A-I-R Atos VR Race 24/198 - First flight 10/26/24 - hang gliding

First flight on the Atos VR-24 with 198 nose latch.
Handling was very close to the VQ Race. (I didn't wang it around or try fast roll reversal though) The VQ Race should be faster still as it is less mass out there and a bit less span.
Pitch felt a little lighter when thermalling, maybe do to less sweep....
The winglets are much lighter than the 06 I had.
Sink rate seemed a bit better, It is slightly more aera, so that would make sense.
Glide, it was a touch better (I think). I didn't get a lot of glides in, and only got up to 50 mph.
Stall speed was very close, maybe a touch slower. It did rotate the nose up easier, again maybe the less sweep played a part.
Very happy to have winglets again. The feel with them, a little more locked in.
Really happy with the way it flies.
Very nice late Oct day. Can't wait for another!
www.paraglidin...
www.atosusa.net
www.air-atos.de/
www.rotorharne...
#hanggliding #RotorHarness #Atos #Rigid #Rigidwing #NLR #Icaro #Laminar / Hang Gliding /4K

[@DM-MCMLVI]

That's an amazing piece of engineering, glad you finally got to fly it. You maxed out a marginal day, and nailed a no-wind landing, nice!

[@MikeBomstad]

It is! Thanks. Always great to have a good first flight and a good landing. Weather has not worked since. Very lucky day.

[@Relou4e]

What a beautiful creation! A technical marvel! Thank you, now I want to go (back) into the air!

[@MikeBomstad]

Yes it is! It is truly flying. No weight shift, control surfaces. No getting bullied by thermals. It is a real pleasure.

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

WOW, late october! Excellent, SUCH a pretty wing; total wing envy. Looks a bit breezy with the smoke laying over; surprised you were thermaling. Nice camera work and editing.

[@MikeBomstad]

@BrilliantDesignOnline thanks! It was the right place right time. Had to wait a while as it was 90° cross from the left for quite some time. Very pleasantly surprised to see how good the thermals were. Cannot wait to get another flight. It's really great to get a nice first flight. Thanks. It is tough to crop out all the crap and keep it short enough it's not boring but long enough it's interesting

[@Kruglik_Rublika]

​​@@MikeBomstadна вашем сленге -termals, это восходящие потоки?

[@MikeBomstad]

@@Kruglik_Rublika Yes, thermals are updrafts. The dust devils (columns of dirt) mark where some of them are. On a day with puffy clouds, those are the tops of thermals as well. Some days dont have any dust devils or puffy clouds, and there are still thermals.

[@Kruglik_Rublika]

​@@MikeBomstadOK, nice

[@chantereaudominique8855]

The very best way to fly

[@MikeBomstad]

Absolutely!!!

[@iqm98]

wow incredible, congratulations...

[@MikeBomstad]

@@iqm98 thank you thank you! Can't wait for some good weather and another flight

[@hubschenk1652]

Unique shots! If Otto Lilienthal had had these materials at his disposal, he would not have had an accident. I would be interested to see the gliding angle that a person of average weight can achieve with this device.

[@MikeBomstad]

Yes, we would be much further along. 20:1 glide ratio :-)

[@NoTengoIlusiones]

Congrats for the new spaceship.

[@MikeBomstad]

Thank you! Can't wait for another flight!

[@boringsoaring]

Nice to see you on a blade making circles

[@MikeBomstad]

Thanks!! Really enjoyed it, especially given it was late Oct!

[@boringsoaring]

@MikeBomstad I'm usually in Santa Barbara this time of year, did get a half hour at Tiger a couple of days ago circling in zero and kicking trees tops

[@MikeBomstad]

@boringsoaring ahhh nice! I'd take that about now. Rain low Cloud and inversion is all we've had. May get down to SB later this year....

[@SparkyReid]

Sweet!

[@MikeBomstad]

It was a good day!

[@Ifenbi]

Вот она, Свобода. Вопрос в цене 😊

[@MikeBomstad]

You can't put a price on Freedom! 😉

[@tomthompson7400]

that sky look bigger in every video ,

[@MikeBomstad]

You know, some days it seems that way 😊

[@richardwallinger1683]

it would be nice to see the control,s in action .

[@MikeBomstad]

@@richardwallinger1683 I will make a video next time I setup

[@owlmuso]

This video is addictive, re-watched it about 5 times. Is the Atos a recent addition to the hang gliding world? Never seen it before and it looks absolutely amazing.

[@MikeBomstad]

Hi, That's great to hear. Nice to know you enjoyed it. The first Atos was in 1998-1999. They have been refining them ever since. In Europe they are much more common than in the states. (they are made in Germany) They are one of the best gliders to fly. In the air they handle so very well, and the performance is far superior than the best topless flex wing. Let me know if you have any more questions

[@owlmuso]

@@MikeBomstad Hey Mike. Thanks for the info on the Atos. The closest I got to hang gliding was my brother. He started out on one of those beginner v shaped gliders, and then progressed up to a more advanced glider over time. But that was late 80s and early 90s, and nothing looked like the Atos. So I am 20 years behind the times lol, but it really does look beautiful. I would imagine that the tail gives additional stability that allows for a narrower wing and higher performance...?

