling when in operation. Releasing Big-Ears, however, needs input from the brakes. Spiral dive was liked because of its easy control, precision and simple recovery.
The Velvia is a well balanced intermediate and moderate (not extreme) lightweight wing. Well suited for pilots who want to combine many applications in a durable glider: for XC-flights, thermaling and Walk & Fly it is ideal.
Pilot Profile: From talented newcomers to security oriented XC pilots.
MAC PARA VELVIA +/-
+ very balanced take off behaviour
+ soft and easy control when thermaling
+ descent methods are simple and efficient
+ fun potential
+ durable light weight glider concept
- in turbulent thermals the canopy moves a little.
Thermik 11/12/09
