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8
FSS
Illustration 2:
FSS
Construction
Most LTF 1 and EN A gliders never really leave the immediate surroundings of the school hill, and
for a good reason. On the one hand it is natural for a pilot fresh out of school to approach their
newfound passion with caution; on the other hand the reality of the poor-performing wings
generally sets in very quickly if a pilot ventures out on a glide into the relative unknown. We think
that the greater part of the UP Ascent
4
pilots will also be found in or around the school
environment, and we’re sure they’ll be having loads of fun there, but we also think it must be a
reassuring feel to know that should one feel the call of the mountains (steppes...) the glider is
technically and performance-wise up for it in every way, without compromising pilot safety in the
process. It is a glider that is simply begging to be discovered, a glider that showcases what is
possible with the latest advances in paraglider technology.
Front Section Support
UP was first with the Aerofoil Stabilising System, an idea
that has since been widely accepted in the industry. The
Ascent4 uses a modified version of the same, and we
have chosen to call this the FSS. Instead of Mylar® the
FSS comprises a Nylon® batten that defines the leading
edge curvature and helps keeping the cell opening open at
all times. This Nylon® batten is insusceptible to bending
damage and has no ageing properties
– it will normally
outlast the rest of the canopy by a good margin. This
means that the UP Ascent
4
will retain its perfect launching
characteristics all through its service life. In the unlikely
event that a batten should break it can be replaced in a few
easy steps
– please refer to the chapter “Replacing FSS
battens” for guidelines.
Canopy material
The UP Ascent
4
is sewn from polyamide cloth, which is particularly stretch-resistant and durable,
and is specially treated for maximum UV
-
resistance.
At UP we are always testing new materials to see if our wings can benefit from new developments
in the textile industry. After comprehensive tests we have settled on the following Porcher Marine/
Dominico material mix for the Ascent
4
:
Top sail: 9017 E25 "Skytex 38 Universal" (38 g/m²)
Bottom sail: DOKO-30DMF(WR)
Ribs and V-Tapes: 9017 E29A (40 g/m²)
This mix comprises the best compromise between weight/bulk and longevity.
