Epsilon
Role Paraglider
National origin Switzerland
Manufacturer Advance Thun SA
Status In production (2016)

The Advance Epsilon is a family of Swiss single-place paragliders, designed and produced by Advance Thun of Thun.[1]

Design and development

The Epsilon was designed as a basic-intermediate glider intended for thermalling flight.[1][2]

The design has progressed through nine generations of models, the Epsilon, Epsilon 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 each improving on the last. The models are each named for their rough wing area in square metres.[1][2]

Variants

Epsilon 4 24
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 10.86 m (35.6 ft) span wing has wing area of 23.99 m2 (258.2 sq ft), 46 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.92:1. The pilot weight range is 58 to 75 kg (128 to 165 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified.[1]
Epsilon 4 26
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 11.31 m (37.1 ft) span wing has wing area of 26.03 m2 (280.2 sq ft), 46 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.92:1. The pilot weight range is 70 to 90 kg (154 to 198 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified.[1]
Epsilon 4 28
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 11.77 m (38.6 ft) span wing has wing area of 28.16 m2 (303.1 sq ft), 46 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.92:1. The pilot weight range is 85 to 108 kg (187 to 238 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified.[1]
Epsilon 4 31
Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.35 m (40.5 ft) span wing has wing area of 31.04 m2 (334.1 sq ft), 46 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.92:1. The pilot weight range is 103 to 130 kg (227 to 287 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified.[1]
Epsilon 5 23
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 10.81 m (35.5 ft) span wing has wing area of 23.35 m2 (251.3 sq ft), 50 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.00:1. The glider weight is 5.5 kg (12 lb) and the take-off weight range is 55 to 75 kg (121 to 165 lb). The glider has a glide ratio of 8.7:1.[3]
Epsilon 5 25
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 11.24 m (36.9 ft) span wing has wing area of 25.26 m2 (271.9 sq ft), 50 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.00:1. The glider weight is 5.8 kg (13 lb) and the take-off weight range is 65 to 88 kg (143 to 194 lb). The glider has a glide ratio of 8.7:1.[3]
Epsilon 5 28
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 11.85 m (38.9 ft) span wing has wing area of 28.10 m2 (302.5 sq ft), 50 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.00:1. The glider weight is 6.4 kg (14 lb) and the take-off weight range is 78 to 106 kg (172 to 234 lb). The glider has a glide ratio of 8.7:1.[3]
Epsilon 5 31
Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.52 m (41.1 ft) span wing has wing area of 31.37 m2 (337.7 sq ft), 50 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.00:1. The glider weight is 6.95 kg (15 lb) and the take-off weight range is 96 to 130 kg (212 to 287 lb). The glider has a glide ratio of 8.7:1.[3]
Epsilon 6 23
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its wing has an area of 23.10 m2 (248.6 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.25:1. The glider weight is 5.9 kg (13 lb) and the take-off weight range is 60 to 80 kg (132 to 176 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[4]
Epsilon 6 26
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its wing has an area of 26.04 m2 (280.3 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.25:1. The glider weight is 6.35 kg (14 lb) and take-off weight range is 70 to 95 kg (154 to 209 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[4]
Epsilon 6 28
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its wing has an area of 28.10 m2 (302.5 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.25:1. The glider weight is 6.7 kg (15 lb) and take-off weight range is 85 to 110 kg (187 to 243 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[4]
Epsilon 6 31
Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its wing has an area of 30.61 m2 (329.5 sq ft)and the aspect ratio is 5.25:1. The glider weight is 7.2 kg (16 lb) and take-off weight range is 100 to 130 kg (220 to 287 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[4]
Epsilon 7 23
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its wing has an area of 23.0 m2 (248 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.15:1. The take-off weight range is 60 to 80 kg (132 to 176 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[5]
Epsilon 7 26
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its wing has an area of 26.0 m2 (280 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.15:1. The take-off weight range is 75 to 95 kg (165 to 209 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[5]
Epsilon 7 28
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its wing has an area of 28.0 m2 (301 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.15:1. The take-off weight range is 85 to 110 kg (187 to 243 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[5]
Epsilon 7 30
Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its wing has an area of 30.0 m2 (323 sq ft)and the aspect ratio is 5.15:1. The take-off weight range is 100 to 130 kg (220 to 287 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[5]
Epsilon 8 23
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 10.75 m (35.3 ft) span wing has wing area of 22.5 m2 (242 sq ft), 45 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.15:1. The take-off weight range is 55 to 75 kg (121 to 165 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[2]
Epsilon 8 25
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 11.35 m (37.2 ft) span wing has wing area of 25.0 m2 (269 sq ft), 45 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.15:1. The take-off weight range is 70 to 90 kg (154 to 198 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[2]
Epsilon 8 27
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 11.80 m (38.7 ft) span wing has wing area of 27.0 m2 (291 sq ft), 45 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.15:1. The take-off weight range is 80 to 105 kg (176 to 231 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[2]
Epsilon 8 29
Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.25 m (40.2 ft) span wing has wing area of 29.0 m2 (312 sq ft), 45 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.15:1. The take-off weight range is 95 to 125 kg (209 to 276 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[2]
Epsilon 9 22
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its wing has an area of 22.1 m2 (238 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.2:1 and 47 cells. The take-off weight range is 60 to 77 kg (132 to 170 lb) and the recommended weight range is 65 to 75 kg (143 to 165 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[6]
Epsilon 9 24
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its wing has an area of 23.9 m2 (257 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.2:1 and 47 cells. The take-off weight range is 70 to 88 kg (154 to 194 lb) and the recommended weight range is 75 to 85 kg (165 to 187 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[6]
Epsilon 9 26
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its wing has an area of 25.9 m2 (279 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.2:1 and 47 cells. The take-off weight range is 80 to 100 kg (176 to 220 lb) and the recommended weight range is 85 to 97 kg (187 to 214 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[6]
Epsilon 9 28
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its wing has an area of 27.8 m2 (299 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.2:1 and 47 cells. The take-off weight range is 92 to 114 kg (203 to 251 lb) and the recommended weight range is 97 to 110 kg (214 to 243 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[6]
Epsilon 9 30
Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its wing has an area of 29.8 m2 (321 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.2:1 and 47 cells. The take-off weight range is 105 to 128 kg (231 to 282 lb) and the recommended weight range is 110 to 125 kg (243 to 276 lb). The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.[6]

Specifications (Epsilon 4 24)

Data from Bertrand[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 10.86 m (35 ft 8 in)
  • Wing area: 23.99 m2 (258.2 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 4.92:1

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 47 km/h (29 mph, 25 kn)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 10. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Advance Thun SA. "Epsilon 8". advance.ch. Archived from the original on 2016-03-16. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Advance Thun SA. "Epsilon 5 Technical details". advance.ch. Archived from the original on 25 September 2006. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Advance Thun SA (11 December 2008). "Epsilon 6" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Advance Thun SA. "Epsilon 7". advance.ch. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Advance Thun SA. "Epsilon 9". advance.ch. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
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