Jamboo

LTF 1-2

Idea and Development:
 
The new JAMBOO Biplace is a member of the TATTOO family so our main goal during its development was to offer very good handling and agility along with typical NOVA high performance. The JAMBOO also had to satisfy several pilot types; leisure pilots, professionals, competition pilots and motor pilots flying biplace or with a trike.

Although the basis of the Jamboo’s cell number and complexity is the MAMBOO, the wingtip shape, airfoil characteristics and outlook is more akin to the TATTOO. But, when designing a very good biplace, it's not enough to just zoom up a solo wing. The demands and physical aspects (inertia) of a biplace need specially adapted solutions. We chose an airfoil for the JAMBOO that allows for very low brake pressure as well as - we discovered - a quite aggressive sail tension. In this case the parallel development of the TYCOON (high level 2-3) influenced the Jamboo design.

Safety was never a problem during the development of the JAMBOO. The very first protos were already quite safe - our test passengers were happy about that! The behaviour of these early designs during big collapses with open trimmers was surprisingly gentle. We new then that we would be able to get the DHV 1-2 rating without any performance limiting trim changes.

During testing and the fine-trim process, handling, perfect takeoff behaviour and a very good roll stability were the focus of our attentions. It is not only the professional pilots who are very demanding in these attributes - every Nova customer demands our best efforts.

To test the Jamboo’s performance potential as a CX and competition wing our test pilots flew the JAMBOO in a competition. This direct comparison against some high performance solo wings proved the predictions of the computer models; the Jamboo’s glide is very high and the polar extremely flat. And more, that big canopy is not easily influenced by turbulence. So, in conditions where pilots of more nervous solo wings have to get into their brakes, the JAMBOO is gliding stable and fast, realizing its performance potential in a very impressive way. Our test pilots were impressed by the available speed, glide and the very relaxed flying.

The JAMBOO has a quite neutral behaviour in turns: flat  turns in weak thermals are easily possible. So, even in light conditions, the JAMBOO was on a level with the lighter solo wings. Sometimes, in quite turbulent and tricky conditions, the JAMBOO was on top of the stack.

Technical Changes:
 
In contrast to its direct predecessor the PHOR-2 the JAMBOO is based on a high performance design. It has many more cells (51 instead of 38), a higher aspect ratio and a more complex build up. As well it has less area and uses much less line meters, so a big step in performance was possible.
In the direct comparison these are the following changes:

• more aspect ratio: the JAMBOO is a high performer
• a lot more cells: better rigidity and form stability
• diagonal ribs
• short line forks: in combination with the diagonals ribs, much less line meters
• new airfoil: more performance, more lift, a very short take off, more dynamic to efficiently flare during landing
• different canopy curve: better handling, more force to get tension on the sail
• optimized sail tension: cleaner finish, effectively improved airfoil shape, less brake pressure
• additional E-lines: better defined trailing edge
• padded brake handles: more comfort
• new, comfortable soft bar
• dirt escape holes in the stabilizers
• shorter risers with split As: easily reachable brake handles, wingtip collapses are easy, even B-stalling is possible

What remains unchanged:

• the legendary, indestructible GELVENOR cloth: an essential feature specially for hard commercial usage
• the lines: extra strong Technora lines as middle and main lines, Dyneema lines on top
• a large, free area to mount logos on the bottom sail

Main characteristics:

• The JAMBOO is a universally usable high performance wing for heavy loads in the DHV 1-2 class. It inspires ambitious leisure pilots, engaged XC pilots and professional pilots who insist on reliability, safety and robustness.
  
• Flying the JAMBOO is not only comfortable and safe but its performance will motivate any pilot to push his sportive limits.
  

• Our test team was most impressed by the performance of the JAMBOO. Actually it was the combination of the balanced flight characteristics which allows flying with almost as less effort as flying a solo wing. And in addition the JAMBOO is capable of outgliding almost every solo wing.

JAMBOO with motor:

The JAMBOO was planned to be a versatile wing so, from the beginning, we have been testing the prototypes with a motor trike. Foremost for this use a perfect launch behaviour is essential. Flying with a motor also helped us to do some efficient handling flights. The safety and agility of the JAMBOO, the low brake pressure, the easy takeoff and landing, offers very delightful flights with a motor trike.

The very good roll stability of the JAMBOO enables its use as a motor wing and guaranties straight and safe landings with a trike (no left / right oscillation). The JAMBOO easily handles the high loads and offers safe controlled takeoffs and landings on very short fields.

The performance of the JAMBOO while motoring is an impressive experience: we could hardly believe how little gas, thrust and noise were needed to stay in the air and maintain altitude.

But more than this, performance is a safety feature with a motor. Should the engine quit and the propeller stop, you have more options to land with a Jamboo than with a lower performing wing. With switched off motor in thermals or waves the JAMBOO inspires confidence. Our motor test pilot Walter Holzmüller had fun with the JAMBOO from the beginning on and his exaltation is still growing every day.

LTF Test Report:

Jamboo33 Jamboo37

LTF/EN test reports:

Jamboo 37, Jamboo 33

planform: