Supair SAVAGE

Technical data

Colours

Supair SAVAGE colours: Polar, Earth, Fire

Package

• SAVAGE wing
• Inner bag / Compression strap
• Compact Case
• Trek 130 Backpack
• User’s manual (USB)
• Repair kit

SAVAGE: explore new frontiers

• Category: EN C / Sports
• Weight: 4 kg, size M

Whether you endeavour to cross the Alps northwards, fly over the flats of South africa, go on a himalayan vol-biv or start in competitive XC, the Savage is up to the task.

Fast and safe, it has been picked by Supair’s R&D department pilots as their personal glider for 2020.

We received the first prototype at our head office in Annecy during fall 2018. The glide ratio was already good between 40 and 50km/h and the control very direct but we found the glider too demanding in active air at the time.

So we spent the next 6 months setting up the canopy curve and brake distribution to get the ideal control over the glider. We finally went for a setting that enables a high-efficiency turn while maintaining a fair margin to the stall point. The effort on the brake line is increasing and reaches its maximum right before the stall point. The “catch” is efficient to stop surges.

Then, we dedicated 2019 to maximise the glider’s performance while staying within the EN C certification criteria. After more than one hundred flying hours on all the different sizes, sometimes in unlikely places and rough conditions, we finally found the good setting.

Early 2020, the SAVAGE is ready. It is very stable around the pitch and roll axis at speed and enables the pilot to soar the ridge with efficiency. A usable low-speed range is available to land in altitude. Taking off again is a breeze. On the SAVAGE we put a good effort in making sure that all sizes through the range (from XS to ML) offer similar performance levels.

NOTE: While being fairly accessible, the SAVAGE remains a sport glider. It is EN C certified according to EN-926-2 norm on classigying paragliders.

Practically it means that :

1. To fly the SAVAGE in active air you must adopt active piloting techniques. We recommand this gliders for pilots flying at least 50 hours a year and having SIV experience.
2. At speed, to control the glider and prevent surges, you must use the bars mounted on the C-risers. The brake handles stay in your hands.
3. If you pull the brake handles in the abyss of your harness, you will certainly experience a stall. So take the appropriate time to get to know the glider.
4. If you register for an SIV course with the SAVAGE, progress slowly towards accelerated collapses. They require more piloting than a progression glider.

Supair SAVAGE technical features video

Characteristics

Piloting

• Advanced pilots
• Foot launch or tow launch

Equipment

• Ultralightweight risers
• Sharknose airfoil
• Low-friction Ronstan pulleys
• Low-friction rings
• Smart mini-ribs
• Big-ears kit
• Wingtip cleaning system

Wing materials

• Outer surface: Porcher Sport Skytex 32 g/m² & Skytex 27 g/m2
• Inner surface: Porcher Sport Skytex 27 g/m²
• Walls: Porcher Sport Skytex 32 & 27 hard finish
• Reinforcements: Porcher Sport SR 170

Lines

• Upper and intermediate lines: Edelrid
• Lower lines: Edelrid & Liros

Certification

• EN-926-1 and 2 and LTF91/09 – EN class C certified

Flybubble review of the Supair SAVAGE

“I've actually flown The Savage quite a lot. Mainly in two sizes, the small and medium size. Straight away one of it's standout characteristic is, it's a climber. It's climbs exceptionally well. It's one of the best climbing paragliders I've ever flown.

The construction has got less reinforcement, because it the lightweight paraglider. It's made of combination of 32 gram and 27 gram materials. I hasn't got lots of long stiff rods in it, so it doesn't need any kind of packing pillow. If you doing hike and fly race, this is a paraglider you can pack away really.

The Savage is surprisingly easy on the ground, considering the aspect ratio. I fell pilot demand are about above middle of the C category and to put two-thirds of the way up. Launch it's more like mid-C. The only thing about it is that it's not forgiving if you're heavy-handed and you pull your risers too heavily towards you. But the Savage responds very well to body movement, just pull back on the risers with your body and then follow through with your arms and lift up. Then inflates very nicely and the glider comes up very progressively.

In the air, the Savage doesn't feel like its got an aspect ratio of six and a half. Somehow it feel like more 6.2. It's really comfortable and pleasurable glider to fly, it is quite talkative. It gives you feedback and move around a bit, so it's more on the feedbacky side. It's quite peach and roll stable, so I think that's why makes it so comfortable and easy to fly. When it gets minty and you use weak lift, it's got real advantage over most other gliders. It climbs really nicely. It's a beautiful glider to thermal. Even in the strong stuff you'll climb really well. Even it came out couple of years ago, I could see today it's outperforming most of the mid C gliders. It's not particularly quick - the trim speed is very competitive for the class, but not at the top end of the C class. The glider feels really good, efficiency nicely, even on full bar it's still fell really good.

