Tycoon
LTF 2-3
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Development Story:
The TYCOON project has been our greatest challenge in years: We wanted to re-establish the rightful position of the so-called high performance wings at the top of the stack.
In the recent past, intermediate wings have caught up to their higher rated brothers. Now, with the TYCOON, performance is back and it’s back by a big margin.
Some have talked about stagnation in paraglider performance. The Tycoon quiets this by setting a new standard. From the CXC to the PHANTOM, from the SPHINX to the XYON and the VERTEX to ARGON / RADON - the TYCOON offers the greatest step forward in performance from one generation of Nova to the next!
Our new computer simulation methods (CFD) made it possible to increase performance to (previously) unimagined levels. New materials and our constantly increasing knowledge of safety enabled us to offer proven DHV 2-3 security and performance at a level which until now was only available from open class wings.
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The computer's predicted direction led to wings with very small surfaces, lots of aspect ratio, optimized airfoils and a perfect balance between sail tension and wing curve. The very first prototypes already showed the concept's potential. The wings’ outlines were impressive, but performance and safety were not good enough. We had to improve both.
The very detailed information from the computer calculations let us look carefully for mistakes in the airfoil and wing shape that prevented us from achieving the predicted glide ratio. We tried different airfoils, suspension positions and line geometries. Finally, we succeeded - the wing became very rigid but reacted softly in safety maneuvers, the airfoil became smooth and clean and the performance finally matched the predictions.
The TYCOON has the highest aspect ratio we have ever built (including. Comp protos). But despite it's very impressive tech data (a flat aspect ratio of 6.41), the safety is surprisingly good. As usual, we didn't need to change the computer optimized trim to reach certification so the performance of the certified TYCOON matches the forecasts of the computer model.
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Compared with its predecessor the RADON, the TYCOON has the following improvements:
- a lot more aspect ratio: to achieve the goal of absolute high performance
- a lot less surface: a component of high aspect ratio that is fast and agile
- more cells: a rigid and clean airfoil
- longer lines and more wing curve: a better, more efficient technique to gain wing tension
- a new airfoil: greater performance through a wider range of angles of attack: delayed collapses, more lift
- better form stability of the airfoil: less deformation in accelerated flight
- small, form optimized intakes: more pressure in the cells
- a tricky cross ports scheme: better reinflation after collapses
- new cloth: the hybrid buildup of the topsail: 45g in front part, 40g/sqm in the rear part and light cloth for the ribs offers better inflation and less surge
- new main lines: PPSL 160 instead of 200: thinner but still strong enough
What remained the same:
- lines (Technora 8000 in the upper lines, PPSL as main lines)
- the principle of the canopy buildup: short 2- and 3- fork line cascades
- the speedsystem: the TYCOON has only 3 risers
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Main characteristics:
- The TYCOON is an absolute high performance paraglider with DHV certification. Because of the high aspect ratio, quick handling and high dynamics, this wing needs a very good pilot to control it.
- Despite the very slim wing, the TYCOON is rigid and stable. Also, extreme maneuvers are surprisingly soft and controllable.
- This synthesis of leading edge performance and good safety impressed even our test pilots.
LTF/EN test reports:
Tycoon Lplanform:
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