SPHERA RS
…XC 2-liner secured by RAST!
Experience the revelation that is the pure performance of a 2-liner combined with the flight comfort and control of RAST!
With the Sphera RS, our patented RAST system enters the high-performance class for the first time by offering a completely new flying experience. It has never been easier and so comfortable to pilot a 2-liner and to exploit its full performance potential. That’s why the Sphera RS is the first choice for ambitious XC pilots as well as aspiring competition pilots who want to enter the 2-liner class and raise themselves to a higher level. RAST helps you to focus completely on your flying task in order to get the most out of the day.
Sphera RS – How it started:
We first put RAST in our paragliders that were certificated A through to C and it soon proved its worth in practice. Therefore it was a logical step to think that it should also have unique advantages to offer pilots of 2 liners too.
Who is the SPHERA RS for?
We developed the Sphera RS for XC record hunters who want to live their passion at competition level. RAST gives you maximum control in every situation to get the most out of your flying day.
REVIEWS
FEATURES
On paragliders with RAST the canopy is divided into different internal pressurised sections by one or more fabric panels, some with valves running crossways to the direction of flight. This makes it possible to influence the air flows within the canopy.
With RAST, the air equalisation flows within the paraglider canopy can be regulated through defined openings. This applies both when filling,(during take-off) and when emptying. In the case of pressure loss, e.g. caused by canopy collapse in turbulent air, the relative internal pressure of the CORE section increases, while the BUFFER section absorbs the introduced energy by deformation. Furthermore, RAST can be used as an additional support to the leading and trailing edge, which has a positive effect on flight comfort. As RAST connects the ribs over the entire profile height, the construction has a stiffening effect and reinforcements and/or stiffening elements can be saved or even completely replaced by this special construction method.
The idea for the Sphera RS came from the team around Maurizio Bottegal and Alessio Casolla’s intention to build a 2-liner with the “Ram Air Section Technology”.
They were convinced that especially a paraglider with only two line levels could benefit significantly from the separation into two pressure sections.
The Sphera RS, with its high aspect ratio gets significantly more stability with RAST, which results in a noticeably better glide in turbulent air. You will also feel less movement of the canopy while thermalling. This makes the Sphera RS very easy and precise to handle.
However, the most important advantage of RAST is revealed when getting a collapse, or in extreme flight behaviour. RAST prevents the canopy from deflating too quickly, even with large accelerated collapses. The tendency of getting a cravat is thus significantly reduced and you keep control with the brakes longer. This gives you the possibility to recover the glider more promptly and to reduce any loss of altitude.
Nitinol is a high-strength, temperature- and corrosion-resistant shape memory alloy. The name Nitinol is an acronym for Nickel Titanium Naval Ordnance Laboratory.This material is well-known in medical technology, and for a long time Swing has been using it as leading edge reinforcement in paraglider design, one of the first paraglider manufacturers to do so.
The Nitinol reinforcements on the SPHERA RS ensure a permanently razor-sharp leading edge and maximum quality of the profile. The reinforcements in the top and bottom sail are also made of this shape memory alloy, which is insensitive to buckling, temperature and moisture. This means that you can be sure that no unwanted deformation of the canopy will affect the performance of the Sphera RS, even if the canopy was not packed up or stored correctly.
In the design of conventional paragliders, the cells are stitched the same distance apart across the chord, taken from a line drawn perpendicular to the leading edge in the centre of the wingspan. This however means that as you near the wingtips the cell stitching and internal ribs are actually not perpendicular to the leading edge, because the leading edge bends around in an arc towards the wingtips. This equates to the airflow actually crossing the cells, creating drag and turbulence. With the SPHERA RS we have aligned the ribs to the true airflow over the wing, meaning far less drag and turbulence, especially at the wing tips. The result is a far more efficient wing.
In order to increase the internal pressure in the front area of the wing at low angles of attack, a Nitinol-reinforced Sharknose adapted to the profile, ensures optimum stability at high speeds.
In the SPHERA RS we are using the latest generation of unsheathed aramid lines. The special Pro Dry coating reduces the moisture absorption of the line by -60%, and also increases both the UV resistance as well as the dirt resistance.
The lines are easily visible and easy to sort even without a sheath due to their magenta, blue and orange colouring. The high rigidity of the line material leads to a reduction in the formation of knots during use.
The ergonomic “T-Bar”, specially designed for the SPHERA RS, can be quickly and individually fixed to the B-riser and facilitates canopy control via the rear risers.
Best flights
12.10.2022 » 414.56 km – free distance » Takeoff: Caico in Brazil » ø 44.73 km/h » Link: XContest
Comment:
[…read more]
Such a great flight🤩. First I wanted to glide out to Betânia, then it would have been over 420km. But because of the few kilometers to stress the retriever and the other pilots must not be.
3.8.2022 » 305.73 km – FAI Triangle » takeoff: Antholz in Italy » ø 27.62 km/h » Link: XContestComment:
[…read more]
My first 300 km FAI triangle 😀
This time it has worked out. Even though I made some mistakes during the flight and had to handle some low saves, it was still enough for 305 km in the end. In Lüsen I probably caught the last thermal and just made it into the Dolomites. Over the high plateau east of the Kronplatz it was then again really tricky. In the end, however, I was able to glide back into the Antholz Valley with my #SpheraRS at sunset.
06.07.2022 » 319,5 km – free distance » Takeoff: Oberemmendorf (Kipfenberg) in Germany » ø 43,80 km/h » Link: DHV XC
Comment:
—
24.3.2022 » 212.45 km – FAI Triangle » Takeoff: Adler Lounge in Austria » ø 28.18 km/h » Link: XContest
Comment:
—
02.07.2022 » 224.47 km – FAI Triangle » Takeoff Nevegal in Italy » ø 22.89 km/h » Link: XContest
Comment:
Il mio miglior volo di sempre 🤩
19.7.2022 » 262.20 km – FAI Triangle » Takeoff: Antholz in Italy » ø 27.69 km/h » Link: XContest
Pilotenprofil XContest:
https://www.xcontest.org/2022/world/en/pilots/detail:Hubertim
17.10.2022 » 470.27 km – Free distance » Takeoff: Caico in Brazil » ø 43.81 km/h » Link: XContest
Comment:
[…read more]
What a great day. Made it through the first difficult hours together with Dino, Andrea and Verena. She flew sensationally, but flying together with Enzos is challenging. With the Sphera RS I could keep up nicely again. It climbs just great and is so easy to fly.
13.7.2022 » 231.80 km – free distance » Startplatz: Bassano in Italy » ø 24.65 km/h » Link: XContest
Pilot Profil XContest:
https://www.xcontest.org/2022/world/en/pilots/detail:MaurizioB#pilot_flights[sort]=distance
TESTIMONIALS
Tim Huber, Swing XC team pilot and DHV-XC 2021 overall winner, recently achieved his first major FAI triangle with his brandnew Sphera RS. We asked him about the story behind this flight:
At 7:30 am, I meet up with Didi and Torsten at the Unternberg takeoff, in my backyard. The wind is from the east at the top, which is not ideal for either of the two launch sites. […read more]
COLORS
Coral
Flame
Energy
| SPHERA RS | S | SM | ML | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LTF Certification | D (PDF) | D (PDF) | D (PDF) | D (PDF) |
| CEN Certification | D | D | D | D |
| Permissible weight range (kg) min./max. incl. Equipment |
75-90 | 85-100 | 95-110 | 105-120 |
| Recommended weight range. (kg) Min/Max incl. equipment |
80-90 | 90-100 | 100-110 | 110-120 |
| Cells | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| Wing area (m²) | 21 | 22,5 | 24,2 | 26 |
| Wing area projected (m²) | 18 | 19,3 | 20,8 | 22,3 |
| Wing span (m) | 11,99 | 12,41 | 12,87 | 13,34 |
| projected Wing span (m) | 9,7 | 10 | 10,4 | 10,8 |
| aspect ratio75 | 6,9 | 6,9 | 6,9 | 6,9 |
| projected aspect ratio | 5,2 | 5,2 | 5,2 | 5,2 |
| Glider weight (kg) | 5,3 | 5,6 | 5,9 | 6,2 |
