Something special for someone who loves both dynamic flying but also looks for safety and comfort on the long XC ‘s.
I had the opportunity to test the Mac Para Colorado 23. The weight range is 93'5130kg. I was in the middle of the weight range (115kg all-up).
Glider construction and overall build quality looks very solid and good - what is to expect from a Mac Para glider.
Risers Are quite simple and while in flight or during take-off different lines can be easily Identified.
Tip steering toggles are placed nicely at the carabiner attachment level - That is a major plus during long xc flights, where you can keep the relaxed sitting position and hands down, but still have good fast directional control.
The glider came with optional 2D brake configuration for more dynamic flying.
Kiting with colorado is just a pleasure. Glider inflates very easily - especially when trimmers are at neutral. In winds around 2m/s glider stays above the head with minimal corrections required. The feedback into harness is good and without looking, I could easily tell where the glider is and what input is needed.
Forward launch is easy and fast - In neutral trim, glider is easy to take off also in zero wind and also in weak tail or crosswind.
Trimmers closed glider inflation is slower and in zero winds needs more work for takeoff.
Take-off speed is nice and slow in both closed or neutral trim configuration.
Reverse launch is easy and can be performed from around 2-2,5m/s winds without the need to walk backwards.
In higher wind, the glider can be easily brought up with D. C or B lines, depending on the wind speed.
My preferred takeoff trim position is neutral on a colorado - both forwards and reverse launches.
First flights after getting the glider were long XC flights, both calm air and thermic midday flying. Colorado handles the thermic conditions very well and no major collapses occurred.
The lift and the glide of the glider is good. The trimmers and long speedbar movement gives the glider very good speed range to penetrate into quite a strong headwind. In combined with good lift, engine RPM ‘s don't have to go very high to maintain the fast level flight at maximum speed.
Colorado handles the landing flare very well and when I built up some energy with a sharp turn before landing, the flare at neutra trim was very nice, long and controlled. Landing without building up the energy, Colorado feels very solid and forgiving. The brake authority is excellent.
After i was already familiar enough with the glider, I started testing the glider with different collapses, stalls and spirals.
I wanted to see how the glider recovers from different situations, especially how it acts when i don't let glider in stalls et to stabilize, but release it right after it occurs and glider is behind me. And the glider did not disappoint me.
All tests beside the trims-out braking test was done at neutral trim.
1) Developed full stall - Recovery was good, glider didn't dive forward too much and I did not feel like I really had to brake the surge.
2) Tailslide to full stall with instant release - Recovery was asymmetric and the dive was quite strong - small input from brakes was required. Glider recovered fast but asymmetrically - within 3 seconds the glider was above my head and flying. - Recovery was just as I anticipated.
3) Asymmetric collapses - Recover was fast both while holding the collapsed side and with quick pull and release. The glider changed course almost 180 degrees before re-inflation and total course change.
4) B-stall - Easy to initiate, exit is spontaneous and without noticeable surge.
5) Big ears - Easy to initiate with outer A-lines. Out of 10 times I tried, only once one side did not recover without slight brake input.
6) Deep spiral - Glider did exit deep spiral spontaneously - no additional input was needed.
7) Using brakes at trims out - Brakes at trims-out configuration did not cause any collapses or otherwise unexpected behaviour. Brakes are heavier and braking to minimum speed requires a lot of pull. Around 30 degree dive occurs after quick release of brakes from braking to minimum speed.
Colorado is a wing that is designed for intermediate to advanced pilots.
Once you fly it, you will instantly fall in love with it.
It is easy to fly, but it offers the dynamics that a freestyle pilots are looking for - You can easily do aerobatics with it.
For competitions, the glider might be still a bit on the relaxed side - but again, I flew the 23m, not the 18m version ;).
Overall conclusion:
Something special for someone who loves both dynamic flying but also looks for safety and comfort on the long XC ‘s.
Lauri Kadakas