Triple Seven R-light 3

Technical data

Colours

Colours: Orange, Royal Blue.

Package

• R-light 3 wing
• Backpack BOX of your choice
• Inner bag
• Glider strap
• Triple Seven T-shirt
• Repair kit

R-light 3: XC adventures off the beaten track

The R-light 3 is the lightweight version of our legendary Rook series. Built just like the Rook 3 but using light materials and technology, it is a wing that is made for aerial adventure. It is the perfect tool for combining high-level XC paragliding with serious hiking – in the air, this wing will go everywhere a normal Rook 3 goes, and on the ground, it will go at least one place where the standard Rook doesn’t go – into a small backpack!

Because our emphasis with this wing is a full-on mountain and XC flying, we decided to equip it with standard risers. With this little touch, we have ensured that the wing will feel every bit like a standard Rook 3, except it may be even easier to launch due to the lower canopy weight, and it will be notably easier on your back while packed.

Designer's notes

“Where we live is a para-alpinist’s wet dream; we can look out the window in the morning, start hiking at 9 AM, and be ready to launch somewhere exciting before noon. My brother and I really enjoy combining work, exercise and play in this manner – we’ve been doing it for years, and we often do it several times a week. This means we have a very good understanding of what it takes for wings from every class to excel; some hike& fly wings are mainly for quick up-and-down dashes, some are XC machines which are also a pleasure to carry, and most are somewhere in between. The Triple Seven lightweight glider range encompasses all of these categories, with the R-light firmly towards the XC side of the spectre. It has plenty enough performance to take you “anywhere” without overwhelming your senses along the way, and it’s such a pleasure to pack and carry we think you’ll be just about ready to set off on foot again moments after you have touched down.

The ideal R-light 3 pilot is comfortable on performance EN B wings, comfortable with their speed bar, and either already comfortable on unfamiliar launches and in unfamiliar terrain, or working on getting there. They’re most likely already moving into hike& fly adventures, or at least planning to, and they appreciate the added versatility of the lower weight and reduced volume of such a wing as the R-light 3. They have a decent understanding of dynamic manoeuvres, not least the wingover, and cope well with turbulence when they encounter it during thermal flights. For such a pilot the R-light will be like frosting on a cake; you’d most likely be enjoying the experience even if it wasn’t there, but it does take the whole endeavour to a whole new level!

Urban Valic, R-light 3 designer

Main features

• Progressive handling, offering easy and precise control characteristics
• Incorporated BC system
• BPI Back position intake technology
• VDO Visual design optimization
• STE smooth trailing edge
• OCV Optimized cross vents
• LMO Optimized geometry of suspension lines and materials for prolonged trim
• Profile and trim speed optimized for great climbing abilities
• Optimized pitch stability and ease of piloting
• EN-B, LTF-B certification

Materials

Reviews

Launching: "The small openings on the leading edge require a slight wind to fill the R-Light properly. It is slightly better to fill than the Rook 3, but little patience is needed in nil wind. Some B’s... fill faster, but this is definitely not an issue for any high B pilot. Just to be precise about it." 

Flying: "In strong air, the R-Light S... showed me a relatively comfortable ride for a High B. Some will prefer more dampening like the Swift 5 or the Base 2, but for me the R-Light S was perfect. Not too boring nor alive. Perfect feedback for a keen pilot. If you used to fly a low aspect ratio very comfortable C, you will be comfy on the R-Light S with the added large passive safety." 

"... the R-light S had a swift and direct authority on the brakes that enabled it to put it exactly where you want inside the turbulent air mass." "... short, precise, linear feel (each cm pulled react the glider), medium pressure." 

"... when entering a core the R-Light S leading edge pulls slightly forward, and surprisingly one hand is being slightly pulled where the most powerful lift is! But a very gentle pull, that you need to listen to it informing where the core is. I really liked that!" 

Climb rate: "Next to one of the best B’s in terms of climb rate... I found out that the R-Light S... is inseparable in climb! I felt that the R-Light S is matching it in weak, strong, and all conditions." 

Gliding: "I can strongly confirm the R-Light S glides really well and doesn’t lose its gliding efficiency in diving when encountering moving and sinking air. The glide at half-bar is very usable and offers also the best glide in the B category. The difference of the glide at top speed with a Delta 4 MS is very very little! The difference that can be seen in moving air is that the Rook 3 and the R-Light 3 are slightly slower to enter the airmass than a C glider. That’s it. So there will be always a little advantage for the C’s."

Pleasure: "I added that just because it is so important. Who does benefit the most from flying the R-Light S? Pilots are very different in character. With the same B performance, some would like a free of movement and very dampened glider. The R-Light 3 S... needs a good B pilot that favors the exact spices of feedback it delivers, a sensible* pilot for the responsive brake fan, who appreciates the authority given to him by the glider to place it accurately in the airmass, and finally, the pilot who needs that cocktail of a ‘light’, agile, high-performance B glider. If you are that pilot, then definitely there will be a guaranteed smile on your face."

Conclusion: "Like the normal version [Rook 3], the R-Light... offers the best performance in climb and glide for the B category. The top speed is very good for the category. Ears are stable... and reopen smoothly without pilot control. It needs a sensible* pilot to appreciate its thermal behavior. I really had a very nice time test flying it!"

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

* We think when Ziad writes "sensible" he means "sensitive".

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