3) ICARO Twice TE Paraglider: Tandem
Monday, January 20, 2014 at 16:27 ICARO Tandem TE Purchase Inquiry
Design Motivation
No other paraglider is flown as much as a tandem. It is a work horse for the paraglider manufacturer: only with a tandem can detailed images, precise measurements and test videos of other solo paraglider prototypes in development be captured in flight.
Similarly, most photos for newspapers, magazines, marketing and books are shot from a tandem. All test pilots from ICARO R&D are enthusiastic tandem pilots who prefer to spend their recreational flying time better in pairs than alone.
Tandem Market Analysis
Before ICARO fixed its aims for the new Twice TE, they test flew tandems from their most important competitors, on cross country excursions, doing aerobatic maneuvers and at different loadings.
In doing so, they realized a common theme: there was no tandem on the market which was comfortable and safe to fly within the full weight range of 120 kg – 225 kg. Flying at the lower and upper weight range were always a significant compromise, suffering from speed and sink issues.
Also distinctly noticeable was that all tandem paragliders that had soft handling tended to suffer from asymmetric tip folds occurring earlier and in hard thermals they were imprecise on their turn authority.
Tandem Evolution: Twice TE
Since ICARO R&D was not content with the market status, they decided to make two sizes. Therefore the development time increased from about 1 year to 2.5.
Based on the brilliant concept of the Cyber TE, that combines all modern construction details of the recent years: they achieved their aims after many test flights, amendments and newly gained experience.
Carefully balanced flight characteristics and performance make it stand out amongst the rest of the competitors.
Design Brief
At the final R&D meeting, the ICARO team agreed on the following criteria:
- Two sizes with a sensible weight range
- Both sizes to be very easy to launch and land at the top of the weight range
- Firmer Handling but very direct and without delay
- Excellent flare behavior during landing
- SAT, Heli, Full Stall and Wingover must be able to be flown easily
- As light as possible without influencing the life expectancy
- No need to pack cell by cell but compact and fast to pack
As normal for meetings like this, the question about performance arose: of course, there is no way that it could be less than the very best performing tandem on the market!
Further Refinements
During intensive testing ICARO added to their wish list:
- Seperate C and D lines, because in high wind, it is difficult to tame a 3 liner on the ground
- A long travel of the trimmers in order to reach a high top speed
Cyber TE on Steroids
The final touch on the Twice TE was achieved by using the super light non-bending Titan Flex® battens in the profile nose to add stability and performance and to replace the damageable plastic battens. This so named "memory-metal" does not only have the nature of not deforming unless ultra-heat treated, but also it creates span wise tension in the profile nose, like a drum head. ICARO is the first manufacturer to employ use of this material in a paraglider.
The difference amazed the team: noticeably better performance; extreme stability in turbulence; convincing precision in flying thermals; SAT's without having to stabilize; Helis easily lead in out of trim speed flight. But the after flight experience tops it all off with fast and easy packing. It is unnecessary to pack cell by cell, instead you can just roll the glider up in order to get a pack size comparable to solo paragliders.
Tandem Pilots who fly for a living will especially appreciate this unique quality: in three minutes it's packed instead of 20 minutes cell by cell. That can yield one more flight a day!
Target Group
Professional tandem pilots who want only the finest tandem paraglider that is: easy to launch and land; recovers from bad flight attitudes with ease; has agile and progressive handling; can do basic acro; has class leading speed and glide; thermals well; is durable yet lightweight with a low pack volume; and is fast to pack.
Twice TE Titan Flex Battens Video