1987

The Zephir was only built for one year, 1987, at 16 m², full dacron sail, and PE foam LE inserts. In 1988, the Zephir CX was certified. Same frame as before, but 14,8m² only. Mylar LE and Mylar inserts.

In 1990, the CX was replaced by Pamir, main difference only single flying wires

1987 Zephir
Wing area: 16 m²
Span: 10,72m
Nose angle: 132°
Aspect Ratio: 7,2.
Glider weight: 28kg without bag.
Hook-in weight: 60-130kg

CX
Wing area: 13.94 m²
Hang glider weight: 31 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 60 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 100 kg

CX mod.
Wing area: 14.43 m²
Hang glider weight: 31 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 60 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 100 kg

Wing area: 14.62 m²
Hang glider weight: 29 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 60 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 100 kg

CX SV
Wing area: 14.8 m²
Wing span: 10.72 m
Aspect ratio: 7.8
Hang glider weight: 29 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 60 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 130 kg
Minimum speed: 28 km/h
Max glide ratio (L/H): 10.43
Max glide ratio speed: 35 km/h
Minimum sink rate: 0.93 m/s
Packed length: 6.20 m
Packed length short: 2.95 m
Number of battens: 28
Nose angle: 132°

1983 Bautek had managed to design a glider that was both light to handle and stable. For that reason, even the A frame is smaller than on other wings, cause you don’t need to move much underneath it.

A strong crossbar-less glider that was even used for aerobatics in its time. The front tube that extends beyond the glider nose is used to tension the wing but is also a good protection for the pilot.

This glider was incredibly manouverable, almost too easy.Figure 8s could be flown with just one hand on the bar.

In weak conditions or bumpy thermals it was easy to outclimb any other wing of that era.

At high speeds however yawing became a problem. Winch towing was almost impossible.

At takeoff, it was necessary to keep the nose up. All other bowsprit gliders had this tendency to drop the nose during takeoff run.

Saphir 17
Wing area: 16.45 m²
Wing span: 10.8 m
Double sail: 70%
Hang glider weight: 30 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 55 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 80 kg
Minimum speed: 30 km/h
Maximum speed: 80 km/h
Max glide ratio speed: 38 km/h
Packed length: 6.2 m
Number of battens top: 28
Number of battens below: 6
Nose angle: 127°

1990 The Pamir has only single wires, so much less parasitic drag.

Got a Zephir and was told, flies OK, but could only be landed on wheels… Simply relaxing sail tension on the sidetubes by 1cm was all that was needed.

Wing area: 15 m²
Wing span: 10.6 m
Aspect ratio: 7.5
Hang glider weight: 30 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 60 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 125 kg
Minimum speed: 25 km/h
Maximum speed: 80 km/h
Max glide ratio (L/H): 10.55
Max glide ratio speed: 42 km/h
Minimum sink rate: 0.91 m/s at 37 km/h
Packed length: 6.2 m
Packed length short: 4 m
Number of battens: 26
Nose angle: 132°

Hang glider circa 1981. This is the first hang glider designed and produced by Bautek.

Wingspan 9,8m
Wing Area 15,7sqm
Glider weight 22kg
Min clipin weight: 58kg
Max clipin weight: 110kg
Max glide ratio 1/10.5

Wing area: 17.2 m²
Wing span: 9.6 m
Aspect ratio: 5.35
Nose angle: 132°

For 1998 the Zimmer brothers improved the topless Twister SPS with a revised system for controlling washout.

Regarded as a great glider, very solid and stable. Hard on hard conditions, but smooth on soft ones. Out of all topless gliders, this is one with the best /easiest handling. At takeoff, there is no slack in the side wires, a big advantage on a windy day without assistance. Control is effortless, without any delay, and well co-ordinated. There were some problems with batten tensioner.

There is a 13m version with less sail (unofficial and unapproved by Bautek), that were made to meet the demand for light pilots.

Twister SPS
Wing area: 14 sq.m
Certification: DHV 2-3
Pilot weight: 65-110 kg
Wing span: 10.4 m
Nose Angle: 132 degs
Aspect ratio: 7.7
Price (1998) 9800 DM

SPS (Safety Pitch System)
Span: 10.4 m / 34 ft
Wing area: 14 m² / 151 sq.ft
Double sail: approx. 80%
Aspect ratio: 7.7
Glider weight without cover: 34.5 kg / 76 lb
Minimum pilot weight: 65 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 110 kg
Minimum take-off weight: 100 kg / 220 lb
Maximum take-off weight: 141 kg / 310 lb
Minimum speed: 25 km/h / 16 mph
Maximum speed: 80 km/h / 50 mph
Max glide ratio: 11.79
Max glide ratio speed: 45 km/h
Minimum sink rate: 0.96 m/s
Minimum sink speed: approx. 35 km/h / 19 mph
Packed length long: 5.7 m / 18.5 ft
Pack length short: 4.1 m / 13.5 ft
Number of battens: 29
Nose angle: 132°
DHV: 2 – 3
Number of battens: 29 (8 lower)

Sunrise
1996
Wing area: 13 m²
Wing span: 10.14 m
Aspect ratio: 8
Hang glider weight: 29 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 60 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 100 kg
Minimum speed: 32 km/h
Maximum speed: 80 km/h
Max glide ratio speed: 40 km/h
Packed length: 5.8 m
Packed length short: 4.1 m
Number of battens: 26
Nose angle: 127°

Sunrise
1998
Wing area: 13 sq.m
Certification: DHV 2-3
Pilot weight: 65-100 kg
Wing span: 10.2 m
Nose Angle: 132 degs
Aspect ratio: 8
Price (1998) 8400 DM

Hang glider circa 1995-8.

A very thick fabric and resistant to aging (no mylar except BA), and DIAX at the trailing edge (about 40cm throughout).

Astir 1995
Wing area: 14.7 m ²
Wing span: 10.56 m
Aspect ratio: 7.6
Hang glider weight: 30 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 60 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 115 kg
Minimum speed: 31 km/h
Maximum speed: 80 km/h
Max glide ratio speed: 37 km/h
Packed length: 6.15 m
Packed length short: 3 m
Number of battens: 26
Nose angle: 127°

Astir 1998
Wing area: 14.7 sq.m
Certification: DHV 2
Pilot weight: 60-115 kg
Wing span: 10.5 m
Nose Angle: 130 degs
Aspect ratio: 7.6
Price (1998) 7600 DM