K2 Stability vs Dudek Nucleon Paramotor & Powered Paraglider Wings Review Testing

[briansmobile1]

Man that K2 Looks like it's the best insurance policy in gliders.

[corbandallas46]

I have seen your videos of the K2 and they look very very impressive. I love the look of the force too. I'm really new to this sport with only a couple of flight under my belt and will be looking for a force or K2. You know the force is an excellent wing but how much better is the K2 and what are those benifits? The videos of the force over flying the pilot while ground handling are totally unbelievable. How does the K2 react with other motors - i.e, not a flat top?

[imasuper0308]

@corbandallas46 The Force is for extremely advanced pilots only so it is not even an option for new pilots. Its twice the weight with half the glide ratio anyhow so not sure why you even list it. For advanced pilots it doesnt make any sense either because of the very poor performance and safety. What is the point of a Force anyhow when the K2 beginner glider is both safer and handles better.

[corbandallas46]

@imasuper0308 Thanks Dell - your info is much appreciated and it looks like my money will go on the K2. Help from experienced guys like yourself will probably stop me making costly and deathly mistakes - happy flying, cheers buddy!

[imasuper0308]

@corbandallas46 No problem man. Just saw another video of a guy crash on a Nucleon after he tried to make a simple turn but the Nucleon spun and then stalled him into the ground. Hard to believe there are people out there pushing those things onto beginners. Very very scary. Good luck and feel free to ask all the questions you like.

[corbandallas46]

I would like to see this test done with the APCO Force as well.

[imasuper0308]

@corbandallas46 I have also tested the Apco Force. It is much better than the Nucleon but still nowhere near the K2. The stability and performance of the K2 is absolutely incredible.

[TheOSTERLEN]

Do you really think that gliders a built to stand on the beach without correct wingloading in the wing. You sound more like a priset messing than i pilot with a healty opinion. You must have a very limited experience in paramotoring and paragliding. You can se Dudek gliders all over in the compettitions and not a single glider from the brand you are trying to selling.

[imasuper0308]

@TheOSTERLEN With that much wind the wings were almost fully loaded. The comparison is obviously equal though as it is a side by side as you can see. That means both gliders get the same air so no matter how much that is it shows a direct comparison between the two. The K2 is waaaaaaaay more stable. We sell BOTH brands and couldn't care less which is better. The best pilot in the world and winner of the WPSDA World Championships used a K2 in most tasks. You can't fully control a Nucleon.

[SunsetWingman]

Just a casual comment about the test in general. Just that in flight the wings would be much more pressurized than kiting in a few mph wind. It's not like the wing tips are that delicate when you are actually using the wing. I have no experience with either wing...just sayin though.

If you did that test in the air and the tips folded that easily then dang, but I dont think they would.

[imasuper0308]

@SunsetWingman Actually in this much wind they are pretty close to fully pressurized. The test isn't about the amount of pressure though, it is about which glider folds first. So in the air or on the ground doesn't make any difference as the test is still showing which glider is more stable than the other glider. In flight the results will be the same. The K2 will be dramatically less likely to collapse than the Nucleon exactly as you see in the video here. So yes you are right but not.

[ddefeo8644]

The Nucleon is limp and slow to recover in the same conditions that a K2 will be rock solid and stable. It is an incontestable result, and in a flying scenario, very possibly the difference between life and death. Thanks for the comparison Dell. I really hope even stupid people in the sport can see your effort to save their life.

[nevrnuftorq]

looked good dell, still amazes me you can kite a wing and instruct at the same time

[wetmellon]

the 14 year old girl made you her ....... couldn't help but to say that.

[Justforfrolics]

That looks so much fun, and so easy too! Can it really be that easy?!

[kriskwwong]

I don't know which is which. Why is one is so easier to collapse? Is it good or bad? What is the wind speed on that day? 

[imasuper0308]

@kriskwwong Ah good input, I put up annotations to show which is which. The glider with more stability just tears through the far less stable and collapse resistant glider. This is a very simple test but it shows dramatically how much more likely one glider is to collapse vs the other. Plus the K2 collapse recovery is fully certified at the safest level where no reflex glider can pass any level of safety certifications at all. Not even the least restrictive DHV 3. So reflex is beyond DHV 3

[KvornanTheLafesta]

And what about the Fides Evo & Fides 2? Are they just as good too?

[imasuper0308]

@KvornanTheLafesta That's a good question. I will have to perform the same side by side tests. My educated guess though is that the very safe Fides Evo will be fairly similar to the K2. I think the K2 would win but only slightly.

[surfervince]

Thats interesting. What trim settings is the Nucleon on, Full Slow to Neutral? The K2 is a beginner paraglider and the Nucleon is a Sport wing so I would expect to see this difference, but it is good to show a beginner that they should not jump onto higher grade wings until they are ready for the extra performance.

[imasuper0308]

@surfervince Every single advantage was given to the Nucleon. It was tried at slow and fast trim in this video where the K2 was kept at its least stable configuration of trims full up the whole time. Plus the 119 lb pilot on the K2 only had 4 days experience at this point. Yes not only did the K2 demonstrate the dramatic difference in stability but watch when the Nucleon collapses how slow the recovery is. It was very difficult many times to get the Nucleon to reopen.