PHI MAESTRO 2 light

Technical data

i.A. = in process.

The gliders weight was measured with the superlight RZ3 riser.

Weight ranges

Colours

Standard colours: CC01 (White-Blue), CC02 (Orange-Blue top, White-Blue bottom), CC03 (Gold-Black), CC04 (Red-White), CC05 (Lime-Black)

Package

• Glider
• Harmonica concertina packing bag
• Repair material

MAESTRO 2 light: a new era in light!

The MAESTRO 2 defines a new benchmark in high B. The MAESTRO 2 light is offering the same performance and flying dynamics in lightweight design.

With 76 cells, additional mini ribs and some new technologies, the MAESTRO 2 shows an unprecedented shape and surface. They used thei very advanced lightweight engineering to achieve a very low weight even with this high cell count and complexity.

Designer's notes

"It is not only the high complexity of this wing with its 76 cells and additional mini ribs, offering an extremely smooth finish.
It’s not only its breathtaking performance in thermaling, gliding and speed. It’s the balance. The handling and the feeling of being one with this outstanding wing!

We are getting more and more specialists for light weight engineering in paragliding design. Our finger rib technique (“trompets”) leading through holes in the neighbour profiles to enable bridges over 4 or 5 cells is still setting the standard in that field.

We are constantly working on more perfection, resulting in even lower weights. The Porcher Skytex 27 double coated cloth is proven to be very stable. The second coating procedure guarantees good porosity values even after ageing."

- Hannes Papesh, Phi Designer

Features

After plenty of simulated drafts and real prototypes, they came up with a concept of high complexity to reach an unmatched clean surface and a very high form stability.
The increased high cell number (76 cells over 60 of the predecessor) in combination with the optimized 3D shaping, the new form stable rods and the additional mini ribs in the leading edge are offering a clear reduction of wrinkles in the critical high airspeed/lift section of the wing.
The result is not only better performance at all speeds. The airstream is more stable attached: the maximum lift is higher, the flyable angle of attack is bigger: the low speed flying excellent, the handling more forgiving (longer brake travels), and as a result of that the thermalling abilities on a new level.
Phi kept on optimizing and finally reached new levels of the famous safety/performance ratio. During the process of optimization, Phi proved every design element for its need: they eliminated some trailing edge mini ribs, the bottom sail rods and some rods in the wingtips. So finally the MAESTRO 2 is just a little heavier than it’s predecessor and still reasonable in price. The reduction of rods is offering an easy small packing. The MAESTRO 2 has rods only where they are really needed.

It was essential for Phi to reach the same clean surface with the light version. Material selection, orientation and dimension was proven in several prototypes to ensure good form stability and durability. So finally the MAESTRO 2 light shows the same performance and flying behaviour as the normal version. With an even more dynamic handling caused by the lower canopy weight.

Flybubble review

The MAESTRO 2 light is Phi's lightweight version of the MAESTRO 2.

Our review of the Phi MAESTRO 2:

“I've been flying the Phi Maestro 2 in sizes 22 and 21. I was flying the 21 at different loads, between 90 and 95 and the size 22 about 96, 97 all-up. I'm finding the Maestro 2 very easy, to launch for a high B wing, even easier than its predecessor, the Maestro. In light conditions, it just inflates very easily and comes up nicely. It's not a glider that's hanging back and kind of you have to really fight with to get into the air in very light condition. When it's stronger and gustier, the Maestro 2 wants to come up and fly, but it's easy to hold down. So you just give the glider, the risers a little bit of a pull, a little bit of body. So you need to step under the glider and give it a touch of break at the top. You can really easily control it on the ground and you can really easily control it, feel where it goes with the brakes to get it just at the angle you want. Soon as you bring the Maestro 2 up above your head, what you find is the glider feels very solid. And yeah, really solid across the sail and collapse resistant. Which makes it easier to keep the glider flying above your head.

The agility's great but it just turns a little flatter and climbs just a bit better [comparted to the Maestro]. In terms of feedback,the Maestro 2 is still a glider, a bit like it's predecessor. It talks to you, it tells you what's going on in the air. I was feeling what the glider was telling me and just work my way up tracking under the clouds. With the Maestro 2, you've got that feedback but with more solidity and collapse resistance, and also more efficiency. Biting through the air, and pulling up wind, and biting into the thermals, even though the thermals today got quite wind blown. From my tests so far feels like it's one of the fastest high Bs and the glide performance is awesome. That is just my feeling, It's got all round, very good performance in every area glide, speed and sink rate, climb rate. I think the trim speed and glide are especially very good. The climb rate is very good, is excellent, one of the best. The glider feels very solid and efficient. It's a very agile, very pleasurable sporty feeling glider very much about for pilots who love the handling. For pilots who enjoy feedback and a glider that talks to them and is nimble and agile. But at the same time it's very solid and confidence inspiring. Then I think the Maestro 2 should be very very high on their list. I think the Maestro 2 is gonna be a great glider for pilots upgrading from a Low- or Mid- B. Who want to upgrade into the High B class but don't want something that's too hot, too sporty. C class pilots, sports pilots, wanting to get a less demanding glider,but wanting to keep the kind of energy and agility and performance, and not have a glider that's too darling boring. Well, I don't think they're gonna be disappointed, with the Maestro 2 at all. I really like this glider, I think it's superb.“

— Carlo Borsattino, Flybubble

Watch the Flybubble first impression review:

Materials

• Porcher Skytex 27 doube coated

Risers

The MAESTRO 2 is delivered with the semilight C handle riser R07. It is a straight forward and very clean design with the target to reach easy handling and good length stability.

When you want to reach minimum weight, Phi recommend the superlight RZ3 riser. The RZ3 risers have 235g less weight than the R07 (per pair).

See Phi risers