[@MikeBomstad]

@owlmuso I gotcha. Yes the tail ads a lot of pitch stability. Allows the glider to have less sweep, giving better performance. The tail also pitches up and down in conjunction with the flaps for trim the speed of the glider. Normal flexing gliders have a fair amount of pitch pressure when gliding. The tail and flaps allows little to no bar pressure. Less fatigue on Long Glides.

[@owlmuso]

@@MikeBomstad Ok, that makes sense. Thank you. The reduction in fatigue must be amazing for cross country flights. I must say that for a long time Paragliding was on my bucket list, but the Atos is making me revise that list, haha. There was another question I had... I noticed you landed at an airfield. Isn't that a bit dicey considering you would be in close proximity to manned aviation? Besides being better protected i assume get right of way...?

[@MikeBomstad]

@@owlmuso You can do both! I started out PG, then went to HG primarily. (I still PG some days) My longest flight was 7:18 min so far on an Atos. I could not have dont that on any other glider. I would have been way to tired. Thats a non towered airport, with little to no traffic. I set up close where aircraft would not be while I have a look for them. I am landing next to it so theoretically, we could both land at the same time if that ever needed to happen. Its my responsibility to "see and avoid"

[@Jamesn-js1zp]

Hi Mike, what are the 4 flaps (2 each side) on the top surface of the wing for. Are you able to control them to assist in roll, like an aileron, or do they raise automatically. From all the videos I've watched so far they make no sense?

[@MikeBomstad]

They are spoilerons. It's how the glider turns. You fly it the same as a flex wing but without weight shift. When you move the control frame (as if you were trying to shift your weight), it actuates the spoilerons. It has flaps as well and the tail moves up and down. I will make a video of that sometime soon to demonstrate.

[@Jamesn-js1zp]

@@MikeBomstad Excellent, it makes sense now. thanks heaps Mike.

[@MikeBomstad]

You are welcome, glad to help. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[@RosssRoyce]

You should get a mic headset to speak with more ease on the radio!

[@MikeBomstad]

@RosssRoyce I've tried them before. Many pieces that can fail. This is a very basic item that has been tried and true and is not failed me yet. Considering a Bluetooth one...... we will aee

[@BlueMax333]

Congrats! Is it strong enough to carry the weight of a trike and pilot?

[@MikeBomstad]

Thanks! This model is not. they make a VRS 190 designed for trikes. Check out this channel kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3XCmKF3o61kqsksi=PAxDeHGHwXMbadeD

[@BlueMax333]

@@MikeBomstad Thanks for the link I have posted one of his videos on my group Microlight and Ultralight Aircraft (89,000+ members)

[@MikeBomstad]

@BlueMax333 excellent, I'm on that group lots of good stuff there.

[@BlueMax333]

@@MikeBomstad you are welcome to post; but powered aircraft only

[@MikeBomstad]

@BlueMax333 yes. I go lurking there occasionally.

[@seanys]

Mike, please tell me where you got your nose shade.

[@MikeBomstad]

Beako bxgear.com/

[@alexandervanwyk7669]

I terminated my hang gliding career for constructing my own house, got married and raise kids. Now alone at 68, I sometimes wonder if I made the wright choice. Love from Africa.

[@MikeBomstad]

Well, lets hope it was. We cant go back...... the memories live on. Thanks for the comment. Cheers!

[@dhan_boro]

Make money, get back in the air

[@0Bateleur]

We all make mistakes. I have made plenty but we live on. Hang gliding certainly provides a therapeutic escape too. Never to late to start flying again. Go to the Wilderness( Johan is there) or Cape Town)Lennox is there) or Durban( Noel) ....all those instructors can get you in the air when you are ready :)

[@cloudstreets1396]

Didn’t opt for the spoilers?

[@MikeBomstad]

@cloudstreets1396 no. From the pilots I've spoke to you though it would have been a good option. I have generally large LZs but they also mentioned it's great for escaping clouds which I tend to get a little close to on some days

[@cloudstreets1396]

@ when I order mine I’m getting the spoilers for sure. Leave the flaps in a thermal setting for a nice slow flare and use the spoilers for glide path control. All sounds great now, but we will see how it goes. 😜

[@MikeBomstad]

@cloudstreets1396 excellent. Looking forward to seeing the glider and hearing your thoughts on the spoilers. Congratulations

[@MegaProfessor28]

How much does it cost? I dream about)))

[@MikeBomstad]

More than a topless, but worth it!

[@alanaldpal950]

@@MikeBomstad more than a couple of topless gliders ?

[@MikeBomstad]

Very close!

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

@@MikeBomstad 15K?

[@MikeBomstad]

@@BrilliantDesignOnline that's how much a new topless is these days

[@richardwallinger1683]

40 years too late for me .. but I can apreciate the giant leap forward .

[@MikeBomstad]

@richardwallinger1683 you all were test pilots back then! Things have really come so far. Compared to those back then.... wow. Glad to know you survived. It truly is a fun thing to do