Ozone Proton

Last updated
Proton
Role Paraglider
National origin France
Manufacturer Ozone Gliders
Status Production completed
Unit cost
£2,083 (Proton GT M, 2004)

The Ozone Proton is a French single-place paraglider that was designed by hang gliding and paragliding world champion pilot Robbie Whittall and produced by Ozone Gliders of Le Bar-sur-Loup. It is no longer in production. [1]

France Republic with mainland in Europe and numerous oversea territories

France, officially the French Republic, is a country whose territory consists of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories. The metropolitan area of France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany to the northeast, Switzerland and Italy to the east, and Andorra and Spain to the south. The overseas territories include French Guiana in South America and several islands in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. The country's 18 integral regions span a combined area of 643,801 square kilometres (248,573 sq mi) and a total population of 67.3 million. France, a sovereign state, is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre. Other major urban areas include Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille and Nice.

Ozone Gliders Limited is an aircraft manufacturer based in Le Bar-sur-Loup, France, although it is registered in Edinburgh, Scotland. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft.

Le Bar-sur-Loup Commune in Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur, France

Le Bar-sur-Loup is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.

Contents

Design and development

The Proton was designed as a competition glider. The initial version was later replaced by the Proton GT in production. The GT incorporated a partially closed leading edge, with 20 partially closed and 10 cells fully closed. The models are each named for their relative size. [1] [2] [3]

Operational history

Reviewer Noel Bertrand described the Ozone series of gliders in a 2003 review as, "wings that are both pleasant to fly and high performance in their respective categories". [1]

Variants

Proton

Proton S
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.49 m (37.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 23.09 m2 (248.5 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.72:1. The take-off weight range is 60 to 85 kg (132 to 187 lb). The glider model is DHV 2-3 and AFNOR certified. [2]
Proton M
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.09 m (39.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 25.58 m2 (275.3 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.72:1. The take-off weight range is 80 to 105 kg (176 to 231 lb). The glider model is DHV 2-3 and AFNOR certified. [2]
Proton L
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.82 m (42.1 ft) span wing has a wing area of 28.7 m2 (309 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.72:1. The take-off weight range is 95 to 125 kg (209 to 276 lb). The glider model is DHV 2-3 and AFNOR certified. [2]

Proton GT

Proton GT S
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 12.09 m (39.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 25.2 m2 (271 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.85:1. The pilot weight range is 60 to 85 kg (132 to 187 lb). The glider model is DHV 2-3 and AFNOR certified. [1]
Proton GT M
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.53 m (41.1 ft) span wing has a wing area of 26.86 m2 (289.1 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.85:1. The pilot weight range is 80 to 100 kg (176 to 220 lb). The glider model is DHV 2-3 and AFNOR certified. [1]
Proton GT L
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.92 m (42.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 28.5 m2 (307 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.85:1. The pilot weight range is 95 to 115 kg (209 to 254 lb). The glider model is DHV 2-3 and AFNOR certified. [1]
Proton GT XL
Extra large-sized model for even heavier pilots. Its 13.26 m (43.5 ft) span wing has a wing area of 30.0 m2 (323 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.85:1. The pilot weight range is 110 to 135 kg (243 to 298 lb). The glider model is DHV 2-3 certified. [3]

Specifications (Proton GT M)

Data from Bertrand [1]

General characteristics

Related Research Articles

Advance Omega

The Advance Omega is a series of Swiss single-place, paragliders, designed and produced by Advance Thun of Thun.

The Aerodyne Jumbe is a series of French single-place and two-place, paragliders that was designed by Michel Le Blanc and produced by Aerodyne Technologies of Talloires.

Apco Fiesta Israeli paraglider design

The Apco Fiesta is a family of Israeli single-place and two-place paragliders that was designed and produced by Apco Aviation of Caesarea. It is now out of production.

The Apco Keara is an Israeli single-place, paraglider that was designed and produced by Apco Aviation of Caesarea. It is now out of production.

The Apco Presta is an Israeli single-place, paraglider that was designed and produced by Apco Aviation of Caesarea. It is now out of production.

The Apco Simba is an Israeli single-place, paraglider that was designed and produced by Apco Aviation of Caesarea. It is now out of production.

The Gradient Bliss is a Czech single-place, paraglider designed and produced by Gradient sro of Prague. Originally produced in the mid-2000, it is no longer in production.

The Nova Aeron is an Austrian single-place paraglider that was designed by Hannes Papesch and produced by Nova Performance Paragliders of Innsbruck. It is now out of production.

The Nova Artax is an Austrian single-place paraglider that was designed by Hannes Papesch and produced by Nova Performance Paragliders of Innsbruck. It is now out of production.

The Nova Pheron is an Austrian single-place paraglider that was designed by Hannes Papesch and produced by Nova Performance Paragliders of Innsbruck. It is now out of production.

The Nova Phorus is an Austrian single-place paraglider that was designed by Hannes Papesch and produced by Nova Performance Paragliders of Innsbruck. It is now out of production.

The Nova Radon is an Austrian single-place paraglider that was designed by Hannes Papesch and produced by Nova Performance Paragliders of Innsbruck. It is now out of production.

The Ozone Atom is a French single-place paraglider that was designed by hang gliding and paragliding world champion pilot Robbie Whittall and produced by Ozone Gliders of Le Bar-sur-Loup. It remained in production as the Ozone 3 in 2016.

The Ozone Peak is a French single-place paraglider that was designed by hang gliding and paragliding world champion pilot Robbie Whittall and produced by Ozone Gliders of Le Bar-sur-Loup. It is no longer in production.

The Ozone Vibe is a French single-place paraglider that was designed by hang gliding and paragliding world champion pilot Robbie Whittall and produced by Ozone Gliders of Le Bar-sur-Loup. It is no longer in production.

The Ozone Vulcan is a French single-place paraglider that was designed by hang gliding and paragliding world champion pilot Robbie Whittall and produced by Ozone Gliders of Le Bar-sur-Loup. It is no longer in production.

The Sol Prymus is a Brazilian single-place paraglider that was designed and produced by Sol Paragliders of Jaraguá do Sul starting in the mid-2000s. It remained in production as the Prymus 4 in 2016.

The UP Summit is a German single-place paraglider, designed and produced by UP Europe of Kochel am See, now UP International of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Introduced in 2001, production continued through 2016 with the Summit XC4 model.

The Windtech Pulsar is a Spanish single-place paraglider that was designed and produced by Windtech Parapentes of Gijón. It is now out of production.

Windtech Quarx

The Windtech Quarx is a Spanish single-place paraglider that was designed and produced by Windtech Parapentes of Gijón. It is now out of production.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 24. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN   1368-485X
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ozone Paragliders > Products > Previous Gliders > Proton > Info". flyozone.com. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Ozone Paragliders > Products > Previous Gliders > Proton GT > Info". flyozone.com. Retrieved 7 September 2016.