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Airborne Windsports Sting

 

The Sting 2 is a recreational hang glider updated with 7075 airframe and battens, with faired king post, downtubes and speed bar as standard. The XC range also includes a VG system. Classed as Airbornes’ "recreational" glider the Sting is for the experienced pilot that desire reasonable performance with exceptional climb. A glider that is still very easy to launch and land.

Pilots who like to fly with a powered harness or lite trikes often use the 175 Sting.  The Sting 175 has a light weight 7075-T6 main airframe and battens, and is easy to short pack. Standard configuration  includes faired down tubes, speed bar with grips, PX 10 leading edge, variable geometry  and enclosed battens.

The Sting 2 was being replaced by the Sting 3, and as of April 2010, only the 175 size was still in production. The consensus is that the Sting 3 is a step up in performance from the Sting 2, and may not be suitable for novice pilots. The Sting's bottom surface covers 70 percent. The Sting 3 was available as 154 and 168

 

Sting 2 XC-175

 

The Sting 3 featured a much improved glide performance and ease of steering with the VG on. The Sting 3 has an increased range of travel on the VG system. Landing the Sting is fun, with great low speed handling authority right up to an easy flare and touch down.

The Sting 3 has a new luff curve at the heart of the design meaning that the sail has been entirely redesigned. The most recognisable difference is the undersurface layout and the increased amount of undersurface, particularly at the tips to improve the high speed glide performance.

Features include improved glide angle at inter thermal glide speeds, lighter roll control at low speeds, lighter roll control and more predictable docile stall with vg on, lighter pitch pressures and easy aerotow using a shoulder attached tow bridle and a wider range of travel for the variable geometry system.

 

 

The Sting 3 uses the same control frame as the C4, with streamline downtubes, interchangeable control bar options including round speedbar with grips, airfoil aluminium and airfoil carbon control bars - all changed by pip pins. New are the 7075 airframe with the PX 10 leading edge, sail luff curve, airfoils, top surface, new under surface, with increased double surface area for long XC glides, and improved under surface control with an additional batten (all enclosed).

 

Airborne Sting 2 XC-175

 

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