Supair replaced the B riser completely with the tick dyneema cord, with two 20mil pulls. The pressure is 50% procent less than BC system without this. I was using this a lot for active piloting and catching collapses if there was a turbulence. The speed system pulleys are inside the a - risers, this means it's sort of nicely tucked away and there nothing for your lines to catch on too.

The stall point is very forgiving, you can really fly in slowly in thermals or coming into slope and or top land or of you're having one of those landing in a field where its very light thermic and there is and wind all over the place - it is very forgiving, considering it is sport class glider.

The big ears are straight forward and easy. The A risers are splitted, they are easy to hold and to pull. They came out slowly on their own. I think there should be more Savages out there. The Savage proves to me that it's more important to have pleasure of flying.

One criticismis that the brakes are too much on the minimalist side for me, they're kind of a bit too flimsy to hold. Second is the name. Savage in English sounds like it's scary, but it's a very nice and friendly Beast, nice Savage, it's a kind of beast you really want to have around.” 

- Carlo Borsattino, Flybubble

Watch the Flybubble review:

Other Supair SAVAGE reviews

"Conclusion: In creating the Savage, Supair has entered the golden circle of the best C’s of the moment. Supair has created a high performance, comfortable enough to fly, light EN-C machine. The glide and climb couldn’t be placed but on top of that category!"

- Ziad Bassil, Dust of the universe (full review)

"Ten second review: If you need a light wing for serious mountain adventures then take a look. Supair have come up with the goods."

"The Verdict: Supair certainly knew what they wanted when they set out to design the Savage. In my book, it successfully ticks all the boxes required of a highly capable vol-biv adventure wing and the balance of features makes it hard to fault.

I became fond of how I could slow down and pivot on small bubbles of lift one moment, then cruise along confidently on full bar the next. The Savage has gears.

It never felt like a hindrance, either on the ground or in the air. It is a wing to rely on when your mind is preoccupied with uncertainties: a long hike, an awkward launch, challenging conditions, committing terrain or that tight top-landing.

It hits that sweet spot in performance of both climb and glide that makes it very capable, without becoming too demanding, which even a highly skilled pilot will consider before heading somewhere remote.

So, unless you need that extra km/h on the final glide to goal, the Savage should be high on your list to try before your next adventure.

And quite frankly, it’s a lovely wing if you simply want to lighten your bag for everyday XC flying as well."

- Dougie Swanson-Low, XC mag (full review)

Pilot feedback

"The SAVAGE is a sport-glider, with high shape stability at speed. For me performance and handling are very similar to the WILD's. I gladly use it for vol biv or hike-&-fly competition or any kind of adventure where you need to fly fast without overthinking your piloting."

- Martin Rebord

"The SAVAGE is fast, precise and handy, usable over the whole speed range. Thanks to the light fabrics, inflation is a breeze and the amplitude of the dynamic reactions in active air are limited. This is, in my opinion, the ideal tool and it looks good as well, what else could we ask for?"

- Joel Favre

"A pleasant wing which requires a little piloting but in total comfort! Easy takeoff even in strong winds. A very effective ability to bite into the thermal and to center it. Fast and good gliding in transitions. And so light to carry for hike and fly!"

"A very nice machine, a great achievement Supair! I can't wait to fly it more!!!"

- Lionel Pascale

"I am thrilled with this wing! I have tried other C class gliders but none as fun as this."

- Moreno Dainese

"Outstanding glider! Love my Savage. Best wing so far."

- Martin Wechselberger

"Very nice glider. I love my Savage."

- Pascal Wernli

"Very nice wing."

- Richard Philippot

"Got the chance to test Supair's new lightweight EN-C wing, the Savage. Did some nice flights in soft thermal conditions, soaring and tested a few maneuvers (asymmetric / frontal collapse, stall, ears, spiral, (asymmetric) wingovers)."

"Nice and comfortable wing for long XC flights, volbiv. Simple launch prep. and behaviour. Light brake pressure. Great risers and speed system. Easy handling in maneuvers."

- Ben Proebster

See Ben Proebster's informative first impressions video review of the Supair SAVAGE below.

Flybubble Flying, Thermaling & XC Paragliding Tips with Supair Savage & Delight 4 Sport video

Supair product registration

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Downloads

• Manual (pdf)