FreeX Mission Review By Greg Hamerton

Greg Hamerton is a Paragliding Instructor from Cape Town and has flown over 1000 hours in the thermic conditions of South Africa. He is the author of the Fresh Air Site Guide, a regular writer for Cross Country Magazine, and hosts a free-flying Website at http://www.paragliding.co.za/hammer . He has flown over 60 wings and prefers XC flying to competitions.
On a MISSION to reach cloud base?

FreeX wowed the market in '96 with the Spark (DHV2/3), a fast, active glider with light, quick handling. The DHV2 relative of the Spark was the Spear, released in '97. Pilots were divided - some loved the wings with passion, but many found the FreeX handling too direct, and the energy retention of the wings too wild. FreeX responded by producing two new wings with a more mellow aerofoil - the Flair (DHV1/2), and the Oxygen (DHV2/3). And now we have the Mission, the DHV2 replacement for the Spear. What is the essence of this wing - does it retain the wild side of FreeX, or the soft, smooth and light handling of the new generation?

CONSTRUCTION : At last, a backpack that is made for a human being! The new FreeX backpack has the best geometry, volume, sturdy fabric and padded straps I have seen on any bag, and it is a pleasure to wear.

FreeX have also got rid of their notorious 'special speed system', which was inconvenient when swapping to other gliders, and had sharp, unreliable shackles. The Mission has a traditional two-pulley system on the risers, which effects a moderate 16cm shortening of the A's.

Precise manufacture and elegant curved V-ribs complete the picture of good quality - FreeX are still just as committed to pleasing their customers as they were in the early days.

LAUNCH : A quick pull-up, which accelerates overhead, and has to be held back on the brakes. The ground-handling requires some getting used to, as the Mission rolls with the gusts, being fairly active. Without the brakes applied, the Mission will overfly you. A short takeoff run lifts you into the air, which is where the wing prefers to be.

HANDLING : A recent XC course in Bulwer, SA voted the wing as having the best handling of the DHV2's. I think it depends largely on the kind of pilot you are. It certainly takes some time to get used to the Mission's handling, which is unlike any other glider I've flown to date. A turn can be performed with light brake pressure even while weight-shifting away from the turn. The brake pressure increases from 1/4 brake onwards. Lean into the turn as well, and the Mission swings around, without the bite of the Spear/Spark. There is more of a delayed response than the Spear, though compared to most other gliders, the Mission handling is direct. The Mission likes to tilt you away from the turn, and has a tendency to flatten out after 90 degrees. To keep thermalling efficient, continued weight shift is needed. The light brake pressure and flat turn can catch you out if you're used to heavier handling, so watch that inner wingtip to avoid spinning. The Mission does not turn as tight as the Spear, but it does seem more efficient, with higher roll stability.

In thermic conditions, the Mission provides a lot of feedback, and must be flown actively, otherwise it will yaw from side to side. There is no sense that it wants to tuck - the wing has a deep aerofoil section, and higher volume than it's predecessors, creating a 'spring-tensioned' leading edge feeling. It is just very lively.

GLIDE : Word on the street is that the Mission has as good a glide as the Octane, which puts it just short of the Bagheera and Quarx. So it's right up there with the latest in the DHV2 class.

SPEED : The trim speed is high, so you'll be able to push against a headwind with ease. The wing also converts dive and roll energy into a long, fast glide. This is not the direct climb out associated with the Spear, but a more efficient, delayed 'fade-off' of the speed, so you maintain the trim speed for longer. You won't have to deal with the irritating pitch oscillation of the Spear, but you will have to allow the Mission more room to maneuvre when close to the ridge, due to the delayed conversion.

Stomping on the speedbar does not seem to affect the wing much - the stability was high, the glide was fine, the speed increased moderately (7km/h). The Mission I flew did 46km/h flat out at low altitude, which is slightly less than the Astral2 and the Octane, but the wing is maybe more stable at this speed.

SECURITY : According to the DHV tests, the Mission is about as good as a DHV2 glider gets before it becomes a DHV1/2. Asymmetrics are its wildest move, and this is because the rate of turn is "high with deceleration". I found asymmetrics very hard to induce, because the wing resisted my tug on the A-riser by warping and returning to its shape without deflation. A sharp, hard yank on the A's did collapse the wing, which turned rapidly and entered a spiral (no pilot input), inflating after 180degrees. So when it finally does collapse, it is fairly hot for a DHV2, but it won't collapse often, and reinflates on its own.

Big ears reinflate on their own. When tucked the maneouvre provides a good 3m/s descent, with good roll-stability in weight-shift turns.

The stall speed is low, if you keep it in a straight line, but turning it while on deep brakes is not recommended.

All the others maneouvres score 1/2's or 1's, making it quicker to recover than even the Swing Astral2. But its agility makes it more of a handful to control in rough air, and I would class it alongside the Octane as an 'upper 2' glider, requiring competent, intelligent piloting.

SUMMARY : If you're getting tired of wrapping your brake handles around your feet to get your glider to turn, the Mission will be the answer to your prayers - light handling, easy turns, and good thermalling. The Mission does retain a lot of the feeling of the Spear, being highly agile and active, with lots of feedback, so it is not suited to the novice xc pilot or the conservative weekender who would prefer reassurance over performance. For the pilots who feel at home in the sky, it's a very efficient wing with a unique feel, and you're unlikely to have a tuck if you fly actively. The colour scheme is attractive, the finish of the FreeX product leaves a smile on your face, and the glider bag is the best in the business. To see if you enjoy the enigmatic FreeX flavour, contact your dealer for a test-flight.

A BIG THANKS TO : Geoff Legward for lending me his personal glider. Anthony Allen for the funky FreeX cap.

Thanks to http://www.hi-xposure.co.za/